"We all may speak the same language, but the spoken word means different things to different people."

Two weeks ago, I interviewed for the position of Business Analyst within a large, insurance company. The interview was like most I've had up until we got to talking about the actual duties of the job position.

So what is a Business Analyst? Long to the short, it's someone who serves as a go-between for the insurance company's internal customers who require the IT department to develop them specialized, proprietary software.

Seems like a wasteful position, right? I mean, why bother with an intermediary when the two parties could simply meet directly to make things happen?

Well, this is where the above image comes into play. See, although we may all speak the same language, (English in this case) we all interpret things in different ways. Thus, a small box in the corner may actually appear larger in one person's view and smaller in another's. Therefore, to ask for "A small box in the corner" is actually only the first step in getting the two parties closer towards creating the ideal shaped box that will meet the overall goal of the project.

Taking the Business Analyst position back into consideratin, my job would be, for example, to translate the needs of a lawyer to an IT professional so that both parties can focus on what they do best while I ensure the project's goal is met in a professional and timely manner.

Sound familiar? It might if any of you have ever collaborated with anyone here on an artistic project. You see, despite us all being creative, we all have different ways of expressing and interpreting that which inspires us to do what we love to do most.

For example, Nishi and I have collaborated for over a year on a variety of fun projects. However, we both work through entirely different artistic mediums. Thus, the success of our projects has largely come from learning how to communicate with each other through those ways we each understand the most.

The moral of all this? Never underestimate the power of your own creativity. You may not ever realize it, but sharing and working with others who dabble in the arts truly does make you a better person all-around. Not only do you get to share great ideas, but also become more aware of what it's like to be in someone else's shoes. Thus, in the end, you build an understanding of the world around you whiile learning how to connect with all those who may have the pleasure of sharing your company.