Halo action figures once made my job easier.
I had to get to know a team operating several servers on a project I worked on at a past employer – and being the Project Manager I had to get to know everyone. This included people who I'd never met, on a team I didn't know existed. I needed to get to know them – and get some things moving project-wise.
Fortunately, someone had Halo action figures. Sensing a fellow geek, I struck up a conversation with that team member, and had an instant in to the team.
Being an unrepentant geek helped my communications with others.
That's another great reason to be a progeek, a profan. You've got the cultural knowledge, the common ground, and the ability to relate to any geeks, fanboys, fangirls, nerds, otaku, etc. you meet professionally. You, in short, can go up to someone you don't know in a professional situation and instantly find common ground by deconstructing the history of the Gundam Wing series.
This is an awesome power to have as a progeek, and another reason to be proud of your geek heritage.
Geeks, fans, and the like are almost all used to socializing via their interests – it's part of who we are, how we bond. We build entire conventions based around our interests, where people who don't know each other wear incredible costumes and debate the archetypical symbolism of Harry Potter. We are, as introverted as some think us, very social.
And that tool is great for you professionally.
So remember this additional reason to be proud of being the blatant nerd you are – you've got the tools to communicate with your fellow nerds.
Action figures can be bridges.
– Steven Savage