10 Career Lessons From Celebrities That Apply To Me And You

By Caroline Levine


When I heard about "Celebrity Inc" by Jo Piazza, I was doubly excited. Firstly, I adore business books, and I couldn't wait to peer behind the curtain at diverse aspects of the entertainment industry. Second, I was anticipating some escapism from the celebrity examples. As a career coach, my entire focus is on career stories, but stars have that aura of unattainability, of being different from you and me. Nonetheless after reading the book, I noticed that, while the stories have an extreme, ridiculous quality you'd expect from celebs, the career lessons still apply to everyday people like you and me:

Compensation is situation-specific (Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt). The opening chapter of the book concentrates on the run-up of costs in celebrity baby footage, with a focus on the Jolie-Pitt pictures. The bidding war tops and then bursts, and the prices paid for photographs don't always follow a manifest reason. Even stars are not immune to compensation market trends. Do not compare what you make to folks, in different conditions, during different time periods.

Know your allies and supporters (Tim McGraw). When Tim McGraw entered the fragrance business, he selected his production partner and his sales outlets based totally on his existing and target purchasers. He didn't just choose the top of the range stores. When you decide about your next employer or your next project, do this within the context of the relations you wish to build. It's not just about picking the biggest brand name or highest profile opportunity.

Being fired or laid off is not the end of civilization (Taylor Hicks) .American Idol winner, Taylor Hicks, was dropped by his label after his first album, so he went on tour with the musical theatre production of Greaseand sold his own albums at every stop, making one or two million greenbacks in the process. If your high-flying career hits an obstacle, you can spin it round with creativity, endurance, and continuing to put yourself out there.

A strong working ethic matters (Kim Kardashian). Yes, Piazza highlights Kim Kardashian's work ethic- reliably showing up at events, actively promoting, signing autographs and engaging with fans at all levels. Regardless of whether a job does not look closely, there's hard work behind it. If you'd like to succeed, put in the work.

Consistency matters (Lindsay Lohan v. Charlie Sheen). Piazza maintains that it is not Lindsay Lohan's bad girl personality that's side tracking her career, as Charlie Sheen is able to make it work for him. It's lack of consistency in her imaging. For the non-celebrity professional, it's similarly important to recognise that there is nobody path to career success but it takes time to build a track record.

Don't underestimate the importance of likeability (Valerie Bertinelli). Celebrity weightloss contracts can translate to six figures per pound. Weight-loss companies select their celebrity delegates based totally on relatability, so Bertinelli is cashing in on her likeability. The non-celebrity pro can also exploit likeability. The decisions of who to hire, who to plug, who to give the plum assignment to, who to let go vs who to keep often come down to who is supported and liked.

Acclimatize to a changing market-place by learning new skills (Ashton Kutcher). Social media modified the marketplace for stars too , and Kutcher's eagerness and ability to embrace the new media has enabled him to crash the ground floor of moneymaking tech company investments and establish himself as a go-to person in this rapidly growing field. Concentrate on new trends. Be content to meet new people and explore different corporations and networks.

Create assets that extend beyond your working years (Michael Jackson). Piazza covers the "deleb" or dead celebrity market, with Michael Jackson being a recent shining demonstration of how moneymaking it can be when you make money even after you aren't working. For the non-celebrity pro this underlines the importance of creating revenue stream for after you retire. For many it will be a retirement fund, like a 401k. But the Jackson example shows how it can be extensions of work created years before and it's worth pondering how you might extend this to work you're currently doing.

Diversify your income streams (all). Each celebrity featured in the book had projects in multiple areas, whether or not it is Tim McGraw with entertainment and retail or Ashton Kutcher with entertainment and social media. You don't need to be your day job. This might. Mean running a side business, decisively setting aside money to invest, or consulting for industries outside your present one.

You always need to hustle (all). I see many execs with great careers and 10, 20 or more years of expertise, lamenting how difficult the market is even for them. There's this expectation that things should be easier now, after setting yourself up and amassing all these abilities and experiences. Stars recognize how brief success can be so that the best ones are always hustling. If it's the fired American Idol, Taylor Hicks, selling his very own records or Valerie Bertinelli, using weight loss to transition into the acting attention, celebrities who succeed show a perseverance to come back, to try out new stuff, to always try again.

These are vital lessons from stars that are worth focusing on.




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