When I heard about "Celebrity Inc" by Jo Piazza, I was doubly excited. Firstly, I adore business books, and I couldn't wait to peek behind the curtain at assorted sides of the entertainment industry. Secondly, I was looking forward to some escapism from the celebrity examples. As a career coach, my full focus is on career stories, but celebs have that aura of unattainability, of being different from me and you. Nonetheless after reading the book, I realized that, while the stories have an intense, ludicrous quality you would expect from stars, 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 prices in celebrity baby photos, with a focus on the Jolie-Pitt photographs. The bidding war tops and then bursts, and the costs paid for photos don't always follow an obvious rhyme or reason. Even stars are not impervious to compensation market trends. Don't compare what you make to folks, in other circumstances, during different time periods.
Know your allies and advocates (Tim McGraw). When Tim McGraw entered the perfume business, he selected his production partner and his sales outlets based totally on his existing and target customers. He didn't just select the high-end stores. When you decide about your next employer or your next project, do this in the frame of reference of the relations you wish to build. It's not just about picking the biggest brand name or highest profile opportunity.
Being fired or fired is not the end of the world (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 very own albums at every stop, making one or two million bucks in the process. If your high-flying career hits a stumbling block, you can turn it around with creativeness, persistence, and continuing to place yourself out there.
A robust 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 each level. Even if a job does not look carefully, there is hard work behind it. If you'd like to succeed, put in the work.
Consistency matters (Lindsay Lohan v. Charlie Glaze). Piazza maintains that it is not Lindsay Lohan's bad girl personality that's derailing her career, as Charlie Sheen is able to make it work for him. It's absence of consistency in her imaging. For the non-celebrity pro, it's similarly crucial to recognise that there's nobody path to career success but it does take a little time to build a past record.
Don't underestimate the importance of likeability (Valerie Bertinelli). Celebrity weightloss contracts can translate into 6 figures per pound. Weight-loss companies select their celebrity members based totally on relatability, so Bertinelli is literally cashing in on her likeability. The non-celebrity professional can also cash in on likeability. The choices of who to hire, who to push, who to give the plum assignment to, who to let go versus who to keep regularly come down to who is supported and liked.
Attune to a changing market-place by learning new skills (Ashton Kutcher). Social media modified the marketplace for stars as well , and Kutcher's eagerness and capability to embrace the new media has enabled him to crash the ground floor of moneymaking tech company investments and create himself as a go-to person in this speedily growing field. Focus on new trends. Be willing to meet new folks and explore different corporations and networks.
Create assets that go beyond your working years (Michael Jackson). Piazza covers the "deleb" or dead celebrity market, with Michael Jackson being a recent shining example showing how moneymaking it can be when you make money even after you aren't working. For the non-celebrity pro this underscores the seriousness 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 made years earlier , and it's worth brooding about how you may extend this to work you are now doing.
Diversify your income streams (all). Every 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 real job. This might. Mean running a side business, proactively setting aside money to invest, or consulting for industries outside your current one.
You always have to hustle (all). I see many executives with great careers and 10, 20 or more years of expertise, lamenting how troublesome the market is even for them. There is this expectancy that things should be less complicated now, after establishing yourself and amassing all of these abilities and experiences. Celebrities recognize how fleeting success can be so the best ones are always hustling. Whether 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, stars who succeed show a determination to come back, to try new things, to always try again.
These are vital lessons from celebrities that are worth paying attention to.
Compensation is situation-specific (Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt). The opening chapter of the book concentrates on the run-up of prices in celebrity baby photos, with a focus on the Jolie-Pitt photographs. The bidding war tops and then bursts, and the costs paid for photos don't always follow an obvious rhyme or reason. Even stars are not impervious to compensation market trends. Don't compare what you make to folks, in other circumstances, during different time periods.
Know your allies and advocates (Tim McGraw). When Tim McGraw entered the perfume business, he selected his production partner and his sales outlets based totally on his existing and target customers. He didn't just select the high-end stores. When you decide about your next employer or your next project, do this in the frame of reference of the relations you wish to build. It's not just about picking the biggest brand name or highest profile opportunity.
Being fired or fired is not the end of the world (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 very own albums at every stop, making one or two million bucks in the process. If your high-flying career hits a stumbling block, you can turn it around with creativeness, persistence, and continuing to place yourself out there.
A robust 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 each level. Even if a job does not look carefully, there is hard work behind it. If you'd like to succeed, put in the work.
Consistency matters (Lindsay Lohan v. Charlie Glaze). Piazza maintains that it is not Lindsay Lohan's bad girl personality that's derailing her career, as Charlie Sheen is able to make it work for him. It's absence of consistency in her imaging. For the non-celebrity pro, it's similarly crucial to recognise that there's nobody path to career success but it does take a little time to build a past record.
Don't underestimate the importance of likeability (Valerie Bertinelli). Celebrity weightloss contracts can translate into 6 figures per pound. Weight-loss companies select their celebrity members based totally on relatability, so Bertinelli is literally cashing in on her likeability. The non-celebrity professional can also cash in on likeability. The choices of who to hire, who to push, who to give the plum assignment to, who to let go versus who to keep regularly come down to who is supported and liked.
Attune to a changing market-place by learning new skills (Ashton Kutcher). Social media modified the marketplace for stars as well , and Kutcher's eagerness and capability to embrace the new media has enabled him to crash the ground floor of moneymaking tech company investments and create himself as a go-to person in this speedily growing field. Focus on new trends. Be willing to meet new folks and explore different corporations and networks.
Create assets that go beyond your working years (Michael Jackson). Piazza covers the "deleb" or dead celebrity market, with Michael Jackson being a recent shining example showing how moneymaking it can be when you make money even after you aren't working. For the non-celebrity pro this underscores the seriousness 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 made years earlier , and it's worth brooding about how you may extend this to work you are now doing.
Diversify your income streams (all). Every 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 real job. This might. Mean running a side business, proactively setting aside money to invest, or consulting for industries outside your current one.
You always have to hustle (all). I see many executives with great careers and 10, 20 or more years of expertise, lamenting how troublesome the market is even for them. There is this expectancy that things should be less complicated now, after establishing yourself and amassing all of these abilities and experiences. Celebrities recognize how fleeting success can be so the best ones are always hustling. Whether 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, stars who succeed show a determination to come back, to try new things, to always try again.
These are vital lessons from celebrities that are worth paying attention to.
About the Author:
Caroline Ceniza-Levine is one-time Fortune 500 recruiter who now offers career coaching for your dream occupation. Her company SixFigureStart.com also provides guidance for those hunting for job search success.
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