When I heard about “Celebrity Inc” by Jo Piazza, I was doubly excited. Firstly, I like business books, and I could not wait to look behind the curtain at various aspects of the entertainment industry. Secondly, I was anticipating 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 noticed that, while the stories have an acute, ridiculous quality you’d expect from celebrities, the career lessons still apply to everyday folks like you and me:
Compensation is situation-specific (Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt). The opening chapter of the book focuses on the run-up of prices in celebrity baby footage, with a spotlight on the Jolie-Pitt photographs. The bidding war tops and then bursts, and the costs paid for photos don’t always follow a manifest reason. Even celebs aren't impervious to compensation market trends. Don't compare what you make to people, in other circumstances, during different time periods.
Know your allies and advocates (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 customers. He didn't just choose the high-end stores. When you decide about your next employer or your next project, do this within the context of the relationships you want to build. It’s not only about picking the brand or highest profile opportunity.
Being fired or downsized isn't 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 own albums at every stop, making several million dollars during the process. If your high-flying career hits a hindrance, you can spin it round with creativity, persistence, and continuing to place yourself out there.
A powerful 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 every level. Even though a job does not look carefully, there is difficult 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 is crashing her career, as Charlie Glaze is able to to get it working for him. It’s lack of consistency in her imaging. For the non-celebrity pro, it’s similarly vital to recognise that there is no one path to career success nonetheless it does take time to build a past history.
Don’t underestimate the importance of likeability (Valerie Bertinelli). Celebrity weight loss contracts can translate to six figures per lb.. Weight-loss firms select their celebrity representatives based totally on relatability, so Bertinelli is cashing in on her likeability. The non-celebrity professional can also profit from 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 marketplace by learning new skills (Ashton Kutcher). Social media modified the market for stars too , and Kutcher’s eagerness and capability to embrace the new media has enabled him to crash the ground floor of rewarding tech company investments and establish himself as a go-to person in this swiftly growing field. Pay attention to new trends. Be willing to meet new people and explore different firms 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 example showing how profitable it can be when you make money even after you aren't working. For the non-celebrity pro this underscores the importance of making an income stream for after you retire. For many it's going to be a retirement fund, like a 401k. But the Jackson example shows how it can be extensions of work created years back and it’s worth brooding about how you may extend this to work you are now doing.
Diversify your earnings streams (all). Every celebrity featured in the book had projects in multiple areas, whether 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 putting aside money to invest, or consulting for industries outside your present one.
You always need to hustle (all). I see many professionals with great careers and 10, 20 or more years of experience, lamenting how difficult the market is even for them. There's this expectation that things should be easier now, after establishing yourself and amassing all these talents and experiences. Celebs recognise how fleeting success can be so that the best ones are always hustling. Whether it’s the fired American Idol, Taylor Hicks, selling his very own records or Valerie Bertinelli, using weightloss to transition into the acting attention, celebs who succeed show a tenacity to come back, to try out some new things, to always try again.
These are vital lessons from celebrities that are worth concentrating on.
Caroline Ceniza-Levine is one off Fortune 500 recruiter who now offers career coaching for your dream occupation. Her company SixFigureStart.com also provides guidance for those trying to find job search success.
Source:
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