By Caroline Levine
When I heard about "Celebrity Inc(orporated)" by Jo Piazza, I was doubly excited. First off, I love business books, and I couldn't wait to peek behind the curtain at various aspects of the entertainment industry. Second, I was anticipating some escapism from the celebrity examples. As a career coach, my whole focus is on career stories, but celebrities have that aura of unattainability, of being different from me and you. But after reading the book, I noticed that, while the stories have an intense, ludicrous quality you'd 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 costs in celebrity baby footage, with a spotlight on the Jolie-Pitt photos. The bidding war peaks and then bursts, and the prices paid for photographs don't always follow a glaring logic. Even celebrities are not immune to compensation market trends. Do not compare what you make to other people, in different conditions, during different time periods.
Know your allies and adherents (Tim McGraw). When Tim McGraw entered the fragrance business, he selected his production partner and his sales outlets based mostly on his existing and target purchasers. He didn't just select the top of the range stores. When you make a choice about your next employer or even your next project, do this in the context of the relations you want to build. It's not just about picking the biggest brand name or highest profile opportunity.
Being fired or downsized 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 each stop, making 1 or 2 million greenbacks during the process. If your high-flying career hits a hindrance, you can turn it around with creativeness, persistence, and continuing to place yourself out there.
A powerful work 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 doesn't look closely, there's difficult work behind it. If you'd like to succeed, put in the work.
Consistency matters (Lindsay Lohan v. Charlie Sheen). Piazza maintains that it's not Lindsay Lohan's bad girl personality that's derailing her career, as Charlie Sheen is able to persuade it to work for him. It's absence of consistency in her imaging. For the non-celebrity professional, it's equally crucial to recognise that there is no one trail to career success nevertheless it takes time to build a past record.
Don't play down the importance of likeability (Valerie Bertinelli). Celebrity weight loss contracts can translate to six figures per lb. Weight-loss firms select their celebrity members based totally on relatability, so Bertinelli is cashing in on her likeability. The non-celebrity professional can also exploit likeability. The decisions of who to hire, who to promote, who to give the plum assignment to, who to let go vs who to keep frequently come down to who is supported and liked.
Acclimatize to a changing market-place by learning new abilities (Ashton Kutcher). Social media modified the market for celebs as well , and Kutcher's willingness and ability 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 swiftly growing field. Concentrate on new trends. Be pleased to meet new people and explore different firms and networks.
Create assets that go past 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 earn cash even after you aren't working. For the non-celebrity professional this underscores the importance of creating earnings 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 thinking about how you might extend this to work you're currently 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 have to be your day job. This might. Mean running a side business, actively putting aside money to invest, or consulting for industries outside your present one.
You always have to hustle (all). I see many professionals with great careers and 10, 20 or even more years of experience, lamenting how difficult the market is even for them. There is this expectation that things should be easier now, after establishing yourself and assembling all these skills and experiences. Stars recognize how brief success can be so 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 control to transition into the acting focus, stars who succeed show a perseverance to come back, to try new things, to always try again.
These are crucial lessons from celebs that are worth concentrating on.
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 spotlight on the Jolie-Pitt photos. The bidding war peaks and then bursts, and the prices paid for photographs don't always follow a glaring logic. Even celebrities are not immune to compensation market trends. Do not compare what you make to other people, in different conditions, during different time periods.
Know your allies and adherents (Tim McGraw). When Tim McGraw entered the fragrance business, he selected his production partner and his sales outlets based mostly on his existing and target purchasers. He didn't just select the top of the range stores. When you make a choice about your next employer or even your next project, do this in the context of the relations you want to build. It's not just about picking the biggest brand name or highest profile opportunity.
Being fired or downsized 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 each stop, making 1 or 2 million greenbacks during the process. If your high-flying career hits a hindrance, you can turn it around with creativeness, persistence, and continuing to place yourself out there.
A powerful work 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 doesn't look closely, there's difficult work behind it. If you'd like to succeed, put in the work.
Consistency matters (Lindsay Lohan v. Charlie Sheen). Piazza maintains that it's not Lindsay Lohan's bad girl personality that's derailing her career, as Charlie Sheen is able to persuade it to work for him. It's absence of consistency in her imaging. For the non-celebrity professional, it's equally crucial to recognise that there is no one trail to career success nevertheless it takes time to build a past record.
Don't play down the importance of likeability (Valerie Bertinelli). Celebrity weight loss contracts can translate to six figures per lb. Weight-loss firms select their celebrity members based totally on relatability, so Bertinelli is cashing in on her likeability. The non-celebrity professional can also exploit likeability. The decisions of who to hire, who to promote, who to give the plum assignment to, who to let go vs who to keep frequently come down to who is supported and liked.
Acclimatize to a changing market-place by learning new abilities (Ashton Kutcher). Social media modified the market for celebs as well , and Kutcher's willingness and ability 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 swiftly growing field. Concentrate on new trends. Be pleased to meet new people and explore different firms and networks.
Create assets that go past 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 earn cash even after you aren't working. For the non-celebrity professional this underscores the importance of creating earnings 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 thinking about how you might extend this to work you're currently 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 have to be your day job. This might. Mean running a side business, actively putting aside money to invest, or consulting for industries outside your present one.
You always have to hustle (all). I see many professionals with great careers and 10, 20 or even more years of experience, lamenting how difficult the market is even for them. There is this expectation that things should be easier now, after establishing yourself and assembling all these skills and experiences. Stars recognize how brief success can be so 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 control to transition into the acting focus, stars who succeed show a perseverance to come back, to try new things, to always try again.
These are crucial lessons from celebs that are worth concentrating on.
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.