You’re fed up with the job market right now or you’re feeling stuck in your career, with nowhere to go, and you’re out of people to complain to. If so, then you’re probably watching your favorite show on TV, or browsing Hulu.com because you’re too cheap to purchase cable. Either way, you watch, listen, and hear about celebrities all the time. Most of the time, you probably don’t care what they have to say, but there are a lot of career and branding lessons that you can learn from them. Aside from reality TV stars, people aren’t just famous because they’re famous. They achieve success because they have goals, and figure out the best way to reach them, throughout the course of their lives. Here are five branding and career lessons that you can learn from celebrities that you’ve heard of one way or another.
Ryan Seacrest – work your tail off
Love him or hate him, Ryan Seacrest is one of the hardest working guys in the entertainment business. When he’s not spending hours putting on hair gel, and flossing his teeth, he’s either hosting E! News TV, American Idol, or one of his syndicated radio show’s interviewing Kim Kardashion, Justin Bieber or one of the Twilight stars. After watching the Oprah segment on his work schedule, you can see the stress, sweat and determination Ryan has for following his dreams.
When it comes to your career, you need to be ambitious, bold, and work extremely hard to get what you want. My college roommate used to always tell me “you get out what you put in.” He was referred to the results that you get from hard work. If you leave the office at 3:00 pm every day, then you’re cheating both yourself and your employer. By putting in those additional hours, even if you have to work on a weekend, you will be able to achieve more and have a brighter future.
Donald Trump – put your name on everything
When he’s not telling you to think like a champion or that he has a new property in New York City, Donald Trump is leading a massive empire across the world. He reminds you of his personal brand through his NBC reality TV show “The Apprentice,” as well as his hotels, casinos, skating rinks, golf courses, books, and even his Trump branded steaks.
Trump puts his name everywhere, and therefore more people know about him, his family, and his connection with luxury products. You need to make sure your name gets out there in the same regard. Whether it’s your Twitter profile, your Facebook page, your business cards, your resume, or a presentation you working on at work, your name should be everywhere. This creates a consistency that will remind people of who you are, and what value you can contribute.
Johnny Depp – dress for success
If you haven’t heard the name Johnny Depp then you must not have watched his blockbuster movies, including the Pirates of the Caribbean series, and his recent Alice in Wonderland remake. Depp doesn’t just get attention from the ladies and press because of his acting skills though. He’s one of the most stylish guys on the planet, or at least that’s what GQ says. He wears grungy clothes, wears a variety of accessories, has long hair, and he switches his attire based on if he’s going to an award show, posing for a magazine, or is just casually walking around LA.
We can all take a lesson on how Depp dresses for success. You should have your own unique style, which means don’t copy everyone else. Dressing the part is important too. Before going on a job interview or starting your first day of work, make sure you dress appropriately based on the corporate culture. For instance, if it’s a small marketing firm or startup company, everyone might be wearing jeans. On the other hand, if you’re applying for a sales position at a Fortune 500 conglomerate, you better wear a suit. Dressing the part is about choosing the career that best suits what you want to wear.
Michael Jordan – be the best at what you do
If you asked ten people who the best basketball player of all time was, many would say Michael Jordan. At least the NBA acknowledges him of it! “Air” Jordan won five MVP awards, ten All-NBA First Team designations, and holds the record for the highest career regular-seasons scoring average of 30.12 points per game. I bet one of your friends is walking around his one of Jordan’s signature shoes, shirts, or even a basketball.
Jordan was the best at basketball, and you can be the best at what you do too. Decide what industry you want to go into, and in what field you can be the top expert in. Then learn, practice, and acquire new skills, so that you become more in-demand, have a higher salary, and can achieve a greater level of success. Michael Jordan didn’t become the king of the court overnight. He had the desire to be a champion, the commitment to lead his team, and the persistence to stay up all night shooting, dribbling, and honing his skills.
Simon Cowell – authenticity rules
“If your lifeguard duties were as good as your singing, a lot of people would be drowning,” states Simon Cowell to one of the contestants on American Idol. Every time Simon Cowell makes fun of a contestant on American Idol, we get angry, but in the back of our minds we agree with him. Simon is a music executive, television producer, successful entrepreneur, known from the UK to the US and back. He’s been the judge on a variety of hit shows, including Britain’s Got Talent and Idol.
Simon reminds all of us to be authentic and use our first amendment right to free speech. I see a lot of people who are lost in their careers, and aren’t true to their inner talents. You should let the world know what makes you special! Speak your mind and don’t be a phony because people connect with genuine and honest people, instead of “yes men.”
In review
To be successful, take Seacrest’s work ethic, Trump’s branding, Johnny Depp’s stylish wardrobe, Jordan’s authority, and Cowell’s honesty and mix them together. Of course, you aren’t a celebrity, at least not one that commands as much attention as these industry titans. You can’t afraid to be yourself and you certainly can’t be lazy if you want to have a successful career. And who knows, someday you might get your own TV show!
