5 THINGS TALENTED PEOPLE TO DO MESS UP THEIR CAREERS

5 THINGS TALENTED PEOPLE DO TO MESS UP THEIR CAREERS

Yes you are talented, you are like a diamond in the rough that has not been refined, a treasure chest that hasn’t been opened, a rose that hasn’t been plucked(lol).The good news is that your talent can take you places , and win you top-spots in the minds of people .But on the flip-side, what you do with it can either put your career on success avenue or push you into the leagues of the unknown.

PITFALL 1

THE WRONG ASSOCIATION
The power of your network cannot be underplayed as regards your talent.Comedians like Seyilaw, Elenu,Mc shakara, Emeka Smith, have a mentorship relationship with the phenomenal A.Y(Ayo Makun), which gave their comedy careers a lift.The Banky W-Whizkid relationship has turned whizkid from an unknown talent into a mega star.On the other hand, hanging around talent predators, in the case of Whitney houston and Bobby brown can put your career on the downward trend.So be on the alert, the wrong association can deplete your potentials and capacity .Eagles don’t scratch with chickens.

PITFALL 2

IGNORING THE BUSINESS SIDE OF YOUR TALENT

Treating your talent like a business is the beginning of wisdom.For years I was just having a love affair with my talent without learning the business side to it.Being an amazingly talented make up artiste aint just enough,cos talent alone cannot pay the bills. Jay-Z is worth a reported $450m. He was a co-founder of Rocaware which he sold for $207m in 2007. Every album (and that is over 15) he has released has gone platinum. He has endorsement deals with Chevy, Budweiser, Armadale Vodka, and Hewlett Packard. He has ownership in the New Jersey Nets, Arsenal Football Club, 40/40 nightclubs and Def Jam Records. He was co-interviewed with Warren Buffett. Jay-Z has his fingers just about everywhere and has become the definition of a mogul.He has moved beyond rapping talent to a business mogul.Here in Nigeria, the likes of Donjazzy,Banky W, A.Y, Teju baby face,have converted their talents into business empires.You can do that too.

PITFALL 3

UNDERESTIMATING THE POWER OF PUBLICITY
Just a great publicity can turn an unknown person into a mega celeb.As a Talent development coach a lot of artistes tell me getting publicity is difficult if you are just starting out…(to an extent acceptable).Yes ,publicity will cost you something,but you don ‘t need all the money in the world to start.Eunice Nze in an article shares how Donjazzy has been able to use the internet to publicise the MO -HITS BRAND.According to her: ‘One brand that has used viral marketing to its full advantage in Nigeria is the Mo’hits record boss, Don Jazzy. Jazzy has used it successfully to the benefit of the label. He is known to use the internet to communicate with his fans who in turn respond tremendously. First it was the Enigma contest where upcoming rappers were expected to rap some lyrics on the beat and send it back. The response was overwhelming with over 1,800 entries in the space of one week. The winner of the competition went home with $2,000, 2nd place $1,000 and 3rd place, $500. At the end of the competition, more up and coming acts had the chance to get good exposure both online and offline.
Later, he came up with another competition that served as a crown to his efforts, the Oliver Twist single promo. The song was released without completion and fans were given the opportunity of being their own producer.
Apart from cutting cost on hiring a venue for the competition to take place, he also cut cost on media promotion, production hassles, and much more. He also acquired something like a bank /resource from which video ideas could be conceived. The competition has won an amazing customer patronage, boasting almost 25,000 hits in a few days. Entries came in not only from local fans but also from international fans, a reflection of Jazzy’s acceptance worldwide.’ She noted.Building relationships with bloggers, journalists,On air personalities in your niche can birth the exposure you desire .A terrible thing happens without publicity….nothing!

PITFALL 4

BECOMING TOFFEE NOSED

The fact that you are talented, making headlines, gracing soldout events , doesn’t make you better than anyone else.Its all by the grace of God that you are where you are and who you are.One quality everyone seem to love about Tuface, is his trade mark humility.You need to stoop to conquer.Success can be intoxicating, attributing your achievement to none other than yourself can be likened to digging your grave with your own hands.Be willing to learn so as to rise to the top of your game.
PITFALL 5

GIVING UP TOO SOON

Succeeding in your craft is not a script you play out overnight.You ve got to give your efforts time to birth its dividends.Genevieve Nnaji’s entry into the movie world was a small earning of #2,000 for starring in a movie, but today her movie fee appearances is in the range of millions.In her words:’Only you will tell yourself the limit you can go.Man can predict but only you can make the prediction come to frution ‘.You’ve got to keep recording that music, attending that audition for movie roles, sending in those write ups,don’t ever give up.Persistence made the snail reach the ark.Keep on keeping on.

Kehinde Ajose is a Talent Development coach who helps individuals to discover and develop their talent solutions in order to create wealth and become global brands.He is a sought after publicist and writer.To request for a coaching session, pls reach him on 08024212530 or splendidkenny01@yahoo.com.Http:/KehindeAjose.blogspot.com