Are You Maximizing Your Talents?

Music: My Sharona. Leilana Pierce (Winona Ryder) says, “I was really going to be somebody at 33.” Troy Dyer (Ethan Hawke) replies, “Honey, all you have to be by the time you’re 23, is yourself.” Professional life today is about doing your own thing now – leapfrogging the corporate ladder while making your own rules and being your own boss, says Über-guru Tom Peters. Here’s some ways to drive your career to its fullest, from Talent: Develop It, Sell It, Be It, part of his Essentials Series (DK). Think like an entrepreneur. Drei Felix wanted to be more than just a 103 ½ MaxFM deejay. He knew he has what it takes to be a VJ so he auditioned for Myx. Sadly, he didn’t make it the first time, but since he didn’t quit, he made a fourth try – and got the job. Market yourself. Migs Escueta grew up on the music of Coldplay, Lifehouse and Foo Fighters, and he wanted to chart an alt-rock musical career too. But though he was 1st runner-up in the Magic 89.9 Acoustic Break in 2003, he knew he should take the initiative rather wait for offers so he sent his demo tapes to major record labels – and clinched a deal with MCA Universal. Thrive on ambiguity. Robert Pattinson tasted fame after playing the wizard Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. But his whole world changed after playing the vampire Edward Cullen in Twilight, and he eventually learned to just take it in stride. “Right now its, fine,” says the British actor, “it’s just bizarre.” Embrace technology. Fil-Am nursing student Christine Gambito-Rodgers was an aspiring actress but the cameos she did weren’t enough: she wanted to be a star in her own right. Taking advantage of modern technology, she wrote, directed and produced footages starring herself – including “Mixed Nuts,” winner of the 2006 YouTube Video Awards for Best Comedy – and became famous around the world as Happy Slip.

"Reality Bites" movie poster photo courtesy of Larbage.com