(Part 13) Layoffs, Makeovers & Comebacks: How Celebs Reinvent Their Careers – In 90 Days.

 Kevin Costner’s got the answer. To the BP oil spill disaster. Checkout his invention. That’s getting honorable mention. Used to separate oil from water. An idea inspired by Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska. Best known as a Hollywood actor. Reinventing himself for madd money now and ever-after.

Not trained as a scientist. But clearly an optimist. Thought there had to be a better way. To cleanup a spill on another day. Got together with some experts and business leaders. To build an ocean-skimming vacuum cleaner. Costner brought a dream mentality. Now set to deal with today’s reality.

Puts his dream into action. Developing a marketable ability. Into a hot commodity. Met with industry execs. Hoping to leave with a check. Got turned down time and time again. Persevering to the logical end. Selling safety might not be sexy. But a biz need is not always about being foxy.

Costner made his mark. Starring in lots of movies. Like Bodyguard with Whitney Houston. As well as touring with his band. Displays a balanced personality. Avoids getting caught up. With gossip and frivolity. Not known to make waves. Invention adds to his legacy. Between now and the grave.

He’s in the prime of his life. Don’t be fooled by his good looks, says his wife. As a youngster he spent time in the books. Earned a business degree before acting became his hook. Movies might be how we know his name. But that’s not the only thing he hopes his tombstone will claim.

Hip Tip: Reinventing your career means taking a chance on success, knowing that a market need is not always about being sexy.

Blog Talkback: Should Kevin Costner’s career success be linked more to being a Hollywood actor or modern-day inventor?

(Part 12) Layoffs, Makeovers & Comebacks: How Celebs Reinvent Their Careers – In 90 Days.

 Lucky to be alive? The story of Curtis 50 Cent Jackson. Growing up fast. With violence in his past. A hard life. Filled with strife. Running the streets. Dropping rap beats. Taking it to the big screen. Losing 50+ pounds, looking lean. For “Things Fall Apart” movie. Reinvents his story. From pain to glory.

Some crash and burn. Others live and learn. When things fall apart. Due to layoff or setback. A financial cutback. Take an inside look. For what makes you cook. All about a makeover. A personal takeover. Getting command of self. Simplify your life. Celebs diet to lose weight. Taking steps to be great.

Spread your wings. Branch out to new things. Go where you’ve never been. Failure not an option nor a sin. Initial success is in how you try. Continued success is in how you diversify. Expand your brand. Deal the perfect hand. Make your talents grow. Rock steady, get in the flow. 

Trends come and go. The market goes up and down. But skill captures what you know. Lets your experience show. Quit your day job. Not enough honey in your money. Leave your play job. If your money is funny. Find your dream job. To satisfy your 9-to-5 calling. Where passion keeps you smiling.

When one door closes. Another soon appears. Put patience into practice. Perseverance on notice. Tell yourself “you got this.” Experience workplace bliss. A new you starts with being true. To what matters most. The best you comes through. Even when others thought you were toast.

Hip Tip: Reinventing your career means taking a stand for what makes you happy and leaving behind what makes you blue.

Blog Talkback: Will the weight loss of 50 Cent inspire some people to do the same or push others to reinvent their game?

(Part 11) Layoffs, Makeovers & Comebacks: How Celebs Reinvent Their Careers – In 90 Days.

 Boobgate! The latest Palin buzz. No change in bust-line. But women are making strides. On the party-line. Winning election primaries. Running Fortune 500 companies. Breaking the glass ceiling. Working with the right stuff. Reinventing their game to new fame. Maybe they’ve had enough.

Meg Whitman makes millions. As Ebay CEO. Spends her own money. In a bid for Governor. Carly Fiorina does the same. Using her cred. As former HP head. With a run for US Senate. Hoping voters will remember. Between now and November. They are political outsiders. Not incumbent insiders.

Sick and tired of the boss? Wish he’d get lost? Maxed out in pay. No passion at work today. Starting over after a layoff. Hoping the job search will payoff. Celebs find a new point of sale. Where cash and flow come together. Moving to a new place of service. Earning new rank or status. 

Gotta spend money to make money. That’s how some ideas takeoff. Or dreams make a jumpoff. But even if your money’s funny. Reposition your skills. It can bring new celebrity. Be about something bigger. Than simply getting richer. Step aside from feeling envy. See success in your legacy.

The pundits are excited. For what to expect on the political horizon. Been here before. Time will settle the score. A career makeover means “do you” part 2. Turn up the heat. Take it to the streets. Go from actor to politician. Pro athlete to sports analyst. Regular Joe to CEO. Or CEO to political honcho.

Hip Tip: Reinventing your career means turning “sick & tired” into fired-up and ready to go.

Blog Talkback: Will the November elections be about politics at its lowest or girl-power at its finest?

(Part 10) Layoffs, Makeovers & Comebacks: How Celebs Reinvent Their Careers – In 90 Days.

 What’s in a nickname? Ask Sean Combs. Aka Puff Daddy, Puffy, P. Diddy. Or just plain Diddy. He’s gone through an evolution. Reinventing his career. Like how models change what they wear. Hip Hop artist. Music mogul. Fashion icon. Stage and movie actor. Knows how to keep it movin’.

He’s like a garden lizard. Mixing-up his look. Works well for his pocketbook. Spreading across the marketplace. Finding new ways. To be in your face. Turns his main thing. Into more bling bling. Not a complete start-over. Just a smart makeover. Gives him an edge. From being pushed off the ledge.   

He’s not the only one. To turn bad-boy image. Into professional homage. Remember NWA? With Ice Cube from back in the day. Coming full circle. As a TV sitcom producer. Reinventing your game. It’s about finding new ways. To lead with your fame. From cussing sailor. To conscious soldier.

They have done good. After leaving the ‘hood. How’d they do it? Both got vision. They work with precision. Taking success to another level. Look how far they’ve come. Eventhough there’s nothing new under the sun. Not being held back. By what others say. Watchout, they come to play.

Ebony/Jet Magazine’s got a new chief. Financial investors feeling relief. Soapnet cable channel saying bye-bye. No longer a revenue model that flies. Careers go through seasons. Business reinventions have reasons. After all is said and done. Keep things movin’. Don’t stop having fun.

Hip Tip: Reinventing your career means keeping things moving and don’t stop groovin’.

Blog Talkback: Does the TV sitcom Are We There Yet? on TBS have the potential to be as successful as the Cosby Show?

(Part 9) Layoffs, Makeovers & Comebacks: How Celebs Reinvent Their Careers – In 90 Days.

 Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson vs. Jackie Chan. Who’d kick whose butt more? In the ring. Or on the big screen. Wrestler turned actor. Martial artist turned entertainer. The Rock plays tooth fairy. Chan plays babysitting spy next door. Appealing to a new audience. Showing more brilliance.

Who knew? That The Rock had soft skills. Seen as a body bruiser. Taking on the bone crusher. Thrilling young and old. With moves that were stone cold. Then reinventing himself. Tapping the child within. Becoming a Disney favorite. With a new work etiquette. Going from free-fall. To standing fairy-tall.

Maybe wrestling is acting (oops). Or karate’s good for entertaining. Does that explain the shift? From athlete to kid-sweet. A career has more. By looking at the core. Your strengths will forever be. The ticket to fresh notoriety. So even when pros retire. Trump picks them for celebrity hire.

Such a pretty face. Some say about The Rock. With the kind of smile. Not normally seen. On a wrestling pile. Going from WWE. To heartthrob at Disney. Follow the cash flow. Network with those in the know. Work on bringing a show. The marketplace is ready. For new pomp and pageantry.

The Rock scores points. Wrestling titles to boot. And a Hollywood career that suits. His Crossover appeal. Bringing grit to Wrestlemania. Becoming a hit at Disneymania. A mover and shaker. A big-time money-maker. All in a day’s work. From someone you’d never call a jerk.

Hip Tip: Reinventing your career means appealing to a new audience as well as the child in you.

Blog Talkback: Jackie Chan vs. The Rock. Whose original star power seemed a better match for the children’s hour?