(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?

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

 Simon Cowell saying goodbye. To the show he brought to America. Idol became very popular. Crossing the pond. After starting in England. Wants to reinvent himself. His role has run its course. Plans to do it again. With a new show called X-Factor. Betting on his success? Text 1 for yes, 2 for no.

A slip in the ratings. No longer the most watched. Was that his reason for leaving? Not quite. Feels he’s maxed out the learning. Maybe even the earning. He’s become bored. Difficult to hide. Even-though he has enjoyed the ride. No longer a sense of discovery. Not about the money.

Cowell likes the buzz. Keeps people talking. Many comment on his personality. Tough but sometimes nasty. Others talk about his style. Should be reported. To the fashion authority. But Cowell doesn’t care as much. What people think. As long as genius in creativity. Puts $$$ in the bank.

He admits past mistakes. Having lost it all before. Once wearing designer clothing. Driving nice cars. But needing to move back home. After going broke. Bad blow to his ego. Which explains why he’s so honest. Separating the trees from the forest. The future stars from the weakest.

A continuing search. To find the next big talent. That’s what makes him content. Knows there are no guarantees. But consistently aims to please. Those who invest. Hoping for the best. Those who will watch. To see if he passes the test. Reality TV lessons. On reinventing your blessings.  

Hip Tip: Reinventing your career means being honest about when it’s time to move on to a new sense of discovery.

Blog Talkback: Can Simon Cowell do it again with a new show or is his ego about to blow?

(Part 7) Layoffs, Makeovers & Comebacks: How Celebs Reinvent Their Careers – In 90 Days.

 Give me a T. Give me an I. What’s that spell? TI, as in the rapper. Give me a T-I-G-E-R. As in the golfer. One’s from the ‘hood. One’s named Woods. Both played with fire. Now trying to go higher. TI leaves the lockup. Tiger gets the rehab hook-up. From boys to men. Wanting to shine again.

It’s what happens after a setback. For personal reasons. Or the end of an employment season. Gotta admit. There’s room for improvement. If you want to see career movement. TI takes responsibility. For losing his sensibility. Tiger owns up to cheating. After his popularity takes a beating.

What’s your bread and butter? Not talking about supper. But about that which makes you better. Than any other go-getter. Time to revisit. Be in it to win it. Let passion come alive. In your 9 to 5. TI returns to the studio. Tiger’s back on the course. Where love for life. Comes through most.

Selling records. Puts money in the bank. Winning championships. Raises a golfer’s rank. TI hopes to keep his nose clean. During and after probation. Tiger re-commits. To his faith and first love. A fresh career journey. Looks hard to do. But good karma. Makes dreams come true.

The horizon looks bright. Once you’ve seen the light. Wake up and live. There’s riches in how you give. Your best on and off the job. Turn learning power into earning power. Wrong attitude into a sense of gratitude. Remember, much props to Big G (o-d). Who gave you life for free. 

Hip Tip: Reinventing your career means finding new ways to shine like old times and living the best of times.

Blog Talkback: Everybody deserves a second chance, so how should TI or Tiger use theirs to make a difference?

(Part 6) Layoffs, Makeovers & Comebacks: How Celebs Reinvent Their Careers – In 90 Days.

 Janet Jackson tweets her respects. To the passing of Lena Horne. Whose artistry, beauty and strength. Will continue to live on. Are they similar? Both said yes. To grown and sexy streams of income. Had to reinvent themselves. From acting to singing to activism. Secrets to career longevity.

As seen in Hollywood. And the music business. Careers can take a hit. Is Janet no longer releasing albums? Thinks the marketplace has changed. Prefers singles instead. It’s the itunes way. Doing more acting. Sort of a rewind. To her 227 sitcom days. Long-time love. But Perry Studios paycheck.

Dancing her way to success. J-lo the Latina Diva. And big screen Chica. She’s had to relearn a thing or two. About showcasing her roots. Doing-it-up contemporary. Living-it-up musically. With the release of hot soundtracks. Movies and beats with impact. For dancers and romancers. 

Hats off to Victoria Rowell. Taking a page from the Young and Restless. A former foster child herself. Now telling the story. Of moving her life to higher glory. Shows there’s still room to roll. Even after life’s taken its toll. Giving thanks for another day. As they reintroduce themselves. In a new and fresh way.

Lena Horne’s gone. But not to be forgotten. From her years as an entertainer. Actress, Singer and Activist. New York’s Cotton Club at age 16. To the March on Washington in 1963. So reinvent yourself, or else. To stay in demand. Horne’s a good example. For those following her lead.

Hip Tip: Reinventing your career means getting back to your roots to start new money-making shoots.

Blog Talkback: Has the marketplace changed where you buy more music singles than albums?

(Part 5) Layoffs, Makeovers & Comebacks: How Celebs Reinvent Their Careers – In 90 Days.

 Where are they now? Long time heartthrobs and sex symbols. Starring with lynn Redgrave and Elizabeth Taylor. Even as a crime fighting duo. Now they’re product pitchmen. Paul Michael Glaser from Starsky & Hutch. William Shatner and Denzel Washington. Alter-ego makeovers?

Athletes go from draft to mvp. Developing their game. Growing in fame. Becoming a household name. Working professionals go from job to career. From career to vocation. Making money. Having esteem. In the ideal occupation. Where passion and purpose come together. For the right situation.

Hollywood studs like Robert Wagner. Reinventing themselves. Just goes to show. Careers can have a second life. Sometimes actors get a new wife. Happens on the big screen. Falling for a beauty queen. Returning in a sequel. Retelling their story. With better results. Truly sensational!

One-time TV/movie hunks. Still showing some spunk. Star Trek’s Shatner selling flights. Starsky solving debt consolidation. Denzel on Broadway. Wagner selling reverse mortgages. The perfect career substitute. It’s how some celebs make a later start.

Writing their biography. Reliving some old glory. Supporting Oprah’s Angel Network. Harnessing their net worth. The prime years have come and gone. But not forgotten. The Pope strives for Sainthood. Celebs use their foundations to do good. All in a career’s journey. A timeless lifestory.

Hip Tip: Reinventing your career means letting your alter-ego rise like an eagle.

Blog Talkback: Would you still support your favorite celeb even if what they’re pitching doesn’t interest you?

(Part 4) Layoffs, Makeovers & Comebacks: How Celebs Reinvent Their Careers – In 90 Days.

 Let’s vote! For comeback artist of the year. Nominees are: Sade, Maxwell, Monica, Miley Cyrus. And the winner is? Hold that thought. Even a reality show’s in the making. To help singing groups. Return to top billing. Still able to make hits? Cheers after a career sabbatical. Here’s to new and improved.

As seen on TV. With a product release. In a new package or scent. Fresh commercial appeal. Keeping it real. A lot of soul-searching. In the process of reinventing. Products get made-over. Careers start over. Artists pursue a do-over. Finding who you are. Helps you go far.

Switching careers. Spreading your wings. Taking a step back. Get a handle on things. Knowing what you want. To get out of life. Puts you on a path. For having the last laugh. Spending time in knowledge-building. Returning to college as an evening student. One semester at a time.

Have to figure out. Where you belong. Time passes and styles change. Gunning for a new salary range. All about market positioning. Lots of competition. From peers and younger performers. Maybe it’s time. To sell yourself differently. Less as an overachiever. More as an overcomer.

So Sade’s still hot. Maxwell helps you hit the spot. Monica’s back in the groove. Miley Cyrus makes a big screen move. Shaking off Hannah Montana linkage. For more of a grown and sexy image. Reinventing your game. Going from rookie to celebrity acclaim. Rising star to winner by far.

Hip Tip: Reinventing your career means turning a letdown, layoff or sabbatical into a fresh start from the heart.

Blog Talkback: Old-school vs. New-school. Throwback vs. Neo-soul. Does a new music artist appeal to you more than one who’s “new and improved?”

(Part 3) Layoffs, Makeovers & Comebacks: How Celebs Reinvent Their Careers – In 90 Days

 40 million dollars! And a bottle of rum. Maybe champagne. To celebrate his new gig. With TBS. After leaving NBC. For the return of Leno. Something old. Something new. On the latenight tube. Obrien had time to vent. Now he’ll reinvent. Moving to cable. Thinking outside the “Network TV” box.

He’s breaking new ground. With competition all around. After being let go. Wants the world to know. Hasn’t lost his mojo. Lessons in career makeover. Or business rollover. Gotta brand your skills. Not about the money. What do you bring? To the marketplace or business space.

Sure, the money’s good. Obrien signs for 10 mil. Owns the copyrights. Good for merchandising. Given full creative freedom. To do his thing. FOX made a pitch. Talks ran into a hitch. Obrien went with cable. To niche his strengths. And build his media stable. TNT knows drama. But TBS… Very Funny. 

Reaching a younger audience. Advertising’s dollars and cents. Sending out tweets. Hearing back from his peeps. Lopez moves back an hour. TBS the next latenight power? Obrien’s gotten past the flack. NBC no longer on his back. A comedy tag-team. Not a get rich money stream.

The new Conan show. Not yet named. But a refresh to his game. He’s on the road. With standup comedy show. Returning to TV screen. Come November making more green. How dreams are made. Careers get paid. Winners make the grade. Only time will tell. If Obrien’s King of the trade.

Hip Tip: Reinventing your career means thinking outside the box and taking back your future.

Blog Talkback: Network TV competes against cable. Which one’s winning based on your favorite shows? 

(Part 2) Layoffs, Makeovers & Comebacks: How Celebs Reinvent Their Careers – In 90 Days.

 Just announced. Oprah’s Next Chapter. Coming to a TV set near you. On the Oprah Winfrey Network. As she reinvents her game. With a new network launch. Set for 1.1.11. And a primetime talk show. What’s it about? A question being asked. Maybe stories on finding workplace bliss.

She’s big. On TV, radio and in print. Taking charge. Thinking large. Building relationships. Showcasing greatness. Handling her business. Now she wants to change the stage. Challenge the fear. Make the choice. Between mediocrity and superiority. A constant battle. To show your mettle.

Look at her career. Going from local news anchor. To daytime Talk Queen. Launching Book Club stars. As well as national personalities. Like Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz and Rachel Ray. Living your best life. The basis of her brand. And theme for her professional calling. Best life experiences with inspiration.

Moving beyond the studio. Taking it to the streets. Where content meets culture. The look and feel. Keeping it real. The likes and dislikes. Doing it with zeal. The comings and goings. Of today’s chicks. And tomorrow’s flicks. Noone’s telling. Who’ll be on the new sofa yelling?

If she can dream it. She can do it! That’s the belief. Of those close to her empire. A good place to start. When reinventing yourself. More than a job. More than a career. But about living to the max. Paying your share of tax. Growing in key areas. Work, play and more fulfillment everyday. 

Hip Tip: Reinventing your career moves you closer to your calling, dreams and best life. 

Blog Talkback: Sex, controversy and gossip sells. So what’s the secret to Oprah’s longstanding market appeal?

 Wanna dream in color? Like that new online reality show. Called “If I Can Dream.” Coming to a laptop near you. Follows five dreamers. Who want to be in showbiz. Act like a star. And go far. In career and business. Dr. King had a speech. Elvis wrote a song. Obama had audacity. Where’s your tenacity?

Serve a need. Avoid the trap of greed. Enough to go around. Even in the underground. Everyone has a dream. Others a way to scheme. Focus on the main thing. Whether you write or sing. Good with numbers. Or hanging with plumbers. Know your money-sides. Deliver with purpose and pride.

Get your shine on. Using the light within. Turn up your game. Network your name. Leverage your fame. Steve Harvey’s done it. So has Baisden. Both rising to the occasion. Learn from others. The things not taught in school. Success is in how you suit-up. More than just a hiccup.

The best of the best. Know how to outshine the rest. A lot to do with who you are. In spirit, talent, attitude and relationships. Do you! Let your brand come thru. Talk to Big G (od). He gives advice for free. Better yourself. One goal at a time. Get your groove on. Achieve in your prime.

Mary J. Blige paints a picture. On the Precious soundtrack. “I can see in color. The first sign of spring. The rose buds are blooming. I got a new song to sing. Life looks so amazing. Never knew I could open my eyes. And for the very first time, I can see (or dream) in color.” It’s all clear!

Hip Tip: The way to roll to reach your goal is to act like a star and go far.

Blog Talkback: If you could dream in color what would it take to write your own song or have the best life experience?