Marketing Me! Lessons from Britney Spears

I am not that big into pop culture - guess that dates me in some circles. But my wife pointed out the awful mess Miss Spears made this weekend.

Marketing Me! is not a celebrity news site. Our position is the celebrity is you. However, many celebrities know quite well how to market themselves successfully and keep their personal brand going long after critics have deemed them "washed up". (Google Billy Ray Cyrus sometime..).

Britney Spears, in case you just dropped in from Mars or recently awoke, Rip Van Winkle style, is a pop singer who attained notoriety about a decade ago at the age of 17. Since that time, her life has had it's fair share of ups and downs as they often do in that tumultuous business called entertainment.

After a long down period in her life, Miss Spears had the opportunity to perform at the Video Music Awards in Las Vegas this past weekend. Put before her, was the chance to redeem her recent foibles and gain back some accolades for the talent which brought her to this point earlier in her life.

Instead, viewers were witness to a dazed, badly dressed (unfortunately under dressed) young woman who clearly needs some help and attention. It was very, very sad.

Lessons learned from this event which we can appreciate in our own professional lives.

1) All the world is a stage - An interview, presentation or speaking engagement gives us one shot to impress or depress our audience. Practice, practice and practice before hand. Get professional and personal feedback on our presentation before hand.

2) Dress for success - It is far better to be overdressed than under dressed. It is far better to be subdued than over the top. It is always better to be timeless rather then trashy. All common sense points, but all to often forgotten on stage and in the office.

3) You are judged on every moment - both fairly and unfairly. Critics call your worse your standard and your best a fluke. Anticipate criticism but offer no fodder to your critics!

4) Don't let your personal life interfere with your talent! Keep it separate always.

5) Your name is your brand, your work your calling card and your resume your testament. Do not let your brand become usurped by others, your calling card to be discarded or your resume misunderstood or unfocused.

Britney Spears is ready for a personal (re)Marketing. Clearly she has talent and can accomplish great things given the right personal direction.

You can too.

Get aware, get busy.

Happy hunting!