In an era where women continue to redefine success on their own terms, the remarkable achievements of Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and Britney Spears serve as beacons of empowerment and resilience. Swift recently joined the billionaire’s club and Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour raked in $579 million, making it the highest-grossing tour by a female artist in history. Spears is in the mix too because she now has the highest-selling celebrity memoir in history. These three powerhouse women have not only broken glass ceilings but have also redefined the very notion of what it means to be in control of one’s career and legacy.
We can not only love the art they make, but we can follow in their footsteps and create a personal roadmap to success based on the things they’ve taken to achieve greatness.
Here are six key takeaways from their journeys that can inspire and empower all of us to take charge of our careers and make a significant impact:
1. Be A Self-Advocate
“Your self-worth is determined by you. You don’t have to depend on someone telling you who you are.”— Beyoncé
It’s the old adage that closed mouths don’t get fed. Speak up for yourself and assert your value in professional settings, just as Taylor, Beyoncé, and Britney did, ensuring that their voices were heard, and their contributions were recognized.
Action: Request a 1:1 call with your boss and send out an agenda at least 24 hours prior. Create talking points that highlight your recent wins, a need you have, and a goal you are working toward achieving.
2. Be Relentless
“Anytime someone tells me that I can’t do something, I want to do it more.”—Taylor Swift
Powering through resistance even when it feels like a tidal wave always leads to remarkable achievements. What’s your big dream? If it’s hard for you to answer that question, then that’s a huge opportunity to spend some time pondering what it is you want out of your career and life. Maybe your dream feels “scary big”—so big that it’s hard to acknowledge or vocalize. But keep in mind that Swift, Beyoncé, and Spears all likely felt that way at some point as well, and if they didn’t relentlessly chase down their dreams, the world would have majorly missed out on their impactful art.
Action: Beyoncé sings in Freedom, “Im’a keep running ‘cause a winner don’t quit on themselves”. So, lace up those shoes and run through all the real and perceived obstacles in your path.
Take each “rejection” as a positive redirection. Laid off or passed over for a promotion? Try to get to a place of gratitude for the redirection and you’ll lessen the time you spend suffering.
3. Fiercely Support Other Women
“In order for us to have gender equality, we have to stop making it a girl fight. It has to be more about cheering other women on.”—Taylor Swift
Female rivalry at work can be a detrimental force, leading to an array of negative consequences that undermine professional growth and well-being. The scarcity of top positions and the pressure to excel can foster a toxic environment where women compete fiercely against one another. It can present as subtle undermining, exclusion, or even overt sabotage, which ultimately slows or stops our progress.
Action: In the next work meeting, pretend you’re Taylor Swift cheering on Beyoncé at the Grammys. Instead of just politely nodding when a female colleague makes a great presentation or asks insightful questions, take a moment in front of the whole group to call out her expertise and how valuable and appreciated it is.
4. Run Towards Change
“The secret to happiness is having no memory. Live in the moment”—Britney Spears
Be present and adapt to changing dynamics in your industry and always strive to stay ahead of the curve. Beyoncé, Swift, and Spears continually evolved their brands and careers to remain relevant and influential.
Action: Focus on where you are now and how you’re performing today versus in the past. What can you do today to make an impact on your world/work?
5. Go All-In
“If there’s one thing I’m willing to bet on, it’s myself.”—Beyoncé
Power comes with uniqueness, authenticity, and innovative thinking. Beyoncé, Swift, and Spears used their creative expression to carve out impactful niches and utilized their creativity to redefine their industries and captivate audiences worldwide. When you bet on yourself, you give permission for your friends, family, and co-workers to do the same for themselves.
Action: What’s one thing you are holding back from sharing with your boss? What big ideas do you have? Are you a wannabe entrepreneur? Do some basic planning to see what it would take to bring your business or work project to life.
6. Reinforce Your Boundaries
“It’s important to learn to say no.”—Britney Spears
Setting personal and professional boundaries to maintain control and ensure a healthy work-life balance, is critical for success, just as these women learned to establish boundaries with their record labels, Ticketmaster, and even ex-boyfriends.
Action: Identify 1 trigger in your life that you could disarm by setting a healthy boundary with someone at work or in your personal life.
The journeys of Swift, Beyoncé, and Spears serve as testaments to the power of determination, authenticity, and resilience in achieving unparalleled success.
Through the lens of these trailblazing women, it becomes evident that the path to career control is not only about reaching the pinnacle of success but also about forging a unique legacy that reflects one’s true essence and potential. As we celebrate their remarkable achievements, let us be inspired to embark on our own transformative journeys, redefining success and leaving a lasting impact on the world around us.
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