This article was originally published on Plotr.
These young superstars are talented and successful. Now, with these six lessons you can be too.
Emma Watson
Miss Watson, aka Hermione Granger, had eight auditions before she was given the role as the Hogwarts student but did you know acting was not her only passion? After the Harry Potter series finished she became a U.N. Women Goodwill Ambassador, English literature grad and a certified yoga instructor.
Lesson learned: Even when you’ve have finished your formal education you can continue to learn. There are short courses, online courses, apprenticeships and lots of other ways too (many of them are free or cheap). The more you know, the more employable you are.
Lewis Hamilton
When Lewis Hamilton was ten he met the McLaren team principal (a very important chap) and said he’d like to be on the McLaren team someday. Three years later McLaren signed him up for the McLaren driver development programme. Now, as we know, he’s the greatest British F1 racing driver around, winning three world championships.
Lesson learned: Networking is a very powerful technique for finding yourself a job. You never know what may come from your hard work. Reach out to everyone you can, make a great first impression and show them how confident you are.
Justin Bieber
The young Canadian singer was spotted by Usher on YouTube for his musical talents. You know he can sing, but did you know he can also play piano, guitar, trumpet and drums? The guy can also finish off a Rubik’s cube in two minutes and speak fluent French. He‘s got skills.
Lessons learned: Hobbies can be a great way to find out what careers might suit you. Keep a journal of the activities you do and what you like about them. It probably won’t get you to pop superstardom but it could help you find a career that makes you happy.
Nicola Adams
British boxing breakthrough Nicole Adams is the first Olympic women’s boxing champion ever. To win she had to beat China’s Ren Cancan in the Olympic final – a boxer who had defeated her in both the 2010 and 2012 world championship finals.
Lesson learned: Nicola lost but kept getting back up and eventually won. As a job-hunter you probably won’t get every job you apply for but if you get feedback, polish off your CV and apply for another role eventually you’ll get your job.
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran is our favourite singer-songwriter superstar but it’s not been an easy ride. Before he became famous around the world and made friends with Taylor Swift, his workload was almost unbelievable. When he moved to London he played more than 300 live shows and gigs in one year.
Lessons learned: There’s an old saying that hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. Whether you’re doing your exams, writing a covering letter or thinking about your options, always give it your best.
Kaley Cuoco
Leonard and Sheldon’s neighbour Penny is not known for her super smarts but that’s not true of the actress who plays her on The Big Bang Theory. With her sights set on becoming an actress, Kaley Cuoco decided to become homeschooled, finishing high school two years earlier than scheduled.
Lesson learned: Everyone learns in different styles. If the classroom doesn’t work, maybe an apprenticeship may be more up your street. Take a look at our Choices Zone for information about what choices are available to you.
