November 2009

5% Glamour, 95% Hard Work!!!

Today I had to allow a member of staff to fire herself.

She came to me with a long explanation as to why she felt that she was “over qualified for the behind the scenes stuff” and that she would be better utilized if I gave her a more prestigious role as a presenter on the Sisterhood TV Show!

Now, before I continue to write please allow me to say this – I am all for assisting my staff in developing their careers. I encourage, support and relish the opportunity to allow them to shine. I become enormously proud when they leave the team and move onto bigger and even better opportunities. Case in point; my previous assistant is now running her own company and has worked with Russell Simmons.

However, when this particular member of staff came to me I had to remind her of a basic fact about the ‘business of entertainment’ – its 5% glamour and 95% hard work – therefore if you are not willing to demonstrate that you have the ingredients to bake the cake, why would anyone give you the icing?

After three months of working with us she had failed to deliver on any level. She missed deadlines, turned up late, never thought outside of the box and ineffectively contributed to the team. Whilst she has great potential, that was all that I saw…potential; her talents where not backed with any evidence of her ability to deliver.

It simply amazes me that despite the endless reality TV shows on the fashion, music and entertainment industry – ‘America’s Next Top Model’, ‘Making the Band’, ‘I want to work for Diddy’ and ‘Project Catwalk’ – I still, at least once a month have to remind someone (normally a stranger wanting a hand out) that this industry is 5% glamour and 95% hard work. I am constantly saying to them that “marketing is a science not some creative fluff” and therefore to get along in this business you need to understand one golden rule…it’s a business…and in business you have to deliver!

The industry parties, the high profile celebrities, the red carpet pictures and the cocktail receptions are a tiny component of what makes up the bigger picture.

There are 100,000 (literally hundreds of thousands) of people out their competing to get into the business of music, the business of entertainment and the business of fashion. Why should someone, anyone, take a chance with you? Proof. That’s why, because you have proven that you have what it takes. That’s why the industry starts you at the bottom as a Runner…doing all the horrible odd jobs…you need to prove that you have the ingredients to survive, sustain and make your mark in this game.

So I asked my member of staff one question ‘What have you done to deserve this position?’….needless to say; she didn’t come back again!

Kubi x