One of the things that make certain celebrities famous and in-demand is the myth that comes to surround them about “who” they are. The SO MUCH larger than life image that, over time, people expect to see from them. Lady Gaga in a meat dress or some similar, jaw-dropping outfit, Martha Stewart ALWAYS creating beautiful things, Jimmy Carter constantly negotiating peace, Clint Eastwood saying, “Go ahead, make my day,” or Michael Jackson doing ANYTHING with that one sparkling glove.

On the one hand, this kind of mythological status is fantastic because it’s a simple idea that people can latch onto and want more of. It’s a great way to make a career catch on like wildfire.

The downside, however, can be devastating.

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***This post was originally published in Rebecca Soulette’s newsletter, Latte For The Soul, yesterday (Sept 11, 2011) but, at the request of a number of the subscribers, it’s now here too–a day late, but the sentiment is still the same!***

Today is my annual “don’t turn on the TV day,” because I REALLY don’t want to be sucked in to reliving Sept 11th over and over and over and over, from every conceivable angle and situation. Living through the original day and making my own peace with it was enough for me.

Every year, around this time, my friends and I have talks about whether all of this “reliving it” stuff is beneficial to us or not. I know that some people need it–especially many who lost loved ones or who had a particularly hard-to-heal day that day. And many folks who weren’t in NYC, DC, or PA appreciate being able to have a day to honor what a tough day it was.

But here’s what I have a problem with: the peer pressure that can result from this kind of  (forced) collective remembrance. Read the rest of this entry »

As I write this, I’m sitting in my room in the suite my mother and I are sharing at the Ritz Carlton. One of my cousins just got married, and this hotel suite has been our home base for the festivities. Though my out-of-town family is staying here to be near to the bride and groom, I’m here purely for the luxury. Because the truth is, we’re in New York City, and I live just a few blocks away–in my not-quite-as-ritzy apartment. Read the rest of this entry »

Although the press is having a FIELD DAY skewering NYC congressman, Anthony Weiner, the situation brings up something that pretty much EVERY person in the public eye may face–a dicey situation coming up in the press and our decision to lie and hope it goes away or to tell the truth and face a potentially career-ending public shaming (not to mention the effect it will have on those we love).

I’m not saying everyone has something to hide, but it was fascinating, yesterday, watching Weiner’s press conference where he came clean and took responsibility for all that he had done. He held himself up to the press, his constituents, and everyone else who happened to be watching TV when every other show got preempted for his press conference, and did what I, personally, think is an extremely admirable thing: he told the truth. Read the rest of this entry »

Two weeks ago, I had back-to-back trips. First, I was out of the country and then, once back in the country, I was home for less than 12 hours and then on my way out of state, and then, once home, my schedule was still packed. Although I’d met a number of great people along the way and had good trips, I realized the the only person I’d spoken to consistently in all that time was my cat sitter...
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With your career in full swing, you’re busy, you’re running around all over the country, sometimes, all over the world, your schedule is ridiculously unpredictable. One moment you’re totally excited, the next, you’re nervous and stressed out, the next, you’re catching up on sleep, the next, “Wait, what city am I in? What time zone is it?”

When you finally get a moment of actual FREE time, you want to connect with your friends and family. You want to share your highs and lows with them. But if you call them now, they’re at work. Or asleep. Or, huh? You got them on the phone, but they don’t really seem that interested in what you have to say! In fact, they actually sound irritated with you—and while you want to tell them all about this amazing experience you’ve just had, they want to talk about their job that’s exactly the same as the last time you talked to them? The silly thing their kids just did? The dog?

Wha????

What happened to your number one supporter? Why are they so annoyed? Don’t they GET that this is what you’ve worked all your life for and you want to share it with them?

The problem? Your friendship just became one-sided…

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I’m sure you’ve heard the (supposedly) motivational words, Failure Is Not An Option , as a way to inspire people to do great things. It makes great ad copy when selling sneakers or gatorade, and it ALWAYS makes for stirring interviews when people like Donald Trump, Olympic gold medalists, and award winners from every walk of life say it.

The Failure Is Not An Option perspective is a state of mind that can be extremely useful in helping us to keep moving forward no matter what setbacks come our way. But it can also do the EXACT OPPOSITE…

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Bill Gates with Matthew Bishop:

The Business of Giving

In a rare special appearance at 92Y, Bill Gates discusses his extraordinary career in business and philanthropy with Matthew Bishop of The Economist as part of his “The Business of Giving” series.

Save 25% on tickets with code EM25.

www.92Y.org/BillGates

(If this sounds like something you’d enjoy, you’ll LOVE this: http://www.lifebeyondcelebrity.com/giving-why-to-make-it-public/ ~Rebecca )

Michael Jackson’s memorial service ended a few minutes ago and besides the tears and the laughter that I am grateful to have been able to share with everyone else who was watching it on TV or present in the Staples Center in LA, I was reminded, in such a poignant way, why I do what I do for a living… Read the rest of this entry »

www.GetOverThatBreakUp.com

Check it out this Memorial Day and receive THREE very special BONUSES!

Enjoy!

Rebecca