3 Things Every Businesswoman Should Notice about American Idol Winner Phillip Phillips

May

2012

Phillip_Phillips_-_photo_credit_American_Idol_Fox

Think Dave Matthews meets Bruce Springsteen and you’ve got last week’s American Idol winner Phillip Phillips. Regardless if you voted for him (a record 132 million cast votes this year) or even watched the show, there are three things every businesswomen should notice about why Phillip won and how you can be a winner, too.

Reason #1: Incredible Authenticity
Perhaps one of the most endearing, appealing qualities about Phillip is that he didn’t stop being himself. He played each song his way, which often put a different twist on a familiar tune. Again and again he made it his own and wowed the judges as well as the audience. They loved him for being his true, authentic self.

Staying true to yourself in your career or while building a business can sometimes be scary. You make a decision that’s unpopular because it causes others to work harder or be held more accountable. You openly take a stand that may threaten your employment or success. Or, you courageously show your skills, talents and abilities at a whole new level and people love you for it.

Being incredibly authentic is powerful because most people don’t have the courage to do so – but want to. So, just like Phillip Phillips, they are like a bee to honey. Now more than ever, authenticity is a huge attraction factor.

Reason #2: Oozing Passion
Phillip didn’t move around the stage as much as the other singers when he performed, but none the less, he oozed passion. When he sang you felt it – in his eyes, his smile, his body language, lighting, everything! The other singers were great vocalists, but Phillip had something more. His intensity drew you in and made you feel a bit more alive and a bit more real in that moment.

Often the workplace and business world does not encourage passion, intensity or being very real. Being a middle of the road solid performer who doesn’t rock the boat is preferred, thank you very much. The problem is that approach won’t rock your career or your business. When you care so much about your work that your enthusiasm cannot stop from oozing, people notice. They are curious about what’s next and new opportunities happen.

Reason #3: Relentlessly Competent
In order to compete week after week and nail it, especially when he was coming up with creative ways to make a know song his own, Phillip had to already be a competent musician. To get to that level he had to be relentless. In addition to his day job as a pawn shop worker, he had to practice, practice, practice and play, play, play. By singing and playing over and over again he got better and better.

It’s in the doing that you improve. Simple and as hard as that. You don’t get much glory practicing, performing, learning, tweaking, and practicing again. But, true winners in life and businesses keep at it and hold onto to the belief that in time all their practicing will pay off and they will have the opportunity to step up to a larger stage. They are relentless at becoming the most competent they can be.

Photo Credit: American Idol FOX

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