Volunteer lawyers: 5 THINGS TAYLOR SWIFT CAN TEACH YOU ABOUT MANAGING YOUR CAREER (II)

Defend your own interests

In 2014, Taylor Swift removed her songs from Spotify to protest the almost non-existent remuneration of artists on the platform. Ten years later, she won her fight and is the most listened to artist on Spotify.

It just goes to show that it’s not by letting yourself eat the wool off your back that you build your fortune. Online music streaming services had immense power over the music industry, but Taylor certainly wasn't going to wait for his due.

DISTURB, TAKE RISKS, SAVE YOURSELF: THE SAD TRUTH IS THAT YOUR BOSS IS NOT GOING TO DO IT FOR YOU.

What would Taylor Swift do in your place? She would openly discuss her salary and working conditions with her colleagues, so that they can give themselves the means to defend their rights if necessary. She would also not hesitate to speak with her managers if something did not suit her or did not respect her collective agreement.

Vulnerability (assumed) pays off

Taylor doesn't have Whitney Houston's voice and she dances about as well as me. Her strength is rather in being an outstanding melodist and transforming her moods into powerful song lyrics, which give everyone the impression of being the heroes of a romantic comedy. Casually, she’s a unique talent and Taylor Swift knows how to sell herself as “the singer-songwriter we can relate to”.

Yes Madam! Tay-tay has a completely jet-set social life, and yet she goes through the same heartaches as us. Like us, she sometimes cries in bed, hates her ex and feels inadequate.

What would Taylor Swift do in your place? She would fully embrace her emotions at work while kindly replacing anyone who labels her as an emotional woman. She would also show empathy towards her colleagues, would know the power of humor at work and would not hesitate to use it.

And privilege… it helps

You'll tell me that if there's anything that helps you become a #girlboss, it's being born on an idyllic Christmas tree farm, with a father who has the means to invest in our first record label and a mother who can dedicate herself full-time to supporting our dream career. Being thin, blonde with blue eyes and perfectly matching American beauty standards can't hurt either.

BUT DO YOU KNOW WHAT? NOT BEING A 1% FIREWORKER SHOULD NEVER PREVENT US FROM CONDUCTING OUR CAREERS AS IF WE WERE ONE.

The best lesson to learn from the way Taylor Swift conducts her career is that the best place to invest all our energy and our rage to win is, in a very selfish way, in ourselves.

Volunteer lawyers: 5 THINGS TAYLOR SWIFT CAN TEACH YOU ABOUT MANAGING YOUR CAREER (I)

AT 34, TAYLOR SWIFT DOMINATES THE MUSIC INDUSTRY,  SHE IS A BILLIONAIRE, AND HER TOURS HAVE MORE IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY OF AMERICAN CITIES THAN THE SUPER BOWL.

Probably helped by her privileged childhood, surrounded by her devoted parents (I'll come back to that), Taylor Swift has developed a self-confidence that is disturbing and... which we should all draw inspiration from!

From her pre-adolescence, she knocked on the doors of record companies, she took to all the stages and composed her own songs. The idea of waiting to perfect his art before starting out, or that of giving up after a refusal, does not seem to have crossed his mind.

It’s an attitude that many people find difficult to adopt for themselves (and to appreciate without cringing in others!) and yet, self-esteem always pays off. If, as a child, you ever sang in your room, with the window open, hoping that the head of Universal records would pass by by chance, be captivated by your talent and come ring your parents' doorbell to get you to sign a management contract , Do you see what I'm talking about.

YOUR HUMILITY, ALTHOUGH IT IS A GREAT QUALITY, COULD ALSO LEAD YOU TO UNDERESTIMATE YOURSELF.

What would Taylor Swift do in your place? Taylor would apply for this position that appeals to her, even if she does not have all the required qualifications. And after getting the job, she would dare to negotiate a raise – because she deserves it. Are we refusing it to him? She would consider new professional opportunities in an environment that recognizes the value of her work.

Social networks: the crux of the matter

You could say that Taylor Swift got lucky, timing-wise. Myspace, then Tumblr, appeared exactly when she needed them. She was lucky, of course, but she also sensed from the start the great opportunity that social networks offered, even before we understood where it was all going.

In her early days, she spent hours online every day responding to every post and comment. She made each admirer feel like she was their friend and sharing their vulnerability. Little by little, she opened accounts on all platforms and did not lack creativity to establish her presence on the web.

While avoiding talking about her private life in interviews, she hid clues about her networks and the covers of her albums, arousing the curiosity of Internet users. Genius. By establishing direct communication between herself and her customers, she has created an audience with unfailing loyalty.

What would Taylor Swift do in your place? She would maintain connections with her former colleagues and classmates on social media (just the less heavy ones), where she would also talk about her career progression and projects. She would keep her LinkedIn account up to date with her latest accomplishments and interact with the companies and professionals that interest her. In short, yes, “flexing” online is “cringe”, but you may be one step away from the opportunity of your dreams.

(to be continued)