Career Lessons From The Old Spice Guy

You may not smell or look like him, but you can copy his method for success.  One of the best ways of getting a job is knowing how to stand out.  That means workin' with whatcha got, kid.  And no one serves as a better example than former NFL wide receiver Isaiah Mustafa, more commonly known these days as "The Old Spice Guy."  It's pointless to mention how his football career was going, but after a few light workouts and a commercial gig he's not only "the man your man could smell like," but an up-and-coming movie star.  According to an article from mashable.com, Mustafa is retiring his scented sales work for the greater glories of Hollywood.  Landing a lead role in "Madea's Big Happy Family" and getting a smaller role alongside A-listers Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell and Jason Bateman, Mustafa has taken himself from a barely-known athlete to a household name.  What makes him such a great example is not just his rise to fame, but his ability to leverage it.  While admittedly the face and physique helps, he has used his spicy success to keep his audience engaged.  He has responded to questions through youtube videos that proved his ability to be funny and deliver spot-on tag lines while giving fans the opportunity to connect with him on a more personal level.  But rather than let the fun fizzle out, he chose to strike while the iron was hot.  Commercials provide great exposure but don't guarantee career longevity.  Movies, however, have a bit more sway.  There's sure to be some behind-the-scenes work of a stellar agent, but those hop-scotched, chess-board moves are enough to keep people guessing, and more importantly establish Mustafa as an individual with talent instead of just "that guy from those Old Spice commercials."

While Hollywood and the silver screen may not equate to your day job, the point remains the same:  it's not what you do but how you do it.  As always, we like to remind you that having a well-written resume is important (preferably, compliments of us), but it's what you've done and how you present yourself that will make all the difference.  So get out there, get creative and swan-dive yourself into success!