Be an Industry Darling at the Emmys... Or in Any Business, for that Matter

The Emmys offer a fun glimpse at celebrities as the television industry pats itself on the back. But along with all the fashion and thank you speeches, the Emmy Awards also shows how smart people manage their careers – and how anyone in any industry can follow the same path to success.

"The Academy Awards started as a publicity stunt in the 1920's as a way for movie stars to keep their name in the news," says image consultant and fashion blogger Diana Pemberton-Sikes of FashionForRealWomen.com. "Today, award shows are still about publicity, but smart celebrities know how to turn red carpet appearances into career-building opportunities. Stars like Zooey Deschanel, Sofia Vergara, Nicole Kidman, Tina Fey – they give their best at work, and they dress their best on the red carpet. Not just because they want to look good, but because they know that presenting a consistently good image translates into career opportunities like job offers, magazine covers, and lucrative endorsement deals."

It's the same in every industry. People who have good:

*Skills
*Looks
*Manners
*Attitude

Tend to go further and make more than those who don't. Employers snap up applicants who look good, speak well, and have good skills because they are "the total package." The less an employer has to do to make an employee profitable, the more attractive that prospect becomes. Add a loyal following, and that prospect becomes irresistible.

"Every industry has its darlings," says Pemberton-Sikes. "Show business, the restaurant business, accounting, science - you name it. Some people just stand out because they do more than is required or they do it in a unique, attention-grabbing way. The smart ones learn how to parlay that attention into lucrative, industry-dominating careers. Martha Stewart, Rachael Ray, Bethenny Frankel, Giada De Laurentiis - they've redefined the cooking profession. Anyone can do the same in their own industry."

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