Even if you’re my age you’ve probably heard of her. In a very short period of time Lady Gaga has become a phenomenon – an internationally celebrated and very successful icon. So, the question is, how did this young, 24 year old performer – a total newbie – climb to the top of pop music and to the top of charts?

One thing we know for sure – it took more than just talent. The music industry is one of the most difficult and competitive of any professions.

So how did she do it?

Rather than simply rely on her talent, Gaga also used a superb business instinct, a unique style and the desire to incite attention that makes her a standout.

If you’re finding that your job search and/or your business is flat, you might want to try a few of Gaga’s strategies.

First: Flaunt your talent. Get it out into center stage – but keep something in mind. You use your talent for your personal satisfaction, but you give of your talent to provide for others. While Lady Gaga loves to sing, she gives of her talent to entertain others. She “flaunts her talent” by adding “over-the-top” costumes and an element of surprise to her persona. That attracts and retains interest.

If your talent is sales or marketing or designing, or consulting or teaching or whatever, what does your talent give to others? What about your talent attracts others and retains their interest/support? (If your answer is nothing – get an agent (or in your case a coach) to get from the audition stage to become a headliner!)

Once you figure this out – sing it loud and sing it proud. Just make it a song that your
target audience wants to hear. Gaga didn’t try to reinvent the sixties. She’s hip and now. You need to be current and relevant too.

Second: Get business savvy. Gaga studied success. Her look was inspired by models like Bowie, Grace Jones, Cindy Lauper and others. Gaga has said that she wants to set a revolution in the pop music industry surpassing the queen of pop Madonna. So she started by studying Madonna’s success to see how she could improve upon that business model to make it her own unique brand.

The lesson here is to embrace competition and learn from it – especially from people/professionals/companies/businesses that are more successful than you. Then take that information and make it authentically yours.

Three: Be unique. From the time we’re old enough to know what it means, we
all want to “fit in”. But in business this is the kiss of death. If nothing makes you better, smarter, more valuable, nicer, more affordable, more dependable, more productive, more interesting, easier to work with, higher quality, more consistent… why should I care?

And, like Gaga, you can’t just talk about it – you have to demonstrate it.
This is a “performance piece” for everyone.

Four: Incite attention. None of us want to be the industry’s best kept secret. Gaga aligned herself with people in the business that could help her. She wrote music for others besides writing for herself to get more exposure. She took her look and made
it extreme to attract attention in an industry that is all about fashion and image. But
rather then create a “signature look” she created a signature brand that’s all about
change and innovation. Gaga knows getting attention is one thing. Keeping it is another.

The good news is you don’t have to bleach your hair platinum or walk around in see-through clothes (although if you went to a networking meeting dressed that way, I’m sure you’d be highly memorable).

Just a few ways you can become a rock star in your own right is to build a strong network, get testimonials, referrals and endorsements for your work, stay current, be visible on line and off, watch and set trends, get out into the industry and/or community as a known expert or leading provider by participating in associations, organizations, civic groups, boards of directors and Chambers. The key here is to participate. You must get involved – give of yourself and your expertise.

Thea Andrews, who until recently was Entertainment Tonight’s senior correspondent covering music and celebrity has said of Gaga, “She’s got that faux-edgy, boundary-pushing persona that makes people feel like they’re indulging in something just a little naughty and cutting-edge.”

Consider this – my thesaurus says “naughty” can also be defined as playful, mischievous and lively. “Cutting edge” has lots of positive connotations like superior, progressive and innovative. So go push a boundary and let people in on your progressive self. You may not get a recording contract, but your professional star power is sure to rise.

How have you used ideas like that to grow to the stardom you want for yourself?