What you can learn from Madonna about reinvention

“That we are responsible for our own fate, we reap what we sow, we get what we give, we pull in what we put out. I know these things for sure” Madonna

My favorite “mistresses” of reinvention is Madonna – SAY WHAT YOU WILL ABOUT HER – HATE HER OR LOVE HER, she has been through more “re-births” physically, creatively, personally and in business than any other public figure I can think of.  

When Madonna came on the scene in the 80’s, she was young, defiant and unconventional, she had fame, fortune and POWER.  She showed the world that she was going to achieve it all – on her own terms, making her own choices. I admired her then, and 3 decades later, I still do. She is a highly diversified business powerhouse and yet still takes risks – from acting, launching ‘Material Girl’ (a new line of clothing with her 14 year old daughter Lourdes), to dating men half her age without any care for public opinion.

She has had much success, a good deal of controversy and a fair amount of public failure too – but she keeps on going. At 53, she CONTINUES TO inspire, including a whole new generation of women. 

“I think that Madonna was a great inspiration for me…. If I had to examine her evolution through time, I think she reinvented her clothing style and music with success every single time. And at the same time remained a real force in entertainment in the whole world.” Rihanna

What can we learn from Madonna about reinvention?

Reinvention is at the core of who Madonna is professionally and personally, one could say it is part of her brand as much as her sexuality.

One of the most important things about reinvention is that your CHANGE should be CONSTANT and WITH PURPOSE. When I say CONSTANT, I mean both huge changes and the constant necessary refinements. And with PURPOSE, don’t make change for the sake of CHANGE – have a purpose in mind, how does the change fit within the final outcome you desire???

• Be accountable for your SUCCESS and FAILURE – TAKE CONTROL OF IT.
• CREATE something new from something old, OBSERVE opportunities, LISTEN, LEARN.
• Live your life with PASSION!!!!
• Take the lessons you LEARN FROM FAILURE and apply them towards success.
• NEVER APOLOGIZE FOR TRYING SOMETHING NEW, (not even to the recruiters who ask you why you deviated from your professional track).
• BE HONEST – WITH YOURSELF about who you are, and what you love to do.
• TAKE RISKS – when you can, and they make sense to you.
• LISTEN to your gut – follow your HEART.
• Know your CORE VALUES, PREFERENCES, INTERESTS – be true to those.
• ASK FOR HELP to make changes and become who YOU want to be.
• The ONLY PERSON YOU CAN COUNT ON TO MAKE CHANGE = YOU.
• BE BOLD AND BE BRAVE, (I’m not suggesting you wear the GAULTIER CONE BRA….. but it did work once)
• NO doesn’t necessarily mean NEVER.
• DO NOT listen to criticisms that are intended to knock you down.
• LISTEN to critiques that help you refine your REINVENTION.
• CREATE FULFILLMENT by FINDING the right fit for your dreams.
• BE FEARLESS

A mantra to start the day, on the road to reinvention 

Nora Roberts – Novelist

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