Job advice is often rife with DOs and DON’Ts, and perhaps no better example of how NOT to get hired is by taking a look at Guns n’ Roses frontman Axl Rose.
William Bruce Rose Jr. might be brilliant at what he does, but there are 10 reasons why you must be the anti-Axl if you’d like to land a gig and stay gainfully employed.
The 17-years-in-the-making album, Chinese Democracy, finally dropped last week, receiving mixed reviews and a lukewarm reception. The latest chapter in the GnR novel helps crystallize what career lessons we can learn from Mr. Rose.
1) RESUME BLEMISH.Despite being written over two decades ago, the controversial anthem, “One In a Million” still paints Rose as a small-minded racist. Even when he’s long gone, he’ll be associated with lyrics he wrote as a teenager.
REMEMBER: The actions you take today could have career consequences down the road.
2) BE NICE TO OTHERS.If one band member moves on, it’s a case of he said/he said. But when everyone heads for the hills and you are the last man standing on stage, it’s impossible not to think you’re the cause. Add in the fact that so few of Axl’s peers have anything nice to say about him, and it’s validated: Axl must be a dick. |
REMEMBER: You might move on from a job, but your co-workers will talk about you for years to come.
3) DON’T SHAVE OFF YOUR EYEBROWS. It might seem like common sense, but I figured it couldn’t hurt to mention it – just in case.
4) SHARE YOUR MASTERPIECE.The reasons why Chinese Democracy was held back for so long is debatable. Irrespective of whether it was a creative obsession, control issues or money, the bottom line is that Axl waited too long to share the goods. The long wait made the hype impossible to live up to.
REMEMBER: Keep expectations moderate and don’t wait too long before sharing your work with the world. That’s a career lesson I learned early on.
5) TIMING IS EVERYTHING.It takes both luck and skill to time something right. Why Axl thought a recession-plagued climate where The Jonas Brothers rule the roost was a good time to release this album is beyond me.
REMEMBER: Never underestimate the power of timing. Do not be rigid or unafraid to reschedule a deliverable if your instincts tell you the time is wrong.
6) PROMOTE YOUR GOODS. You are your best PR person. Actors and musicians recognize that hitting the late-night TV circuit is part of the process. Axl, on the other hand, has been missing in action over the past two months, refusing to do any promotion for the new album.
REMEMBER: It’s up to you to ‘sell’ your ideas and hard work because no one else will.
7) EVOLUTION, BABY. There’s something to be said for consistency and authenticity, but most successful people know how to make small changes to adapt with the times. Take a look at the picture of Axl at the top of this post; it’s clear he has ‘matured’ all wrong.
REMEMBER: Always be yourself and make an effort to move naturally with the clock.
8) DIFFERENT DOESN’T MEAN BETTER. In an attempt to utilize the latest in sales techniques, Geffen Records decided to attempt two flawed tactics. 1) Giving Best Buy exclusive selling rights for several days. 2) Streaming the entire album on MySpace during a ‘virtual listening party.’
REMEMBER: Out-of-the-box thinking is great, but there is a reason some methods are tried and true.
9) LEARN FROM MISTAKES.From showing up late to his own concerts to dressing like it’s 1999 to losing woman after woman, Axl has made it clear that he is not willing to learn from his mistakes.
REMEMBER: Learning from mistakes is a true sign of intelligence and a trait that good hiring agents can identify.
10) WATCH THE COMPANY YOU KEEP.When your bandmates have names like Buckethead and Bumblefoot, (and you’re in your forties), they’ll think you are crazy – even if you’re not.
REMEMBER: In a perfect world we wouldn’t be judged, but it’s a safe bet that your employer will make assumptions about you based on who you hang out with. Choose your partners wisely.
Chinese Democracy was 17 years in the making, and truth be told, this blogger does not dislike the album. Call me a sucker for nostalgia, but I don’t mind stepping into the GnR time machine. I’m thankful for their music and the career lessons Axl has helped deliver, even if he didn’t mean to do either.
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