Celebrities’ 6 Best Pieces of Career Advice in 2016

They may live unbelievable lives filled with red carpets, A-list treatment and experiences many of us can only dream of, but when it comes down to it, celebrities actually do offer a lot of relatable career advice.  After all, things like climbing the professional ladder, making tough decisions and striving to be our best selves are universal experiences.

With that in mind, we unearthed a few celeb words of wisdom that every job seeker can benefit from hearing.

1. Emmy Rossum, Emma Stone encourage women to fight for equal pay

2016 was a gangbuster year for influential women standing up to the wage gap. Although Emma Stone admitted she was “lucky enough to have equal pay to my male costars,” she used her position of power to speak up for the average woman by pronouncing that “we should all be treated fairly and paid fairly” in her October Vogue interview with Vogue.

Emmy Rossum, on the other hand, took action when she encountered the wage gap firsthand. In a brilliant negotiation tactic, she reportedly refused to renew her contract on Showtime’s Shameless until she received equal pay to her co-star, William H. Macy. This gutsy move paid off, as Rossum ended up securing a salary even larger than Macy’s in order to make up for years of lower pay — you go, girl.

[Related: Get Paid Fairly! Do You Know Your Worth?]

2. Prince reminds us to take criticism with a grain of salt

“I don’t really care so much what people say about me because it usually is a reflection of who they are. For example, if people wish I would sound like I used to sound, then it says more about them than it does me.”

Okay, so technically Prince said this in an interview with PBS’s Tavis Smiley a few years back, but given his passing in 2016, it’s more relevant than ever. While it’s worth listening to constructive criticism, you’re better off ignoring any unduly harsh or personal feedback you receive. Odds are, your critic phrased it poorly or is just having a bad day.

3. Take the high road, says Michelle Obama

“When they go low, we go high.” With these words, Michelle created the unofficial rallying cry of an entire campaign. Although her favored candidate may not have earned the title of POTUS, Michelle nonetheless inspired millions of people around the world to turn the other cheek when confronted with vitriol.

So the next time your coworker sends you a nasty email, don’t give it right back at them. Rise above it and respond politely. Not only will you avoid an escalating situation — you’ll likely feel better about yourself, too.

[Related: 7 Annoying Coworkers To Avoid]

4. Madonna proves that age is just a number

Ageism has come under a lot of scrutiny this year, with some folks arguing that it’s one of the last acceptable forms of discrimination still thriving in the workplace. At the Billboard Music Awards, Madonna described her struggles firsthand, telling the audience “do not age. Because to age is a sin. You will be criticized, you will be vilified, and you will definitely not be played on the radio.”

Still, Madonna thanked the “doubters and naysayers” whose “resistance made [her] stronger, made [her] push harder, made [her] the fighter that [she is] today.” Can’t keep a strong woman down — take that, haters.

[Related: Ten Resume Tips For Older Workers]

5. J.K. Rowling inspires us to keep an open mind

Shortly after the seventh Harry Potter book premiered, J.K. Rowling vowed she wouldn’t write any further stories about the boy wizard. But when approached by playwright/director duo Jack Thorne and John Tiffany with the idea for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, she knew she couldn’t refuse.

“This happened because I thought I will never have the opportunity to work with such great people again,” Rowling said in an interview with The Guardian. So even if you’ve sworn something off, don’t completely ignore it if the right opportunity comes along — that job you accept in a different field may open a whole new door for you.

6. Leonardo DiCaprio stresses what matters most

Fantasizing about a corner office, fancy title and fat paycheck to boot may be fun, but it shouldn’t be your ultimate career goal. Leonardo DiCaprio, for one, would give up his status and wealth in a heartbeat if he no longer found his acting career fulfilling.

“I’ve been very lucky to have achieved a lot of the things that I dreamt of achieving as a young man,” he said in an interview with The Telegraph. “But, at the end of the day — and I truly believe this — it is not about achieving great wealth or success. Because they don’t bring happiness ultimately. They really don’t. What matters is whether or not you’ve fulfilled the idea of having led an interesting life, whether you’ve contributed in some way to the world around you.” Words to live by, Leo.

DISCOVER: 17 Celebrities Reveal Their First Jobs

Source: Glass Door