How Long ‘Til You Admit Celebrities Are Leaders?

Fame, like practically everything else… is changing.

Celebrity in the past has been looked at as something special, foreign, and limited. People gossip and judge famous people to some ridiculous degree.

I talk about ‘celebrity-juice’ as a tool. It`s an energy you can tap into. You can build your own or collaborate with somebody elses. Go ahead and fawn over that celebrity if it inspires you to greater heights – many good things come from fans uniting. You can use their level-of-achievement as a standard for something to do yourself.

Celebrities have big dreams, and they believe they can achieve them. They also attract a lot of followers.

Some people have issues with being a ‘follower’, and many people have issues ‘taking the lead’, but both these things have been necessary for any idea or change to really take hold and succeed. The United States have Obama as well as his supporters, Christianity had Jesus and his disciples, and Apple has* Steve Jobs. (Steve passed on recently, but his legacy lives on).

"Most people have no clue what they want, and if you ask them, you’ll get a lame answer…It’s not a democracy. It never is. It’s about acting in a way that you’re proud of, that the tribe can interact with. Often, the leader’s job is to come quite close to destroying everything but she does it to get to the end goal that everyone needs." – Seth Godin on Listening To The Tribe, c/o CopyBlogger.com

Celebrities Are Leaders

I say that the world’s celebrities, are leaders. They’re the ones who have the courage to take us forward in a very public arena. They receive criticism that would make most people cry. They receive praise and attention that would distract anyone.

They all share a common trait, which is the willingness to follow their heart, no matter how uncomfortable society feels. This is a sure sign of a leader, someone solid people can rely on and look to. The bonus result from such true alignment and purpose, is charisma.

Webster’s dictionary defines charisma as:

“…a certain quality of an individual personality, by virtue of which s/he is ‘set apart’ from ordinary people and treated as endowed with supernatural, superhuman, or at least specifically exceptional powers or qualities. These as such are not accessible to the ordinary person, but are regarded as divine in origin or as exemplary, and on the basis of them the individual concerned is treated as a leader.”

Leaders (celebrities) begin as ‘normal’ people, and they had their own vision and goals. They also uncompromisingly take steps towards them. Eventually the leaders build a following, because they’re uncompromising belief in themselves makes it clear that they are destined-to-succeed. People feel good following those who are destined-to-succeed. People will invest in them and support them.

Leaders generally have stories of hard beginnings, obscurity, isolation, and failure. They are clear badges of honor that speak volumes to others. They are undeniable integrity, faith, and decisivenss

Some celebrities-as-leaders are more obvious than others: Gandhi for example, needs very little explanation, and is a shining example of a charismatic religious and secular celebrity.

Sometimes these famous personalities are leaders – but in a very subtle way, or limited to a specific niche.

"Leadership is scarce because few people are willing to go through the discomfort required to lead. This scarcity makes leadership valuable. If everyone tries to lead all the time, not much happens. It’s discomfort that creates the leverage that makes leadership worthwhile." – Seth Godin on Leaders, Tribes.

Sasha Grey, Porn-Leader

Not everyone knows who Sasha Grey is, but she is a pioneering leader-of-change in the field of — wait for it — porn.

Sasha’s critics may write her off as a ‘misguided porn-star’ or ‘warped girl’, who would change if she ‘knew the truth’, and that’s fine, such is the role of critics in our current society. (""If I had written a boring book, there’d be no criticism. No conversation. [Ask yourself:] How can I create something that the critics will criticize?" – Seth Godin, Tribes)

Whatever the case, Sasha has definitely accomplished some things in bold, leader-like ways which are directly in contrast to what most of her entire industry generally believes possible. She crossed powerfully into mainstream media without changing herself, her personality, or her art much at all. (She is not the only person to do this, Nina Hartley for example, had a less-notable role in “Boogie Nights”, and Katie Morgan’s done it as well.)

Sasha also runs her own production company and has taken it to the next level, becoming a major player. She was approached by Steven Soderberghto star in “The Girlfriend Experience” (2009). Even if she does not achieve some transcendent worldwide fame, she has certainly opened people’s eyes that porn-stars aren’t some kind of corrupt or shallow. They are people with hopes and dreams, and they can sprinboard off of a time in porn towards other things, and be received well for it. She led the way.

As if porn wasn’t controversial enough, let’s look at an even more controversial example: Hitler and the Nazis. While their recorded behaviour and agenda is definitely not applauded here, there are clear leadership principles at work, worthy of respect. Hitler was able to go from being a ‘nothing’, to leader of a massive movement, all in his own brief lifetime.

What about followers? Followers range in degree. Here’s a look at some of the types of followers:

The Masses
This is similar to most fans of bands or artists, where they remember every now and then to check on their preferred entertainer. They are seen as fickle.

The Devotees
Almost a cult-like following where the follower dedicates their entire lives (historically in semi-confused ways) to a cause. This is like religions, cults, and activist movements.

The First Followers
These followers can be almost as ‘famous’ as the leaders themselves. Right-hand-men, business-partners, lovers, and muses would all fall into this category.

I’ve experimented many different ways with these various kinds. I’ve always wanted my first followers, the people who resonate so much with me and what I do, that they feel compelled to come along for the ride.

Are You A Leader Or Follower?

Trick question. Everyone is both.

Yes, you can choose a dominant role that suits you, but you’ll never eliminate the other side altogether. Maybe you don’t want to be a celebrity, but you’ll still lead sometimes. Maybe you don’t want to be a fan, but you still have people who inspire you.

There are pros and cons to being either a leader or a follower, but both are necessary to affect powerful change in the world. They are two sides of the same coin. Get a bunch of leaders together in a room and ask them to discuss their followers, I can guarantee they’ll all be praising the followers like crazy. They’ll be thanking their “beautiful, adoring fans”. Get a bunch of fans gathered to talk about they`re favourite celeb, and they`ll praise them as well.

Similar to a giant machine that accomplishes some incredible task for humanity, if it were missing even one gear or washer, perhaps it would vibrate apart and break. Clearly, that gear or washer was as vital to the operation of the device, as the engine. There is no comparing or competing, they both work together to make up the impressive whole.

On top of that, it changes moment to moment. One minute you’re a follower of somebody, the next you’re leading. It`s important to be at home with both.

Being a leader means being a director for attention and resources. Being a follower means supporting, uplifting, and fueling the leader. One is focused and on stage, the other is part of an energetic audience.

Leader? Follower? Celebrity? Fan? Do these labels really matter? Play whatever role suits the moment. Do what feels right. Do What You Love.

I’m sure you have something to say (I called Sasha Grey a Porn-Leader!), share in the comments!

Jason helps you successfully bridge the gap from where you are to where you want to be, using his clarity & insight to help you rise in all areas. He speaks, writes, and offers success-coaching at http://RyzeOnline.com. He’s been featured on Firepole Marketing, Building Digital Empires, PuttyLike and IntuitiveSoul Radio. Follow him at @jasonfonceca.