The I-want-to-be-famous syndrome
21 Dec 2012 11:46 PM GMT
Our desire for prominence begins to emerge even when we are in school. It starts from wanting to come first in class or winning the inter-school debate competition, just so that we become important to our school. Our teachers get to know us better and so do our peers. We continue to strive for perfection so that we become famous in college or university. The core idea is to get noticed.
The same rule applies to us as mature adults. In society as well in the professional arena, we strive hard to be noticed. Some try to get a young achievers award or make a break in politics just to be a recognised face in the socio political or corporate circles. To be better than others is the motto of life even if it’s stressful.
Most people however give up this quest by the time they are 40 plus. If not an acknowledged achiever by then, most will think it is easier to exit the rat race than make it to the top.
For many people, ambitions are directed towards getting wealthy. They want to get rich so that they can be famous. But I believe people often choose fame over money. It is an inherent tendency. Just ask any aspiring actress and you shall have your answer. For most members of the acting fraternity, fame ranks above money. Fame and recognition is their primary driving force in life.
In today’s context, however, the desire for fame is not restricted to artists. Designers, corporate honchos and even housewives want a piece of the action. They desire to be in the same frame as a leading actor or actress while posing for pictures for the party page. Today, movers and shakers are impatient. They cannot wait to be prominent even if their achievements are very limited. Today, it is about the person rather than his work.
This system is called ‘self branding’. With the help of an established PR agency, it is now possible for even a housewife to become a household name. The rule thus implies that if you have money to burn, it really does not matter what you do. Your PR agency will make a profile for you that may make you sound like a mega achiever. Your PR agency can make you a model even if you have never attended a fashion show in your life. You can always be assigned a New Age profession like a ‘Reiki instructor’ or a ‘Yoga coach’ even if you know little about these ancient practices. You may even be given a lifetime achievement award even if you have never worked in your life!
Even actors and actresses these days succumb to PR pressure. Flop stars can revive their careers by working with the right spin doctor. Via the medium of paid publication, they can make themselves more prominent than many leading character actors.
It may be fair to say that your real achievement in life is selecting the right PR agency even if it hurts your pocket. But enjoying the fruits of fame sure makes it worthwhile…
Salloli Kumar is a regular on Page 3 circuit for nearly a decade.
The same rule applies to us as mature adults. In society as well in the professional arena, we strive hard to be noticed. Some try to get a young achievers award or make a break in politics just to be a recognised face in the socio political or corporate circles. To be better than others is the motto of life even if it’s stressful.
Most people however give up this quest by the time they are 40 plus. If not an acknowledged achiever by then, most will think it is easier to exit the rat race than make it to the top.
For many people, ambitions are directed towards getting wealthy. They want to get rich so that they can be famous. But I believe people often choose fame over money. It is an inherent tendency. Just ask any aspiring actress and you shall have your answer. For most members of the acting fraternity, fame ranks above money. Fame and recognition is their primary driving force in life.
In today’s context, however, the desire for fame is not restricted to artists. Designers, corporate honchos and even housewives want a piece of the action. They desire to be in the same frame as a leading actor or actress while posing for pictures for the party page. Today, movers and shakers are impatient. They cannot wait to be prominent even if their achievements are very limited. Today, it is about the person rather than his work.
This system is called ‘self branding’. With the help of an established PR agency, it is now possible for even a housewife to become a household name. The rule thus implies that if you have money to burn, it really does not matter what you do. Your PR agency will make a profile for you that may make you sound like a mega achiever. Your PR agency can make you a model even if you have never attended a fashion show in your life. You can always be assigned a New Age profession like a ‘Reiki instructor’ or a ‘Yoga coach’ even if you know little about these ancient practices. You may even be given a lifetime achievement award even if you have never worked in your life!
Even actors and actresses these days succumb to PR pressure. Flop stars can revive their careers by working with the right spin doctor. Via the medium of paid publication, they can make themselves more prominent than many leading character actors.
It may be fair to say that your real achievement in life is selecting the right PR agency even if it hurts your pocket. But enjoying the fruits of fame sure makes it worthwhile…
Salloli Kumar is a regular on Page 3 circuit for nearly a decade.
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