Celebrity guide to a better you

The British industries maestros give an insight into the secrets to their success

LONDON: Celebrities like Jamie Oliver, Simon Cowell and Hugh Grant believe that striking a perfect work-life balance is not tough, given that you have the right skills.

A recent survey reported that 35 is the age when people become most stressed about leading a balanced life. Some celebrities have shared people can make their busy work life a bit more bearable, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

• Chef Jamie Oliver: “Do you know what? It was a funny bit of advice and you can take it with a pinch of stuff, ‘Never try and be the best; second best is always really good’ and I think what they mean, in this sort of funny little world that we have, maintaining the first position is impossible; it’s always about a little bit of luck or a moment in time but actually to be second best and just be good, and keep your head down and keep grafted will give you an equally long career.”

•  Reality TV star and music producer Simon Cowell: “It was something my dad said to me actually, ‘Everybody around you has a sign on their head that says  — Make me feel important’ and it’s something I remember when I run a company or run a show, I have to remember that ‘Everyone around you’.”

•  Actor Bill Nighy: “Never take drugs  — and pay your taxes.”

•  Musician and actor Donny Osmond: “‘Anything worth doing is worth doing well’.”

•  Actor Hugh Grant: “Well someone once told me ‘Be very nice about women’s shoes’  — and I’ve done that  — and it does work.”

•  Director and actor Ben Miller: “Well this was not advice given to me but given to a friend of mine, by Rowan Atkinson, but I overheard it and taken it for my own, ‘Find out what it is you do that no one else does  — and do that’. Advice that Rowan Atkinson has quite definitely followed and I think there is something in that. Just think about what you do that no one else does.”

•  Entrepreneur Peter Jones: “Best advice? ‘Do unto others as you expect to be done unto yourself’. So treat others with the same level of humility and respect that they deserve.”

•        Television and radio presenter Sarah-Jane Crawford: “The best advice? ‘We’re here for a good time, not a long time.’ You’ve got to live a good quality life and try and grab the bull by the horns. That’s what I always try to do; don’t rest on your laurels. ‘Carpe Diem’, seize the day, get in there and really live life.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 10^th, 2014.

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