Being in the job hunt has made me eager. To get results, make connections, consume information and to find career advice.
Over the past few months I have consumed more information than I anticipated. I tend to read a lot of the same advice from different authors. Finding valuable information can elevate my mood, though I didn’t have to look too hard to find advice.
I confess I am an avid Drake fan. While he often has his own unique way of phrasing his verses, the underlying messages can be applied to many facets of life. Mind you, these are just my interpretations. Perhaps not the meanings Drake had in mind when recording the songs, but these are the meanings I was looking for when listening to him.
Here are ten of Drake’s greatest lyrics containing valuable information that can be applied to career success:
1. “I learned working with the negatives Could make for better pictures”-HYRF
Sometimes things don’t go exactly as planned and you don’t end up with the result you wanted. Negatives are inevitable and sometimes uncontrollable. Your perspective can always be controlled, and using the negatives as growing opportunities can result in better situations down the line. Drake wasn’t always as popular as he is now, rather he is a product of his past. Both his successes and failures have allowed him to be the success story he is today.
2. “Started off local, but thanks to all the haters I know G-IV pilots on a first name basis” -Forever
Success is a journey and it’s important to remember your humble beginnings. Drake started off as a local artist and recognized that any attention was good attention. Even the critics were spreading his name, and he used their criticism as a vessel for expansion. This worked, and even though he’s able to fly on private jets, he isn’t too cocky to introduce himself to the pilot.
3. “It’s been me and Young Tune off the rip. That’s the man that put me in this s***” -Believe Me
Young Tune AKA Lil Tunchi AKA Lil Wayne is a long time mentor of Drake’s. He helped Drake reach a bigger audience and signed Drake to his record label Young Money. For this reason, Drake often references his admiration and respect for Wayne. While Drake is no stranger to making questionable comments about others, there’s nothing but respect for Wayne. Regardless of your position, if someone offers to help you, appreciate it. Even though Wayne hasn’t released a commercial album in years, Drake consistently shows his respect for his mentor.
4. “I don’t wanna die for them to miss me” -God’s Plan
Everyone has heard that an artist’s work become more valuable after he dies. While there is certainly evidence to support this, death isn’t the only way to get remembered. When you’re consistently putting out good work, people will notice your absence. Drake has established himself as a legitimate artist and chart-topper. When he isn’t dropping new music, people notice.
5. “ How you forget to fill up with gas on the road to riches?” -Lose You
Success, and money, can be a long road. You need to stay energized if you want to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Make sure you have the fuel to keep moving forward, because the people who don’t reach their goals are the ones focused on the destination and not the journey.
6. “Better late than never but never late is better” -Fancy
When you have an objective, you want to make sure you meet your goal and do so prior to your deadline. Sometimes you fall behind schedule, and if that happens, finish you work. Unforeseen circumstances happen, but people who are really successful anticipate delays. This means they meet their deadlines every time.
7. “We turnt up in the studio late night. That’s why the songs that you hear are comin’ real tight” -Who Do You Love? (YG feat. Drake)
Your work ethic is established when people aren’t watching you. It’s nice to get recognition, but hard workers put in the time and effort when nobody’s watching. For Drake, this means pulling late nights in the studio. Maybe he has a good time doing his work, but his lifestyle doesn’t fit into a 9–5 schedule. At the end of the day, if the track isn’t done, Drake gets into the studio and gets the job done.
8. “Don’t ever forget the moment you began to doubt. Transitioning from fitting in to standing out” -Say What’s Real
A line from an early Drake track, Drake remembers the moment he discovered he wasn’t going to be ordinary. When you’re younger, many people want to be part of the crowd. In many cases, you want to fit in with others, but true leaders stand out from others. Around the time Drake began getting recognized by the mainstream he realized he wasn’t going to blend in with the rest of the local artists. Standing out from the rest made him unique, and that’s how you get recognized.
9. “We walk the same path, but got on different shoes. Live in the same building, but we got different views” -Right Above It
You might be in the same position as someone else, but don’t assume you have the same perspective. You may have worked hard to get your current role while other people were just handed the position. Your journey is different from you colleague’s, and this means you will view things differently. Everyone has their own unique perspective that is shaped by their personalities and experiences. When you learn to value the perspectives of others you are able to take different approaches to handling situations.
10. “My team good, we don’t really need a mascot” -The Motto
Perhaps one of the most overused captions on Instagram, this line does have its merits. Let your own work speak for itself. You don’t need anyone else to vouch for you. Mascots might be cute, but quality work holds attention.
Conclusion
You can find career advice in all types of places, and with a discography as big as Drake’s, you’re bound to find some good career advice tucked away in there. Apply this career advice to your daily struggles and you might find yourself in a better frame of mind. If nothing else, music can be relaxing, even if it seems like Drake never takes the time to relax.
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I originally wrote this post on my Medium page. If you enjoy my writing, check me out there as well!
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