By Julailah Wahid

Men want to be him and women simply want him – the name’s Bond, James Bond.

We may not have a license to kill but there are many other ways that we can emulate the iconic James Bond persona in our career. Here are four quick tips on how to channel your inner 007 to get ahead in the workplace.

By Ethan Sia

Lion King has taught us that one should never forget about his homeland. Titanic on the other hand, conveys the message that true love means having to make tragic sacrifices. Movies may not always be the main source of advice but they sure carry significant lessons that we can apply to life and even our careers.
In the same way, there are some lessons from certain movies we can apply to our workplace. Here are four career takeaways from our favourite movies.

Most – if not all – of us have people that we look up to, people whose life experiences we can learn from. It could be anyone: from a politician, a singer, to a social activist. Well, what about a man who prowls through the night fighting crime in a bat costume?

By Jacelyn Lim

Originating from the land of bibimbap, Korean Pop, more popularly known as K-pop, has spread like wildfire across most Asian countries and is already eyeing the Western music industry with its intoxicating blend of infectious hooks and flashy dance moves.

Characterised by multi-talented artistes with boundless energy and photogenic good looks, the secret behind the success of K-pop’s artistes is their ability to endear themselves to their fans, despite the language and cultural gap.

Before you dismiss the Hallyu wave as just another passing fad, you would do well to fully understand how these artistes have managed to gain a stranglehold of the hearts and minds of millions of people. Here are 5 lessons derived from the success of K-pop that you can easily apply to your career.

By Juliet Soh

Are you hooked on Draw Something, a game application that many people can’t seem to get their fingers (or stylus) away from? Don’t worry, there are many more around the world suffering the same fate as you.

However, don’t fret if you think you’re wasting your precious time away drawing your latest Lady Gaga masterpiece for your friends; there are actually nuggets of wisdom that you can pick up in the game! Here are five career lessons that you can derive from Draw Something:

By Justine Thompson

One day you come into work merrily sipping your coffee, mentally preparing to make the best of the day ahead of you. You’d heard rumors that a new person is starting, and you’re excited about a new addition to your team. It means your workload will be lessened, and you’ll be able to focus on accomplishing more important tasks. But when your boss stops by to introduce you to your new counterpart, your stomach drops.

As if ripped from the pages of a soap opera script, you’re standing face-to-face with a workplace arch nemesis from a previous job. Two thoughts cross your mind: “Oh @@##” and, “OK, try to make the best of this awkward situation.”

Anthony Balderrama

Celebrities don’t always make the best role models. For every Bono and Oprah Winfrey there is a real housewife of [choose your city] screaming at her supposed friend in a busy restaurant. Celebrities don’t always make the best authors either. Just because someone can sing or act doesn’t mean they’re capable of writing a stellar autobiography either. It doesn’t even mean they have an interesting story to tell.

Fortunately that’s not the case with Tina Fey’s half-autobiography/half-musings “Bossypants.” In one chapter she explains how the fundamentals of improvisational comedy are great guidelines for everyday life. Later, when she recounts some of the hurdles she has faced as a woman in comedy and as the head writer on a historic TV show, her struggles sound remarkably like those of many non-famous workers. After I was done being upset that this fun, leisure reading had been interrupted by unintentional learning, I realized that Fey’s lessons reached beyond the confines of improv.

In case you don’t get the chance to read “Bossypants” or you’re currently too busy rereading the “Harry Potter” series in preparation of the final film, here are seven lessons every worker can learn from Tina Fey: