20 career lessons from celebrities

#13: Sarah Palin

Lesson: Do your homework.

Republican? Democrat? Independent? Whichever, you have to admit that Sarah Palin was something unique in American politics. When she was announced as John McCain’s running mate, she and his campaign quickly regained the momentum they had lost over the week of the Democratic National Convention and pulled even or ahead in most polls.

Then came Palin’s immolation in a series of interviews with the major news networks. When Charles Gibson asked her what she thought about the “Bush Doctrine,” it was evident she did not know what it was. When Katie Couric asked her for an example of how John McCain had pushed for more regulation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in his 26 years in the Senate, she said she’d have to go look them up and bring them back to her. After their loss, McCain’s advisors took to the press to claim that Palin didn’t do her homework. Nursing school is so much more than just doing homework. From getting enough sleep to having the right attitude, get all the advice you need to ace it.

#14: Maureen Dowd →