Beyoncé's Blueprint for Business Success

Ever since she co-wrote Destiny’s Child’s first hit, “No, No, No,” Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has been a shining star in the entertainment industry. She was only 17 then, on the cusp of what would turn out to be a sparkling, grandiose adventure. In the next few decades, she would gain worldwide fame, rack up a net worth of $540 million, and earn the adoration of millions of fans.

But Beyoncé is more than just a gorgeous star dazzling on the big stage. She’s also a savvy entrepreneur, one who knows what’s what in the world of business. She’s an excellent example for those who aspire to success in business. Here are three reasons why.

Sure, when she’s on stage, she’s the star. She shimmers in the spotlights, and her voice sends fans jumping to their feet and screaming at the top of their lungs.

But a closer look at the lyrics of her songs reveals something else. She’s not writing them for herself. She’s writing them for her listeners.

Here’s an example from one of her latest songs, “Break My Soul”:

“Damn, they work me so damn hard

Work by nine, then off past five

And they work my nerves

That’s why I cannot sleep at night”

The thing is, Beyoncé has been a star since she was a teenager. She doesn’t know the dreary endlessness of working a nine-to-five for years on end. Her listeners, though? They probably do.

In business, be like Beyoncé. Remember, it’s not about you. It’s not about your experiences, your motivation, or your story. If you want customers to buy, make it about them.

It’s not uncommon for entrepreneurs to slack off once business has grown. A pile of money often makes mean, careless individuals who have forgotten why they went to business in the first place.

Not Beyoncé, though. Decades into her career, she’s still looking for ways to beat the best version of herself. Her albums are always carefully thought out. Her shows and tours are more dazzling than the ones before them. Her music gets better with time.

“I watch my performances, and I wish I could just enjoy them, but I see the light that was late,” she told GQ of her perfectionism. “I see, ‘Oh God, that hair did not work.’ Or, ‘I should never do that again.’ I try to perfect myself. I want to grow, and I’m always eager for new information.”

The bottom line? Keep consistent with quality, and your fanbase will keep growing.

Without good marketing, a company is as good as dead. And in today’s noisy modern world, generic, thoughtless marketing simply won’t help a business gain a foothold against competitors.

This is another area in which Beyoncé’s business shines. For example, the release of Renaissance came with the selling of pose boxes, individual “surprise” packages with a t-shirt, a CD, and a booklet. Buyers had no idea of exactly what they were getting — until they opened their box. This marketing technique of surprise and diversity led to an explosion of sales, as fans scrambled to get their hands on not one, but all four of the unique “pose boxes.”

It’s easy to think Beyoncé’s huge success owes only to her musical talent and stage presence, but that’s only half of the story. The performer is also an intelligent, savvy business owner who cares about what her fans want, puts quality over quantity, and never fails to hatch up unique marketing ideas. Any business modeled this way is bound for success as well.