5 things you can learn from Jay-Z's career

I came across this article on CNN Living about the 5 things you can learn from Jay-Z's career & I was immediately intrigued. Now if you keep with the news like I do, then you know Hova has been in the news for being fined $50,000 for violating NBA rules after a kick it session with a Kentucky college basketball team. Now this is big no no for the rapper due to the fact he is a minority owner for the New Jersey Nets basketball team.

Despite the negative press I believe there are some things that we can all learn from Jay-Z who has is valued at $450 million dollars and No.2 on Forbes Wealthiest Artists.

1. Find something your passionate about and make it part of your life

What Jay Z did: Jay-Z is a sports enthusiast. He's a proud Yankees fan and he's been a courtside fixture at NBA games for years for The Cavaliers, Knicks and Lakers.

Not content with just being a fan, Jay-Z assembled a team (that included Lebron James) in 2003 to play in Entertainers Basketball Classic (EBC) and then became a co-owner of the New Jersey Nets.

2. Market yourself

What Jay-Z did: One of the other reasons Jay-Z decided to assemble that basketball team in the EBC? He knew it was great marketing. He branded a bus with the image of a sneaker he designed for Reebok, had the team tour in it, all while his music blared.

And then they'd celebrate at the club he owned in New York. It was his project from top to bottom and he wasn't afraid to promote it.

Click in to read more after the jump

3. Know when to move on

What Jay-Z did: In 2003, at the peak of his career (up to that point), he decided to retire. Barely 34, Jay-Z felt he couldn't top himself, so he decided to walk away. (That said, he un-retired a few years later, which is something we have criticized before, too. So don't cry "wolf" either.")

4. Be willing to shake things up

What Jay-Z did: When Jay-Z took over Def Jam records in 2005, he couldn't believe that the business model hadn't changed for decades, and employees had no incentive to work hard. He wanted to see people trying new things -- taking risks and competing to be more innovative than the other.

So he held a retreat with the employees, told them what he wanted, and then began to transform the organization. Greenburg notes how people were intrigued by the fact that Jay-Z wanted to learn as much as he could about the business.

5. Manage your private life

What Jay-Z did: Jay-Z and Beyoncé are basically music royalty, and when they began quietly dating, everybody wanted to know about it. Yet, they wouldn't comment on their romance, and even to this day the married couple is tight-lipped about any personal information.

Therefore you hear more about his and her music than about their personal lives, unlike some famous people.

Head over to CNN to read more of the article including tips on how can apply this in your everyday life.