I will tell you of someone I decided not to mention his name today, He had the gift of dancing. As always with every great mind, he promised to make a name out of it. He would dance all day to his father’s song, he kept dancing at the sun, so many days he would be feeble with some days leaving him stronger. He danced so much that he broke his knee and was hospitalized. His father; his role model, sat down beside him with the statements:”I bought you this instrument and all your kits but I want you to know that this is not a viable way of earning in life. Why can’t you be a singer or even a producer, you can never earn the respect they earn; people do not buy dance CD’s, they buy song CD’s, eventually you might get popular but not up to them”.
Today left him with a dream that looks gone. It was his longest night because everything he has done so far looks foolish and he suddenly lost the zeal to manifest this art that seems lifeless at the moment. His mates were focusing on getting the best grades in Engineering but all his life dream was to be the best dancer the world would ever see: He was in engineering for just the official reason he could never justify but he made a good grade from the course all the-same. He is still willing to give it all it takes.
“To be successful, you have to have your heart in your business, and your business in your heart”. – Thomas Watson, Sr.
He called out to a friend in his state, his friend charged him up and told of his unsung victories, so he imagined the future again and, he started dancing. For years he danced and he saw as he was getting the casual attention from people: they did not take him serious but he danced. The world of elites and professional mocked but he danced!!! Once asked why he kept dancing he said
” I am not creating a brand of chance, I am creating a brand of will, chance will listen to criticism but will listens to me”.
As he improved on his dancing, he watched with keen interest as his as his audience increased: from tens to thousands; some to praise, some to confirm controversies, some to mock, others for his love or hatred. He gave up occasionally but always coming back stronger. He was not the consistent type, he was the passionate one. He was invited by many artistes, he would make impossible offers on producers but they will still agree. For years he danced, for years he led choreography and there would be nights he cried because he could not even understand how he got here and he could not evaluate if he was still making sense.
“Let’s be honest. There’s not a business anywhere that is without problems. Business is complicated and imperfect. Every business everywhere is staffed with imperfect human beings and exists by providing a product or service to other imperfect human beings.” –Bob Parsons
Today after 51 years of passionate dancing he realized it has been a life-long career. He walked through his dancing school today welcomed by the world most recognized artists and producers, dancers and choreographers, officials and executives. Some for endorsements, some for recommendation, some for advise, some for biography and all. With them he walked today through his building as he saw his most glorious moments on the wall frames, through the transparent glass he could see students as passionate as he was learning his moves and theirs. Tears flowing down his face as he could see the “zealous” engineers in the waiting room ready to extend the walls of his academy and some seeking employment in his technical department. He had danced through his struggles, he has danced through his pain, he has danced in his rain.
“Life’s not about waiting for the storm to pass…It’s about learning to dance in the rain” -Vivian Greene
Today was his most rewarding. Silently on his bed watching his government dedicated channel, he saw projects in his name and students dancing around the world to his steps; with his cracked bones and feeble knees, he stood up, with his father’s song in the air he danced today with all the joy in his heart, to all the memories in his head, to the bright moon shinning in from the balcony and to the unpopular brands of years to come.
Let me conclude thus: “Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve. Thoughts are things! And powerful things at that, when mixed with definiteness of purpose, and burning desire, can be translated into riches.” – Napoleon Hill
Please, join me again next week Sunday for a new and more inspiring topic.