Bloom All Over Again

The theater was packed

Bloom All Over AgainBloom All Over AgainBy Jonathan Michael Bowman

By Jonathan Michael Bowman

Bloom All Over AgainBloom All Over Again

with an anticipating crowd

who was eagerly awaiting the next act.

The performer briskly stepped out onto the

stage.

The audience buzzed with excitement and titillation.

This guy had presence.

One look at him

and you could tell

that he was a funk music artist in the tradition of

James Brown.

He wore those iconic 1970s-style

platform shoes.

His hair reminded you

of a James Brown-type hairdo.

He had on a white shirt that was buttoned down

halfway.

He also wore a denim jacket bespeckled with

fake jewels

and that had the word “Tennessee” spray

painted on the back.

Forty-nine-year-oldDexter Haygood is

a self-described

“Rock and Roll Soul Man”.

And for him, this was an opportunity of a lifetime.

He had chased his dream of becoming a successful music artist for decades.

Now he stood before four powerful X Factor judges,

the live crowd

and a TV viewing audience of over 12 million people.

This once-in-a-lifetime chance was even more meaningful for Dexter

because he had fallen on hard times.

He was homeless and lived out of his car.

You wouldn’t know it from his personality though.

He was upbeat and funny; a real character.

“What are you going to sing?” Simon Cowell asked.

Dexter responded,“’Sexy Machine’

by James Brown!”

The audience cheered.

Yet, Simon sighed and threw up his hands in disgust.

“I know what’s coming,” he groaned.

The music started and Dexter began todance and sing.

The crowd had fun. Some clapped. Others danced.

Yet, after only a few brief moments, Simonstopped the act.

He judged

– and his colleagues agreed –

that Dexter was acting too much like James Brown

and not enoughlike himself.

Dexter’s pizzazz and personality quickly

changed to a sunken face,

a countenance weighed down with the heavy pain

of a lost dream.

He blew it.

But then Simon looked at him inquisitively and said,

“I’d like to hear you sing something else.”

He told Dexter that he had 15 seconds to sing

a new song,

but this time he would not have musical

accompaniment.

Simon thencommanded, “Go!”

Dexter paused.

His face shivered as he fought back tears.

You could imaginethat each small twitch

represented years of singing in smoke-filled

night clubs,

tons of hours spent rehearsing his craft

and a lifetime spent on the road or listening topainful rejections.

It all came down to this.

Dexter had to start over in the middle of hisX Factor audition.

He found his courage and then put everything he had

into bellowing,

“It’s a man’s world!”

The audience went crazy as Dexter continued,“It’s a man’s world!”

“But it would be nothing without a

woman or a girl!”

As he sang thisfamiliar tune,

he gained more confidence with each word

until he commanded the song and the stage.

All four judgesvoted for Dexter.

He cried.

The audience gave him a standing ovation.

Dexter was victorious that night because

he started over.

Leaders if you want to be successful, you must learn

to start over.

No matter what happened last year;

no matter how many mistakes you made;

no matter how many decisions you regret;

no matter how many opportunities you lost;

no matter how many things you wish you had

said differently:

Today is your Dexter moment.

Start over!

Although the New Year occurs during the

winter season,

think of it as your own personal spring time.

I challenge youto bloom all over again.

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Featured Fine Art Photography

Jonathan Michael Bowman is an attorney and keynote leadership speaker. As President & CEO of Clear Picture Leadership®, he educates and inspires leaders to achieve a bold vision despite the obstacles. He is also a fine art photographer. He uses his images during his presentations as a metaphor to illustrate key points. Contact Jonathan today.

Website: www.ClearPictureLeadership.comEmail: Jon@ClearPictureLeadership.com

Phone: 614.657.4295

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Bloom All Over Again

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