Bloom All Over Again

Bloom All Over Again
By Jonathan Michael Bowman

The theater was packed

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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-old
Dexter 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 to
dance and sing.



The crowd had fun. Some
clapped. Others danced.




Yet, after only a few brief
moments, Simon
stopped the act.



He judged




– and his colleagues agreed –




that Dexter was acting too
much like James Brown



and not enough
like 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 then
commanded, “Go!”




Dexter paused.




His face shivered as he
fought back tears.




You could imagine
that 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 to
painful rejections.



It all came down to this.




Dexter had to start over in
the middle of his
X 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 this
familiar tune,




he gained more
confidence with each word




until he commanded the
song and the stage.




All four judges
voted 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 you
to bloom all over again.




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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.com
Email: Jon@ClearPictureLeadership.com
Phone: 614.657.4295

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Bloom All Over Again

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