Daily Lessons from Life 27 June 2009

It is amazing HALF the year of 2009 is passing us by SOON!!

"Michael Jackson - The King of Pop - is dead!!" is the HEADLINE All over the World!

I always admired the man. Who is only 5 when he burst onto the music scene with his brothers as the famous 'Jackson 5' band! He died at 50. A very young age indeed by today's standard.

As we some of the geniuses in history, his life is not a happy one though I am sure there must be occasions he experienced genuine joy and happiness. Hopefully from his music, some of the people he loved and treasured, some of the positive influences he exerted on the generation of young people who looked up to him and admired his work in dance, music, and songs!

Lessons for me are:

1. we can accept that this is how some geniuses will live and die or we can say no. This is NOT how a genius should live and die. It is hard for the geniuses to realize there are areas they need to develop and work on. For some do know but unable or unwilling to change. For some do know and unable or unwilling to change but did when something or someone persisted in guiding them or pushing them to change!;

2. that something may be a near-death experience - personally or by someone the genius cared about a lot. It is powerful to shake a person's complacency or stir the imagination of 'what a human being can do to change his/her own destiny!';

3. that someone may be somebody who look beyond the money and security that the genius bring to the table. It is someone who genuine care about the well being of the genius and refused to admit that there is no way to change a person's mind, no matter how stubborn. Persistence with consistent intention and actions and behaviors will win trust. Geniuses are cursed in that they sometimes cannot trust people as many have taken advantage of them before. Only with genuine sincerity and care for the genius will trust be won, slowly and with each positive experiences. It is unfortunate that Michael did not have that or not enough of such people around him. So, leaders must realize that early on that there must be a process of allowing people with integrity and courage to serve you. People who will tell you the truth, warts and all, so that you can take corrective actions to change for the better; besides the great things you have achieved. It has to be a deliberate process.

May Michael find his peace in death. He is one of the greatest entertainers of his time as far as I am concerned. Ranked easily with Elvis Presley. Rest in peace.