Don’t be frightened of the ‘F’ word

When I was 20, I was lucky enough to work on the Jonathan Ross Show. I met more
celebrities, famous people, stars, whatever you want to call them than you can imagine. I
saw fame inside out. I saw some of them paralysed with nerves, pep talked some on their
TV debuts.. I never cramped their style and shared that I was also an aspiring singer,
writer. I just did my job. They all went on. Some bombed, some careers were made.

Once the audiences, left, it was down to me, to clear the TV studio. Often, they would
hire a concert black yamaha grand piano for the likes of Elton John, or Paul McCartney.
You get the idea. I would sit where they sat, I would wait…I would imagine, dream…

I would then sing at the top of my voice, my own music on an empty stage. Pure joy.
Anticipating that Hollywood movie moment, where some rock star, manager or
producer had forgotten his mobile phone, would walk out of the wings, stop, clap and
tell me I was amazing…It never happened…

I finished my songs, did one last desperate look around the empty stage shut the piano
lid and went home…and the big fat ‘F’ word, FAILURE loomed in my head. But, what had
failed me was my own fear, not the situation. It was merely a larger version of singing in
your bedroom, or shower.

But that silence was a sign. I knew I had to take responsibility, improve my skills, manage
my fear and be brave. If I failed, at least I did trying to realise my ambitions…

I was a victim of my own intimidation and was allowing the fear of not being good
enough rule my attempts at success. I was seeing the obstacles rather than the
destination…….and I was accumulating regrets…

It was hard but, I took action and managed my way into the top record labels of the
time, holding my demo, even get offered a record deal with no management, no help,
just courage! And this was before the internet, and you had to pick up a phone and
‘talk’ to strangers!! Seeing the destination not the obstacles..

It didn’t work out, but did I fail? Or did these failures serve a greater purpose? Is this the
reason why, I am so passionate about your ‘success’…because of my failures? I think so..

Our life stories are the corner stone events that underpin everything we do. So we have
a choice. We either let them cloud our future actions or learn from them and use them
help ourselves and others to pursue their passions.

Failure is therefore a tool to learn from. Not to fear. To make improvements from. It’s an
integral part of life. We can’t avoid it, like peoples opinions, but we can choose how we
react to it. From this, we can build strong minded, confident individuals, who are not
frightened to put their hand up, to be inquisitive, to have courage, be brave, take risks.
Seize the opportunity. To be mentally and physically prepared for whatever challenges
they may face, no matter how big or small. To be the leaders who lead by example,
humility and empathy. True leaders inspire, they do not coerce. That is just covert
bullying…

Seeing a child who has been written off by their environment, stand up surpassing their
teacher’s expectations, feeling a sense of worth, changing the way they see the future,
seeing the ‘joy’ in their heart motivates our mission.

‘your actions should inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become
more and ultimately succeed where they thought it was not possible.’

We pass it on, like all good education, so that you can pass it on to your children and
that is why ‘We are Family’. Please share if you read to here, It must mean something!