4 Important Life Lessons from The King of Pop

As I was driving to a client meeting the other day, one of my favorite Michael Jackson songs, "Man in the Mirror," came on the radio. I was instantly reminded of the many lessons that can be learned from the undisputed King of Pop’s life and legacy. 

Be generous! Michael was generous with his time, his talent and his monetary resources. Be generous with your expertise and be willing to share your gifts appropriately. Regardless of your opinion of Michael, he gave more to charity than any other pop artist (based on the Guinness Book of World Records most charities supported by any Pop Star.) Even with all his talent and his generous spirit, MJ, as fans call him, was surrounded by controversy and lived an incredibly isolated life, not unlike many of you reading this post.

Strive for excellence in everything you do. You never know who is using you as their standard. Many of us go through our journey in life feeling isolated, disconnected from friends and family, and unaware of how much we are really loved and valued by those in our lives. I can’t help but wonder, did Michael know how much he touched the lives of those around him? How important he was to his friends, family, fans and most importantly, his children? Did he know the impact he had on his peers, his industry, and those who attempted to match his greatness in their chosen profession? My guess is, he lived his life unaware of his own worth or impact.  

Be authentic. Your authentic self is always welcome and wanted. It is what gives you credibility to lead lasting change and have massive impact in your organization. To be known and loved is what we all want, yet many of us never truly experience the sense of really being known and really being loved. Whether you agree with Ghandi's notion that you must be the change you wish to see in the world or MJ's assertion that we must start with the man in the mirror, being known and being loved at its essence is about being your authentic self. Michael Jackson was loved round the world but did not experience that love in part because he isolated himself from the world as a protective mechanism. What are you protecting yourself from? Where are you not allowing love and joy into your life – especially your work life? 

Remember that everyone you meet has someone in their life who loves them so treat them with respect. I invite you to be present in every moment: at work, and with friends and family; express your love, care, and concern authentically. As you interact with others, remember that you are interacting with someone's loved one. After MJ’s death, when I saw Paris Michael Katherine Jackson reflect on the loss of her father, I was reminded that Michael was someone's father, someone's brother, someone's uncle, and I wish that we could remember that everyone has someone who loves and cares about them and wants them to be treated well. Maybe that is the best action we can take to honor Michael Jackson, simply to treat others well and remember someone in the world loves them.

 

 

 

 

 

Cornelia Shipley, April 2016 Career Coach