A Lesson from Tyler Perry

As the story goes, at the age of 28, Tyler Perry, actor and playwrite, saw an episode of Oprah in which she commented that writing something down can act as a catharsis. Perry, who had grown up impoverished and abused, and spent most of his adulthood being angry about it, decided to give it a try and began keeping a diary. As he wrote, he would change the names of the characters (to protect his privacy more so than their's), and discovered that he had the beginnings of a play.

He decided to turn the events into a play, saved up $12,000 to rent a theater, hire a cast, and market. The play, called I Know I've Been Changed closed after a week, having shown to only 30 people. Perry, having spent all of his money on the production, was broke, and homeless. He would spend the next six years working on the play and saving up money.

Having already decided that if the play was not a success this time around he would quit for good, Perry opened the play in Atlanta at the House of Blues to sold out crowds. It would soon move to a larger venue, continuing to sell out each night.

This was his tipping point. From there he wrote several more plays and started a theatrical troupe which gained a huge following in the Urban Theatre which propelled him into Hollywood, even though no one there had heard of him. His plays have since become large grossing movies (Diary of a Mad Black Woman...).

All through the successes, Perry has been criticized for the style of theater he's created - but not once has he stopped using his authentic voice to tell these stories. And, although the stories may not connect to a universal audience, they have connected, and continue to connect, with (what is termed) the Urban audience.

So what's the lesson here? I think you can pick or choose: Persistence, follow your dream, don't give up even when it feels like you should.... More than any of that, Perry found his authentic voice & he let that voice be heard.

I challenge you to find your authentic voice.

Challenge: Find your Authentic Voice
keep a diary or journal & write in it daily. Write about difficulties that you feel keep you from your best self. If you can't find the words, draw, scribble, color - just let it out.