Michael Jackson spent most of his 50 years trying to achieve immortality through his work, and he actually pushed himself so hard preparing for a comeback that he died of cardiac arrest Thursday from overusing a painkiller.
But he died the way he said he wanted in a 2008 Ebony magazine interview, by giving his all to his craft.

We all can learn from MJ’s example.
I recall attending a conference in New Orleans in 2002, and motivational speaker Les Brown and his daughter spoke of how sad it is that graveyards all over the world are filled with unfulfilled potential because people died before using or making the most of their talents.
They died before making that invention, writing that book, composing that song, and contributing so many more gifts that only they were created to do.
So those of us who are still alive and have been putting off our dreams and wasting our talents, should be inspired by Michael Jackson’s desire to put his body and soul into his work.

Of course, it paid off because he is the greatest performer to ever take the stage after revolutionizing music videos and live performances with his gravity-defying dance steps, out-of-this world glitzy attire and his voice of an angel that will continue to live on through his videos, movies and hit songs, such as “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough”, “Rock With You”, “Thriller”, “Billie Jean”, “Remember The Time”, “Black or White” and many, many more songs to sell more than 750 records worldwide and win 13 Grammy Awards.

“Let’s face it. Who wants mortality,” MJ said in the Ebony interview. “Everybody wants immortality. You want what you create to live, be it sculpting, painting, music composition. Michaelangelo said, ‘I know the creator will go, but his work survives’. That is why to escape death I attempt to bind my soul to my work. I give my all to my work because I want it to just live and just give all that I have.”
Listen for yourself to MJ’s Ebony snippet on immortality and hard work.
Well, Michael’s wish came true. He is now immortal.
His musical peers have said there never has been and never will be another Michael Jackson, but it won’t be because of impossibility. It would be because the performer lacks the relentless desire MJ had.
We all were created with great talents to do great things, but we have to work hard to hone our crafts. David defeated Goliath after perfecting his aim with a slingshot while tending to his father’s sheep. Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player ever because of his hard work in the gym after being cut from his high school basketball team. Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer ever because of his relentless putting and swinging on greens and fairways since he could grasp a putter and a driver.
And Michael Jackson is the greatest performer of all time because of his tireless and somewhat extreme efforts since childhood to perfect his dance moves, his voice and his outward appearance.
Let MJ inspire you to use your talents to be the greatest in whatever you were created to do. Be the MJ of teaching, the MJ of fixing cars, the MJ of raising well-groomed children, the MJ of helping the poor or whatever is the area of your gifting.

By Teneshia LaFaye

Buy a limited edition I Was There, King of Pop Commemorative Journal featuring many of these stories to remember the positive side of Michael Jackson’s life. The journal went on sale at the pop icon’s public memorial in L.A., and a limited supply is left over. Don’t let this moment pass you by. Get the journal while supplies last as a keepsake for MJ’s passing with spaces for your personal experience and pictures.

To receive your copy, please send $8 per copy in cash or money order to King of Pop Journal, 3832-10 Baymeadows Rd., Suite 205, Jacksonville, FL 32217 and make sure your name and address is on the envelope.

Or you can buy now for $7.35:

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