With a Broken Wing She Carries Her Dream

Watching Jordin Sparks this week on American Idol brought tears running down my cheeks. It wasn't just her phenomenal singing, it was the message that she was bringing to millions of Americans. You can watch the video on AmericanIdol.com.

Musicians are our modern day poets and bring us messages of hope, peace and unconditional love. They also tell us stories of struggle and despair that are overcome by a faith in something bigger than yourself.

When I heard the lyrics to Martina McBride's song Broken Wing sung by Jordin Sparks, I couldn't help think they were relevant to women and men alike, especially those who have tackled major obstacles on their path to huge career and financial success.

The emotional chord within me sang loud and clear that I am still carrying around some emotional baggage from those who didn't believe in me when it came to my career and monetary aspirations. Afterall, I came from very humble circumstances and was the first in my family to graduate from college. There were few expectations for me and I had no role models on how to achieve my goals. Yet, from the time I was 16 years old, I knew I wanted to be a CEO, to go the best business graduate school in the country and pursue my dreams. I was seldom taken seriously, and usually by those who knew me the most.

To be the top player in the game, whether that is in business, sports, medicine, etc., people naturally assume "the best" have their life scale heavily weighted only to the side where their work lies. It is hard for people to understand that keeping your life balanced, can actually produce better results overall and propel you to the leading position quicker.

I was always so friendly, outgoing, happy and fun, that people had difficulty believing that I could be incredibly smart, intelligent, business savvy and ambitious. When I started telling people about these grand aspirations I had, they just politely grinned at my unusual over-confidence.

I was the fun, perky cheerleader, not the gray-suited CEO. I was even described as the "cheerleader" in one of my first interviews for MsMoney.com. This was an image I tried to dispel my entire 20's while seeking business approval. I started wearing blue suites and pulling my long blond hair up in a twist, as well as wearing conservative glasses. I even thought it might help me if I dyed my hair brown, perhaps people would take me more seriously.

Luckily I don't have to dress the part anymore and I can be my own petite, perky and colorful self because I have a track record that shows what I can do. I can finally let me hair down and wear pink! Whewwww!

The reason the song touched me is because I spent part of my life with people telling me "you’re crazy for believin’ you’ll ever leave the ground - only angels know how to fly". It never occured to me before that I had a bit of a broken heart or a broken wing. When those dearest to you don't believe in you, it hurts. This is why in one of my first blogs, I wrote how everyone needs to have their cheerleading squad behind them when reaching for the stars, because we certainly have enough naysayers around.

Regardless, of being emotionally injured or not, I wouldn't let anything get in my way of achieving my dreams. In a way ... I was rebelling against the idea that I couldn't do it. By 27 years old, I was the President of my own consulting company with Fortune 100 clients, and by 32 years old I was the CEO of my own corporation and had raised millions of dollars and achieved a million dollars in revenue in my first year of operation. I had the goal of having one of the most powerful woman in the world involved in my company and being featured in the top 5 business magazines: Fortune, Forbes, Business Week, The Wall Street Journal and USAToday (not a business magazine - but well read). I achieved that goal in just 6 months when the First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton was live on TV with me Launching MsMoney.com and the press picked up the story and I was featured in not just those 5 magazines but many more.

If my dreams can come true, so can yours.

Believe in your dreams and they can manifest with positive and committed action on your part. Stay the course even though strong headwinds may try to blow you off your path and the "voice of reason" may be telling you to turn back. It isn't true that only angels can fly - we can all fly! The belief in yourself will raise you up high enough to glide to your destination - whether that is a financial goal, a personal or professional one. It gets easier once you hold on to your faith and don't let go.

Martina McBride - Broken Wing

She loved like he was the last man on earth. gave him everything she ever had.He’d break her spirit down, then come lovin’ up on her. give a little, then take it back. she’d tell him about her dreams - he’d just shoot ’em down. lord,He loved to make her cry. "you’re crazy for believin’ you’ll ever leave the ground." he said "only angels know how to fly."

And with a broken wing, she still sings. she’ keeps an eye on the sky. with a Broken wing, she carries her dreams. man, you ought to see her fly.

One Sunday mornin’, she didn’t go to church. he wondered why she didn’t leave.He went up to her bedroom, found a note by the window, with the curtains Blowin’ in the breeze,

and with a broken wing, she still sings. she keeps an eye on the sky. with a broken wing, she carries her dreams. man, you ought to see her fly. with a broken wing, she carries her dreams. man, you ought to see Her fly. (with a broken wing oooooh)