An Inspiring Turning Point

Source: LinkedIn

Not sure if y’all remember this but about seven years ago Lady Gaga performed a medley of songs from The Sound of Music on the Academy Awards for the movie’s 50th Anniversary.

The clip recently popped back up in my feed and it reminded me of the incredibly stunning performance. Many at the time said it was a turning point for Lady Gaga’s career. Those words literally came out of my mouth the minute she finished her performance as I was watching it live at the time. Evidently others felt the #same.

It was a turning point in her career because while she had already achieved incredible success that very few ever see, her momentum was starting to fade. Her last two albums, while excellent, didn’t receive the same critical fanfare nor sales achievements. She could have easily started to see her career slow down, like often happens in that industry. Usually happens.

But she sang a medley from The Sound of Music on the Academy Awards and then introduced Julie Andrews who came onto the stage. It was a moment. The entire world in and out of that theatre gave her a standing ovation, even the non-fans. It was a turning point.

As tribute to the movie and to Julie Andrews, she even sang it in Julie’s original key. Tribute! I believe that in that moment, she realized and the world accepted that she could expand even further than she already had. I believe that moment gave her the permission to start acting to start her album series with Tony Bennett, which among other things ultimately led to her mega-star status. Thank you A Star is Born.

That night her star was born, again.

As I rewatched it yesterday, i got inspired by this notion of a turning point. I’ve had a few in my career as well. Just when perhaps things start to go flat, I’ve swung it back into gear and back into motion. Through the years, I’ve looked for turning points … they generally aren’t handed to you so you have to make a moment a turning point. I hope to have a few more left in me.

So I ask that you take this as inspiration as well … what have been your turning points? What’s next? How can you make that happen?

What’s your experience? JIM