Success on the Other Side of the Mountain

“My biggest success is getting over the things that have tried to destroy and take me out of this life. Those are my biggest successes. It has nothing to do with work.”

Those are the words of Emmitt Perry Jr., known to the world as Tyler Perry. This statement is profound. He doesn’t count as his greatest success his body of work - writing, producing, directing and acting - that has resulted in many prestigious and noteworthy awards. Rather, it was winning the battle against the demons of his past and overcoming the many obstacles he faces as a survivor of physical and sexual abuse and as a black man in America.

I have dreams that remain unfulfilled. I have experienced some small successes, but the big dream – to write books and plays that will impact millions and change lives for the better – has yet to come. So I look with much admiration to this man who gave his dream his all. He sacrificed. He fought. He ignored the naysayers. He believed in his dream. He worked tirelessly, always keeping his goals in view. The result of his many years of hard labor, blood, sweat and tears, is nothing short of extraordinary.

First of all, when I consider his background, I have to applaud his tenacity. Many victims of physical and sexual abuse struggle to lead productive lives. Unfortunately, many end up abusing drugs and some even end up becoming abusers themselves. Sadly, some commit suicide. At the very least there is a brokenness that often times goes unhealed. There was a point in Mr. Perry’s life when he did attempt suicide but fortunately, for the millions of lives he would one day impact, his effort failed.

So what was the turning point in Mr. Perry’s life? What caused this high school dropout to go from a life of mediocrity – working various dead end jobs – to living the life of a media mogul? It was after watching an episode of Oprah Winfrey that he was inspired to write about his difficult journey. So he started writing a series of letters to himself, which became the basis for the musical “I know I’ve Been Changed.” The show centered around tough subjects like child abuse, but all carried the theme of forgiveness which we see present in many of his works.

But to get that show off the road was a true test of faith and belief. To pour your life savings into a dream that seemingly fails right out the gate – that would cause many to just give up. Especially after a huge investment of time and money. But not Mr. Perry. In 1992, after scrimping and struggling to get his hands on $12,000, he poured it all into producing “I Know I’ve Been Changed.” With high hopes of filling every seat in the Atlanta theater he rented out, I can only imagine how heartbroken he was when he looked out at the audience and saw a meager 30 or so people scattered around the auditorium. But he didn’t allow this failure to deter or define him. He continued to work on the show and eventually took the production to other cities. Again, the success he had hoped for didn’t materialize. At some point, he found himself broke and living out of his car. But he refused to let the dream die. So instead of giving up, he got back to work and it paid off. Years later the same production began opening to sellout crowds.

As I look back on my life at certain pivotal points, where I found myself on the verge of achieving some dreams, I only wish I had possessed the same faith and determination as Mr. Perry demonstrates in all he undertakes to do. At one point, I allowed past failures and hurts to stand in the way. At another time I struggled with self-image and concern with what others might think of me. This past year, after listening to some of his messages on faith, belief and self-worth, I was inspired to dream again. To reignite the vision I have to share messages of hope and inspiration with the world. I have a plan and I am working it step by step. One quote of his, in particular, really challenged me to use the gifts I have to serve: “There are people who are tied into your dream and your destiny and you are worthy of getting to your goal. Keep digging. Don’t stop.” It hit me what an awesome responsibility I have to use my gift, knowing the power it has to influence and inspire someone else in their journey. Something else he said also resonated with me in my struggles with self-image and self-worth: “… always remember – make sure that everybody you run into meets you at your worth.”

I wanted to save the best for last, in a manner of speaking. I’m talking about his altruistic nature. He is the ultimate humanitarian. I’ve read countless stories of him coming to the aid of those in distress, people suffering tragic losses, disadvantaged youth and the list goes on. He sees a need and he responds to it. His generosity knows no bounds. He is an advocate for the African-American community, having donated $1 million to the NAACP and most recently purchasing groceries for elderly customers at 73 grocery stores amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

So the dream was not just for him, it was for the world. Through his writing successes he has experienced major financial success and power, and some emotional healing, but more far-reaching is the many others he has helped heal by doing what he was created to do. Through getting to do what he loves – acting and directing - he is employing countless people of color who otherwise would have found it extremely difficult to find work in Hollywood. His legacy is one of unbridled passion and belief in oneself that any mountain can be climbed with hard work and determination.

Mr. Perry’s story has motivated people like me to never give up on my dream. I am inspired as I watch Mr. Perry walk out the belief that if you dream it, you can achieve it. From his humble beginnings, troubled past, early struggles and failures, he never gave up. As a result, like so many others, I am learning to believe in myself. To work hard. To fight when obstacles or deterrents come my way. To keep on dreaming. And, as a result, like Mr. Perry, I expect success on the other side of the mountain.