I’ve taken to watching past American Idol and Britain’s Got Talent segments on You Tube because I not only love music, I love success. Tears of joy stream down my cheeks as a successful singer receives ‘yes’ from the judges and ovations from the audience. Most of these folks are regular people with day jobs who have a dream.

Perhaps you remember the audition that went worldwide viral in 2009 of Susan Boyle singing a tune from Les Miserables. She, a rather plain and round woman from a small village in Scotland, blew away the judges and the crowd. Since that time there seems to be less skepticism when an ordinary looking person approaches the mic.

The authenticity of the moment, of the recognition of talent, of appreciation touches the deepest part of my heart. There is no greater balm to my broken heart than to watch another’s swell in authentic humble pride.

I have often remarked that my purpose on this planet is to support others in reaching for their dreams. So I guess I come by my tears honestly. There simply is nothing as touching in my life as watching another gain long fought recognition. Each rags to riches success is wonderful, even if it does not mean these folks will ever gain riches in the financial sense. They have dared greatly and won.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”