Fantasia renews her faith? Hold up, stop the hate! Says the God thing’s been tricky. Life and times get kinda sticky. Season 3 contestant on American Idol. Winning it all, becoming suicidal. Urban music queen. Plays herself on the TV screen. Fantasia for real. Telling her story in how she heals.

Auditioned for Idol in ATL. Trying to get away from her hell. Was raped as a young teenager. Dropped out of school to become wage earner. Had a child at a young age. Seeking the chance to turn a new page. Always loved to perform and sing. Encouraged to believe and spread her wings.

Caught up in so much drama. Like her song about being a baby mama. Sued by a divorcing spouse. Accused of breaking up their house. Got a brother who’s holding her back. Hoping to put his life on the same track. Trying to free herself from family stress. Hoping to move on from life’s past distress.  

Believing in miracles after her winning season. Thinking things happen for a reason. Admitted she took prescription meds. The pressure was blowing-up her head. Needed to re-group after Broadway ill. Got dropped from Color Purple Playbill. Life’s not a fairy tale. For some, it’s just on a higher scale.

Who knew she couldn’t read? Or that she had so many mouths to feed. Fantasia had to sign record contract. Not knowing how big would be her impact. Set to shine in new movie deal. Sure to be a hit not a steal. Says she’s returning herself ‘back to me.” Ready, willing and able to reach her destiny.

Tip: “Get a grip” means don’t trip, but work smarter, serve harder and take life a little farther!

Talkback: How do you avoid or get past the drama that might come your way?

 The story of her life. With periods of some strife. Known to speak her mind. On behalf of her own kind. Born to West Indian parents. After a divorce, forced to pay the rent. Has seen a few breakthroughs in her day. Knowing that having faith did pay. Beauty more than skin deep. Success is for us to reap.

Don’t take only my word. It’s what the history makers and answers.com have heard. When on the brink of defeat. She found a way to turn up the heat. Started her own cosmetics line. Giving women reasons to shine. Caught the eyes of Essence magazine bosses. Working part-time to plug her losses.

Went from a beauty editor. To fashion and beauty creative director. Soon becoming the branding specialist. Putting the magazine tops of the list. Expanding its value in the marketplace. Becoming the magazine’s public face. Writing a column In The Spirit. As Editor-in-Chief and too legit.

Then came time to take a pause. Made the switch to a larger cause. Going full blast with the mentoring campaign. After Katrina’s storm and rain. Saw there was a greater need. To get youth to watch what they read. Recruiting all across the nation. Bringing her own dose of real-life inspiration.

Going beyond her publishing days. Not worrying about getting a raise. Some say she’s financially secure. But in her community hopes to settle the score. Too many kids dropout from school. Need more adults teaching the golden rule. A sense of purpose is her leading role. Passing it on to young and old.

Tip: Everyday you can get up and pray and then turn on your passion to make hay for another day.

Talkback: How has Susan Taylor or any other public figure impacted your success?

 Who’s got next? The muscles begin to flex. Yes, there was Oprah. Now the talk diva is Tyra. Miss O leaving daytime TV. Launching OWN Network with Discovery. Not a day late or dollar short. Tyra plays her part. As a trusted reliable source. And major media force. Who knew? She was a bully too.

Went through a growth spurt. Then bullying others came back to hurt. Saw how her dreams might become true. Because she had a self-esteem breakthrough. Turning the pain of yesterday. Into profit on the runway. Winning the supermodel battle. Her praise and acclaim at full throttle.

Got her start with Will Smith. On Fresh Prince of Bel-Air skit. Invited to model overseas. Contracts flowed as fast as saying “cheese.” First African-American on some magazine covers. GQ and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit lovers. Creates Next Top Model show. A track record of being in the know. 

Helping women tell their stories. Because she’s been there too ladies. TV Mogul, Philanthropist and Business Woman. An eye-catcher for most single men. Wants to do much more. In movie entertainment galore. Showing she’s got IQ. But even more PQ. Personality and presence. That sells her essence.

 Many watched her move. On the catwalk groove. Teenage model on the rise. Based on the cheering fan highs. Found her inner passion. Through self-expression in fashion. With all things considered. Her talent’s in how she’s figured. Singing, writing and modeling. Getting rave reviews and cashing in.

Tip: Success is turning passion into a paycheck, pain into profit and presence into bubbling effervescence.

Talkback: Is it fair to compare Tyra with Oprah, similar to how Oprah was once compared to Phil Donahue?

 Excuse me, but are those Tommy jeans? Looking good from hips to knees. Boot cut, skin tight. Bringing sexy back, right? Wasn’t my idea. It’s Tommy Hilfiger’s work and play. Building a clothing empire. Showing curves not fit for the choir. Still busting out. With more cash and clout.

The breakthrough that made him famous. Like Andy and buddy Amos. As an experiment, bought 150 pairs of jeans. Redesigned them for the party scenes. Ran a one-page ad. Positioning his brand as more than a fad. Listing himself among the finest. With Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren and Perry Ellis.  

Hilfiger didn’t want to go to college. So bankruptcy earned him some painful knowledge. The school of hard knocks. Success came after the shocks. Worked his way back. With a strategic plan of attack. Developing his fashion eye. Creating a following on the fly. Bringing fresh style that doesn’t die. 

He’s had a love-hate relationship. With some in industry leadership. Accused of outsourcing to sweat shops.  People making his clothes at a cheap pop. He’s been able to weather the storm. Expanding with excellence like a farm. Selling the stable for millions. Before raising the company’s value to billions.

A pretty simple upbringing. In NY with opportunity for the taking. Career, business and living his dreams. Doing whatever it took to boost his esteem. From the frying pan into the heat. #1 not an impossible feat. Take it from me and the maven Tommy. Get past the stigma of fat, dumb or unhappy.

Tip: The school of hard knocks is where you learn in a real way how to live another day.

Talkback: Does advertising work as advertised or is marketing a more reliable form of exposure for the average enterprise?

 As seen on NBC. No, it wasn’t easy. Blazing trails in the classroom. Facing Donald Trump in the boardroom. A young fella from Philly. Doesn’t treat life willy nilly. Entrepreneur, author, speaker. Community servant, history-making leader. Becoming a household name. He strives to elevate his game.

Season 4 Apprentice winner. The finale was a thriller. First African-American to get top prize. Watching his new acclaim rise. There began the public story. Of fame, fortune and professional glory. Featured in print, online and on air. Dude’s got much notoriety with some to spare.

Certified-gold bestsellers. Headed for the league of Rockefellers. Earning something like five degrees. Loaded in tech savvy and biz expertise. So don’t see his success as a breeze. A balancing-act for sure. Between home and workplace allure. A friend to two or three. Family man to the tee.

What separates him from the rest? 100% commitment to giving his best. Stands tall among his peers.  Even from his youthful years. He lights a fire for all to see. How passion can bring front-page victory. Maximizing his assets and how he’s valued. Reinventing himself – to be continued.

Mr. Trump supports him out loud. Family, friends and James Brown singing “black and proud.” Will he run for office one day? Maybe too soon for us to say. Making an impact in the community. As a sought-after business authority. With more to achieve between now and posterity.

Tip: It might take some luck to win the grand prize but it takes persistence to see your value rise.

Talkback: What makes success seem so easy for some people but so elusive for others?

 Catch the buzz. It’s on Facebook, cuz. A social media thing. Where some people meet a new fling. Mark Zuckerberg as founder. His family couldn’t be prouder. Hitting 500 million members. A billionaire on magazine covers. Everybody wants to know. The breakthrough that made them blow.

A way to connect with the masses. In between campus classes. No longer a tale that’s fairy. Now a mainstream public diary. Starting as a flashback in history. Humans are social beings. Interested in each others’ doings. Welcoming fans and friends. Sharing-in life’s twists and bends.

Lots of smart people in the mix. But he came up with the fix. Working with people who are bright. But he’s the one who saw the light. More like a modern day invention. People wishing Facebook was their creation. Seeing a business need. Taking the risk to lead. Attacking the opportunity with speed.

One person tells a sister or brother. Who each tell five others. Post a picture or blog. Maintain a feedback log. Like it or see it as a nag. Watch for content you can tag. It’s where the magic builds. For business and social thrills. Who would have thought? Soon stocks to be bought.

A movie set for release. Maybe even a tool for world peace. Zuckerberg has no shame. For bringing passion to his game. Donating 100 million dollars. To help groom future scholars. Going from 0 to 60 friends in minutes. Gaining more value in digits. A hundred years from now. Many will study how.

Tip: Million dollar ideas are like great athletes. You gotta train them right to put success in flight.

Talkback: What is it about Facebook that makes it so liked?

 BP oil well is dead! That’s what Thad Allen said. After months of flowing. For BP a terrible showing. Will take years before things recover. Lots of damage yet to discover. Some wondering about the economy. Hoping to again make some money. Is the American Dream now history?

President Obama thinks not. Knowing the economy gets hot. Saying GM has made a comeback. By reinventing its brand-pack. Fewer models in the showroom. More innovation in the boardroom. Some dealers shut down. Others working to come around. Gotta be your best, pound for pound.

Banks no longer on the brink. Came close to causing us to sink. All part of the market pressure. Where some have to reinvest in manufacture. Bridges and roads need fixing. Main Street and Wall Street need mixing. Careers and companies sometimes die. But skills and talents multiply. 

Underappreciated or underemployed. Frustrated or unemployed. Take your pick. Times are hard and sick. People looking for hope. Lindsay Lohan admits dope. There’s suicide and the chance to elope. No one knows like you. What you’re going through. Trying to re-invigorate? Yea, it’s not too late.

Raising the American Dream from the dead. Front and center in ppl’s head. Whether affected by the spill. Or struggling to pay your bills. President Obama has his take. On the value of his Stimulus shake. Saving the automakers from going under. Making sure lighting not followed by thunder.

Tip: Tough economic times can introduce a man to his dreams and re-introduce a nation to its ideals.

Talkback: Does living the “American Dream” carry the same meaning across racial/ethnic groups?

(Part 13) Layoffs, Makeovers & Comebacks: How Celebs Reinvent Their Careers – In 90 Days.

 Kevin Costner’s got the answer. To the BP oil spill disaster. Checkout his invention. That’s getting honorable mention. Used to separate oil from water. An idea inspired by Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska. Best known as a Hollywood actor. Reinventing himself for madd money now and ever-after.

Not trained as a scientist. But clearly an optimist. Thought there had to be a better way. To cleanup a spill on another day. Got together with some experts and business leaders. To build an ocean-skimming vacuum cleaner. Costner brought a dream mentality. Now set to deal with today’s reality.

Puts his dream into action. Developing a marketable ability. Into a hot commodity. Met with industry execs. Hoping to leave with a check. Got turned down time and time again. Persevering to the logical end. Selling safety might not be sexy. But a biz need is not always about being foxy.

Costner made his mark. Starring in lots of movies. Like Bodyguard with Whitney Houston. As well as touring with his band. Displays a balanced personality. Avoids getting caught up. With gossip and frivolity. Not known to make waves. Invention adds to his legacy. Between now and the grave.

He’s in the prime of his life. Don’t be fooled by his good looks, says his wife. As a youngster he spent time in the books. Earned a business degree before acting became his hook. Movies might be how we know his name. But that’s not the only thing he hopes his tombstone will claim.

Hip Tip: Reinventing your career means taking a chance on success, knowing that a market need is not always about being sexy.

Blog Talkback: Should Kevin Costner’s career success be linked more to being a Hollywood actor or modern-day inventor?

(Part 12) Layoffs, Makeovers & Comebacks: How Celebs Reinvent Their Careers – In 90 Days.

 Lucky to be alive? The story of Curtis 50 Cent Jackson. Growing up fast. With violence in his past. A hard life. Filled with strife. Running the streets. Dropping rap beats. Taking it to the big screen. Losing 50+ pounds, looking lean. For “Things Fall Apart” movie. Reinvents his story. From pain to glory.

Some crash and burn. Others live and learn. When things fall apart. Due to layoff or setback. A financial cutback. Take an inside look. For what makes you cook. All about a makeover. A personal takeover. Getting command of self. Simplify your life. Celebs diet to lose weight. Taking steps to be great.

Spread your wings. Branch out to new things. Go where you’ve never been. Failure not an option nor a sin. Initial success is in how you try. Continued success is in how you diversify. Expand your brand. Deal the perfect hand. Make your talents grow. Rock steady, get in the flow. 

Trends come and go. The market goes up and down. But skill captures what you know. Lets your experience show. Quit your day job. Not enough honey in your money. Leave your play job. If your money is funny. Find your dream job. To satisfy your 9-to-5 calling. Where passion keeps you smiling.

When one door closes. Another soon appears. Put patience into practice. Perseverance on notice. Tell yourself “you got this.” Experience workplace bliss. A new you starts with being true. To what matters most. The best you comes through. Even when others thought you were toast.

Hip Tip: Reinventing your career means taking a stand for what makes you happy and leaving behind what makes you blue.

Blog Talkback: Will the weight loss of 50 Cent inspire some people to do the same or push others to reinvent their game?

(Part 11) Layoffs, Makeovers & Comebacks: How Celebs Reinvent Their Careers – In 90 Days.

 Boobgate! The latest Palin buzz. No change in bust-line. But women are making strides. On the party-line. Winning election primaries. Running Fortune 500 companies. Breaking the glass ceiling. Working with the right stuff. Reinventing their game to new fame. Maybe they’ve had enough.

Meg Whitman makes millions. As Ebay CEO. Spends her own money. In a bid for Governor. Carly Fiorina does the same. Using her cred. As former HP head. With a run for US Senate. Hoping voters will remember. Between now and November. They are political outsiders. Not incumbent insiders.

Sick and tired of the boss? Wish he’d get lost? Maxed out in pay. No passion at work today. Starting over after a layoff. Hoping the job search will payoff. Celebs find a new point of sale. Where cash and flow come together. Moving to a new place of service. Earning new rank or status. 

Gotta spend money to make money. That’s how some ideas takeoff. Or dreams make a jumpoff. But even if your money’s funny. Reposition your skills. It can bring new celebrity. Be about something bigger. Than simply getting richer. Step aside from feeling envy. See success in your legacy.

The pundits are excited. For what to expect on the political horizon. Been here before. Time will settle the score. A career makeover means “do you” part 2. Turn up the heat. Take it to the streets. Go from actor to politician. Pro athlete to sports analyst. Regular Joe to CEO. Or CEO to political honcho.

Hip Tip: Reinventing your career means turning “sick & tired” into fired-up and ready to go.

Blog Talkback: Will the November elections be about politics at its lowest or girl-power at its finest?