Ted Williams and Susan Boyle's Rags to Riches Stories Platform for 'Following Your Dreams'

As many Americans have experienced dry seasons in the most recent years of the 21^st century depicted by a nation-wide recession, loss of jobs, and foreclosures, the public embraces inspirational stories of "rags to riches" where humble people have experienced a rapid rise to worldwide stardom by working their innate gifts and following their dreams. Two of the most inspirational stories of "rags to riches" of the 21^st century are described beginning with January 2011.

Ted Williams ("Man with the Golden Voice")

Grabbing the world's attention on January 4, 2011, 53-year-old Ted Williams transformed from homeless panhandler to highly sought-after "Man with the Golden Voice". Despite his initial training in radio announcing, Williams faced adversity in 1993 when he battled drug and alcohol problems and lost his home that resulted in his living in homeless shelters and panhandling. It was when he was panhandling on a road in Columbus, Ohio, holding a sign that read: "I Have A God-Given Gift Of Voice. I'm An Ex-Radio Announcer Who Has Fallen On Hard Times. Please! Any Help Will Be [Gratefully] Appreciated. Thank You and God Bless You," that the Columbus Dispatch Newspaper shot a video of him speaking with his golden voice that they aired and that brought him into stardom within 24 hours. Williams has been offered numerous job offers worldwide that feature his voice including an offer doing voice over for the Cleveland Cavaliers with the added benefit of a free house. In a live The Today Show interview on January 6 "Meet the Man with the Golden Voice" in New York where he was born, Willams makes reference to his faith and close relationship with God.

Susan Boyle

A world-wide singing sensation, Susan Boyle's "Rags to Riches" transition began in April 2009 when she sang to perfection on Britain 's TV sitcom Britain's Got Talent. Born in Scotland into a working class family in 1961, Boyle faced the struggles of suffering learning disabilities as a child due to a brief lack of oxygen at birth; being bullied at school; and experiencing biased critiques at talent shows due to her humble appearance. One of her most major battles occurred in 2007 after the death of her mother when Boyle became depressed, outed from singing, and became unemployed. Her breakthrough occurred with the encouragement of her singing coach when she sang "I Dreamed a Dream" by Les Miserables on Aril 2009's Britain's Got Talent TV show produced by Simon Cowell where she became the "Top 5 Most Watched Videos on You Tube." Her first album, "I Dreamed a Dream" released in November 2009, climbed the top of the British chart in the first week and was voted "Number One Best-Selling CD's Around the Globe." Boyle has been named "Most Influential Person in the World" by Time Magazine in May 2010 and has recently released her second album "The Gift" in November 2010 that became one of three albums to top both UK and US albums in the same year.

While these two rags-to-riches stories are quite different in various ways, they share the similarity of an average person overcoming uncertainty by working a God-given gift - both of which happened to be the gift of voice in these cases. The stories of both Ted Williams and Susan Boyle are a platform for following your dreams in the 21^st century. Whether hidden or exposed, we all have magnificent gifts that lead us to our purpose.

Sources

Helsel, P. "Homeless Man Ted Williams, Who Has 'Golden' Radio Voice, Gets Second Chance." NY Post.

"Susan Boyle Biography - Biography.com."A & E Television Networks.

Vieira, M. and Lauer, M (Interviewers). (2011, January 6). [Interview with Ted Williams: "Meet the Man with the Golden Voice."] The Today Show. New York City , NY .