Whitney Houston dead at age 48
Over the last few days the world has been reeling over the untimely death of pop icon Whitney Houston. As a teenager I grew up on a steady diet the late singer’s hits. My favorites among them are Greatest Love of All, Saving All My Love For You, I Have Nothing and I Will Always Love You from the iconic Bodyguard movie soundtrack.
I can remember singing Greatest Love of All as a solo in a school program. I also competed in a regional talent show singing One Moment in Time. I even wanted hair extensions like hers after I saw the Wanna Dance With Somebody music video. This woman had model good looks and became the voice of our time. She clearly had a God-given talent.
While we all mourn her tragic death, buy all of her seven albums from itunes and amazon.com, and share our favorite Whitney songs on Twitter, two things occurred to me. First of all, we all need to pray for Houston’s family, particularly for Bobbi Kristina. That little girl has lost her #1 fan, and she is at a critical stage in her development. Secondly, I can’t help but think about how Whitney lived and what she always sang about and how that could help us all be better business owners.
The theme in all of Whitney’s music was LOVE. She sang about finding love, searching for love, treasuring love, being every woman, losing love and looking to the Lord for love. From saving all my love for you, to how loving yourself is the greatest love of all and how she wanted to dance with somebody who loved her, how she had nothing if she did have her love, and how she will always love. The constant thread in her music was a need and want for Love.
As entrepreneurs there are some common characteristics we share that cause us to kill our love relationships. I wanted to encourage all entrepreneurs to prioritize the loves in your life, your friends, children and your sweeties or spouses. Work hard to make sure that these people know that they are loved and appreciated by you.
As a group, we tend to be tough and opinionated. We are often workaholics, and at times can take out our day on the people we love. Here are some techniques that will help you protect and strengthen those you love.
1) Be Patient: Regular people with jobs do not understand people like us. Be patient with your spouse and family.
They could not envision going into business, but that doesn’t mean you get to be an irritating know-it-all jerk. Explain stuff so they understand what you do and why you work so hard. Keep in mind that as small business owners, we are typically over achievers, so regular people do not run as fast or jump as high as we do.
2) Find a way to relax: Work hard, but play hard. Part of the reason why so many entrepreneurs are divorced is because we do not know how to relax. I use Yoga to calm down. It’s easy to blame everyone but yourself for your problems. Work hard not to take out your day on your husband, wife or your children. Show your appreciation often and be spontaneous.
3) Go out to non-work stuff : Work events are different from business events. It’s important to keep dating your spouse. Try to attend a non-work related events once a month, invite your spouse and or the boyfriend or girlfriend to come along. Or allow him or her to pick an event or restaurant to go to. As entrepreneurs sometimes we can make it all about us, make it about them too.
4) Ask for a referral: Get help with your search for love. If you want to start focusing on your love life, start asking your business contacts, friends and family for a quality referrals for a blind date. Let someone who knows you introduce you to someone great.
Whitney Houston will be remembered as the best female solo artist of all time. Goodbye sweet angel, I pray that you are enjoying heaven’s choir and that your daughter will find her way. Thank you for reminding us all about the power of LOVE.
Do you have any other relationship tips that you learned from Whitney Houston’s music?
Melinda F. Emerson, SmallBizLady is one of America’s leading small business experts. As a seasoned
entrepreneur, professional speaker, and small business coach, she develops audio, video and written content to fulfill her mission to end small business failure. Forbes Magazine named her the No. 1 woman for entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. She hosts #SmallBizChat Wednesdays on Twitter from 8 to 9 p.m. ET for emerging entrepreneurs. She also publishes a resource blog http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com. Melinda is also bestselling author of Become Your Own Boss in 12 months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works.
I appreciate that this blog post isn’t full of self-service but genuine insight, and information. I received an email Sunday from a business/marketing person where the first 2 sentences was about Whitney Houston but the rest of the email was a sales pitch for their new program. It made me sick to read it and disgusted that some have come to use anything as an opportunity to pitch. It’s not that serious.
However, I appreciate your take on her passing Ms. Emerson, and what it means to business owners to not take any day for granted, to understand the role we have as entrepreneurs and business owners and to remember above all to love our families our God and ourselves. God-Bless, keep shining
Katrina–
Thank you for your comment. My heart was moved to write this piece at the last minute Sunday night. I think we all need to focus on what is really important
Best,
Melinda Emerson
The biggest lesson that can be learned from Whitney Houston is:
Don’t squander what you’re given.
After that, appreciate and accept help when offered and honor that gift by doing your best.
And, if you really want to talk about love, Whitney may have sung the song, but she certainly did not walk the walk.
Lydia–
Thank you for your comment. I think that addictions are powerful to break, and that we should all be glad that we are not the one struggling.
Compassion is crucial.
Best—
Melinda
What amazes me is the judgmental opinions that people have when it comes to Whitney Houston. Who is Lydia Sugarman to say that Whitney Houston ” clearly did not walk the walk”. It takes love to care of a child when you are being mistreated; it takes love to hire people and pay them a salary: she had several people working for her: it takes love to be charitable and several people have talked about how she has donated; it takes love to encourage others, and up to two days before her death she was encouraging other. Love comes in numerous ways it takes love to appreciate and forgive. Perhaps Ms Sugarman needs to study love before she judges anyone’s love walk. Perhaps Whitney would not have felt the need to live the way she did if she felt the love of others instead of their judgmental opinions.
Ingrid
A great post. Anyone’s passing is tragic, and we need to take what good we can – an appropriate reminder to mind our priorities. In the end, it’s people that matter most. How can we serve one another?
Service is the right sentiment George! Thanks you for your comment.
My best to you,
Melinda
Melinda, you are spot on in this post. Whitney’s death came as a big shock to the whole world but she has done her own and left the rest for all of us. I am a strong believer in the fact that the whole world will be much better and enjoyable if only we could show some love. Sad that Whitney didn’t wait to see today-Val’s day. But the marks she left behind will forever remain indelible.
Great post you’ve got here. More powers to your elbow.
Niyi,
Thank you for your comment. It’s all about the love. We all need to show more of it.
Best–
Melinda
This was a beautiful and well-written piece.
However, I must address the comment of Lydia. Lydia obviously in your judgemental (and rather ignorant) statement you may not have realized that addiction is a disease. Many addicts have to battle their cravings even when help is offered. And why didn’t Whitney know about love.. . she LOVED her daughter. Just because someone is addicted to something or going through something does not mean they love their mother or child any less.
Honestly, many of us, and this includes you, have made unhealthy lifestyle choices from coffee, to smoking, to lack of exercise. Does that mean you don’t love your family? And I could take it a squandering away the gift of health. Hey, with heart disease, cancer, and diabetes . . .I hope that you are living the most cleanest healthiest lifestyle of us all.
So, instead of spewing contempt and dwelling on her flaws let us focus on the beauty, the good, and the life of an icon.
Sharon—-
Thank you so much for acknowledging my work. I think that all of us are entitled to our opinion. Sometimes the spotlight can overwhelm those in the light. Lets pray her daughter and family are alright in light of this tragedy.
Be well,
Melinda
The death of Whitney Houston hit everyone of us loving his music and his movies.
But thanks to your article, we can learn the good things that she transmitted to us during her life.
I hope everyone could love her music the way I loved it.
Thanks so much,
Alessandro
Alessandro,
Thank you for your comment. Her music and movies is what we have to hold on to. I will always love her too.
My best to you,
Melinda
I agree with Sharon. Addiciton is a beast. A demon beast at that. If you have ever tried to help someone you know that it is totally impossible unless they are ready. There are many people without the ability to be empathetic to those with addiction. I could have argued with my best friend and her cold approach to WH death, but decided not too. What is the point? She doesn’t get it. I have watched two significant family members deal with addiction and thankfully, they are sober. But I also watched my aunt grieve the death of her son. He struggled from 16 years until his death at 41. Honestly….it is horrible. And of those who seek treatment I believe 90% will not make it.
Whitney Houston had a voiced that soared. Her vocal capacity was great. I am moved to chills or tears when I listen to hear. She made it look easy. Sadly, that was one of the few aspects of her life that she could do effortlessly. As Robin Roberts said on ABC, “A mother has lost a daughter and a daughter has lost a mother.” God speed to both of them.
Thanks for your blog Melinda.
Lia—
Thanks for your comment. I think you said it all. God speed to Whitney Houston and peace and comfort to all those left behind.
It is my joy to provide helpful information to small business owners.
Best–
Melinda
Love will save the day…
My favourite song sung by Whitney and a great way to approach developing a small business. Whether it is being patient like you recommend and appreciating those who are in our familiar and may be impatient with our long hours or whether its love for our own health and wellbeing by appreciating time off is essential.
I think the thing I learned from Whitney is to not squander my life and my talents. To always take control and responsibility for my life. Gods gift to each of us is our potential, what we do with it, is our gift back to him.
I am inclined to view addiction as a choice, a weakness, but not a disease. When we call it a disease we give up responsibility for it, when we call it a choice, then we have the power to change it with the help of god, ourselves and others.
Thanks for the excellent post.
Whitney Houston didn’t overdose you dumb ass’s did any of you bother to read the autopsy report.So maybe the life lessons you all should learn is not to judge a book by it’s cover because if you judge than you shall be judged,better be careful God sees all and you don’t want him on your back!!!!peace