In 1979, The Jackson 5 embarked on a one-year world tour during which they would play 146 shows. Despite already being one of history’s most famous music acts, one of the youngest members of the band was making his own plans. Whether it was somewhere on a tour bus, backstage, or in an empty hotel room, on November 6th of that year, a 21-year-old Michael Jackson wrote a note to himself:
“MJ will be my new name. No more Michael Jackson.
I want a whole new character, a whole new look.
I should be a totally different person. People should never think of me as the kid who sang ‘ABC,’ or ‘I Want You Back.’
I should be a new incredible actor, singer, dancer that will shock the world.
I will do no interviews.
I will be magic.
I will be a perfectionist, a researcher, a trainer, a master.
I will be better than every great actor roped in one.
I must have the most incredible training system. To dig and dig and dig until I find.
I will study and look back on the whole world of entertainment and perfect it. Take it steps further than where the greatest left off.”
Just three years later, MJ’s second solo release, Thriller, topped charts around the world. It would go on to become the best-selling album of all time.
Whatever else we remember about Michael Jackson today, much of it proves he lived out the rest of his list as well. New character? Check. New look? Check. He acted. He sung. He danced. He truly became magical, and he did almost no interviews.
Reinventing yourself does not mean everything will turn out for the better. The important part is remembering that change is possible. It’s never too late to become a whole new character.