by Michael Jackson will forever be remembered as the King of Pop, a global icon who revolutionized music and dance. His incomparable talent catapulted him to stratospheric fame, making him one of the most successful entertainers of all time. However, Jackson’s phenomenal success was no accident – it was the product of relentless hard work, determination and an unyielding drive for perfection.
In a rare interview, Jackson credited his astronomical success to one key ingredient: hard work. He firmly believed that natural talent could only take you so far – to reach the absolute pinnacle of success, you needed to complement talent with tireless effort and dedication. For Jackson, hard work meant devoting every waking hour to honing his craft. It entailed endless rehearsals to perfect his signature dance moves, spending long nights writing and recording smash hit after smash hit, and pouring every ounce of his being into putting on electrifying, flawless live performances.
Jackson’s singular focus and work ethic were evident from early childhood. As the youngest member of the Jackson 5, he quickly emerged as a standout due to his natural charisma and prodigious talent. However, he refused to rest on his laurels and worked harder than anyone else. While his brothers relaxed between tours, Jackson spent his free time diligently practicing his dance routines. When the group was on the road, he begged to be allowed extra time in rehearsals so he could keep improving.
This ethic continued as Jackson transitioned into a solo career. For his epic world tours, Jackson would spend months in grueling rehearsals, pushing his body to the limit as he perfected every step, spin and gesture in his legendary choreography. He hired crews to film his rehearsals so he could review them, analyzing each moment to see how he could enhance the show. For Jackson, even sellout shows in front of millions were still rehearsals – opportunities to improve for the next one.
The making of his landmark albums was also characterized by intense work sessions spanning years. Jackson wrote and recorded hundreds of songs for each project, carefully crafting each track to perfection. Producer Quincy Jones noted that while working on Thriller, widely considered Jackson’s magnum opus, they recorded so much material that they could have put out a triple album. Jackson’s studio sessions often stretched into the early morning hours as he refined every ad lib, vocal inflection and instrumental flourish.
Jackson was just as devoted when it came to his groundbreaking music videos. For “Thriller,” he worked closely with director John Landis for months to create the 14-minute short film that revolutionized the genre. The grueling video shoot spanned six weeks, with Jackson spending long nights on set perfecting his zombie dance moves and makeup. Nothing was left to chance – when MTV refused to show the video due to its length, Jackson pushed back until the network acquiesced, recognizing that “Thriller” was no ordinary video.
Beyond music, Jackson applied the same diligence to every new venture he took on, including film acting. In 1978, he landed the lead role of the Scarecrow in the highly anticipated musical The Wiz. Jackson spent his off-hours on set religiously rehearsing his dance sequences to ensure he could live up to the role made famous by Broadway star Hinton Battle. The result was a scene-stealing performance that showcased Jackson’s dedication to his craft.
This tireless work ethic extended into every corner of Jackson’s brilliant career. To build his lucrative fragrance empire, he meticulously sampled hundreds of scent combinations until he found the perfect formulations. Even towards the end of his life, Jackson was working just as hard – his grueling rehearsals for his doomed This Is It comeback tour were immortalized in the documentary of the same name.
For Jackson, hard work was not just a means to an end – it was a way of life. Driven by an almost maniacal perfectionism, he pushed himself to the limits of human capability. The fruits of his relentless labor are evident in his trailblazing body of work that smashed records and influenced generations of artists. But beyond the surface dazzle, Jackson hoped his ethic would inspire others. As he often said, true fulfillment comes not through talent alone, but through perseverance, dedication and the will to be the absolute best.
