My odds went from 1 in 15,000 to one in five in a year.

Last year at this time I entered a competition for my own show on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).  There were over 15,000 video submissions, so my odds were roughly one in 15,000.  When I entered the competition (with only a few days left to get votes), the front- runner was already 8 million votes ahead of me.  But, that didn’t stop me.  When you believe in yourself, you take a chance on yourself.   I entered anyway.  I however was not one of the finalists,  but I still consider myself a winner for having the courage to get into the race in spite of such odds.  I learned a lot and gained a lot from participating.

I Guess You Can Say I’m in the Finals!

My prize for entering last year’s competition was a re-igniting of passion that I had put aside many years ago to focus on raising my kids.  Going through that process inspired me to “make space for my grace” and start doing something to make it happen.  The very next week I signed up for television classes and continued them through the Spring of this year.  Now almost exactly a year later through a series of coincidences that I like to refer to as God-incidences, I’m being considered for a major role in a pilot for a national television network.  But, here’s the difference.  Now my odds are so much better for there are only four or five other people being considered.  So my odds in a year went from one in 15,000 to one in five.  Now that’s progress and a reason to give thanks and be grateful!  Wish me luck on Friday as I do a screen test and meet the producers in person for the first time.  I appreciate your prayers more than ever.

I’m Barbara Talley, the poet who speaks and inspires.  To find out more about me check out: What Does Barbara Do? or visit  my website.