Bell. It was the television show that created stars and a brand that continues even today. Well, Peter Engel was the creator of that show and many others like it. When he released his memoir, I Was Saved by The Bell, it opened my eyes up to so much about his life and where he was today—and our conversation together was so encouraging for me and I know for you when it comes to the importance of having a positive attitude in life.
CW. Peter, first of all, I have to say that what you have built through your production company is truly inspiring. What has it been like for you to open up about your personal and professional journey the way you have?
PE. Cyrus, you said the important word: “journey.” It has been a journey, and sharing it with people has been a great part of it. I hope it makes them feel like you can’t give up.
I’ve had my heart broken so many times, but I’ve come to realize that if you didn’t have your heart broken, the victory wouldn’t be as sweet.
CW. You really seem to have a way of bringing characters to life. You talk about in your book about how just by reading about them, people want to see your characters on the screen. Have you always known that was your gift?
PE. Yes! I knew it when I put on my first show. I knew then it was something within me. The problem is that sometimes it’s hard to get a chance.
It’s hard to get your foot in the door, but you just gotta go with it. You just gotta keep fighting. That doesn’t mean I was all the way in. I just had my foot in the door, but that was a start. Just keep in mind that you can’t give up. If you love it, and have a passion for it, you’ll have to stay at it.
CW. In your book, you make it very clear that your faith is something that has guided and directed you in life. How has the knowledge that you were created with greatness inside you affected the way you live your life?
PE. I have always believed I was created for greatness, but it didn’t happen right away. God made this promise to me, but it didn’t happen overnight. You have to have faith. That is the only thing that will keep you from leaning too much on yourself. If you think you don’t have to have faith, you’ll think you can do it alone.
People forget it’s supposed to be fun. For me the work is fun, and if you can have fun doing your job you can’t ask for more than that.
1.Do a self-check and ask whether, like Peter, the work you are doing is fun for you. If not, how can you change that around?
2.Faith is an important aspect to having a positive life. What do you have faith in, and how can that help you to change the way you see where you are and where you want to go?
Power Your Life WITH VISION
“Where there is no vision,
there is no hope.”
—George Washington Carver
Power Your Life BY LISTENING TO YOUR HEART
“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
—Antoine de Saint Exupéry
(The Little Prince)
Power Your Life BY DOING WHAT YOU LOVE
“My Vocation is my Vacation. I love what I do.”
—Nick Cannon
Power Your Life BY GETTING BACK UP AGAIN
“The road back may not be as short as we wish … but there are solid reasons to feel confident about the future.”
—Richard Parsons
Recognize the Power of Your Gift
Singer and Actress Antonique Smith
Recording artist and actress Antonique Smith is on a high like you wouldn’t believe—and she is enjoying every minute of it.
Her first single, “Hold Up Wait a Minute,” was nominated for a Grammy in 2015, and people around the world are talking about her emergence on the musical scene, especially after the release of her project Love Is Everything. Before “Hold Up,” many knew Antonique as a Broadway star and as an actress who played Faith Evans in the hit movie Notorious, but music has always been a part of who she is. In 2017, she also was a part of the powerful limited television series called Shots Fired.
I asked Antonique what the ride of her journey has been like. “I’m so grateful,” she told me. “I’ve been dreaming about this moment since I was a little girl. I’m so grateful that everybody is supporting and embracing it.”
Though she has always believed in herself, Antonique told me that the competitive nature of the industry wore her down a bit. “Through the years, after seeing how difficult the industry is, I lost some of the belief I had in myself because of the rejection and the No’s.” She then added: “The majority of what you get are the No’s. The tiny Yes’s you get are what people normally see.” She says it’s been a long road, but her family, friends and fans have all made it worthwhile.
With the challenges of the industry, I was curious as to where the tenacity she has comes from. “I believe that my gift was an answer to a prayer of seven-year old Antonique,” she told me.
“I think that God gave me something to share with the world. That is what keeps me going. This is the only thing I have wanted to do.”
Talking about the live performance, she says “That’s my favorite thing. I love looking into people’s eyes and feeling what they are feeling. To have that connection with people is priceless.”
And this is only the beginning for her. “I’m going to keep going until I can’t go any more,” she says. “I continue to push.”
1.For Antonique having some success is not enough. She keeps pushing. What can you do to keep pushing towards your goals?
2.The right attitude has helped Antonique to keep the right perspective. How can you change your attitude to better approach your own life and what you want to do?
Power Your Life BY SHOWING UP
“Face front, true believer!”
—Stan Lee
Power Your Life WITH YOUR UNIQUENESS
“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost.”
—Martha Graham
Power Your Life BY RISING TO THE CHALLENGE
“Nothing, I am sure, calls forth the faculties so much as the being obliged to struggle with the world.”
—Mary Wollstonecraft
Power Your Life WITH HOPE
“[N]o human being can truly be imprisoned if hope burns in your heart.”
—Barack Obama
Actor, Choreographer, and Author
Darrin Dewitt Henson
Whether it is movies like Stomp the Yard, television shows like Soul Food, or books like Pregnant with Thought, Darrin Dewitt