When I first listened to Cynthia Morgan’s hit single I’m Taken and the music video that was shot by the super talented Clarence Peters who is arguably now bigger than his father Shina Peters in terms of his great catalog of works, I concluded in my mind that this diva is going places. From the lyrical arrangement to her delivery in the song, even by Jamaican standards, many of us declared that she is a formidable dancehall queen and her single – a masterpiece. After that hit and another follow-up song, I considered myself a fan. Whenever I watch her performance including her cameo role in AY’s movie – A Trip to Jamaica, I always come to the same conclusion that this Edo State-born artiste will conquer her world and maybe the world. In terms of her branding, interviews, and her moves in her music videos, you can easily also conclude that this is a damsel that was in the know of her endowments and on track to maximizing her potentials.

Fast forward to 2020 and Cynthia Morgan is like a one-hit-wonder or a flash in the pan like many promising artists who have dropped off the radar of relevance. The recent controversies around her demise from the limelight highlights the fact that we must all be diligent custodians of our talents. At the height of her short reign, she called herself Star Girl in comparison to Wiz Kid, the Star Boy. Unfortunately, she lacked the staying powers of the Star Boy who some now even address as a veteran in the music industry because of the number of hits, successful albums, and awards he has won locally and globally. What most of us do not realize is that talent is never enough as famously captioned by the bestselling leadership writer John C. Maxwell in his great and worth reading book with the same title. To be a consistent bestselling author or musician or service provider you need more than just talent. Davido, Tiwa Savage and Comedians like I Go Die who have remained relevant after bursting into the entertainment scene years ago, achieved this rare feat by hard work, continual innovation, and discipline. They were not carried away by the opium of their early success.

Also trending lately for the wrong reasons with Cynthia Morgan is the artiste May D who surprisingly has Jude Okoye, the elder brother of the P-Square brothers, as a personality allegedly involved in their misfortune and misadventure. Accusing fingers of complexity has been pointed to Mr. Okoye which he has come out to refute. The lesson for all of us is that in this competitive and multitalented world, talent is an overrated starting point. Recently Kelechi Iheanacho’s childhood friend penned an emotional letter accusing his friend of neglect after becoming a football star. If you are not careful you will find yourself in a similar situation. Your talent is your ticket to all the good things you desire in life. You must discover, develop, and continue to be innovative, hardworking, and disciplined in its usage if you don’t want to become an accuser of the brethren. So, whatever talent you have at whatever stage in your life or career, you have a responsibility to manage your God-given abilities diligently. This personal management involves constantly updating your skills and knowledge to make the right career decisions that include your choice of agents, managers, record labels, friends, spouse, mentors, role models, city to live in and most importantly how far you want to go and what price you are ready to pay in terms of DISCIPLINE and hard work to get to your vision. As we individually develop ourselves, I hope to see you soon at the top.

Ata Ukuta, Editor – www.towncryyers.com