“When I was a kid, I never saw a puppet show,” Henson recalled. “I never played with puppets or had any interest in them.” It is with thankfulness from children around the world that Henson’s interests changed over time. Such familiar characters as Kermit the Frog, Ernie, Rowlf the dog, and Miss Piggy have since become ingrained in the national psyche. Henson revolutionized the worlds of children’s television and puppeteering and had a blast along the way. How did he do it?
He Stayed Young: Henson believed that no matter what our age, we never loose that child within us. Connecting to that part of us, to our hopes and fears and energies we had as children, is one of the keys to succeeding as adults, according to Henson. By tapping into the enthusiasm and simplicity of his childhood, Henson was able to inspire his puppets and forge the necessary connection between them and his audience.
He Was Optimistic: There were few people who had what it took to get Henson down. Firm in his belief that the power of positive thinking is immense, Henson tried to remain upbeat no matter what situation he found himself in. He also attempted to portray this positive message throughout his work, making his own little contribution to the world around him the way he knew best.
He Had Faith in Himself: Henson was no exception in the world of entrepreneurship; he, too, experienced the disappointment of failure and faced the challenge of staying motivated. But, he knew that he had talent and through the highs and lows of his career, Henson all the while remained unwilling to give up his goals. Drawing strength and guidance from a higher power, Henson doggedly continued to chase his dreams.
He Led The Way: From the innovative design of his Muppets to the unique format and television shows in which they were featured, Henson made a name for himself as being at the forefront of the next big thing. He didn’t accept simply doing things as they had always been done before but chose rather to challenge himself to think creatively. In doing so, he broke new ground and paved his own, unique path to success.
He Worked Hard: No matter how much talent one has, Henson believed that there was no substitute for hard work. Often at the price of his personal life, Henson remained devoutly committed to his work until the day he died. This was easy for him to do, however, since he didn’t see his work as work, but rather as an enjoyable pastime that he was fortunate enough to be able to make a living from.
“My hope still is to leave the world a bit better than when I got here,” Henson said shortly before his death. Indeed, Henson achieved his ultimate goal. The Muppets enriched the lives of and educated children around the world and Henson’s vision and creativity continue to fuel new projects today through the works of The Jim Henson Company.
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