--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started Michael years ago. I saw him in…" description: "\"I started Michael years ago. I saw him in Gary, Indiana, and we'd have him on the talent shows. He kind of emulated me, and did the best he could.\" — J..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/806/james-brown-8670_gary_i-started-michael-years-ago-i-saw-him-in_1437190.png" --- # I started Michael years ago. I saw him in Gary, Indiana… ![“I started Michael years ago. I saw him in Gary, Indiana, and we'd have him on the talent shows. He kind of emulated me, and did the best he could.” quote by James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/806/james-brown-8670_gary_i-started-michael-years-ago-i-saw-him-in_1437190.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/806/james-brown-8670_gary_i-started-michael-years-ago-i-saw-him-in_1437190.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/806/james-brown-8670_gary_i-started-michael-years-ago-i-saw-him-in_1437190.png) > “I started Michael years ago. I saw him in Gary, Indiana, and we'd have him on the talent shows. He kind of emulated me, and did the best he could.” [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes mentoring a younger talent, highlighting influence and the mentee's effort to emulate. **In simple terms:** Mentoring shapes growth. Key Takeaway Support and guide emerging talent. Themes mentorship influence growth Mood inspirational reflective Type advice personal When to use this quote - talent shows - music industry - career guidance - personal development Key Concepts role modeling skill development Questions to Reflect On - What qualities make a mentor effective? - How can mentees develop their own voice? A Different Perspective Mentee may become overly dependent on mentor. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Indiana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indiana/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Talent show](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent-show/) ## Related quotes > [I'd go dance at talent shows, and because I was young I had the upper hand on a lot of other crews. People thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jermaine-dupri/i-d-go-dance-at-talent-shows-and-because-i-was-young-i-had-the-upper/) [Jermaine Dupri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jermaine-dupri/) > [As I was growing up, I did a lot of talent shows. I won fifteen Sunday nights straight in a series of talent shows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otis-redding/as-i-was-growing-up-i-did-a-lot-of-talent-shows-i-won-fifteen-sunday/) [Otis Redding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otis-redding/) > [I think a lot of people go in TV talent shows because they want to be famous and not because it's about the music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ann-sulley/i-think-a-lot-of-people-go-in-tv-talent-shows-because-they-want-to-be/) [Susan Ann Sulley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ann-sulley/) > [I didn't have time for talent shows and stuff like that. I was into books and studying real hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-lynn/i-didn-t-have-time-for-talent-shows-and-stuff-like-that-i-was-into/) Cheryl Lynn > [I understand why people do reality TV talent shows, I just don't think it's good for music. It's karaoke. What three people on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ann-sulley/i-understand-why-people-do-reality-tv-talent-shows-i-just-don-t-think/) [Susan Ann Sulley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ann-sulley/) > [I get really frustrated with people who turn their noses up at talent shows like 'The Voice' and 'X-Factor.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricki-lee-coulter/i-get-really-frustrated-with-people-who-turn-their-noses-up-at-talent/) [Ricki-Lee Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricki-lee-coulter/) > [We all want to judge; it's an intrinsic part of our society and human nature. I'm not surprised that talent shows are hits, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/we-all-want-to-judge-it-s-an-intrinsic-part-of-our-society-and-human/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [I also used to work in the Catskill Mountains as a bus boy, and I performed in talent shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mann/i-also-used-to-work-in-the-catskill-mountains-as-a-bus-boy-and-i/) [Barry Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mann/) > [I was rapping at school, at talent shows. I thought I was a little star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mc-ren/i-was-rapping-at-school-at-talent-shows-i-thought-i-was-a-little-star/) [MC Ren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mc-ren/) > [My dad and I would perform around the Bay Area where I'm from in California together, and I also did talent shows growing up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriella-wilson/my-dad-and-i-would-perform-around-the-bay-area-where-i-m-from-in/) [Gabriella Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriella-wilson/) > [The first thing I ever did was play talent shows at the Uptown Theater and the Adelphi Ballroom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-hall/the-first-thing-i-ever-did-was-play-talent-shows-at-the-uptown/) [Daryl Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-hall/) > [When I was about nine or 10, I was on a few random talent shows in shopping malls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zara-larsson/when-i-was-about-nine-or-10-i-was-on-a-few-random-talent-shows-in/) [Zara Larsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zara-larsson/) > [I think about all of the freaking talent shows I've tried out for in my life, and I'm so glad I didn't make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maren-morris/i-think-about-all-of-the-freaking-talent-shows-i-ve-tried-out-for-in/) [Maren Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maren-morris/) > [I was the boy who liked to sing his own songs at talent shows, and I was suddenly officially uncool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-groban/i-was-the-boy-who-liked-to-sing-his-own-songs-at-talent-shows-and-i/) [Josh Groban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-groban/) > [I learned about this talent show on TV that was basically the Estonian version of 'American Idol.' So I lied about my age, went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerli/i-learned-about-this-talent-show-on-tv-that-was-basically-the/) [Kerli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerli/) ## More by James Brown > [I used to think like Moses. That knocked me down for a couple years and put me in prison. Then I start thinking like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/i-used-to-think-like-moses-that-knocked-me-down-for-a-couple-years/) [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) > [Get on up, stay on the scene, get on up, like a sex machine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/get-on-up-stay-on-the-scene-get-on-up-like-a-sex-machine/) [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) > [Got ants in my pants and I need to dance, so big fine mama, come give me a chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/got-ants-in-my-pants-and-i-need-to-dance-so-big-fine-mama-come-give/) [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) > [Retire for what? What would I do? I made my name as a person that is helping. I'm like Moses in the music business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/retire-for-what-what-would-i-do-i-made-my-name-as-a-person-that-is/) [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) > [When I'm on stage, I'm trying to do one thing: bring people joy. Just like church does. People don't go to church to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/when-i-m-on-stage-i-m-trying-to-do-one-thing-bring-people-joy-just/) [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) > [I'm kidding about having only a few dollars. I might have a few dollars more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/i-m-kidding-about-having-only-a-few-dollars-i-might-have-a-few/) [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) > [It's a Man's Man's Man's World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/it-s-a-man-s-man-s-man-s-world/) [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) > [I've been knocked down a lot of times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/i-ve-been-knocked-down-a-lot-of-times/) [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) > [Sometimes I feel like I'm a preacher as well, 'cause I can really get into an audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/sometimes-i-feel-like-i-m-a-preacher-as-well-cause-i-can-really-get/) [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) > [You got to use what you got to get just what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/you-got-to-use-what-you-got-to-get-just-what-you-want/) [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) > [I Don’t Want Nobody to Give Me Nothing (Open Up the Door, I'll Get It Myself)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/i-don-t-want-nobody-to-give-me-nothing-open-up-the-door-i-ll-get-it/) [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) > [I'm the most sampled and stolen. What's mine is mine, and what's yours is mine, too... I got a song about that... But I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/i-m-the-most-sampled-and-stolen-what-s-mine-is-mine-and-what-s-yours/) [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) > [I had to tell about my colonic, which expresses the fact why I'm so neat today as opposed to a few years ago. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/i-had-to-tell-about-my-colonic-which-expresses-the-fact-why-i-m-so/) [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) > [Take those kids and raise them up, teach them how to drink out of a righteous cup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/take-those-kids-and-raise-them-up-teach-them-how-to-drink-out-of-a/) [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) > [When I'm on stage, I'm trying to do one thing: bring people joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/when-i-m-on-stage-i-m-trying-to-do-one-thing-bring-people-joy/) [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) [Explore all 79 James Brown quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) ## More Gary quotes > [Professionally speaking, the proudest moment was when I booked the 'Human Stain.' I knew it had Nicole Kidman, Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris and Gary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/professionally-speaking-the-proudest-moment-was-when-i-booked-the/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [There are two things that really get under Gary Neville's skin: scousers and policemen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rio-ferdinand/there-are-two-things-that-really-get-under-gary-neville-s-skin/) [Rio Ferdinand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rio-ferdinand/) > [I like men who are very cool but who are also so brilliant that they are almost insane. Sean Penn, Gary Oldman, Bob Dylan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jolene-blalock/i-like-men-who-are-very-cool-but-who-are-also-so-brilliant-that-they/) [Jolene Blalock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jolene-blalock/) > [I told our guys they must not have cable because Antoine Walker knows how to play, Derek Anderson can play, Shandon Anderson knows how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-told-our-guys-they-must-not-have-cable-because-antoine-walker-knows/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I've followed Gary Oldman his whole career... I've watched the movies he's directed, like 'Nil by Mouth' - I've seen that five times!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-ve-followed-gary-oldman-his-whole-career-i-ve-watched-the-movies-he/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [When you're still, and some actors are really brilliant at that, you bring a kind of energy to you as opposed to sending the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-byrne/when-you-re-still-and-some-actors-are-really-brilliant-at-that-you/) [Gabriel Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-byrne/) > [Face it," Gary told her kindly. "You'll never catch up. You just do as much as you can and take the punishments without saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/face-it-gary-told-her-kindly-you-ll-never-catch-up-you-just-do-as/) [Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/) > [I used to hate Gary Neville with a passion and I told him that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-pimblett/i-used-to-hate-gary-neville-with-a-passion-and-i-told-him-that/) [Paddy Pimblett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-pimblett/) > [The best compliment came from Knopf's Sonny Mehta. We were at lunch in New York with my editor, Gary Fisketjon, it was my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ross/the-best-compliment-came-from-knopf-s-sonny-mehta-we-were-at-lunch-in/) [Adam Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ross/) > [Gary Greenberg is a thoughtful comedian and a cranky philosopher and a humble pest of a reporter, equal parts Woody Allen, Kierkegaard, and Columbo.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gideon-lewis-kraus/gary-greenberg-is-a-thoughtful-comedian-and-a-cranky-philosopher-and/) [Gideon Lewis-Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gideon-lewis-kraus/) > [Gary Speed was honourable, trustworthy and a joy to manage. He was honest, he was a role model and he was a great bloke.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-wilkinson/gary-speed-was-honourable-trustworthy-and-a-joy-to-manage-he-was/) [Howard Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-wilkinson/) > [It is a great shock at the age of five or six to find that in a world of Gary Coopers you are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-great-shock-at-the-age-of-five-or-six-to-find-that-in-a-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Reality doesn’t wait for our agreement or approval. It is what it is. You can count on it. Gary:”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/reality-doesn-t-wait-for-our-agreement-or-approval-it-is-what-it-is/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [Gary Burnetts office is shelved with theological books, guitars fill the floor, and the drawers are crammed with CDs. In The Gospel According to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-stockman/gary-burnetts-office-is-shelved-with-theological-books-guitars-fill/) [Steve Stockman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-stockman/) > [ I talk with Gary \[Johnson\] every other day, we're on different coasts usually but we keep in touch and - yeah, no I do… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/i-talk-with-gary-johnson-every-other-day-we-re-on-different-coasts/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) Browse all 225 Gary quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I started Michael years ago. I saw him in Gary, Indiana, and we'd have him on the talent shows. 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