Millions of viewers have watched the You Tube video of Scotland's Susan Boyle singing "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Miserables on the tv show Britain's Got Talent.(video below) One reason that this video has received more than 200 million views is the unexpected contrast between the 47-year-old Boyle's beautiful, operatic voice and her rather plain appearance.

At first glance, neither the judges nor the audience expected much from this seemingly unremarkable contestant. But as soon as she opened her mouth on the talent show stage, Simon Cowell and the rest of the judges had to admit that they had wrongly judged this book by its cover.

Boyle's performance made her an instant international celebrity, receiving attention, as the New York Daily News pointed out, "ordinarily reserved for those who meet a carefully promoted standard of elegance and glamour" ("The Susan Boyle Story; If Only She Could Freeze-Frame This Moment," May 4,2009).

Few of us have a beautiful singing voice like Boyle's. So, what lessons can we learn from her seemingly sudden rise to fame? Is it just a story of a "plain Jane" made good? Is it about the fickle nature of fame? Amid all the publicity-a few may realize-the truth is that Boyle teaches us a far more fundamental lesson. Her decades of hard work and preparation laid the foundation that allowed her to seize the opportunity when it came.

American inventor Thomas Edison Famously said, "Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls, and looks like work!" Contrary to the romantic notion that Boyle's lovely voice was a deeply hidden secret before her appearance on Britain's Got Talent, the truth is that she showed it off frequently, and worked on it for decades, And it was hard work.

Because of a difficult birth, Boyle had a learning disability as a child, and was often teased by other children. As the youngest of ten children-six years younger than her next sibling-she found comfort alone in her room, singing along to records such as Donny Osmond's "Puppy Love."

Her mother encouraged her to join the church choir at age 12, and she took part in a few school musical productions, As a young adult, Boyle took advantage of opportunities to sing at family gatherings, at a local hotel, and at karaoke pubs around Blackburn, her hometown.

Boyle took voice lessons, and attended the Edinburgh Acting School, Though her worldwide fame came suddenly, it came about after a lifetime of hard work that allowed her natural ability to shine, Her performance took millions by surprise, but it was no "lucky break" for this dedicated and persistent singer.

by; Phil Sena,TW magazine July-Aug.09

"You go girl"