Me

gradually my path began to reveal itself and I discovered how life itself was leading me toward my goals, finally, to my destiny. As it was happening, I did not always understand why I had to experience what I had to, but with time I could see that everything had its own reason. I could finally see that a single experience—good or bad—does not define everything, and the most important thing is to always stay alert to the various opportunities that arise. Every course has its fair share of bumps, and as painful and hard as they may have been, these bumps were crucial for my growth and maturity as a person and an artist. I still had a long way to go, but after Les Misérables I finally felt that I held the tools to move forward. I felt strong, powerful, and invincible. The small bumps I had faced paled in comparison to the sense of triumph for having been able to develop myself creatively as an artist, in genres as different as television, film, theater, and music. All of these experiences gradually shaped me into a much more complete person than I was when I left Menudo, and they taught me that the most important thing is to remain loyal to one’s self and live with the conviction that each and every one of us is destined for something extraordinary. This was only the beginning.

THREE
    MY TIME TO SHINE
    THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD not have everything at once, but I disagree. Instead, I feel we should not have everything until we are actually ready. And to become ready, one must work. A lot. I’m not just referring to practical work, the type that helps us to reach the professional success we seek. I am also talking about spiritual work: We must learn from the karmic lessons that life places on our path.
    In my life there was a moment when the stars aligned perfectly and everything was in the exact spot where it needed to be so I could reach the goal I’d always dreamed of, and beyond. And if I learned anything in the process, it is that when your moment finally arrives, you cannot allow yourself to get held up by looking back. You have to work tirelessly, give it your all, and dedicate your heart and soul to actualize the blessing that has been given to you. Because it is just that—a blessing. We have to grow in response to the circumstances, and make the most of our chance to shine.
    My fame in the world of entertainment did not come unexpectedly. Even though it may seem to audiences in some countries that I showed up out of nowhere and started selling albums like crazy, the reality is very different. My rise to the top of the charts as a top-selling artist came after many, many years of hard work and dedication by both myself and my entire team. From a very spiritual and personal point of view, I had taken the time to discover what I wanted to do with my life and which direction I wanted to take. I felt ready and strong, prepared to face all the challenges life might dole out. But despite being ready for everything that was to come, I would never have been able to imagine the scope of it and how that would affect each and every area of my life.

TAKING THE WORLD BY STORM
    THE RIDE BEGAN in the fall of 1995, with the release of my third album, A medio vivir. The first single released was called “Te extraño, te olvido, te amo” (“I Miss You, I Forget You, I Love You”), a ballad that was in line with the kind of music I was making at that time. But the album also had a secret gem: a song called “María.” On this song we fused Latin rhythms with pop, and it had a tempo and vibe that was distinct from everything else on the record, but it was also completely different from anything else I had ever done. I knew there was a certain amount of risk in releasing such different material, but the results spoke for themselves: “María” was the song that propelled me to the next level.
    The shocking part is that the first time I played the song for a record label executive, he said, “Are you crazy? You have ruined your career! I can’t believe you are showing me this. You’re finished—this is going to be your last album.”
    I remember that whole thing felt completely surreal. The guy completely exploded, without any real reason and without giving me the benefit of the doubt. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, and needless to say I was devastated. Even though I really liked the song we produced—I loved it, actually—hearing those words from the mouth of a high-ranking