It’s yers for the takin’ – so get takin’!

As I made my way back to Mark’s place the following week, my mind was set on gettin’ the most of my time in the saddle. I was focused on conquering the metal beast, as I kept telling myself failure is NOT an option.

I hopped outta my truck and wandered into the weathered barn. There sat Mark chewing on a thick strand of hay. He stared at the metal beast with a gaze of love and respect and slowly turned to me, as I sat and swiped a strand o' my own. Before the thick golden stalk of hay hit my lips, Mark started firing last week’s questions: Who’s your mentor? Who ya runnin’ with now? Whose guidance and advice are ya taken today? Are ya still playin’ the same game ya were last week and all the week’s before or are ya finally REALLY set on being a champion?

He caught me off guard. What game were we playin’ now? What about tying down? What about maintaining focus? What about the wild metal beast set before us? Where was Mark headed with all this crazy cowboy couch therapy? I didn’t haul out here to talk – I was here to ride. As Mark’s stare began to burn a hole through my bewilderment, I began to fire back answers in retaliation. He shot down the names and reasons with speed and precision. Each answer imploded midair, like a clay pigeons on a shootin’ range, I was easy game. I was quickly out of ammunition and Mark’s barrels still full when he turned his gaze back to the headless bull and began to share his cowboy wisdom.

“Here’s the deal cowboy,” he said firmly. “A champion rides with his mind and his heart. Ya gotta protect ‘em and care for ‘em like they’re yer most valuable possession – cause without them yer nothin’ more than all the rest. A real champion guards his mind and heart keepin’ a close eye on everything that touches and feeds into it.” Mark went on to share the TWO CARDINAL RULES OF CHAMPIONS:

Rule One: Only take advice from someone who’s “been there and done that” – and done it a big way.

Finding a champion can be like findin’ a needle in a haystack. There’s always an abundance of bleacher busters – self proclaimed experts with no on the job training – ready to sell you snake oil. And plenty of friends and family happy to give ya hay loads of advice. Find a real champion with the track record and credentials needed to groom ya. For me, a champion belt buckle got me half way. The other half was my respect for Mark. He walked the walk and talked the talk. He accepted NOTHIN’ short of the very best. He was rough on me and spent hours chipping away at my ole bad habits. He was the real deal. Be sure you settle for nothin’ less than the real deal. Yer worth it and so is yer future.

Rule Two: Hang out with champions and champions in training.

In short, like breeds like. When you hang with mediocre ya get mediocre. To be frank, mediocre makes it easy for you to cop out. Champions don’t make excuses. They accept they’ll fail here and again – and that’s okay. They take it in stride and make NO EXCUSES. They pick themselves up without hesitation. It’s right back on the bull for the next ride – no easy outs. Real champions don’t worry about what people say unless that person is a champion. Why? Cuz’ champions challenge you to be yer very best. They never say things to drag ya down or make ya play small. They say things to encourage ya. They ALWAYS challenge ya play big and hang around to see ya through - rain or shine.  

When I took these two rules to heart and began travelling in the circles of champions, I never missed the naysayers. I found a new source of passion and energy. It was like a light switched on and new doors began to open. I saw bigger and better opportunities. This new circle of friends brought me new perspective – an open mind with greener pastures. My life has never been the same and each day is better and richer than the last.

Ready to be a champion? Get busy now! Adopt the 2 Cardinal Rules of Champions. Don’t make ‘em a process. Make ‘em immediate. Connect to Champions and Champions in training. Eliminate the naysayers in yer life. Once you make the pivotal decision to be a Champion and commit, in training or not, you are a champion! So, step up yer’ game and start to mentor others. Be the guy everyone wants to follow. Be your own biggest asset. Create value for yourself and your team of Champions all day every day. Be a source of passion and energy and the “light switch” for others. Quickly plow your fields to weed out the naysayers. Plant and nurture a crop of champions. And, harvest a bounty of friendships, support and financial rewards for a lifetime. It’s yers for the takin’ so get takin!

Happy Trails,

Brad

Better To Fail A Thousand Times

 Than Quit Just Once.

As I mounted the iron bull, I was convinced, given the perfect scenario, I would conquer the metal beast. Truth be told, much as my ambitious cowboy heart wanted to believe it, I did not have the skill or discipline to be a champion. As I dangled upside down blaming everyone and everything but myself, I realized I had a potentially fatal flaw - I simply was not coachable. I hadn’t heeded a single piece of advice Mark so generously offered me, as I tied on. I didn’t listen because I believed I was “born” to be a champion and it would all come to me naturally. Problem was – it didn’t appear nature had any plan of fallin’ in line.

I picked my beat up wannabe self off the sawdust covered barn floor, dustin' off my Tuff Hedeman rodeo starter kit outfit. I knew a cowboy never draws his gun unless he plans to shoot. It was decision time - I had to make a choice.  I could continue to be tossed around like a hog tied calf. I could limp away with my bruised ego and faltering pride and continue to invest in my imaginary cowboy life and wardrobe. OR, I could surrender and become a student of a master on a journey to the real deal.

Mark sat patiently behind the controls of the Toro, giving me a moment to wrestle my own ego to the ground and brand it a failure. I glanced his way and watched, as a grin came over his face. “Whatcha gonna do?" he asked. Without a pause, I responded, "Whatever it takes." In that moment, I shifted from a wannabe to a champion without even knowin’ it. I needed was skill and discipline. Suddenly, my thirst for knowledge and training ran as deep as my desire to be a champion – it became insatiable. I was as eager as I had been the first day of kindergarten, a hungry fresh mind, awaiting Mrs. Russell’s next instruction, as she taught me my first real lesson - the Pledge of Allegiance.

"What’s the plan?" I asked the master of my craft. Mark stood and signaled toward a couple of haystacks where we copped a squat, as he chewed feverishly on a strand o’ fresh hay. “ It’s pretty simple my friend. There are Four Champion Commandments:

First, give this an honest go – don’t say you’ll try – do it.

Second, start at the BEGINNING and keep an open mind.

Third, accept yer gonna fail now and again – and, it’s okay.

Fourth, ya gotta stick – ya can’t quit.

If yer’ in this for the long haul, ya gotta accept ‘em as yer own." he added. Without hesitation, I accepted the Four Champion Commandments. I became a student of my craft and a REAL champion. Only now do I have the hindsight to share the Four Champion’s Commandments and the beauty in their simplicity.

First Champion Commandment - The Honest Go

The honest go is simple – you are either in or out – there is no in between. It means givin' 100% even when 100% may not be yer best. Ya gotta approach the challenge with yer whole heart. Play ALL out without an escape plan. Be honest. It’s yer first round at this rodeo (even if you’ve been at another). We can all learn a little somethin’ from those who forged the path before us. Most importantly, don’t worry about what others will think or say. The conversation changes along the way. People by nature are afraid of risks – even if the risks are all yers. Take the magpie's chatter in stride. Just remember, they’ll all be there to celebrate your success and be proud to be yer friend or kin folk.

Second Champion Commandment – Start at the beginning and keep and open mind.

There’s a great saying, “Beginnings are usually scary, endings are usually sad and it’s what happens in the middle that really matters.” Don’t be afraid to start at the beginning. If it seems like a “restart” and “waste of time,” remember you weren’t all too happy with the path you were on, which is what inspired ya to look for another.

An open mind can be a challenge.  It doesn’t simply mean be open to new ideas. It’s more complex. It requires you to give up pre-conceived notions, perspectives and rules, which have been engrained in us since birth. Drop yer preconceived notions about what the challenge should “look like.” It’s only when you have an open mind that you can grab the reins of life to fulfill your life’s dreams. After all, an open mind gave an urban boy the reigns to harness his dream of being a bull ridin' rodeo champion. A life I lived and hold forever as my own today. I wasn’t born or raised in the country or on the back of a bull – but I had an open mind. An open mind is the key that unlocks the door to make your dreams a reality.

Third Champion Commandment, accept you are gonna to fail now and again – and, it’s okay.

The road to success is riddled with failures. Failures are life’s lessons. As I learned over the years, even World Champions only stay on half the time.  Did ya know Justin McBride only stayed on 50% of the bulls in his career? He was a World Champion at the time, earning over $5 million a year.  Think about it, a good slugger in Baseball only get's a hit 35% of the time! One thing I learned – no one that “counts” makes fun of ya for giving it an “honest go.”  In fact, they’ll pick you up out of the dirt, critique your ride, give you sage advice and buy you a beer to ease yer pain. Only gutless people without an open mind are foolish enough to laugh or criticize. Have mercy on their souls – a mediocre life is a hard pill to swallow. So remember, yer gonna fail every now and again – and, that's okay.

Fourth Champion Commandment, ya gotta stick – ya can’t quit.

If yer all in – quittin’ ain’t on the menu. A man’s gotta live with two things throughout his life: his memories and his regrets. Ain’t no horse fast enough to outrun ‘em. Memories enrich yer life and regrets - they chew up yer soul. So, make yer memories abundant and yer regrets few. And remember, bad memories ain’t regrets. They’re bittersweet doses of medicine known as life, luck of the draw and lessons learnt.

It reminds of one of my most memorable and cherished rides. My entire family travelled to watch me ride in a small rodeo in Caledonia, Missouri. It was the first time my Momma watched me mount a bull. I don’t need to tell ya how hard a boy works to please his Momma. As the luck of the draw would have it, I drew a Charolais bull by the name of "Creampuff." Truth be told, he was no Creampuff. But, he was my draw. So, I tied on and pulled down the brim of my hat. With a nod of my head, the chute gate flew open like the trigger of a fast draw and I immediately morphed from a buckin' bull ridin' cowboy to a rodeo clown. My bull takes a big lunge forward … I don't.  My bull turns to the right … I don't.  Ole’ Cream Puff proudly struts off … and you guessed it … I don’t.

It was no doubt one of the shortest rides in the history of bull riding and it certainly felt like everyone (everyone who mattered to me) was there to see. I’m told the announcer actually bellowed, "Folks, I don't think the ole' boy even sat his behind down on that ‘creampuff’ of a bull."  Regrets about that legendary ride?  Not a one!  In fact, my Momma proudly announced, "I saw at least a hundred guys in the crowd who wished they were you!" What I learned that day and the memory that warms my heart – a boy can always count on his Momma’s love and support. Because her boy, a fledging young cowboy, gave it an "honest go," there was no failure.

So, get rid of all your “quit.” And never forget, “It’s better to fail a thousand times than to quit just once!”

To be continued! Until then … Happy Trails

Brad

All Hat And No Cattle?

Sitting in the stands with the imprint of Skoal ring on the back pocket of yer' over starched Wranglers, sportin' the latest Justin McBride cowboy hat with slight bend and a light layer of red clay dirt – you have the look of a real cowboy. But does the “look” make you a bull ridin’ champion? After all, it’s only an eight second ride. How hard can it be a buckin’ bronco rodeo ridin’ champion? Question is does a champion ever sit on the sidelines? And when you take to the bull ring, what guarantees you don’t end up being the rodeo clown?

As a young, energetic and ambitious newcomer ready to become a REAL cowboy, I accepted advice from anyone who listened to Garth Brooks or Chris Ladeux or had bent, dirty, sweat stained ten gallon hat.   My first six months, I was bucked, trampled, slammed and hooked non-stop. Many a time, I was on the verge of throwin' in the towel. While I remained steadfast and listened to all the "Experts," things weren’t goin’ too well. And unfortunately, those I relied on for encouragement for most of my life simply did not share my cowboy vision. The only advice my friends and family offered was to QUIT!

Life is not about how fast you run, or how high you climb, but how well you bounce.

What was I doing wrong?  I had all the latest gear. I watched ALL the cowboy movies old and new. I was walking the walk (bowlegged, if you will) and talking the talk. Heck, I even developed a southern drawl.  Surely, success was just around the barn door.  I mean for God's sake, it's only an eight second ride!

Then, one day, I happed upon a new friend, Mark. He was unassuming, wore sneakers and a beat up ball cap.  I shared my Bull Rider dream, as he listened intently.  As I finished my sad cowboy tale, he looked me straight in the eye and asked, "Who taught you when to tie down? Who taught you when to let go?"  Three important questions – questions critical to be a successful rider – how to hold, when to hold and when to fold.  His questions REALLY hit home - in layman'w terms: "Who is your mentor? Who are you running with? Are you getting the RIGHT guidance and advice?

It's better to be a has-been than a never-was.

It was a pivot-able moment for me.  Was I willing to start over – start at the beginning with a mentor committed to show me the path from rodeo clown to bucking bronco hero? Yeah. I was. So, I headed on over to his little ole’ log cabin in Farmington, Missouri more than eager and ready to start all over again. I was taken aback when I took a 360 and there wasn’t a bovine in sight. Disappoint shot across my mind like a polished silver bullet. Was I being duped again?

A cowboy is a man with guts and a horse.

About that time, the door to the cabin swings open, Mark steps out onto the porch in scuffed boots, worn jeans, a weathered-shirt AND a "Circuit Champion" belt buckle.  We strolled out to the barn, he slid back the door and there sat a tarnished Toro II mechanical bucking bull! My eyes popped as a smile crept over his face. "Take off your boots, spurs and hat cowboy and climb on," he ordered. “Hold on partner,” I repled. “This isn’t my first trip to the rodeo. I’ve been riding for 6 months. I’m suited up and ready for the BIG stuff!” 

Nature gave us all something to fall back on, and sooner or later we all land flat on it.

Mark noded politely and motions to the bull. I did as I was told. I climb on, tied my hand in and he turned it loose. In three short seconds, I was hanging upside down after dragging four square feet of real estate for what seemed an eternity. As I untied and dropped to the ground. I didn’t kick the dirt, I didn’t kick my lack of skill and know how – no I behaved like a real wannabe. I blamed everyone and everything but me!

To be continued tomorrow.......

Brad