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