Lessons from Bullfighting

Some believe it to be an art form. It's critics call it barbaric. Others view it as nothing more than a spectacle. 

But no matter your views on bullfighting, assuming you have some, it's hard to overlook the influence the tradition has had on the ancient cultures of Europe and Latin America. Paintings dating all the way back to 2000 BC adorn some of the caves in present-day Crete.  

Even India and Tanzania came claim to have dabbled in the timeworn drama between man and bull. Each corner of the globe undoubtedly sprinkling their own interpretation of how triumph is regarded and heroism, if any, is measured. 

Though the guidelines around fighting a bull vary by region just as say, cuisine or climate the objective usually falls squarely into one of the following categories:

-- debilitate

-- subdue

-- kill

Today, the event is held in sporting tabernacles that are as impressive as the spectacle itself. Stadiums like the Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas built in 1929, can seat nearly 24,000 people. It's distinct Neo-Mudejar architecture and heraldic crests representing the various Spanish provinces remind you there's nothing passive about the sport or its perception. 

Unlike the simple layout of the Plaza de toros de Ronda, a venue Hemingway was known to attend, the sport and motif it may offer seems more nuanced than a quick glance offers. 

But not in the way you may think.

Though there may be lessons gleaned from watching the composure, even courage demanded in deliberately agitating a 1300 pound (and very angry) animal, just as much can be learned from studying the bull.

Let me explain...

In Spanish-style bullfighting, also known as "corrida de toros," there is a fair amount of pageantry that precedes the actual fight. Here are the three distinct stages:

Stage 1: Tercio de Varas

-- a bugle announces the start of the event

-- the bullfighters enter the arena in an elaborate procession

-- the bull is released into the ring and tested for its barbarity

-- another fighter, known as a picador, enters the ring on horseback before driving a lance into the neck of the bull.

As you can imagine, this doesn't go over too well.

Stage 2: Tercio de Banderillas

-- each of the three bullfighters in the arena, also known as banderilleros, will then attempt to force two sharp rods into the shoulder of the bull

Stage 3: Tercio de Muerte

-- two of the three banderilleros exit stage left leaving just one to fend for himself

-- by now he is holding what many of us consider to be synonymous with bullfighting -- the muleta, or red cape

-- the bull, which is considerably wounded at this point, does its best to hamper the domination exhibited by the fighter through a series of passes

-- finally, a skilled matador wears the bull down to eventually angle the bull into a position where he can stab it through the heart

It's safe to say the three stages of the event heavily stack the odds in favor of the banderilleros. Not only is the bull outnumbered but long before there is any semblance of being evenly matched, the animal has been severely impaired.

Still, there is a point when the bull is considered to be MOST dangerous...

Amid the confusion the bull has the capacity to suspend its turmoil and pain. Just as we can, it can find a momentary respite amongst the chaos.

When the bull reaches this state it's called, Carencia. 

When this happens, the matador knows he's in trouble.   

The reason Carencia is so threatening for a bullfighter is because the bull recognizes its vast strength and power. It's potential and capacity for greatness is suddenly re-awakened. It slows time down, is no longer subjugated by its anger, and even finds some semblance of tranquility.

You too may feel as though the odds are against you -- the rules are unfair. You may even have the battle scars to prove it. 

But within that adversity exists a unique opportunity for intelligent endurance. We can pause and in the process blissfully interrupt stimulus and response with resourceful thought. 

We may have little control over the events in our life, both good and bad, but we can still elect the way we respond. 

Amidst the pain, the hardship, and the odds we can still create an interval of peace. It's there we hear ourselves above the noise, sometimes truly for the first time.

It's in that arena we cultivate resilience and character, while unearthing our power, durability, and vast human potential.

Then we live to fight another day.

  

   

Feedback Can Hold us Back from Being Great

There's a terrific interview with Impact Theory's Tom Bilyeu and writer, author, speaker Brendon Burchard. It turns out what holds many of us back from striving towards our greatest potential is the fear of feedback.

Here's a brief excerpt from their interview:

Tom: Why do you think people can slip into an obsession over Netflix or thread count but they don't do that for something that could really change their life?

Brendon: Feedback.

Tom: That's interesting. That's not what I expected you to say. What do you mean by that?

Brendon: Buying something, or getting pulled into Netflix -- being obsessed about something that gives you no feedback is not scary. A real obsession like trying to make an impact in the world you're going to get feedback. You try to make a difference in the world, you try to start a nonprofit, you try to start something like this and the views come or they don't come. There's feedback. And people are terrified. It's one of the 4 central fears we all have. If you really want to make an impact you're going to get a lot of judgement, you're going to get a lot of hate, and ultimately you're going to get a lot of rejection. People are going to diss on you, they're going to say, That's not good enough, they're going to say, Who do you think you are? and people are so worried about that they stop. And so it's easier. Watch Netflix and you don't get any feedback. It's easy. There's no disappointment there. 

Have you shied away from your greatness or chosen not to pursue ways to make an impact in the world because you're afraid it'll hurt? 

I know I have.

The key is push through your fear of ridicule, doubt, and judgement by raising the necessity of your objective. 

When what you do matters intrinsically and you know it will be of service to people other than yourself your passions morph into a sense of duty.

It's not your job to be a molder of consensus or a seeker of validation but rather your responsibility to share your gifts with those who need them most.

Start Your Own Artists' Colony

“Mobilize a group of people around a set of values and mission that drives the enterprise to new levels – to make ordinary people do extraordinary things. To give them the tools to build a great team.”

It's Easier Than It Sounds

Forming a meet-up group is easy but you want to make sure you cultivate an environment of like-mindedness, positivity, and support.  

Each member should be equally committed to the overall team objectives, and display a willingness to collaborate.  An ambivalent and uncompromising person can be toxic to the group’s dynamic.  

As a result, you may spend most of your time putting out fires rather than focusing on the important stuff.

A Few Simple Steps for Getting a Crew Together:

1. Ask people who you think will bring out your greatest potential and push you to be a better artist

2. Set a time and location and stick to it!

3. Make sure everyone is one the same page about the group's overall mission

4. Create a safe space where people can be vulnerable without being judged or ridiculed

5. Be consistent

The 4 Truths of Creating Your Own Opportunities

As a young actor fresh out of drama school, I was convinced it would only be a matter of time before I took Broadway by storm. All I had to do was outhustle the competition. But it didn’t take long before I realized talent and hard work aren’t enough to thrive in this industry or any other. There are many variables beyond my control that can pull my focus from what I could actually leverage.

As I transitioned from actor to entrepreneur, I was surprised to discover the entertainment industry had prepared me for my new venture. Being an actor is not so different from running a business after all—the product just happens to be the artist. In time, I improved my ability to target what was within my power, leading to what I call the four truths of creating your own opportunities.

1. Take action.

For years I would wait for the phone to ring hoping the perfect part would fall into my lap. Eventually I realized that my story would never be told unless I wrote it. With action came an awakening to my potential.

I learned to storyboard and produce, and before I knew it, I’d become a three-dimensional storyteller. I now knew a little about a lot and wasn’t at the mercy of an industry to get my voice heard. By bulking up my skill set and taking action, I had become the captain of my ship rather than a passive tourist.

Taking initiative emboldened those around me to do the same. Together we built a community where we felt invested in one another’s success and held each other accountable to make something happen.

2. Build the right philosophy.

Before I went to college, my father told me there was no excuse for skipping class. “You can get a C just for showing up,” he said. His point was half of success in life comes from the quality of our presence.

After graduate school, I was just another struggling artist among the masses. The constant flux of emotion, of feeling I was so close to my breakthrough one minute and I should pack it all in the next, was exhausting. I often struggled to sustain the right philosophy when it came to pursuing my long-held dream.

Then, in the winter of 2010, I began working with an acting teacher who changed my life. His lessons transcended the stage and profoundly influenced the person I would become.

My mentor Andy was a storyteller just like me, but he had started late in the game. He auditioned steadily for 15 years before landing a series regular role on one of TV’s most popular shows. Instead of getting discouraged by his early setbacks, he chose to double down and improve his craft.

His example taught me that we get to choose how we show up in life and that the quality of our contributions begins with the quality of our energy. He never allowed his talent to collect dust, choosing instead to stay ready for whatever opportunities might come his way. Perhaps the most important lesson I took from him was the importance of always approaching life as if you’re just getting started.

3. Avoid toxic people.

Many years ago I was sitting in a busy coffee shop when a woman asked if she could sit in the empty chair opposite me. “Sure,” I said. After a few moments we struck up a conversation when she asked, “What do you do?” At that point, I was just a few months out of drama school and excited to share my profession with anyone who cared to know. “I’m an actor,” I beamed. She shot me a skeptical glance before falling into a cackling laugh. “How’s that working out for you?” she asked. I probably should have told her the seat was taken.

The point is it’s really easy to be cynical. Anybody can find reasons to complain or criticize. Choosing to focus on possibilities takes a unique type of courage. Your life is flying by. Don’t waste another second with people who refuse to get out of their own way and want to take you down with them.

In time, your life will begin to mirror the people you spend the most time with, so pick your brain trust wisely and share your ambitions with only with like-minded people who support your vision. We don’t have to share our dreams with everybody.

4. Find flow instead of building muscle.

Today our culture is bombarded with words like “grind” and “hustle.” I love the idea of encouraging hard work and personal accountability. But if we’re not clear on how to work hard, it can come at a great cost.

As a young acting student, I’d arrive at the theater each morning at 5:30 a.m. Nothing gave me greater delight than being the first to write my name on the sign-in sheet. I worked hard and reaped many rewards from my dogged determination. But it also came at a great cost. I chose competition over community, solitude over camaraderie, and though I was prosperous in improving my technique as an artist, I was bankrupt in the arenas of my life that really matter. Family, friends and service to others were playing supporting roles when they should have been the stars all along. I spent years pushing very hard on a door that read, “Pull.”

You must work incredibly hard toward your goals, but you can do so without having to “muscle” through life. We don’t have to bulldoze our way to the top. We can learn to flow like a stream racing through a valley. It moves quietly above, around or below its obstacles, reaching its destination by working in harmony with its surroundings.

When we work in unity with others who share our values and core principles, we reach our target together, while lifting one another up and having a lot more fun along the way. 

Just Decide

Any trace of stress or misgivings I experience about a project can usually be traced to indecision. There's a safety that comes from hedging our bets. "I"ll do it if there's time, or when I get the money." But saying, "I will do it no matter what," is different. It puts the onus on you to follow through on your word. Scarier? Yes. But far more rewarding. And it's the only way things of value get done.

Drawing a line in the sand and choosing to follow through on a project, big or small, means you're admitting how important something is to you. Taking action means your honoring that feeling. And with action comes an awakening to your potential. 

Circle of Influence

It's great to have a strong and large circle of influence, but it's far more important to know your limits.

Knowing your limits allows you to go all in on what you do best a further maximize your growth and potential.

Not Enough to Just Know

There's a famous adage that goes, "Knowledge is power." The more I think about it, I believe knowledge is only potential power. It should lead to more than wisdom, but to action.

For years I read, listened to, or watched any resource I could get my hands on to improve my craftsmanship as an actor and my overall productivity. 

Gradual improvements occurred only when I implemented what I learned rather than tucked it away as merely theory.

If you want to get to the next level of whatever your creative endeavors may be, it's not enough to know. You've got to apply it.