We will all be faced with many obstacles in our lifetime. When it happens, there is a definitive choice to be made. You can either let the obstacle defeat you, or you can do something different, maybe something outside your comfort zone, and ultimately overcome the obstacle. In this situation you can be a pessimist, throw up your hands and admit defeat; or be an optimist who uses this as an opportunity to stretch and grow.
Prison is full of dyslexic people. There are also many successful and wealthy people who are also dyslexic. Both groups were faced with the same challenges and disabilities. At some point they succumbed and became a victim; or they adapted, and overcame this obstacle.
An obstacle does not have to be a hindrance. An obstacle can be an opportunity to challenge yourself. Sometimes that means doing things that are unconventional and against tradition.
My dad doesn’t claim to be the first guy to get off his calf horse on the right. But he is the first guy to do it at the NFR. At the time, the consensus was that it would ruin your horse if you got off on the right. I heard a reporter ask my dad why he did it when everyone said it would make his horse duck and ruin him. My dad answered, “Well my horse wasn’t worth much anyway.” I love that answer.
The ability to overcome, and even break tradition is a mindset. Start by challenging yourself with little things. Before you can accomplish great things, you have to accomplish small things. Even in the small things don’t take defeat lightly. Learn from it and use it to your advantage.
Thinking outside the box is how groundbreaking ideas are born. Everything we now consider as traditional or normal was once an idea that was “outside the box.” Don’t ever let someone talk you out of something you really want. When you are discouraged and being told you can’t do or achieve something, don’t believe it for one minute.
I want to give a shout-out to my nephew, Stetson Vest, for making the NFR this year. This is the fourth year of professional rodeo for him, and it amazes me and makes me proud of how he’s handled himself. I don’t know many who would have stayed as positive and stayed hooked like he has. Congratulations Stetson!
During the NFR, Jennifer and I will be doing a pre-game show at the MGM called “The Draw.” It will be held in the Hollywood Theater where they show the live telecast of the rodeo. We will have a list of stock drawn for the rodeo and talk about our picks for the night. We will also have special guests and prior world champions. I expect this will be the most fun I’ve ever had during the NFR. After the rodeo you can also catch the Gold Buckle Zone, also held at the MGM. The show is free and we would love to everyone come out.
Till next time, God Bless, and I’ll see you down the line.
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