I like to believe that I am someone who sees the best in people. Even if someone might rub me the wrong way at first, I try my hardest to give that person the benefit of the doubt. That being said, if I’m being completely honest, there is one person out there that I’m really at my wits’ end with. I’d even go as far as to say this person sometimes has taken things too far. That person is….Me!
Look, somebody has to say it: I’m arrogant, I’m abrasive and to top it all off, I’m down right aggravating. Okay, sure, I can be a nice enough guy every now and again, but haven’t you noticed that seconds later I’m back to being a complete jerk who is harshly judgmental about anything anyone does?
Most of all, I never want to hear any more of my pitiful excuses for my behavior. I’m done listening to me trying to explain any of the aggravating things I do seem to do on a daily basis. When it comes right down to it, I’ve been a pain in the butt for as long as I can remember, and I for one just don’t think I’m ever going to change.
Why Do I Do It?
So why do I behave the way I do. Is it ’cause have a vendetta against people? Nope. Is it because I am jealous of others? Nope. Is it because I love to cause trouble? Well maybe. But the real reason I do what I do is because someone has to speak up and lead change. And I am just the person who is narcissistic enough to do so. You see change is not easy. And leading change is even harder.
In my own defense, I have been bred and raised to be this way. Maybe it’s genetic. My father’s motto was “Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way” and there is no way that I am going to follow or get out of the way. Maybe it was how I was raised. I am from the video game generation where I could play games and pretend that I was an Olympian, Formula 1 driver, rock star or secret agent. Maybe it’s a sign of the times. You see on Facebook, you can fool yourself into thinking you have hundreds or thousands of “friends.” You can delete unflattering comments (but, I don’t I love them). You can block anyone who disagrees with you or pokes holes in your inflated self-esteem (but I don’t, ’cause I love that too). You can choose to show the world only flattering, sexy or funny photographs of yourself (which I do, after I have airbrushed them of course).
But then again maybe it’s the dairy industry that has made me this way. No, I have not judged the Royal or Madison. No, I have not bought or sold a Supreme Champion. However, what I did get is worth far more than any of these things. It gave me the confidence to be heard, the ability to know what I am talking about, and the skills to defend my position. These three things have served me extremely well. (Read more – How Dairy Cattle Judging Made Me Rich)
What I do know is I am not alone! Since starting the Bullvine almost 1 year ago, I have learned that my cry for change is not going unheard. In fact we now have the most engaged audience in the world.
Learning from the greats!
I would love to say I have modeled myself after some of the greatest leaders of all time. Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and George Washington were all great leaders. But I haven’t modeled myself after them unfortunately. Even my mentor Ken Blanchard is a great leader, but I wouldn’t say I have followed in his exact footsteps.
What I have done is looked at some modern day leaders. A mixture between the great Don Cherry, Bob McCown and Howard Stern. Don Cherry is famous hockey broadcaster who is well known for his outspoken manner, flamboyant dress, and staunch Canadian nationalism. Three things I have been accused of many times. Bob McCown runs Canada’s most listened to talk show. My favorite quote of his is one where he is sitting at the Rogers Center (where the Toronto Blue Jays play) and he says “I’ve been told, that there are people out there who don’t like me, so I’d like to invite them all down to the Rogers Centre. Unfortunately, it only holds 50,000.” Something since starting the Bullvine I am well on my way to. And of course Howard Stern, because sometimes I do tend to have a little “shock jock” in what we do.
The Bullvine Bottom Line
Gandhi once said “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win!” A pattern I have seen perfectly since starting the Bullvine. When we first started many ignored us. After a little while they started to laugh at us. And now more recently they have started to fight us. Guess that means………
P.S. For those of you who are concerned I AM seeing a psychiatrist. I married her.
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Fair enough Andrew , I love to stir the pot and asking tough questions is not always easy, your dad was ( is ) never afraid to be devils advocate and ask the question no one else would ( even if he knows the answer:) BUT , I have learned that after you have done that the job is only started SO the next step is solutions or possible paths to those solutions . There are always lots of different ways to get there and I think you need to push for more answers from what you know is a very very, talented , experienced audience.
Larry Sheardown
Great Comments Larry,
That is why we have always tried to balance educational articles with articles that stimulate change. Sometimes we find that you have to build the need for change before you can educate how to change. Watch for more to come on this….
Andrew