I don’t know if you’ve seen this video yet but I think it’s hilarious. Back on June 14th this young bullfighter made a spectacle in Mexico City when he decided to leap out of the ring at the beginning of a fight. He was actually later arrested for breach of contract. Who knew?
When I watched this I thought about leadership.
Leadership is tough.
Whether you’re leading your
kids
church
or business.
As a leader I often feel like I’m running around a ring with a big red cape that’s attracting all kinds of attacks. My first instinct is to often run away. I’m truly embarrassed by how often I want to jump out of the ring.
My advice however is, don’t run! Fight the urge to leap out.
True change and progress demands you stay in the ring even when the attacks are coming fast and furious.
This really touched me today Pete. Just stay in the ring…
Real men may wear pink, but they don’t wear pink and gold lame’.
Ha!
Love how the bull even stood in amazement as the matador walked away! Guess we need to be prepared for what we are getting into. Not sure what he expected to find in the ring! May I stay in the battles that need to be fought for me and realize before entering the ring those I am not prepared to fight!!
Thanks Pete!
Good word!!
Thank you for this. A good reminder.
Oh, how familiar this scene is to my interior world!
I didn’t see the leadership so much as ownership.
Questionable Choice #1 – The Outfit. Sparkly gold & pink, man? For real?
Questionable Choice #2 – Vocation. BullFighter? Do you think maybe there are some limitations there?
Maybe his epiphany came a little late. But better late than never, right? So he high-tailed it out of the ring. He stepped back in, waved to the crowd, and owned his decision.
No doubt he’ll face lots of criticism. But in the end…he went with his gut & got the sam hill out of danger’s way. Went back to face the (no doubt jeering) crowd. I admire someone who can own it, and who can do it so publicly.
Just thinking that there’s always more than one point of view…
When do we know when we need somebody to lower us over a wall in a basket at night?
I feel bad for him. He had been gored before. He looks on, freezes up, and gets the heck out of there. Now he is being ridiculed on youtube, all because he knew when it was time to quit. (Actually, the time to quit may have been BEFORE he had been gored previously).
I look at that video and see someone FINALLY coming to his senses.
I think it’s funny Helen because this is EXACTLY what I would have done. In fact, I did ride a bull once. I made it about 3 seconds and when he threw me off I actually started running for the fence before I even hit the ground.
Ridiculed might be a strong word. I don’t think this video is any different than showing a replay of a guy fumbling a football.
although I pray YOU’LL never jump out of that ring… I wish everyone would jump out of the bullfighting ring… although I thought his outfit was cute.
The stress and pain of leadership addressed (along side a bull reference)in the Psalms. Who knew?
Psalm 69:29-31 – I am in pain and distress;
may your salvation, O God, protect me. I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. This will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hoofs.
I agree Pete, don’t run!
Definitely something I needed to read today and be reminded of this week! Great post Pete!
Perfect timing. I’m really almost at the point of wanting out of a church leadership role. Prayer would be appreciated. Thanks
You got it Mike!!
Haha, this would go well with Gladiator soundtrack and a big record scratch sound when he jumps out. Possible some Super Mario “Game Over” music too.
I just love your vulnerability. Thank you!
Needed that today…I’ll put my resignation letter back in the drawer.
Thanks for posting it.
At least until next Monday right?
Not every potential fight is worth fighting, and a leader who doesn’t know that will be defeated by constant battles, several of which aren’t worth wasting the time, resources and energy. Sometimes you enter a ring and realize you never should have stepped into it … with that insight, it’s better to own it and move on than fight a battle that’s not yours. Stay in the ring when it’s your fight, and stay out when it isn’t.
I had a mentor tell me once that a leader shows how great of a leader they are not in the first two years but in the 5 to 10 years of their leadership. he said that anyone can walk into a new situation and put anything out there and people will love it, but the good leader is the one that can be squeezed and stretched and yet rises to the top.
I guess when the “bull” hits the fan leaders lead and non-leaders run.
Wish there was a “like” button for comments. I like what your mentor and you say here.
thanks. it was an eye opening statement when I heard that from my mentor as well. Meant a lot and cleared some things up for me
Loved this post Pete. Good stuff. When I first saw the link on Twitter I thought the post would be about putting up with the bull (as in BS).
Both might be true.
Nice post.
Like Kyle said above…a great leader sticks out through the long term & through the dangerous decisions. I think that is why there are so many church leaders out there who (as my mentor in college would say) “don’t have 20 years of experience, they have 2 years of experience 10 times.”
Also, that is why all in church leadership need constant prayer from a close group people they trust.
2 years of experience 10 times. Wow. I had never heard that.
i hadn’t until a couple years ago. when, my very wise mentor, was teaching a class on christian leadership (not just church leadership) & was talking about leaders who have a hard time staying in one place for more than a couple years.
something that has obviously stuck with me.
Very powerful lesson! I have had to fight that urge many many times.
Thanks Pete I really needed this today
Great advise Pete. I know I have probably been jumping out of the ring to often.
lead: “cause” a person to go with one by holding there hand, a halter, a rope, ect., wile moving forward.
teach: “give/encourage” someone to accept as a fact or principle.
the word: the word of God. the word is a lamp unto, in the beginning was the word, the word was made flesh, let the word of Christ dwell in you.
Teach to live in the word.
Let the Holy Spirit lead.
Thanks Pete! Hit me where I’m at. And sometimes the people or situations that are charging scare me more than a bull ever would.