Criticism and "Leading By Example"

Recently, I encountered harsh criticism from someone close to me. That's not uncommon, especially when you're moving in a new direction. In my case, it went like this (paraphrasing in 3rd person):

"Greg Garcia talks the talk but doesn't walk the walk. He has big dreams but tends to fall short of them. He's a nice guy, but underneath the surface, he isn't a model of discipline, fitness, or character. It would be unwise to follow someone who cannot be the example that he expects. He doesn't represent what a martial artist stands for anymore."

How hurtful those words are....not just to me, but to anyone who accepts that kind of ridiculous thinking!

Sure, there is merit to being a positive role model. It's a fundamental principle of leadership. When you set a good example through your words, thoughts, and actions, it helps people think, "Well, if they can do it, then I can too!" It inspires success, yet it's potentially limiting.

Limiting? How so, G?

Consider this: How different would the Chicago Bulls have been in the 90's if the team never listened to Coach Phil Jackson? Coach Jackson can't jump, run, or shoot, so was he a bad coach if he can't play as well as his players? Bull. (Not a basketball follower? Neither am I, but you should read up on their accomplishments in that decade. Truly amazing.)

I don't need to be the UFC champion to live like a true champion. Similarly, I don't need to be a bestselling author before sharing great stories with my students. I also don't need to be a monk in order to pursue a life of kindness and compassion. As a master teacher of the martial arts (the techniques, theories, culture, lifestyle, and everything inbetween), I aspire and commit to the kind of improvement that fuels success in training, thinking, and living - and on most days, I'm doing all 3. That, my friends, is the example to follow. As I pursue further growth in all aspects of my life, I expect to encounter setbacks. If I'm not failing occasionally, then I'm not setting my goals high enough.

If you want to double your success rate, be prepared to quadruple your failure rate. Life's rules, not mine.

It is part of living to try things (and fail at them as often as necessary) in order to succeed.

Go forth into the world and fail gloriously, in the spirit of finding lasting success.
(this from the guy who just failed at keeping this issue under 300 words, lol...next one will hit the target!)


Bonus food for thought:
"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career and lost more than 300 games. On 26 occasions, I've been entrusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed."
-Michael Jordan


P.S. On a side note, Brock Lesner's post-victory speech in the octagon (in the recent UFC 100) is living proof that winning a belt doesn't necessarily make you a champion. Epic fail.