7: Respect

Wow, it has been a minute since I have written an entry in these blogs. From the getting the new store up and running, the new commitment to the gym, and the closing days of getting our new home up and running, the blogs took a back seat for a while, but does not mean I have forgotten about my commitments to these entries. However, I feel that today is an especially good day to discuss something that seems to be lost now, and that is respect. 

​I've always vowed to earn respect. I have never wanted to be handed anything in my life, and have always wanted to truly feel as if I have "earned" everything that I get through my journeys. Respect is no different. However, I feel that to many others, respect is something that can be taken for granted, and is something that is not as important as I truly believe that it is. One of the reasons I bring this up now is because of this last week/weekend, and the importance it had on a number of people, including a few that I consider friends and colleagues. 

​Last week/weekend, WWE held tryouts at their Performance Center in Florida. A list of thirty plus athletes from around the world were invited over the course of the week to attend this tryout in front of world-class minds of the Professional Wrestling business, a truly priceless experience that could change lives. Among the athletes present, were a few people that I consider friends, and three that I have shared the ring with.

​Now, I will preface this by saying that I have been emailed by someone from WWE regarding future tryouts, and there is a strong possibility that something could happen for me in the future. This knowledge alone has pushed me to work harder, and is a driving factor for this year. However, knowing that some of my friends had the opportunity before me is something that never would discourage me. In fact, I could not be more proud of them. I am happy to see some of my friends do these things, and it only makes me want to work even harder than before.

​This kind of thing makes me recollect and think back to some people (who will remain nameless) that simply cannot understand why some people are granted opportunities while they themselves are stuck somewhere else. Instead of being supportive and helpful to their "friends" that get opportunities, they secretly are spiteful and view these things as a "cut in line". This negative mindset is only a setup for failure in my opinion, and is not what respect is about. These same people, even if they claim to respect their peers, would show the exact opposite behind their back as soon as good fortune befalls the "friend" before it comes to them.

​Here's the thing: if you work hard and prove to yourself that you are doing EVERYTHING correct, then there will be no reason to hold grudges or disrespect others that get opportunities. Yes, jealousy is one thing, but to spite someone for their successes is another. One constant that I have always believed is that in this business, a ton of opportunities are a situation of "right place, right time", even if you are working as hard as possible and doing everything you realistically can to make a name for yourself. If the belief of hard work is there, then there should never be any room for spite, and only for respect out of what the other person is getting at that time. 

​Now, in no way am I perfect. The Barrett Brown of 2014-2016 may not have understood why he was in the deep rut that he was in, and it was simply because he did not work as hard or maybe even not care as much as the modern day Barrett Brown does. Over the last eight years, I have constantly found my deep passion for wrestling do nothing but grow, and at this point, I'm investing as much time and effort as I can into my brand. Saying that, I know I can do even more, hence the length between the last blog and this one. But also, having been working so hard leaves me no room to spite any of the friends that had a tremendous week in Florida. I have nothing but respect for them and the opportunities they received, and now I just hold on to the hope that my outreach and work will lead me to the same place in the near future.

​Spite and negativity, to me, are just things that get in the way of a positive mindset. These same people that hold onto these things are the same that may search for shortcuts, and shortcuts would never let me feel as if I have earned things in life. Over the last year, I have focused on nothing but positivity and hard work, and it has gotten me more in the last year than I could have hoped for, and I have the confidence and respect for myself that it will only continue to get better from here.

​So I want to quickly congratulate, among others, Aaron Machbitz (Jaxon Stone), Ryan Greeness (Maverick/Moonshine Mantell), Evan Cloyd (Jarek 1:20), and Austin White (Austin Theory). I couldn't be happier for all of you and I wish you nothing but the best from this experience. You all have my deepest respect, and I hope that I get to experience this same thing sometime soon.

Again, I am not perfect and I have been spiteful in the past. Learning from those mistakes, however, has shown me that respecting others and working hard will lead to a world of change. Life owes us nothing. Wrestling owes me nothing. But I owe everything to it, and realizing that has driven me to truly give Professional Wrestling everything I have through the course of my career.

It's like a wise man once said, and should be a motto that drives everybody:


"Work hard. Treat people fairly. Earn respect."
-Adam Pearce


See you soon. Thank you for being here.

​

-BB