How many times have we hollered, “Evel Knievel”, before jumping a bike, a skateboard, a motorcycle, or back-flipping from a diving board?

Evel Knievel represented more than just a guy who jumped on motorcycles. He was a symbol of risk, effort, and backbone; someone unafraid of failure. He was the courage that we all wish we had.

I don’t have any idea how “good” Evel Knievel was at jumping motorcycles in comparison to someone else who was willing to jump motorcycles at long distances….because no one else was willing to try it. It wasn’t about his talent for jumping motorcycles- it was his willingness to try it.

Evel Knievel never apologized for an unsuccessful land. He didn’t botch a jump, heal up in the hospital, and then call a press conference to apologize for flipping over his handlebars and flopping around like a rag doll for a few hundred feet. Of course not, people appreciated his attempt; they were in awe of his courage. Knievel had a history of failure and when doing so, he failed spectacularly.

I have a tendency to take failure personally. I tend to believe that I am the only one who does it and that the crowd gathers to watch me fail. The truth of the matter is that people gather to watch the attempt. People appreciate the efforts of those being willing to try what we are unwilling to try for ourselves. People love backbone; sometimes it takes risking yours to remind others that they still have one.

Now, I am not suggesting that we all go jump in a rocket and go thrusting ourselves over the Snake River Canyon or buy a cape and a motorcycle and go leaping over the fountains at Caesar’s Palace. But I think that taking a risk every now and again might not be the worst thing in the world.

 “Nobody wants to see me die. But they don’t want to miss it if I do!”
–Evel Knievel

Take some risks.

Peace, Love, and all things Beef related,

Beefcake

Photo by Stasulli Photo/Trail Racing Over Texas