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- Are You the Lion or the Sheep?
Are You the Lion or the Sheep?
Awaken and Unleash Your Inner Predator
Listen to an expanded conversation around this newsletter:
In the wild, there are two types of creatures: predators and prey.
Whenever we go to Animal Kingdom at Disney World (or wherever we have a chance to see a lion in person), the difference in energy when a lion is spotted versus, say, a giraffe, is palpable. Even though you know in your mind the lion cannot all of the sudden rush the tourism bus for a quick meal, there’s always that nagging feeling that just “maybe” he could. You don’t look away from him until the bus pulls him out of your sight and if he happens to roar while you are there, best believe your heart rate will naturally raise little!
Why? Because we are the prey and he is the predator.
The lion energy is big energy. It’s magnetic. It’s powerful, confident and authentic. It takes bold action. It knows what it wants and relentlessly pursues it. It knows who and what it is and doesn’t settle for mediocrity because… well, that’s just not a lion’s nature.
The sheep energy is small energy because it’s prey energy. Sheep are reactive. They avoid risks and stay confined to their comfort zones and stay safely tucked within their herd.
Why Are We Talking About Lions? And Why Would You Choose to Be One?
As you know, the name of this newsletter is “We Play Full Out” - and at this point in our lives we are passionate about architecting our own lives on our own terms and by our own design and helping others do the same. In order to really create and live the life you choose to live, you have to be a lion.
What does that mean?
Well. This is one of those topics that you could probably write an entire book on. But we’ll share some stories and ideas to help you jumpstart your big lion energy, should you choose to take it on!
First: Be Hyper-Aware of Your Surroundings (Environment)
Imagine a lion, always tuned in to its surroundings. It's a bit like a highly trained Navy Seal, who enters every restaurant, park, or any setting with a keen sense of awareness, never taking anything for granted. For those of us who aren't Navy Seals, this might mean being mindful of who we let into our lives. Who are you listening to, and what are you absorbing? Is it lifting you up or bringing you down? Are you placing your trust in people who genuinely have your best interests at heart? Have you ever paused to question the things you've been doing all your life, to see if they truly align with the path you want to follow? Or are you simply going along with what you've always known? It takes courage to go down paths and question people or ideas that you have taken for granted as “okay.” It takes courage to leave a relationship, a religion, or a belief system. But taking those steps by choosing for yourself what is good for you is what being a lion is all about. Lions reclaim control over their future and don’t let external factors dictate their path.
Personal Story: For us, leaving our religion was (and is) a really bold action. We were members of a church for 45+ years. For Sunny a little more than Bart, this was the basis of her whole identity. Every decision made in her life up until that point was based on whether or not it fit within the framework of this church. How to speak. How to dress. What principles and values her life was based on. What she could or could not eat or drink. What she could or could not pursue in her life. When we both started to really question the foundation of the religion and realized we didn’t believe in it anymore… it took (and continues to take) a huge amount of courage, not just to leave the religion but to really start to dive deep into who we are and what we truly want out of life. In your life it might not be religion, it might be culture. It might be family environment. It might be a belief you have adopted that you haven’t ever questioned. It might be all of the above!
But for us… that’s how and why We Play Full Out was created!
Second: Roar! (Use Your Voice)
A lion is obviously known for its ROAR. Lions roar for many different reasons: establishing territory, communicating with their pride, asserting dominance, and as a signal of confidence and presence (letting others know it’s there).
We also use our voices for many different reasons. Just like a lion sets his territory, we can set our boundaries. We can confidently declare our goals and purpose. As marketers or business owners, we an use our voices to gather our team or to roar and let the world know we’re here and we have something to offer! We use our voices to communicate with the people in our lives. We can use our voices to assert dominance and to stand up for ourselves and/or for people who can’t.
Personal story: We were at a State 4H event in Blackfoot, Idaho. Xander was one of many kids competing in a horse event there. There was young girl competing and her father was being very aggressive towards her. He was pulling her off her horse and yelling at her quite frequently. As you can imagine, she was in tears. Everyone there saw it. Everyone there was troubled by it. But Bart did something about it. He walked over to them both and first asked the young girl if she was okay. He then told the father that if he saw him lay a hand on her one more time, he was going to have to deal with him. This stopped the father in his tracks. He immediately began to apologize and his behavior for the rest of the day was much better.
Lions stand up for themselves and for those who cannot.
Third: Resilience and Adaptability
Challenges are just part of the adventure. Even lions have days when they don’t catch their prey. They make mistakes and sometimes lose a fight, but they never give up or get too caught up in their emotions.
As humans, we often criticize ourselves too harshly, worrying about whether we're good enough or how we'll look if we fail. We tend to forget that every success is built on a mountain of failures. The key is to adopt a positive attitude, see failures as stepping stones, and keep moving forward. We can be just as adaptable and resilient as a lion if we don’t let ourselves get bogged down in the mire of our own psyches.
We've often talked about viewing life like a video game. If you try to level up and don’t succeed, just try again! It’s natural to feel emotional when you’ve put a lot of effort into something and haven’t reached your goal yet, but those tough moments are shaping you into the person you need to become to achieve your dreams. Be thankful, take a deep breath, and keep pushing forward. Every setback brings you one step closer to leveling up.
Fourth: Live the Life You Choose By Pushing Your Limits & Aligning with Other Lions Who Are Doing the Same
Lions see opportunities where others see obstacles. They keep their focus on the bigger picture and take action.
In our Magnetic program, we explore the idea that personality is not the most critical factor in creating an extraordinary life. It’s the choices you make. Most of our current personalities are shaped unintentionally—a product of our upbringing, past experiences, and limiting beliefs. To truly embody the lion mentality, you must intentionally design your personality and start living and making decisions based on your future vision—who you want to be and the life you want to create.
Surrounding yourself with other lions is equally vital. Being in a circle of people who step out of their comfort zones and encourage you to do the same creates an environment where growth becomes inevitable. It’s nearly impossible to rise into your future self if those around you don’t support or believe in your potential. Your circle of influence has the power to elevate or limit you—choose wisely.
Authentic Power that Captivates
Lion energy is authentic and undeniable. It’s not about demanding attention but about exuding a presence so genuine and powerful that people can’t look away. When you operate from a place of authenticity, you become magnetic. Others are drawn to your certainty, your strength, and your ability to stay true to yourself in every situation. This kind of power inspires trust and admiration - the kind that leaves a lasting impact.
Life Updates:
We played pickleball last Sunday with some friends, Xander… and our daughter, Mercedes, is back at it after having her baby! We booked the court for two hours and ended up playing for about three and half! WHEW! We had a ton of fun and really enjoy spending time on the courts! We also went and drilled for an hour together and got some good practice time in.
Bart has been shooting some new reels for his Insta and TikTok that you may enjoy - pretty fun! Check them out on either platform.
Other than that, this week has been pretty chill! We have some new projects going on that take time to build… so we’ve been mostly working! Bart also had his ELITE client calls, and of course our I Do Epic daily networking and accountability calls.
Bart’s birthday is on Monday, January 20th! Slide into his DMs or text him and wish him a happy, happy day!
What’d you think of this week’s newsletter? 🤔
Hit reply and let us know! How ya’ feeling? Did we crush it Bomb it? What would you like to hear more about?
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