I don’t know if you follow UFC at all, but it has become something of a ritual to soak in every fight surrounded by good friends and decadent BBQ deliciousness in my world. Alongside some fierce Canadian pride that goes hand in hand with having some of the world’s most talented fighters, I love reading the boys body languages as they shit talk each other before each and every one of the fights. I can always tell who will win by how confident and prepared they come off – so far, my estimations have never been off. Being a true die-hard GSP fan (and no, not just cause he’s a fellow 514’er), after tonights spectacle I couldn’t help but notice what may possibly be this mans number one fear – losing it all. For the past few fights he has become comfortable in playing it safe. Not to discredit the extreme amount of skill you must possess to even just play defence and disarm your opponent (while playing by the rules and racking in points in your favour), and his loss of sight in the second round, it is clear that our worldwide champion is not ready to let go of his title. Can you blame him? I understand. Reading twitter and absorbing the thoughts of those around me, it was clear that crowds were disappointed with the feature fight. Tagging him as a boring fighter, saying he is not the same action-packed aggressor as he used to be, people begin to conspire that after every win he was dishing out some sort of excuse for the lack of entertainment provided. His reputation is now, by social means, in a make it or break it position. He can either choose to continue breaking down his opponents by using their weaknesses against them (while more or less securing his endorsements and cash flow), or take chances and risk it all for the thrill of the game and give fans what they really want (while potentially falling from grace).
It’s a tough call.
It’s a tough call that every successful person in the world seems to face at some point or another. Cash out, or stay true to yourself. While a few have seemed to have mastered the art of securing both (a fat pay check from expressing their individuality every which way they please), many get too used to the lifestyle their talents and fame have given them and lose the sparkle that made them stand out to begin with. When you get to the top of the mountain, what’s left to climb?
Is it not about climbing but more about doing your best to not fall off the stoop? Is there gratification after finding what you’ve been looking for, or must you redirect your passion to something else? Tycoons like Jay Z have made the shift to preserve their presence and invest in new talent, Donald Trump himself has increasingly developed his brand into a lifestyle… so is it just a matter of branching out to keep the interest? It seems that all too many get to their destination, then drop off the face of the earth.
I hope that when I finally get there, it will feel like I’ve only just begun.
I feel like a total villain in these shots we did for the Gris Gris Factory collection (and I likey). First one was taken in a studio and the background plugged in (apparently it is a well known office in Tokyo), and the second at Montreal’s iconic Wilenski’s diner (where you still get served the same way you did when it first opened back in the day – bologna sandwiches with mustard galore)! I had a lot of fun putting my serious face on and creating crazy Hitchcock-esque scenarios with the dudes…
Hope you’re having a beautiful Sunday! The sun is out in full bloom and I’ll be heading to the old port today to do a shoot for Zink Magazine. Psyched to be wearing Louis Vuitton straight off the runways! We did the first part of the shoot on Wednesday at Bota Bota spa… the pictures have an awesome raw effect to them (very Terry Richardson), with a whole lotta tasteful nudity. Yum.
xox
