3 lessons I learned from falling on American Ninja Warrior
Matthew Fulkerson
The Adventure begins underground & reaches to the stars! AtlasAdAstra.com A Missile Silo Adventure Resort
1.) Follow your Passion
If you do what you love, you will always be a success. (Even if you fall in the water)
I love action sports, and obstacle races, so running on American Ninja Warrior was an incredible opportunity to push myself.
I ran on American Ninja Warrior as the "Missile Silo Ninja" because working with decommissioned underground Missile Bases is a passion of mine. I love to go out and work on my old abandoned bunker any chance I get.
Another passion is connecting with others through hospitality. On the weekends I open my missile base site up for Airbnb guests to come take historical tours and camp on the property while I work. My wife Leigh Ann helps make it into an incredible experience with home cooked meals, which is something else I'm passionate about, eating healthy.
2.) Everyone Falls
Even the best athletes who train everyday for this event can fall. It doesn't matter if you have your own Ninja Warrior Gym, or if you've been on the show every year for the past 10 years, everyone falls. That is why only 2 people have ever made it to the end in Vegas, and only one person has won 1 Million Dollars.
I feel that all of my hard work over the years has prepared me to overcome all sorts of obstacles along the way. That is why I adopted the State Motto of Kansas, Ad Astra Per Aspera "To the Stars, through Difficulties"
It is what you do after you fall that matters, do you have that warrior spirit to keep going when the times are tough, and you experience failure?
3.) Never Give Up!
If you have ever watched American Ninja Warrior, you will see people from all walks of life. People who have overcome adversity, or challenges in their personal life who use those experiences to give them an edge on the obstacle course.
Although I ended up falling on the second obstacle, I felt like I was a winner just to be competing with all of these amazing athletes from around the USA.
This experience has given me the drive and desire to try again, and again, until I succeed.
