Just before the kids finished school, I had the chance to participate in a press tour of the Medieval Times corporate ranch. This is where the horses are raised and trained for all of the Medieval Times castles in the U.S.
I know. It’s a bit of a stretch to connect my cleaning and organizing theme to knights and livestock, but I couldn’t resist.
I have a passionate love for . . . behind the scenes tours.
I love seeing what isn’t normally seen. As a Constant Analyzer, I love to find out if my assumptions are correct. I love to find out how organizations work and the backstories of the people who work there.
We’ve been to Medieval Times in Dallas once. My kids still talk about it. We had the chance to experience the finished product. We saw the swordfights and cheered for the knights and marveled at the stunts.
As a former Theatre Arts teacher, I couldn’t help but wonder about the background of the performers. Were they theatre majors? Were they horse experts? Were they stuntmen?
On the tour, we had a chance to travel from the Dallas Castle to the ranch by bus. The king and the manager traveled with us on the way there, and the head horse trainer and head knight joined us on the way back.
I had an hour each way to pick the brains of these people. So. Much. Fun.
Overall, the thing that amazed and delighted me most is that the people who work at Medieval Times LOVE working there. They are truly a family and are passionate about their work and delight in the joy they bring to audiences, particularly the children.
As I pried into each person’s backstory, I also consistently learned that the work environment is one in which growth and learning is encouraged and fostered.
The manager began working as a server years ago. He has worked his way up to the corporate level.
The head knight was a theatre guy who found himself in Dallas years ago looking for work. He started at the castle in an acting-only role, but then started training as a knight and now trains the knights (who all start as squires).
The other knights don’t come from acting backgrounds or horse backgrounds. Medieval Times sees the value of training. I saw that they don’t expect people to already be experts. They hire good people and then take the time and make the effort to turn them into experts.
The knight training is grueling. The fights are perfectly choreographed with safety as the top priority. It’s so easy to look at people who are REALLY good at what they do and assume they’re just naturally gifted. They’re gifted . . . after hours and weeks and months and years of hard work.
I also love how they give people chances. The falconer is a specialty job. Several of the attendees and I had discussed on the drive there that we all assumed the falconer is someone they bring in.
We were wrong. When we met him later in the day, we learned that he had been working as a squire when the management approached him about becoming an apprentice to the falconer who would soon be leaving. They took the time to notice something in him and to train him in a unique skill. How cool is that?
I also thoroughly enjoyed meeting the head horse trainer at the Dallas castle.
Again, I assumed he was hired because of his amazing horse training skills.
Again, I was wrong. I can’t remember exactly, but I believe he was training as a knight when he was approached about learning to become a horse trainer. He is now an amazingly skilled horseman and his passion for his job (that he never imagined he would have) is truly inspiring.
I love seeing the twists and turns people’s lives take.
I love seeing how you don’t have to be perfect before you start.
I love seeing how experts are made, not born.
And I have an extra-special love for people who see this in other people.
I was already a fan of Medieval Times. As a theatrical mama, I love seeing my kids’ imaginations being sparked. Now, though, I also love being able to spark their real-life dreams as I tell them the stories of the how these people worked hard and are now in jobs they love, but never could have imagined.
Now for the cleaning and organizing application: Skills are learned. It’s possible to become awesome at something you never imagined you could even do.
Mmm-hmmm. That just warms my mama/teacher/blogger heart.
Disclosure: I went on this press tour but was not required to write this post. I received a gift bag at the event which included Medieval Times tickets and some useful things like an awesome visor and an umbrella which I’ve been using. The things I didn’t use from the gift bag have already been donated!
--Nony
Angie W. says
Love this post and the application. Warms the heart both for my children AND myself.
Jana says
What perfect timing for this post–my family is going to Medieval Times Atlanta this weekend. We need more companies that hire people and train them to move up rather than hiring at the different rungs of the corporate ladder and keeping those at the bottom down.
safepethaven says
Sounds like Corporate Mentality/Philosophy of Yore but sadly lacking in most businesses these days & for the past several decades; and yes, I’m old enough to remember when companies did invest in their people, as human beings.
Ladonna says
I have driven by the Medieval times ranch entrance many times, since my parents live nearby in Sanger Tx. I have always been curious about the place, since I had my first Medieval times experience last year. Thanks for the background information about this institution…
hsmominmo says
What a great lesson! Reading through, I was struck by how this applies to parenting, as well as keeping a home, and so many other things. Thanks for the encouragement to begin right where I am, and then work and grow.
keylia says
I used to work at medieval times. Best experience of my life!!!! It warms my heart to see people enjoy it as much as I did 🙂
Dana White says
Oh, I love this comment! I definitely have so many more warm fuzzies over it since seeing the behind the scenes tour!