"We had every problems starting a big top could have. The tent fell down on the first day. We had problems getting people into the shows. It was only with the courage and arrogance of youth that we survived"

Guy Laliberté’s reflection highlights the unpredictable and often tumultuous path that comes with the pursuit of ambitious dreams. Starting a venture like a big top circus is more than just an act of vision; it’s a gauntlet of setbacks and challenges, some of which are completely unforeseen. The mention of the tent collapsing on the very first day is strikingly literal, yet it also resonates as a symbol for the sudden and dramatic obstacles that can beset any new project. Physical setbacks, like equipment failure, are compounded by even more abstract difficulties: in their case, the struggle to draw an audience, to convince people to buy tickets and witness something unproven.

These initial barriers might seem insurmountable to many. There’s an underlying sense that the world isn’t waiting for you to succeed; on the contrary, success requires breaking through resistance from all sides, practical, financial, logistical, and social. When Laliberté refers to “the courage and arrogance of youth,” he’s not only recognizing the daring spirit of young people but also the necessity of a certain boldness that borders on naivety. It’s this blend of courage, willingness to risk failure and disappointment, and arrogance, belief that you deserve to succeed despite the odds, that fuels many great ventures.

Without the self-assurance that comes so naturally to youth, many would probably falter at the first significant setback. Experience brings caution, but it can also lead to hesitancy; the youthful mix of self-belief and fearlessness acts as a powerful engine for survival and persistence. Laliberté’s survival, and eventually, his success with Cirque du Soleil, stands as testament to an essential truth: great achievements are built not on smooth beginnings, but on the unyielding resolve to keep going when everything seems to fall apart.