Ruth and I recently watched “Yellowstone”. We’re Johnny-come-lately to the series, but once we got started, we binged watched every episode. Now we’re plowing through the prequel, “1883”. We’re equally impressed.
We also attended the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas last December. Ruth has always been a fan of cowboys. She likes the broad shoulder, tight jean, ten-gallon hat look. The NFR was on her bucket list, so we went. We were fortunate to get comped tickets to the December 8th competition.
The rodeo crowd is a unique crew of characters. I’d generalize them as a God fearing, USA loving, dressed to the nines, conservative group. They hoot and holler with the best of them. The competition began with a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and featured a dozen cowgirls on horseback circling the ring carrying American flags. I loved it.
While we were in town Ruth bought a coffee table book for us called “Cowboy Ethics” by James P. Owen. Owen suggests “Wall Street can learn from the Code of the West”. It’s full of beautiful pictures and inspiring words. Owen summarizes his observations with ten statements he believes Wall Street should adopt.
- Live each day with courage.
- Take pride in your work.
- Always finish what you start.
- Do what has to be done.
- Be tough, but fair.
- When you make a promise, keep it.
- Ride for the brand.
- Talk less and say more.
- Remember that some things aren’t for sale.
- Know where to draw the line.
He supports each with examples of what Wall Street investors should strive to improve. He suggests that real change doesn’t begin with wholesale company platitudes, but rather, with each individual working to make him or herself better.
I’d go a step further and recommend the ten for all of us. Without getting too preachy, if each of us adopted the Cowboy Ethics, we’d all be better off. If that means we all need to wear a ten-gallon hat, I’m in.