James P. Owen - Cowboy Ethics: What It Takes to Win at Life

Copyright 2015 by James P. Owen

Photographs on pages: front cover, title page, pages 6, 10, 12, 2869, 73, 75, 79, 81, 83, 86, and back cover provided by David R. Stoecklein.

Photographs on pages: fly page, pages iii/iv, v, 4, 8, 14/15, 17, 19, 21, 22/23, 24, 26, 70/71, and 84 provided by Robert Dawson.

Cover design by The Alvarez Group, Inc.

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Print ISBN: 978-1-62873-663-2

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-62914-139-8

Printed in the United States of America

This book is dedicated to

STANYA

~ the love of my life.

Stash, I cannot imagine
riding off into the sunset
with anyone but you.

~ Jim

AUTHORS NOTE

A PLACE TO START

Wherever you are in life, and whatever your goals may be, its never too soon ~ or too late ~ to get on the path to life success. Inevitably, there will be twists and turns. You are sure to encounter unforeseen obstacles and opportunities. You may find yourself in places you never expected, and shift direction along the way. This is all part of lifes journey, and the better equipped you are for it, the more rewarding it is likely to be.

Having some idea of your goals and purpose can certainly get you off on the right foot. But deciding where you want to go in life isnt something to rush. It takes time to explore the world, open your eyes to its rich array of possibilities, and discover your own interests and potential. Then, too, we live at a time when we may want or need to reinvent ourselves periodically. Its no longer uncommon to have three or four different careers in the space of a lifetime. As for what we call retirement, it can be the launch pad for a whole new set of endeavors, as I can personally attest.

To my mind, the most fundamental requirement for success is to know who you are at the core and what you stand for. Thats where the Code of the West can help.

By no means am I suggesting its the definitive, all-purpose statement of beliefs for everyone; quite the contrary. This is America, a country founded so we could have the freedom to believe what we want.

But, with its simple, timeless principles, the Code of the West gives us a place to start ~ a framework for deciding which values and principles we hold most dear.

I hope the Cowboy Way will inspire you to reach for the hero within.

JAMES P. OWEN

Austin, Texas

INTRODUCTION

IN SEARCH OF THE HEROIC

If ever we have needed heroes, we need them now. Im not talking about comic-book warriors with superhuman powers, or the magazine-cover denizens who flaunt their celebrity and wealth ~ weve got a surfeit of those. Whats in short supply are authentic, real-life heroes who remind us of our potential to be heroic ourselves.

We may be living a so-called ordinary life. Yet even as we move through the rhythms of our daily tasks, we still hope we can find that reservoir of courage, determination, and nobility we really need when life puts us to the test. We want to know, when all is said and done, that we are not ordinary at all.

This is why we need heroes ~ not to show us what its like to triumph, but to help us transcend our fears and find heart for the struggles we inevitably encounter in life. Through the ages, every culture has had its heroes of legend and history. In stories of hardships endured, challenges overcome, and great deeds accomplished, these role models show us a way of being that we can aspire to. They help us believe that we, too, can rise above the obstacles we face, no matter how daunting. They inspire us.

Maybe its a generational thing, but as I was growing up, my heroes were always cowboys. To me, the cowboy seemed larger than life. He was someone you could always count on, no matter how difficult or dangerous the situation. I can remember like it was yesterday how those movies made me want to do better and be better than I was. Even today, the cowboy is a cultural icon known and admired not just in this country, but around the world.

Ive come to realize that cowboys are still my heroes ~ and it has nothing to do with the hat and boots. But the figure who inspires me now isnt the silver-screen version who thrilled us at the Saturday matines. Its the real-life working cowboy whos out mending fences in blistering heat, or saddles up in a blinding snowstorm to rescue a stranded calf.

Me, Im no cowboy. Ive logged many more hours in airplane seats than in a saddle. Still, Ive spent enough time around real cowboys to know there really is something special about them. They carry themselves with an authenticity, a genuine humility, and a kind of quiet confidence that sets them apart. To me, the figure of the cowboy represents the best of America ~ the courage, the optimism, and the plain hard work that built our nation.

Cowboys are heroic because they show us what it means to stand for something . They live by their code, the Code of the West. And they care deeply about being true to their beliefs. In fact, honoring the Code is the hallmark of a genuine cowboy. Its the glue that binds cowboys into a community.

At a time when it can feel like the whole world is going downhill, the Code of the West points us back to basics, like keeping your word and heeding the Golden Rule. Back to core values, like courage, honor, and self-reliance. Back to timeless, universal principles that are relevant to each one of us, no matter who we are, where we were born, or how we worship. Does anyone disagree that a promise made should be a promise kept? Who among us doesnt believe that some things in this world should never be for sale?

These are ideals all Americans can embrace. Whats more, the Code of the West is a natural place for us to find shared values, because its part of the heritage all Americans hold in common, regardless of whether we live in Montana, Mississippi, or Manhattan. By focusing on the things that unify us, it just might help us succeed in meeting some of the challenges we face as a nation. I already know it can help each of us succeed in life.