by Doug Butler, PhD, CJF, FWCF
To view this article online, click here.
The Main Thing
When it comes to the farrier business, the main thing is to
keep the main thing the main thing (not the mane thing!). Many
of us start out with good intentions, but somehow lose site of
our original goals and get distracted.
Dr. Stephen R. Covey, in his book First Things First,
defines the four basic human needs as: physical,
social, mental, and spiritual. He says, “The essence of the
four human needs is to live, love, learn, and leave a legacy.
The need to leave a legacy is our spiritual need to
have a sense of meaning, purpose, personal congruence, and
contribution.”
We are not speaking of religion – rather this is “the
law of the farm.” First, we choose the crop (the result we
expect). Next, we prepare and fertilize the soil and plant the
seeds in the spring. Then we nourish, protect the plants, and
eliminate the weeds. Last of all, we harvest the crop in the
fall (the result we obtain).
Just like the farm, our lives must be managed sequentially
with intelligence and patience over time!
Many in our society have lost the understanding of the
fruits of study and labor. Over 200 years ago Alexander
Hamilton said: “Men give me some credit for genius, but all of
the genius I have lies in this. When I have a subject in mind,
I study it profoundly; day and night it is before me. I
explore it in all its bearings. My mind becomes pervaded with
it. The result is what some people call the fruits of genius,
whereas it is, in reality, the fruits of study and labor.”
“I think most business people get up in the morning
thinking about what they do to get money. Not so many get up
thinking about doing what they do to get mastery. Do what you
do so masterfully that no one else can do it as well, then
making money is easy, automatic, and guaranteed,” according to
Dan Kennedy (Glazer-Kennedy Inner Circle Newsletter,
July 31, 2006.)
Luis Ortega is recognized the world over as the greatest
rawhide braiding craftsman ever. His hackamore bosals, reatas,
reins, romals, hobbles, and quirts are even more valuable
since his passing in 1995. When he was awarded the Master
Traditional artist award in 1986 by The National Endowment for
the Arts, he was reported to have said, “My goal has always
been to become an artist in rawhide and get so high that no
one could catch up with me.”
It is a great thing to be masters of our trade. However, a
higher goal is to show more leadership in our private lives
and that of our families. Management is doing things right.
Leadership is doing the right things. More important than how
fast we are going is where we are headed.
Stephen Covey compares the clock to the compass. The clock
is management, the compass is leadership. Use your inner
compass to align yourself with the true North realities that
govern the quality of life.
Choose to be and learn to be a leader. Leaders learn to
delegate when teaching their children and/or apprentices by
defining expectations, assigning responsibilities, reminding
as necessary, refusing to take back the responsibility,
requiring a report, and giving appropriate recognition.
Leaders emphasize character. Character is more important
than ability according to John Wooden, Hall of Fame basketball
player and coach (Wall Street Journal, 3Apr1986). He
said: “While it may be possible to reach the top of one’s
profession on sheer ability, it is impossible to stay there
without hard work and character…Character is what you really
are. Reputation is only what others think you are. I made a
determined effort to evaluate character.”
Our Greatest Legacy will be how we lead and teach
within our families. How can you pass on your legacy?
- Take time to share your experience and yourself with
others.
- Share life stories at the dinner table with your
children and/or apprentices.
- Express your love for your family and show respect for
your spouse.
- Make your children and/or apprentices a part of your
life.
- Demonstrate craft skills and design drills that teach
them to master a skill.
- Share craft secrets (easy ways to do difficult things).
- Say good things about the craft and its people.
- Introduce your children and/or apprentices to great
people.
Jon M. Huntsman, one of the wealthiest men in the world,
defines our preeminent responsibility in his book Winners
Never Cheat as: “If there is success within the walls of
our homes, we will do better in our vocational pursuits. We
will work safer in a happier work environment. If we are at
peace in our personal lives, we are more successful and find
more satisfaction in our work.”
Our Most Significant Challenge is to put our family
first.
Stephen R. Covey, in First Things First, says it
this way: “By far, the most significant challenge, for
me at least, is to put my family ahead of my profession, of my
work, of my company, of friends, of possessions.”
So, when it comes to the farrier business, the main thing
is to keep the main thing the main thing. No one on their
death bed wishes they had shod just one more horse!
Maintaining and fulfilling our good intentions takes planning
and effort.
I have discussed many of the secrets of building a great
life for you and your family in my book The Cowboy Code.
I have tried to present them in a unique and
entertaining way. You can order it at www.dougbutler.com.
Happy Trails to you and yours!
© Doug Butler Enterprises, Inc. No part of
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