Where Companies Go Wrong

By Jim Owen

It feels like déjà vu all over again, as Yogi Berra so famously put it. Here we have yet another corporate giant under fire for failing to heed its most important obligations.

I’m talking about the latest General Motors debacle - the slow-motion crash-and-burn we’ve witnessed since it came to light that troubling auto safety issues at GM went unrecognized for more than a decade. Sorry as we might feel for Mary T. Barra, the newly minted GM CEO who found herself on a congressional hot seat after just a few months on the job, her discomfort pales against the casualties suffered by the dozens of people hurt or killed in accidents tied to defective GM vehicles.  

To be clear, nobody is suggesting that GM management knowingly pushed safety issues under the rug; the company has voluntarily recalled millions of cars over the years. Investigators did find, however, that lower-level GM employees flagged problems with unexpected stalling of some models as early as 2005, but no one acted on their warnings.

That tells us the real problem at GM is a corporate culture that pushes off problems and avoids accountability, even when public safety is at stake. This kind of mindset may also have contributed to GM’s bankruptcy woes in 2009.  

Of course, it can be hard for employees to give bosses bad news that translates into millions of dollars in costs, especially if their managers want to look the other way. And there’s no doubt that a head-in-the-sand, cover-your-behind mentality too often rules in big corporate and government bureaucracies.

That’s all the more reason why every organization needs a culture of doing the right thing that starts at the top, is championed by management, and carries through every layer of the corporate or agency structure. If GM’s leadership had explicitly made it every employee’s job to put safety ahead of profits and “do what has to be done,” the company might not be on the ropes today. 

It’s one more reminder that “everyone needs a code…a creed to live by.” In our Standing Tall workshops we see many people from small and mid-sized companies—business owners and professionals who take time to articulate a clear set of values they can call upon to guide them in the face of difficult choices. Can big companies like GM afford to do anything less?  

The Case for Thinking Small

by Kent Noble

We’re Americans—and we love to think big! Big ideas, big goals, big ambitions. That relentless drive and motivation are close to the core of our identity. You could almost say those traits are  embedded in our national DNA. 

Talk to any immigrant who has struggled to reach our shores and, through ambition and hard work, carved out his or her own version of the American Dream. They’ll tell you the freedom to pursue big goals is one reason they struggled so hard to get here. 

So, perhaps you, too, are a big thinker. If so, let me ask you a question: do you ever take the time to think small? That may not sound very productive or rewarding. But when you think about it, little things can make your day, or ruin it. They can even alter the course of your life.         

Each day we live is punctuated by many small acts. Some we initiate; others, we experience. Think of the stranger who smiles and holds the door for you, or the co-worker who takes the time to give you a sincere compliment, or the neighbor who drops by to give you some home-grown tomatoes.  

 

Whether you’re on the giving or the receiving end of such behavior, it elevates your mood. Acts of kindness and helping can even improve your health; scientific studies have found that they tend to reduce stress responses and boost your immune system. On the other hand, witnessing or experiencing negative acts releases stress hormones, or cortisols, triggering a fight-or-flight response that accelerates heart rates and breathing.

One study covering 30 years found that those who did volunteer work were significantly less likely to suffer a major illness than those who didn’t. Altruistic deeds also have a documented ripple effect. Research shows that when we see someone doing a good deed, we ourselves are more likely to help others. With that in mind, we at the Center for Cowboy Ethics recently introduced a wallet card designed expressly to acknowledge and honor positive deeds you might witness (available on our website).

As for the life-changing potential of small, positive acts--I don’t know about you, but I’ve learned from experience that better things happen when I’m in a positive frame of mind. It makes sense to me that the more good feelings you project, the more interest and opportunities you will attract from others. 

Bottom line, if we take the time for positive small acts, and encourage others to do the same, it’s a win all around. So the next time you’re feeling unhappy or put upon, the best tonic might be to perform one or two small acts that bring a ray of sunlight into someone else’s day. As Booker T. Washington said, “If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.”

 

The Line Between Right and Wrong

By Jim Owen

Do you agree with the cowboy principle that “right is right, and wrong is wrong, and there’s nothing in between”?  Or perhaps you are more inclined to think like a young university student I met in a Penn State classroom not long ago. 

Kent Noble and I were honored to conduct one of our Standing Tall workshops for some faculty and staff members there. We had a great dialogue on the values the participants chose to embrace as their own, and several said they came away with a renewed sense of purpose and meaning.  

Afterward, our host introduced me to a class of students, asking me to give them a brief download on Cowboy Ethics and the Code of the West. You could tell this was a group of very bright young people who’d been taught to question and challenge conventional wisdom. When I mentioned that the cowboy code draws clear lines between right and wrong, a young woman I’ll call Allison raised her hand.

"That may be how older people think,” Allison said emphatically, “but not us. Young people realize that life is a lot more complicated than that.  Knowing right and wrong isn’t as simple as black and white; it depends a lot on the circumstances.”  As it happened, we were out of time and I didn’t get to respond to Allison.  But here’s what I wish I had said, because it’s what I truly believe:  

Dear Allison: 

I understand completely that young people don’t want someone else dictating their values. After all, learning how to think critically is one of the most important reasons to pursue an education.  

But saying you want to decide for yourself is not the same as saying there are no absolute truths. You may draw the line between right and wrong in a different place than I do. But if you don’t know what you stand for, and what you aren’t willing to compromise, you’ll have no place to stand when you’re trying to weigh all those complicated situations life presents to you.

I’m guessing there are some principles that you and I could agree upon.  Would you ever say, “Don’t live each day with courage?” or “There’s nothing that shouldn’t be for sale”?  Of course, it’s possible that you and I wouldn’t agree on much of anything, but that doesn’t really matter. What does matter is that you draw the line between right and wrong somewhere, based on values that you reflect and decide upon for yourself.     

Seeing right and wrong in shades of gray may feel more comfortable sometimes. But I’m convinced it makes things harder in the long run. So, Allison, in closing I hope that during your university career, you will take some time to reflect upon what matters most to you, and decide what you truly believe in. Even if you got nothing else from your education, being clear on that alone would be worth it.

All the best,

Jim Owen  

Discovering your life’s currency

By Kent Noble

 

It may not surprise you to learn that success and happiness seem to go hand in hand. According to a New York Times opinion piece written by Arthur Brooks, president of a public policy think tank in Washington, D.C., research shows that people who feel they are successful are twice as likely to say they are very happy as people who don’t feel that way. 

 

But this happiness equation isn’t as simple as it seems. If you’re like me, more times than not you automatically associate “success” with money—and that’s where things get interesting. Brooks goes on to point out that you can measure your success in any “currency” you choose. Sure, you can count it in dollars or the kind of car you drive. But what if your currency were how many kids you taught to read or the amount of time you spent protecting irreplaceable habitats?

 

Don’t we each owe it to ourselves to figure out what currency matters most in our lives? Taking the time to look past old assumptions and reflect on what’s truly meaningful can bring a fresh perspective to everything you do.

 

Eight months ago I left behind a job I liked to do work that I’m truly passionate about. As I’ve discovered, pursuing your passion can be a remarkable gift to yourself. I believe it also increases the likelihood of experiencing the “success” that Brooks describes. So, while my days of a steady paycheck and benefits are now just memories, I can honestly say I’ve never felt more fulfilled and happy. Hey, there’s that word again—HAPPY. 

 

Interestingly, redefining your currency doesn’t always mean financial sacrifice. When you’re doing work that’s meaningful to you, the extra energy and enthusiasm you bring to each day can yield surprising results and open up new opportunities. Sometimes resources just seem to follow. If so, that’s not a bad side benefit.  

Either way, here’s to hoping you discover the currency that means genuine success to you.

Frigid Days, Warm Hearts

By Jim Owen

It’s already been one of the worst winters in years, and a new line of storms is slamming much of the country with heavy snow, punishing winds, and sheets of ice. The weather has been so severe that many areas have declared states of emergency.

But, dangerous and difficult as this extreme weather can be, it has had an upside, too. As history has shown us many times, there is nothing like adversity to bring us together. Billy Graham was absolutely right when he said, “Comfort and prosperity have never enriched the world as much as adversity has.”

As exhibit A, I would point to recent news coverage from Atlanta, a city so unaccustomed to snow that a late January storm virtually paralyzed the city and left thousands stranded on the roadways. So what did people do? They trekked to the nearest interstate with sleds loaded with sandwiches and drinks. They set up hot chocolate stands at off-ramps. Aided by Facebook and Twitter, some with four-wheel-drive vehicles provided on-call taxi services. Others opened their homes, offering shelter to marooned commuters. It’s enough to make you believe in the goodness of humanity.

It does seem that in times of serious travail, it becomes easier for us to look past our differences. We can see others simply as people who are trying to get by, just like we are. We finally understand, on a gut level rather than as an abstract concept, that we really are all One.

This isn’t just a philosophical or spiritual belief. Scientists tell us that the atoms we breathe today could be the same ones breathed by Julius Caesar or Joan of Arc. That reminds us that we and all our forebears literally have been passengers on the same planet. What’s more, genealologists are now able to link 75 million people as members of the same extended family tree, according to a recent article in the New York Times. Couple that kind of ongoing research with our rapidly advancing capabilities for DNA analysis, and we may someday be able to show how every human on the planet is related.

The next time I come across a stranger in need, that’s what I’ll be thinking about. That, and the image of a hot chocolate stand next to a snow-covered freeway. 

Real-Life Stories of Cowboy Ethics in Action

By Jim Owen

“What you give is what you get.”  Life really does seem to work like that, doesn’t it? My job title at the Center for Cowboy Ethics is “chief inspiration officer,” and it’s one I take seriously. So imagine my delight when, right on the heels of my last blog post, on “being a difference,” a big infusion of inspiration came back to me, thanks to the University of Wyoming.

As cowboys remind us, what matters is “actions, not words.” The current edition of the University’s UWyo Magazine illustrates this beautifully with a heartfelt series on people who are having a positive impact on campus.

Each story is a shining example of one of the Ten Principles of Cowboy Ethics in action. There’s the University’s director of research support, who keeps working as he battles an incurable degenerative disease (“live each day with courage”); the gardener who lovingly tended the campus flower gardens for more than three decades (“take pride in your work”); the UW graduate who spearheaded the University’s early leadership in online learning programs (“ride for the brand,”); and seven more. The headline on the series is “Can One University Make An Impact?” The answer is clearly ‘yes.’   
 

There’s another theme that runs through these stories—that is, relationships. When you think about it, the way we have an impact on the world is almost always by making other lives better in one way or another, even if they are the lives of people we don’t personally know.

When it comes to Cowboy Ethics, the relationship that I and my foundation have had with the University of Wyoming has been pivotal to our work. Not long after the state of Wyoming adopted Cowboy Ethics as its official state code, the University did the same, at the urging of the student body. Beyond that, the College of Business uses the Ten Principles of Cowboy Ethics in its business curriculum, and also worked with my foundation to launch our popular Standing Tall ethical leadership workshops. In the process we gained an executive director when Kent Noble left the College of Business to come work with us full time.  
 

My thanks to the people at the University of Wyoming for their continuing partnership and support, and for this latest inspiration. This edition of UWyo Magazine is one I will save, re-read, and treasure. 

The New Year’s resolution I didn’t see coming

By Jim Owen

For years, “Make a difference” has been one of my guideposts for life. Through my books and speeches, as well as the activities of the Center for Cowboy Ethics and Leadership, I‘ve hoped to inspire others in ways that meaningfully change their lives. 

Now I’ve got a new mantra. Last month I was honored to be presented with an ethical leadership award from the NASBA Center for the Public Trust, a group that promotes ethical behavior within the business and professional communities. It was immensely gratifying to be recognized for the work that has been my passion and my career for more than a decade. The award itself is a handsome piece I’ll display proudly.

But what struck me most of all was the power of the words emblazoned on the award: Being a Difference, which is the name NASBA has given its program. That phrase made me realize that “making a difference” sets the bar way too low. Striving to “make a difference” puts the accent on isolated acts that may or may not be characteristic. Even someone who is profoundly unethical can make a difference simply by writing a check, perhaps salving a guilty conscience in the process.

“Being a difference” is something else again. It speaks to who you are as a person. It’s about your life, what you stand for, and the kind of example you set each day. In short, it lines up perfectly with the core message of Cowboy Ethics: everyone needs a code…a creed to live by. What’s inspiring about cowboys isn’t just that they embrace the Code of the West; it’s the way they live their code each day. This is why striving to be a difference, rather than just make a difference, is my number one New Year’s resolution.

Thank you, NASBA. Beyond giving me an award I truly prize, you’ve given me a new way to think about how I live my life.

Finding Happiness in the Holidays

By Jim Owen, Founder and Chief Inspiration Officer, Center for Cowboy Ethics and Leadership

I’m often asked, “What’s the payoff for integrity?” That’s a topic I touch on in my speeches, and I’ve got several answers. But to me, the most compelling one is that being clear on what you stand for, and living by those beliefs, makes you a happier person – it’s as simple as that. That’s long been my conviction, based on my own observations and experiences. It’s also confirmed by what we hear from those who have articulated their personal set of principles and values in our Standing Tall workshops. They say it’s a good feeling to spend time becoming a better version of yourself.

But my personal belief about what brings true happiness has now been reinforced by science. Summing up 40 years of research by social scientists, a recent New York Times article said happiness derives from three main sources: our genes, which account for about half of our personal happiness quotient; the events in our lives, which have relatively short-lived impact; and finally, our values. 

As the article noted, “It turns out that choosing to pursue four basic values of faith, family, community and work is the surest path to happiness.” And, unlike our genes or the things that happen to us, the set of values we choose to embrace is the one happiness factor in our control.  

To me, this is welcome and timely message for the holidays. It’s a great reminder that what enriches our lives isn’t what’s under the tree, but what’s in our hearts. Together with my cherished wife, Stanya, and the entire Cowboy Ethics team, I wish all of you a holiday warmed by love of family, friends, and humanity. And all the best for a joyous New Year!  

Competing with Heart

By Jim Owen, Founder and Chief Inspiration Officer, Center for Cowboy Ethics and Leadership

If you’re the kind of person who cultivates Try in your life, you probably find inspiration in the stories of others. And once you start looking, you discover there are stories of Try all around us. Recently I happened on a running blog with a story I found so moving  that I wanted to share it with all of you.

The first-person account of Mike Cassidy, a runner in this year’s New York Marathon, the story starts out on a familiar note. Who among us hasn’t taken on a tough challenge, only to find ourselves with confidence faltering midstream? Although Mike is a seasoned marathoner and has trained hard, he finds himself feeling subpar this time out, and is soon struggling just to keep going against the chill wind.

It’s when he catches up to his hero, legendary runner Meb Keflezighi, that the story becomes truly extraordinary.

Mike realizes that his idol, too, is struggling to keep going after a spate of recent injuries. The vision of himself blazing past one of the best marathoners of all time fleetingly crosses his mind, but the way the race actually played out was even more amazing. Check out the photograph and you’ll see what I mean.       

But this isn’t just a story about never giving up. Meb’s humility and spirit of generosity demonstrate what it means to be a hero. Beyond that, Mike discovers that he’s not only competing for himself. “In striving to be our best,” he realizes, “we could bring out the best in others.”  His story of competing with heart gives added meaning to what Try is all about.

Cowboy Gratitude: Giving Thanks for Our Partners

by Jim Owen, Founder and Chief Inspiration Officer, Center for Cowboy Ethics and Leadership

In this season of giving thanks, the cowboy is, as always, a source of inspiration.  Throughout their history and right up to the present day, cowboys have rarely possessed much in the way of material goods.   Yet they know they are rich in their love of the earth and the sky above, their simple, rugged way of life, and their strong sense of community.  In short, cowboys remind us that the best things in life aren’t things. 

As the Thanksgiving holiday draws near, I’d like to share what I’m especially grateful for this year—that is, all the people and partnering organizations that work every day to help us get out the word that “everyone needs a code…a creed to live by,” and spread the message that character and personal principle still matter above all. 

While we at The Center for Cowboy Ethics and Leadership have big aspirations, we are a small foundation.  On our own, we have limited reach and resources.  So all along, our approach has been to share our ideas freely and let others take it from there.  

The results have been nothing short of astonishing! So many people have not only been inspired by the concepts of Cowboy Ethics, the Ten Principles to Live By, and The Try, but have also been moved to put these ideas into action in their businesses, schools, youth groups, public agencies, and community organizations.  And a few, like the extraordinary team at The Daniels Fund, have provided financial support to those groups, helping them to advance and scale their work.  

Some of our partners—like the University of Wyoming College of Business, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, 4-H, Future Farmers of America, Boy Scouts of America, and Colorado Boys Ranch—I’ve come to know well through years of collaboration.  I’m still amazed that the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming managed to raise the funds to build a $1 million Cowboy Ethics Club facility for teens in Casper!  And almost every week, I hear from someone who has called or emailed to let me know they are using the principles of Cowboy Ethics or The Try in programs of their own.  But we can only guess how many more are out there, living their codes and letting others know how the cowboy has inspired them, too.  I would love to hear from any and all!

So this is what I will be thinking of as we bow our heads over the Thanksgiving table. Being able to count on your “pards” is a big part of the cowboy tradition.  I’m humbled and immensely grateful to have so many I can count as mine.  

Living the Cowboy Code - It's Also about Community

by Jim Owen, Founder and Chief Inspiration Officer, Center for Cowboy Ethics and Leadership

For anyone who wants to be someone of character and live an ethical life, knowing what you stand for is essential.  But cowboys remind us that having a code to live by isn’t enough.  What matters is living your code, and how it shapes the decisions and choices you make each day.  As cowboys say, it’s about actions…not words. 

So I was very much struck by a recent op-ed piece in the Casper Star Tribune, forwarded by Mark Zaback, CEO of Jonah Bank, one of the first companies to embrace the Code of the West as the foundation of its business practices.  Called "Living up to our Cowboy Code of Ethics," it was written by Kim Summerall-Wright, Executive Director of the Casper Housing Authority.  With sobering statistics, it makes a strong case that homelessness is a worsening crisis in our communities. 

Beyond that, the op-ed reminds us that the principles of the Code of the West—adopted by the State of Wyoming as its official state code—call upon on us to help work toward solutions for people in need of shelter.  If we truly believe it’s our obligation to “Do what has to be done,” we can’t dismiss rising rates of homelessness as someone else’s problem.  

Of course, in these challenging times, our communities face a host of unmet needs, and we can’t each be directly involved on every front.  But the point of the op-ed still holds.  As we think about principles like “do what has to be done,” “live each day with courage,” and “know where to draw the line,” we need to look beyond the orbits of our own daily lives.   In the days of open range, a cowboy was someone you could count on to lend a helping hand when needed, and that hasn’t changed.  The Cowboy Code has always been about how we live, not just as individuals, but also as part of our community.  

The Goldman Sachs Story: Why Every Business Needs a Code to Live By

by Jim Owen, Founder and Chief Inspiration Officer, Center for Cowboy Ethics and Leadership

As someone whose first career was in the investment industry, I was fascinated to read the Wall Street Journal’s recent review of a new book called “What Happened to Goldman Sachs.”  Written by someone who, like the book’s author, had formerly worked at the firm, the review underscores the perils of corporate leaders who forget—or never bothered to define—what their companies stand for.

In an industry populated by smart, successful people, Goldman was for decades at the top of the heap in terms of reputation and cachet, not to mention profitability.  The key to its success was its culture.  Goldman was known for recruiting the smartest, most driven people on Wall Street, and demanding that they operate with an almost superhuman work ethic.

The firm excelled at finding ways to profit. But it kept greed under control by placing one business principle above all: “our clients’ interests always come first.”   Partners made sure this principle was heeded, knowing that any hint of a conflict of interest or unethical behavior would put the firm’s sterling reputation and its fortunes at risk.   

The book chronicles how Goldman’s culture eroded and morphed over time, causing many of its most talented people to leave the firm. It’s a classic tale of “the slippery slope.”   Regulatory changes reshaped the competitive landscape, leading Goldman to dump its circa-1869 private partnership structure and go public. Suddenly, the firm’s long-held business principles had to compete with the goal of delivering high returns to shareholders. At the same time, as federal regulators issued a flurry of new rules, “Goldman’s standards drifted away from its business principles and toward the management of legal liability,” as the book reviewer puts it.

I’m sure many of Goldman’s former partners were saddened by allegations that Goldman used clients’ information to trade against them, as came to light in 2010 and 2011, and by the subsequent Justice Department and SEC criminal investigations of the firm.  Among other things, Goldman was accused of knowingly peddling “junk” securities to investors, a breach of trust that showed its vaunted “clients-first” policy had become a sham. 

Goldman has survived and, after a spate of financial troubles, continues to prosper.  But the tarnish to its reputation is irreversible, and it will never again be held in the esteem it once enjoyed.  Goldman is an object lesson for any business leader who doubts the importance of having “a code to live by.”  

What it Takes to Succeed – from the Employer’s Perspective

By Jim Owen, Founder and Chief Inspiration Officer, Center for Cowboy Ethics and Leadership

When you’ve got a message you want to share with the world, it’s always great to get reinforcement from thoughtful and knowledgeable people.  So I was gratified to read the Wall Street Journal’s recent interview with Bob Funk, founder of the fifth largest employment agency in America.. 

In recent weeks I’ve been out on the road, talking with audiences about what it takes to succeed in America today.  And on that score, Bob Funk and I are of like mind.  He believes that “anyone who really wants a job in this country can have one” if they meet three conditions.   First, he says, you need integrity.    That happens to be my first secret to success as well.  But that raises another question—namely, what does integrity mean to you?  Definitions vary, but to me, integrity means living by a code – the values and principles that matter most to you –and striving to make your words and actions line up with those beliefs.  (This is what our Standing Tall workshops are all about.)   

Mr. Funk lists “a strong work ethic” as the number-two requisite for getting a job. And once again, that squares nicely with what cowboys call “Try”—that is, bringing a can-do attitude and 110% effort to the  tasks or challenges at hand.  I’m such a believer in Try that I wrote a book and produced a documentary film about it.  His third requirement for being employable is that you need to be able to pass a drug test – which, I agree, is a given. 

Notice that nowhere in the interview does he mention grades, diplomas, or SAT scores.  Evidently Mr. Funk believes, as I do, that employers care as much or more about character as they do about credentials.  You can teach someone job skills, but you can’t teach someone to have integrity or take pride in their work.  Those are qualities we each have to develop and strengthen on our own.   

It’s a measure of Mr. Funk’s own integrity that in the interview, he gives his reasons for opposing ObamaCare even though its passage would likely boost his own business.  Without getting into a debate over the health care law, I want to applaud any business leader who speaks out for what he sees as the good of the country—and I hope his example will inspire others to do the same.

A Simple Question - or Is It?

by Kent Noble, Executive Director, Center of Cowboy Ethics and Leadership

If a close friend were to ask you, “What do you stand for?” would you reply without hesitation?  Or would you respond with the old “deer in the headlights” look? 

Prior to my involvement with the Standing Tall program, I’m not sure I could have articulated my views in a meaningful way.  In fact, my response might have unfolded something like this:

Questioner: So, Kent, tell me what it is you stand for?

Kent: I’m sorry—I’m not sure I know what you mean.

Questioner: I’m just curious.  Have you ever thought about what it is you stand for—you know, what are your core values—your strongest and most important beliefs?

Kent: Well, of course I have—hasn’t everyone?  I believe—I believe—it’s important for me to be the best father and husband I can possibly be—yes, that is definitely what I believe, and it is absolutely very important to me. 

Questioner: Great—that makes perfect sense.  What else?

Kent: What else?  Uhhh—well—ummm—I believe you should work hard and be honest—yes, you should definitely be honest—and you should also try to be a good person—yes, you really must treat others well—ummm—did I already mention working hard?  (Meanwhile, I would be thinking, “man, please don’t ask me ‘what else?’ again.”)

The point I’m trying to make is that before the Standing Tall program was developed, I only had a foggy notion of what it is I stand for.  Sure, it was all somewhere inside.  But I really hadn’t brought my deepest beliefs and values to the conscious level where I could easily convey them, let alone build my life around them.  

Over the last 18 months, I’ve noticed my situation isn’t all that uncommon.  In fact, now that we’re conducting Standing Tall sessions for a variety of business and community leaders, I would say very few people have spent time clearly defining exactly what it is they stand for.  If you find that hard to believe, try asking someone the question yourself.  You’ll probably find the hypothetical conversation I’ve outlined above is pretty typical.     

Could this be why we’re consistently bombarded with scandalous headlines from the worlds of business, sports, politics, etc.?  And what about the people in our lives?  Don’t we all know  good people who have uncharacteristically become involved in bad situations?   If we were simply more in touch with our most important values, would things be different?  If we identified exactly what it is we stand for, and then built those beliefs into our daily lives, might we become stronger, more confident, and more principled versions of ourselves?  

Obviously, we all have values.  But we don’t always connect with them in a profound way.  We sometimes keep our principles tucked away as opposed to fully integrating them into our lives. I think that's precisely why the Standing Tall program has taken root across the country.  People realize that they’ve never really taken the time to stop and think deeply about their core beliefs.  Our workshops guide busy professionals through the process of defining their values and putting them into action.  And, based on the testimonials we’re receiving, developing your personal code is a real “game changer,” especially if you keep it in the forefront of your mind. 

So, if you haven’t brought your strongest and most important beliefs to the conscious level, think about the difference it could make in your life if you did.   Then, should anyone ever ask you what you stand for, you’ll be able to respond, “I’m glad you asked.  Pull up a chair.” 

In Memoriam: Julia K. Anderson

When Jim Owen and the rest of the Cowboy Ethics team were deciding whom to profile in The Try, Julia Anderson – the pen name for Klaudia Birkner—immediately stood out as someone with profound life lessons to share. Marji Wilkens interviewed her for the book, returned to spend personal time with Julia, and soon joined her circle of friends and supporters.  Through Marji we had frequent updates on Julia, whose abiding spirit shone through despite her worsening physical condition. Upon learning Julia’s passing we asked Marji to write a tribute to her friend, who lived a life of Try up until the very end.               

On August 9, Julia K. Anderson passed away peacefully at her home. She was 40 years old and the strongest, most courageous person I’ve ever met.

I first encountered Julia in 2009 when I interviewed her for The Try. To me, her life looked like a tale of unmitigated woe: a difficult childhood in foster care, the onset of blindness, and then a promising ski racing career cut short by a mysterious disease that left her bedridden. I expected to find some amount of self-pity or longing for things lost. What a delight instead to meet a woman of ferocious determination with a sparkling mind and spirit.

I soon became part of a small group of friends who visited Julia regularly. I always came away amazed and grateful for our conversations. Julia was a teacher, and I was one of her privileged students.

Our little team took Julia skiing, ice-skating, to the park and on other outings. Ordinary excursions perhaps, but you have to understand that Julia’s body was like a floppy rag doll. It took an hour or more to dress her for skiing and get her into hip-to-toe metal braces. Then the arm braces went on. She looked like Ironman until we zipped up her US Ski Team jacket and she glided to the lift. On the slopes Julia was fast, sleek and beautiful. She last skied on February 23, 2013.

From Julia I learned two life lessons. The first is that hope can keep you alive. She never stopped researching her disease and treatments. She read countless medical textbooks and advised her physicians, feeding them research papers. As her beloved neurologist said, “I learned that she was always right.” Julia always believed that with the right information and right attitude things could get better.

The second lesson I learned is the meaning of “purpose.” Julia believed that we are all here to pay attention, learn, and see our life as a complete whole. Every experience, even its bleakest, darkest moments, has its place in the tapestry of life. She summed it up this way: “When I think about the past, I see that what was negative at the time turned out well in the end. Certain things had to happen for me to know what I know and be who I am.”

Since Julia has been gone I’ve tried to think about life as she did. Stuff happens. Get over it. Don’t let anyone define your limits. Nothing is impossible unless you say it is. Live fully and pay attention. Fight to the end. If all that isn’t “The Try” in action, I don’t know what is. Thank you, Julia, from the bottom of my heart.

What's Your Roadmap to a Meaningful Life?

This post is from Kent Noble, Executive Director of the Center for Cowboy Ethics and Leadership.

This week a man’s reputation was ruined through a series of lies and denials he perpetrated on the public, his teammates, and his sport.  Ryan Braun, a five-time All Star and former National League MVP and rookie of the year, was suspended for the rest of the season by Major League Baseball for the use of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs). 

While many players have been banned over the years for using steroids, it was Braun’s in-your-face repudiations that drew the ire of so many.  Moreover, like Lance Armstrong, Braun didn’t appear to care whose character he impugned as long as he retained his fame and fortune.

While we could spend the better part of a day discussing professional sports and the use of PEDs, I would prefer to consider why some people are anchored to a defining set of principles, while others drift aimlessly in pursuit of glory and greed.

At some point in our lives, I believe most of us are confronted with the inner uncertainty—am I here for me, or am I here to make a difference? 

Even with our innate desire to do the right thing, this consideration can be sobering as it often seems easier (not to mention more rewarding and fun) to pursue a lifestyle that primarily benefits our self-interests. 

As we each consider our unique path and destiny, some will select a road of service and/or giving, while others will choose to pursue a trail of self-indulgence.  More yet will opt for a route somewhere between the two extremes. 

At the end of the day, whether you’re Ryan Braun or your community’s “person of the year”, each of us is responsible for the path we choose and the consequences associated with our decision.  Unfortunately, there are too many examples of professional athletes, Wall Street insiders, politicians, entertainers, corporate executives, and others in the spotlight who choose to pursue self-centered temptations and excesses. 

So, what should we do if we don’t like the path we’re traveling?  Well, fortunately, we can adjust our internal GPS and take an alternate route.  By following these three steps, we can develop a roadmap for a course that precisely reflects the type of person we want to be: 

1.     Decide exactly what it is you stand for—in other words, what are your core values?

2.     Communicate your values—that’s right, tell people what’s important to you and what you expect from yourself.  Now that’s pressure!

3.     Commit to “walking the talk”, especially when it’s difficult to do so.  Remember, if you don’t, Step 2 is going to make you look bad.  We told you the pressure was on!

Obviously, this process requires a significant degree of buy-in from the individual.  Defining, declaring, and pursuing your principles takes dedication and persistence.  However, if you commit to examining life’s big and small decisions through this lens, we feel confident you’ll blaze a trail that will result in a meaningful and rewarding journey.   

 

Welcoming Kent Noble

We have an exciting announcement to make: Kent Noble has joined the Center for Cowboy Ethics and Leadership as our new Executive Director. What Kent brings to the job is not just an impressive background in business and academia, but also a deep passion for what he is doing. 

Kent Noble

Kent and Jim began working together while Kent was assistant dean at the University of Wyoming College of Business, where he helped forge a working partnership between the College and the Center.  

Luckily for us, the more involved Kent got with our Standing Tall approach to business ethics, the more enthusiastic he became. In fact, it was Kent who took the initiative to build the program concept into a thought-provoking, interactive workshops in which participants create their own “code to live by.”

The program quickly caught on, and as Kent explains, “leading the workshops was so immensely rewarding that I realized this was how I wanted to spend the rest of my career.” 

Besides leading Standing Tall workshops all across the country, Kent will be involved with the Center’s programs across the board, helping me spread the word that "we can all be heroes in our own lives.” We’re honored that he’s chosen to join our team.  

An Extra Supply of Try

We wanted to share with you some of our favorite stories from Jim Owen's book The Try. Over the next few weeks we are going devote our blog posts to telling you the stories of an inspiring group of individuals.

Our first profile is one of our favorites, Ty Murray the King of the Cowboys.
No one possesses Try quite like Ty.


The Try: Ty Murray Preview from Havey Productions on Vimeo.