A Cowboy Philosophy for Life and Success

Children have an uncanny ability to teach us, even as we're trying to teach them. In the three and a half years since his birth my son has taught me a lot about myself, my life, and even my business.

Before my son was born we decorated his nursery with a cowboy theme, and because of that, and the fact that we live in Cave Creek, AZ, I started calling him the Cave Creek Kid. Well, the Cave Creek Kid went from a nickname, to a character sketch, to a story, to a series of characters and stories, to my first self-published children's book. Suddenly, a fun side project is a burgeoning brand.

The Cave Creek Kid is a singin' cowboy who slings a guitar instead of a gun. And with his trusty horse, Amigo, he rides the trail of adventure introducing the youngest readers to the richness of Western history, cultures and lore, while sharing lessons of kindness, friendship, hard work and other universal values. These are honest, traditional messages that frankly I was not seeing in much of the media geared towards young children. And, because it was important to my wife and myself that The Cave Creek Kid be a positive force for children beyond the mere message of the books, we made the decision to donate a portion of the proceeds to Scottsdale, AZ based Childhelp, for the treatment and prevention of child abuse. Neither of us has any history of abuse, but as first time parents we were particularly moved by the notion of children in need. Our son inspired us to act, and taught us that the skills that have allowed us to succeed in business could be leveraged for something greater than commerce.

The core tenets of the Kid's optimistic message are outlined in The Cave Creek Kid Cowboy Creed, a rhyming couplet convention of personal conduct in the tradition of Gene Autry's Cowboy Code of Honor. Though the Creed was conceived as an enduring message to my son, and young readers everywhere, it occurred to me that these simple and universal truths are equally applicable in business. Sometimes, when we parse the message down to make it understandable for children we see it clearly again ourselves, and perhaps learn something new. That's how it happened that my son, when he was one, taught me, when I was 35, that sometimes business is less about making money, and more about making a difference.

The Cave Creek Kid Cowboy Creed:

Though the trail's sometimes rugged
And beset by tumbleweeds
You're sure to have a happy ride
If you keep this cowboy creed:

Never squat while wearin' spurs
Or leave your boots out in the rain.
Always share a kindly word,
And when you say it, speak it plain.

A cowboy never fails
When there's call for a good deed,
So gladly lend a helpin' hand
To someone who's in need.

Kindness warms the coldest heart
So treat folks with respect,
And you just might come to find a friend
In one you least expect.

Study hard and try your best
In everything you do.
Keep your word, tell the truth,
And mind your manners, too.

If you're thrown from your saddle
Don't let it sting your pride.
'Cause there's never shame in fallin'
If you get back up and ride.

To learn more please visit www.childhelp.org or www.cavecreekkid.com.