The Cowboy’s Guide to Doing Business
The American cowboy has long been a source of myth and legend, stemming from the perception of the Old West. Their way of doing business is comparable to independent entrepreneurs who want to make in it the world and from their example there will be something to learn for your venture.
Though movies have portrayed cowboys differently from what their real purpose is, what is common with the silver screen and with reality is that cowboys value personal honesty and integrity. Being honest with your customers will encourage them to be honest with you. Integrity will have them come back to you for your services.
Consistency is another value; if people can rely on you to produce results and to fill their needs reliably, they will most likely be loyal.
Gunslingers rely on speed and guts of steel. Have a feel for trends and don’t let opportunity pass. During the holidays, look up the products on a top ten list and offer these to your customers. If you have a head-start, such as selling in August or October, you’ll likely produce more sales at a time where people buy impulsively. Give your customers the opportunity to pay quickly, such as Pay Pal. Be ready to take risks; they will be an essential part of your business.
Weapons are an essential part of a cowboy’s repertoire. For gunslingers, it may mean the difference between dying in one’s boots or bestowing that honor on his opponent. The merit of having the latest “hardware” is very evident in Western films. This means that for you, competition runs very high and keeping up to speed with the latest in technology can give you the latest edge. These may mean using Twitter, Facebook and other sites as a marketing tool or adopting AdSense into your blog.
The Western cowboy has been known to work in conditions that may be considered hostile by most. They’ve been known to run cattle and deal with vigilantes. You will always have to outsmart your competition and deal with your environment. You will not always know everything; business and gunslinging require learning arcs. The difference between both is that mistakes in one will make you stronger while blunders in another can kill you.
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