Ten Seconds on a Bull

Of all athletes, none are as far out as rodeo riders.

Think of it– you’re dropped onto the back of an angry three-quarter ton bull or a hot bronco with one simple goal: stay on top of the unhappy beast for ten seconds. That’s all there is to it.

Well, except for the part where you’re required to rake your spurs to infuriate the creature, and, oh yeah, you only get to hang on with one hand. Otherwise, it’s a simple proposition.

Like the animals they try to ride, rodeo cowboys are special. It’s a rare rodeo athlete who hasn’t broken multiple bones, sometimes several in a season. And for their troubles they may earn in a lifetime what a hockey player earns in a year, but only if they’re very, very good, and very, very lucky. They also have a reputation for spending their winnings on whisky and women, retiring broke and broken.

You and I as professionals may not be bronc riders, but in some ways we’re not that different. Every client interaction, every transaction, every engagement can go wrong with deadly consequences. Not that we’re likely to suffer a broken leg or a concussion, but “the file gone wrong” can cost us very dearly, even to the point of ending a career.

To be sure, most clients are lovely, and mostly they are grateful for the service you provide, especially if you’re careful to help them understand their professional needs while at the same time being alert to their emotional “wants”. Yet every file you open has within it the seeds of disaster for you and for your client. This is why we all carry Errors and Omissions Insurance, and why our governing bodies are alert to malpractice. More importantly, your reputation grows or diminishes with each client outcome.

So, all that said, what lessons can we learn from the rodeo rider? Here are ten:

1. For the bull or the bronc, there’s nothing personal. It’s just what they do.

2. If you don’t have the natural instincts and talents, stay away from the sport.

3. Study the beast you’re about to ride. These critters have reputations, and you’re well advised to consider how you fit into their worldview.

4. If the animal is clearly beyond your skill level, don’t be stupid. Ride something you might survive.

5. When you’re on the critter, pay attention. For ten seconds, nothing else in the world matters.

6. Every time you’re bucked off is a learning experience.

7. Every time you stay on the beast is a learning experience.

8. Getting to 10 just means you don’t disqualify. You win contests and build reputation on good form and style.

9. Use your prize money wisely. There are dry spells in any business.

10. The career of the rodeo rider is short. Yours may be longer, but it is finite. Plan for the day you hang up your spurs.