Do you have a cow farm? Don’t say “no” oh too soon. Keep reading… You may be surprised. This crazy idea has stuck with me over the years. I came up with this simple way to remember who I need around me and what is necessary for strength along the journey of life.
C – coach
O – oath
W – work ethic
F – friends
A – advisers
R – role models
M – mentors
Personally, a coach is with you at the game. They see you more often than anyone and know when you are in the zone or falling behind in the race. We all need a coach for many areas of our lives, not just at work.
Oath, is the foundation for your beliefs. Your oath is your commitment to God and your spouse (if married). Without a core conviction, it’s impossible to build a long-term effectiveness. You can never out-run a lie.
Work ethic is your muscle. Without it, you have little strength for the journey of life. Work ethic is centric to all potential, opportunity, and ability to perform.
Friends are the joy along the way. Not all friends stay around for life, but are with you on the path for a moment or season.
Advisers are the call-on people. You can reach them when you need them to offer you advise and input on a matter at hand. They cover a large scope of experience and specialty areas of understanding.
Role models are the people you look up to. They have already been where you are going or exemplify a character you admire. Role models are vital for a motivation and reference point. Who do I respect and if I could spend one hour with, I would fly anywhere to be there?
Mentors are individuals you sit with for short periods of training. Pastors, teachers, professors, instructors, they are the leaders around you. Who do you invest your time to be with?
I hope this short post has inspired you to build a cow farm. The benefits of a COW FARM are endless. I hope you have one. I’m not sure how I could survive without mine.