#10 Cautious risk taker Cautious risk takers are ranchers with an open
mind who are willing to consider that there may be more effective, more effi cient methods of doing things. They carefully consider new technologies, maybe even implement them on a small portion of the operation as a test. Additionally, they are willing to try new ideas and concepts. They take risks based on knowledge, experience and sometimes hunches, but on a limited basis. Usually, cautious managers don’t risk every- thing and always operate within a safety margin. Risk management is paramount for successful managers.
#9 Willingness to share knowledge George Bernard Shaw wrote, “If you have an apple
and I have an apple and we exchange these apples, then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas.” Successful grazing-land managers often get great
ideas from their peers and are involved with organiza- tions that promote that kind of peer-to-peer education. It is no surprise that 3 of the past 5 regional National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s Environmental Steward-
100 The Cattleman September 2016
ship Award winners are active members of the Texas Grazing Lands Coalition (TXGLC) and Texas and South- western Cattle Raisers Association. Both organizations promote science-based education to peers.
#8 Clear, measurable and attainable objectives Objectives must be clear, measurable and attainable.
It is often said that you can’t manage what you can’t measure. So how do we measure successes? It is hard to take advantage of an opportunity to lock in profi t or limit your loss if you don’t recognize the opportunity. Establishing thresholds is one way to make objec-
tives measurable. In the Rolling Plains, a 30 percent mesquite canopy causes a shift in grass composition
Where others tend to fi nd problems, they try to fi nd opportunities.
thecattlemanmagazine.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132