Keeping the Business Honest

October 13, 2018

 

It’s called the bucking bulls business, and as with all businesses, there are a few “rotten apples” in our barrel.  I’ve recently heard from several folks out there of some unethical -and in at least one case downright dishonest – dealings circulating the industry.  Unfortunately, it is something that is going to happen no matter how hard we try to safeguard the industry’s integrity.

It’s a shame when bad dealings happen, especially to those new to the industry.  It threatens to give us a bad name and can keep people from buying in.  A person burned on their first encounter might well turn away and never come back.  And we lose every time that happens.

So, what can we do to give new folks who want to get into the bucking stock business a better sense of security about making deals and committing money?

For me, one of our best qualities as a community of bucking bull people is our common interest – passion for many of us – in bucking bulls.  It is important for us to share this with those who might want to join us.  Groups like Bucking Stock Talk Group is a place where folks can have “conversations” on topics, share pics and videos, brag about their stock, ask questions, and for new folks, to get a feel of what the REAL business is all about.  There are many other good groups out there on Facebook.  They can be a real tool in building interest and promoting our industry.

Even with the more commercial breeders and stock contractors, there’s a relaxed feel about the business.  Bucking stock folks like bucking stock and it’s unusual to find someone in the business who doesn’t want to talk about bulls.  For me, if I bump into someone who is stand offish, aloof, or doesn’t want to bother to give me the time of day, that’s someone I don’t do business with.  Or, if I’m met with a slick “advertisement” and have a hard sell opportunity to commit money shoved in my face, I simply walk away.  I get a bad feeling about doing business with a person who’s in a big rush to seal the deal.

In this day and age of business deals, the handshake transactions are pretty much a thing of the past.  To protect yourself in a deal of any kind, whether it be a futurity partnership, a sale, a training contract, or anything else that means a monetary transaction, the solution is to get signatures on a legally binding contract .  You may have known the person for years, or the deal came about because of a first class recommendation from someone you trust.  But without a clearly drawn contract, the possibility of getting burned, on both sides of the deal, is an ugly thought but an actual possibility.  The contract is not foolproof by any means, but it can go a long way to keeping everything on the level.  And keeping civility and trust alive in the business.  The key is to KNOW what is and isn’t in the document, understand the terms, and don’t be afraid to ask questions on anything that doesn’t make sense.  The old saying “Haste makes waste” is a good motto to live by.  And it can keep you from losing a whole lot of money and save you buckets of frustration.

by Terry Lidral

for Bucking Stock Talk Magazine

Terry Lidral
Author: Terry Lidral

Terry Lidral is a western writer/journalist who lives in Idaho. She is the publisher and editor of the online magazine Bucking Stock Talk and the online magazine Western Living Journal. Her publishing credits include Storyteller for Real American Cowboy Magazine, writing feature articles for Humps N Horns Magazine as well as a wide variety of national and international web sites, historical magazines and news publications. She is known for her "up close and personal" profiles of celebrities and industry moguls such as NPR's Tom Bodett; PBR's Wiley Petersen and D.H. Page, PRCA's Sammy Andrews, Cindy Rosser and Julio Moreno to name a few. She has been applauded for her way of making a personal connection between her readers and her subjects. She indulges in her love of rodeo by serving as an associate board member for the Caldwell Night Rodeo. She is also an accomplished trainer and handler in dog agility. Her shelties Amelie and Milo are titled in NADAC, USDAA and AKC.

About Terry Lidral

Terry Lidral is a western writer/journalist who lives in Idaho. She is the publisher and editor of the online magazine Bucking Stock Talk and the online magazine Western Living Journal. Her publishing credits include Storyteller for Real American Cowboy Magazine, writing feature articles for Humps N Horns Magazine as well as a wide variety of national and international web sites, historical magazines and news publications. She is known for her "up close and personal" profiles of celebrities and industry moguls such as NPR's Tom Bodett; PBR's Wiley Petersen and D.H. Page, PRCA's Sammy Andrews, Cindy Rosser and Julio Moreno to name a few. She has been applauded for her way of making a personal connection between her readers and her subjects. She indulges in her love of rodeo by serving as an associate board member for the Caldwell Night Rodeo. She is also an accomplished trainer and handler in dog agility. Her shelties Amelie and Milo are titled in NADAC, USDAA and AKC.

View all posts by Terry Lidral →

2 Comments on “Keeping the Business Honest”

  1. Good thoughts. The business world is evolving rapidly, and one can’t be naive about how it operates. And while there are a lot of great folks out there, sometimes somebody comes along who isn’t honest or ethical, and that hurts all of us. Thanks for posting this one, and I hope it generates a lot of comments!

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