The Cowboy’s Code

I heard from Marlene Casini the other day. She’s the president of the Community Foundation of Delaware County (Ohio) and a long-time friend. She sent me a piece she thought I would be interested in. And I was.

It comes from the National Cowboy Poetry roundup. (And yes…there is a National Cowboy Poetry roundup!) They publish their Code of the West. These, they say, are the nine principles to live by.

1. Live each day with courage.
2. Take pride in your work.
3. Always finish what you start.
4. Do what has to be done.
5. Be tough, but fair.
6. When you make a promise, keep it.
7. Talk less and say more.
8. Remember that some things aren’t for sale.
9. Know where to draw the line.

You may feel this has nothing to do with fundraising and development work. But it does, and it is a pretty good philosophy to live by and help keep one’s sanity and joy.