You can be on Entrepreneur’s cover!

Cowboy Wisdom to Survive the Wild West of the Business World Wranglers may not work on Wall Street but they are some of the most business-savvy entrepreneurs out there. Here's what you can learn from a true legend.

By Jeffrey Hayzlett

entrepreneur daily

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

There's a lot to be said about the life of a cowboy. From the no-nonsense attitude to a tougher-than-nails work ethic, a cowboy can teach everyone a lot, personally and professionally.

Cowboys may not work on Wall Street, but they are some of the most business-savvy entrepreneurs out there.

One of my favorite cowboys of all time was John Wayne. This man had it all, from Midwestern roots to Hollywood stardom. He was a force to reckon with. He knew what it took to get things done -- something business owners and entrepreneurs can appreciate and relate to.

Here are five lessons from the celebrated actor that have stayed with me over time -- and that college graduates, budding entrepreneurs and seasoned leaders can learn from:

Related: The Cowboy CEO's 8 Business Rules Learned Roping Cattle

1. "A man's got to have a code, a creed to live by." -- John Wayne

Set up goals and steps so you can meet your conditions of satisfaction. If what I'm about to do doesn't meet my three conditions (grow professionally, become wealthy and have fun), I won't do it. Have I turned down great opportunities? Yes, but I've also vetted many more bad opportunities in the process, picking only the absolute best to devote my time and resources to. This is the mind-set that entrepreneurs need to have. Otherwise everything becomes a distraction.

2. "Don't pick a fight, but if you find yourself in one I suggest you make damn sure you win." -- John Wayne

Business moves too fast to be caught up in squabbles, so unless I know I am going to win, I don't entertain fighting. It's a waste of time, energy, and resources. My enemies and opponents know that when I step up to ride that rodeo, there's only one outcome. With that attitude, it's rare that things escalate to that point because everyone involved wants to avoid it.

3. "Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway." -- John Wayne

Don't let fear get in the way! Whether you are starting your own business or have been in the industry for years, opportunities are always appearing. What matters is whether you rise to the challenge and take those risky moves. Step outside your comfort zone, expand into new markets or try a new marketing strategy.

Related: Are You a Risk-Taker or Just Reckless?

4. "Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid." -- John Wayne

You don't know what you don't know, and that's OK. Everyone who starts something commences as a beginner. Even this cowboy had to buy Horses for Dummies when purchasing his first horse. The key is to be in a constant state of awareness, so that you're continually looking for ways to expand your knowledge, develop new ideas or tweak things that aren't working right.

5. "Hurry it up. We're burnin' daylight." -- John Wayne

John Wayne makes a great point: There's only 24 hours in a day, so use them right. Think with the end goal in mind, so that every step is calculated and your time is efficiently used. Use the time you're given wisely, whether it's 118 seconds on an elevator or during the greatest sales presentation of your life. Time doesn't stop for anyone. So if something doesn't meet your conditions for satisfaction, hurry it up because you're burnin' daylight.

Related: Alright, Alright, Alright': What Matthew McConaughey Can Teach Entrepreneurs

Jeffrey Hayzlett

Prime Time TV and Radio Show Host, Author, Speaker

Jeffrey Hayzlett is the author of The Hero Factor (Entrepreneur Press, 2018) and Think Big, Act Bigger: The Rewards of Being Relentless (Entrepreneur Press, 2015). He is the primetime television host of C-Suite with Jeffrey Hayzlett and Executive Perspectives on C-Suite TV and is the host of the award-winning All Business with Jeffrey Hayzlett on C-Suite Radio. He is a Hall of Fame speaker, best-selling author, and chairman of C-Suite Network, a network of C-suite leaders and bestselling author of business books including The Mirror Test and Running the Gauntlet.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

From Tom Brady to Kevin O'Leary – See Who Lost Big in the Wake of the FTX Crypto Collapse

The crash exposed an $8 billion hole in FTX's accounts, leaving investors and customers scrambling to recoup their funds.

Business News

Mark Zuckerberg Says This CEO Is the 'Taylor Swift' of Tech

Meta's CEO posed with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on Instagram Wednesday.

Business News

This Highly-Debated Piece of Cinematic History Just Sold For Over $700,000 at Auction

The wood panel from "Titanic" is often mistaken as a door. Either way, he couldn't have fit. (Sorry.)

Money & Finance

5 Simple Wealth-Building Tips For This Generation's Forward-Thinkers

Explore practical finance tips for young professionals striving to overcome economic challenges.

Leadership

What We Have to Gain By Talking About Grief and Loss At Work

I lost my husband to cancer during Covid — here's how it changed how I lead at work.