Why the Buffalo?
Take the Stairs, by Rory Vaden, gave us a new perspective on success. And one story in particular has become a personal favorite. It’s a story that inspired our company logo.
When people think of Colorado, they often think of the Rocky Mountains that cover the western part of the state. They forget about the plains that roll from the foothills, east. Because of Colorado’s unique landscape, it’s one of the few places on earth that has both buffalo and cows.
The way these two creatures react to their environments can teach us a tremendous amount about ourselves and how to deal with problems.
When storm clouds roll onto the plains from the west, cows head east, hoping to outrun the danger. But cows aren’t the fastest animals. So, the rain and lightning inevitably catch up to them. And by continuing to head east, they stay in the storm even longer – essentially moving with it.
Now, as we think about these cows, we may be tempted to say, “How stupid!”
But many of us do the exact same thing.
We see conflict on the horizon, and we start to run. It may be a relationship dispute, financial troubles, or even problems with our health. But we treat them the same. We pretend that they’re not that big of a deal and we do our best to avoid them. Unfortunately, problems tend to compound when they’re ignored. And if we ignore them long enough, we end up with a bigger problem on our hands than we otherwise would have had.
But buffalo aren’t like cows. They wait for the storm to come and, when it does, they charge directly into it. By running through the storm, they minimize their suffering and pain.
If only more of us would tackle life’s unavoidable problems the way buffalo do! When we procrastinate, our problems amplify – and we’re the ones who pay the price. But there’s a great reward waiting for those who will charge at their most challenging circumstances head-on.
But unlike the buffalo, it’s a skill that we must learn, practice, and maintain.