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John Colter was an
explorer with the Lewis and Clark expedition who was distinguished by his toughness and ability. When his time with Lewis and Clark was over, he went back to Montana with his friend John Potts. Five hundred
Blackfoot Indians were not happy to see them. John Potts tried to fight but was killed almost immediately with a hail of arrows. Colter surrendered. The Blackfoot stripped him naked and told him to start running,
expecting a short chase at the end of which Colter would be killed.Colter outran his would-be killers. After running six miles, Colter jumped in a river and hid in a logjam until the Blackfoot quit looking for him.
When it was safe, he swam several miles down the river where he got out and started walking. Naked and starving, he walked two hundred miles in ten days to the nearest fort.
John Potts, when faced with a challenge, used familiar tools in the best way he could. He used his rifle. His strategy had previously
been effective and efficient, but he died doing what he did best.
Colter, on the other hand, whom we must assume was as proficient with a rifle as his friend, chose to give up his rifle and almost
all his other assets as well. One could argue that Colter, stripped naked and completely disarmed, was remarkably well equipped to succeed in saving his own life. Without the burden of clothing or weapons he was
free to use the only two assets that could have saved his life. His speed and knowledge permitted him to outwit and outrun his enemies.
How might the lessons of this story apply to our farming businesses? A) Sometimes our traditional assets are very efficient, very
effective, and we are good at using them, but they may not be the assets we need to reach our goals. B) Sometimes we might have to leave behind the assets we are good at using to recognize assets that are even more
useful. C) We have to quickly recognize our predicaments and decide how to select and use our assets. D) Our knowledge and adaptability may be the best assets we have. E) When we have chosen a path, it is good to
stay focused.
Sometimes, when we are faced with what seem to be overwhelming odds, we might do well to think figuratively as John Colter must have
thought literally, It is time to lighten the load and start running!
For more information on how the farm business management program can help you with risk management for your farm business, contact an
instructor by going to www.mgt.org.
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