THE MAN BEHIND COWBOY ETHICS
JAMES P. OWEN
After a successful Wall Street career,
Jim Owen in 2003 embarked upon an encore
career as an inspirational author, speaker
and film producer. He also created the
Center for Cowboy Ethics and Leadership,
a nonprofit 501(c)(3) foundation, to help
spread the message that “everyone needs
a code…a creed to live by.”
Jim’s book credits include Cowboy Ethics,
a best seller with more than 120,000 copies
sold to date; a companion volume, Cowboy Values; and his latest book, The Try.
Jim found his calling when he was so dismayed by the country’s spreading epidemic of corporate scandals and social discord that he felt compelled to speak out, urging a return to the basic core values that all Americans can share.
Inspired by his lifelong interest in Western history and lore, Jim coined the phrase “Cowboy Ethics” and wrote his book distilling the Code of the West into “Ten Principles to Live By.” The grassroots response to the book has led Jim to spend the last eight years on the road, speaking to audiences all across the country as well as leading corporate workshops. In early 2010, he completed an award-winning documentary film, Code of the West: Alive and Well in Wyoming, which spurred the State of Wyoming to adopt his ten Code of the West principles as its official state code.
Now Jim has taken up another big-picture issue, asking “What does it take to succeed in America today?” His response is a new cowboy-inspired message: It’s all about The Try—that unmistakable, yet elusive quality that bridges desire and action, passion and purpose. As Jim says, “When you have a can-do attitude and put 110% effort toward your goal, nothing can stop you.” His upcoming documentary film, The Try: How to Succeed Against All Odds, is slated for release in the fall of 2011.
