Michael L. Gooch’s blog

I recently released a guide to management; specifically how to manage people. Whether you are a neophyte or grizzled veteran, you are engaged in a sacred profession. We are the first and last person an employee sees as they walk in the door and out the door. Performed either valiantly or savagely, our conduct can change a person forever.  

I developed this book with the managerial professional in mind. However, the philosophy and the values contained within are of value to anyone that  works with and through people in reaching organizational goals.

This book is not a detailed discussion of any subject matter. For that, you would need to look elsewhere. You will also not find legal guidance, although the contents will tend to keep you out of court. Finally, you will not be reading a how-to book. If anyone ever writes a veritable management how-to book, I will be the first in line to buy it. The field is too broad and complex to lend itself to a series of action or systematic organization. I firmly believe that the practice of people management is much more art than science. What you will find are suggestions that will develop your philosophy in people management or management in general.

I have spent a good part of my life on the ranch. Furthermore, the years away from it I wished I were back. As we built fences, worked cattle, hauled hay, and fought the weather, I often found myself thinking about my other job as a professional manager. I wished that my business career could be as simple as my ranch life. I finally came to the healthy conclusion that they are the same. The principles and lessons from the ranch easily adapt to the corporate world.

The inept rancher and the struggling manager often find they are engaged in a reactionary activity, that is, by failing to plan, failing to maintain core values, and failing to connect to other people, the inept rancher and struggling manager find themselves constantly having to respond to crises and near disasters. Taken as a Unified Whole, the lessons in this book will assist the struggling manager with forsaking the reactionary category and becoming a better manager. For managers who are not fighting for survival, these lessons will help to remind him or her of the true reason behind our choice of career.  

While not all of the advice stems directly from the ranch, all of it is the cowboy way of thinking. I would be foolish to believe that you will agree with all of the suggestions I offer. In fact, I will practically guarantee that you will not agree with all of this advice. Whether you agree or disagree, I hope that this book will expand your views and trigger creative thought. My goal was to create a holistic approach to the management of people. While each chapter stands on its own, applied as a whole, the totality of Lessons from the Ranch will present a philosophical understanding of our goal. I hope that the sum of this book is greater than its individual components and that a ‘system’ of sorts will arise. The different ingredients in my wife’s chili are wonderful when eaten alone. Nevertheless, once she combines them and lets the pot simmer awhile, magic happens.

I sincerely hope you enjoy the book. If you can take away just one small thing, I will have accomplished my goal.

This blog is designed to address the working day issues that we all encounter. I will be addressing these comments as they appear. In addition, it is essential that everyone "wade in" with their own thoughts and experiances. It would be a sad day if I thought I had all the answers.