Entrepreneurship Craziness!

Hi Everyone!

  It has been a LONG time since I posted- sometimes life gets crazy and roping, work, and new endeavors take over.  I just wanted to let everyone know about the new business I have started.  I have always know I wanted to be an entrepreneur.  But the hard part was figuring out what kind of business to do.  I knew I wanted something online so I could travel and live a "gypsy" lifestyle of sorts.  Last winter I was trying a lot of different things.  I tried writing a Rodeo Queen E-Book.  I wasn't passionate enough about it to finish it.  I tried starting an online boutique.  I couldn't quite get past the beginning stages of dropship models and inventory.  I tried writing a grief book.  It just wasn't the right timing to write it and I just felt depressed trying to get through chapter one!  I started a western furniture business.  It was good but I didn't like the thought of lifting heavy stuff all the time and shipping ridiculously huge items. 

  No wonder my family, boyfriend, and friends were starting to think I was a complete flake.  I had started and quit so many different things.  I started to lose faith in myself and truly think I was losing my mind and COULDN'T FINISH ANYTHING! 

But one day I was riding at work and the idea hit me to start making some funny tshirts with roping and rodeo related sayings.  It started as an idea to go along with selling furniture.  But as the ideas started coming and I started getting a lot of positive response I realized this was the business I had been looking for all along!  Rank Rodeo Threads was born and I am happy to say our website went live today. 

  I can't believe how many times I tried different ideas and failed.  But it was all about pushing forward and keeping my mind open to something new.  It is so easy to get discouraged when trying to come up with a business and everytime something doesn't pan out you may feel like a failure or a flake.  But keep pushing!  Realize that once you find that killer idea, you should be willing to put years of effort without seeing a huge profit.  I fully commit myself to working my business for a few years before I expect it to do well- and guess what?  I am already seeing sales and interest.  I am in it for the long haul!  Because I know this is the right business for me and I'm passionate about it!  Check out rankrodeothreads.com for funny rodeo and roping inspired shirts!!!  Keep leaning into your dreams and make them happen:)

Cowgirl Boudoir Bedroom Makeover

Ever felt like your furniture is blah? I have been feeling that way with my bedset. I'm a pretty impulsive person so I decided to remodel my bedroom today. Antiqued furniture is in right now, and ANYONE can do it! It is super easy. It doesn't matter if you are creative or not. Here is a step by step guide to weathering furniture:

-First, select your color and stain. Grab some sandpaper, a paintbrush, and a sponge. I chose turquoise, but I have seen barbie pink, canary yellow, maroon, and a deep purple look stellar too. If you want to try a really awesome look, grab two different colors.

-I wouldn't paint super expensive furniture. It's way more fun to go thrift shopping or garage saling and pick up pieces with potential. I used a bedset I bought used for $200. If you go to reclaimed storage unit sales you can score really cheap furniture.

-Paint your furniture using either a brush or sponge (the sponge is super fast and grabs those hard to reach spots). Let it dry.

-If you are double layering color you will now add your second layer of paint that is a different color. You can put lighter on top and darker on bottom or vice versa. Either way you do it will change the look. I did maroon on bottom and turquoise on top and it turned out great.

-After it's dry, grab your sandpaper and start sanding away the color around the edges and uneven parts of the wood. You can sand a lot and make it look ancient, or lightly sand like it just was freshly painted and worn a little. It's up to you and whatever your taste is! I did mine lightly sanded today.

- Finally, put a top coat of stain over the furniture. I picked a darker chocolate stain and it created a color with more depth. A clear gloss stain makes it look a little more whimsical.

VOILA! Super easy furniture facelift!!! See below for pics of my "Cowgirl Boudoir"

"Never Lose Your Spark" Cowgirl Profile: Lizzie Iwersen of RFDTV

Horseman. Team Roper. Television Host. Fashionista. I'd call Lizzie Iwersen a jack of all trades. She has found a way to turn her passion into her career by hosting the show Horse Talk Live, and spending her workdays getting to know the equine industry's finest. She took some time out of her busy schedule to answer some questions for us. Enjoy!

CV: How did you go from horse-crazy Montana girl to hosting your own television show?

LI: I've always been horse crazy and loved every single thing about horses and the people who love them like I do. But I never would have thought I'd end up spending my day talking about them on national TV. It was just when I had decided to go to Montana State to continue to rodeo in college that my mom's horse died. He was a super star that I ran barrels and stepped off of in the goat tying. Being that he was so hard to replace, I decided to change gears completely. I ended up going to
school in Reno, NV and to pursue my other passion of snowboarding. After 4 years there and a year
in Spain, I moved to Portland, OR. I spent almost 3 really, really fun years in Oregon. But I realized it was time to get my life in gear- ie: get back into the horse world.  I applied for a position here in Nashville, TN with RFD-TV. It was over 5 months later when they actually offered me a position. Within another 5 months my sister and I road tripped down here with everything I could fit in my car. A few months later my sweet parents sent me a horse from home. It's been here 3 and 1/2 years that I've lived here. Originally, I was hired for marketing. I guess maybe it was apparent that I loved to talk to horse people about horses so that's why they put me in front of a camera, to do just that!

CV: Tell us about Horse Talk Live.

LI: Horse Talk Live is just what its title implies: An hour spent talking about horses. I've invited people and products in to be guests, always trying to cover as many different disciplines and issues as I can think of. Sometimes, if something comes up in my own life- a product or an issue i am going
through with my own horses, I decide that it's something we should cover on Horse Talk.

CV: Who is the most fun or interesting person you've had on the show?

LI: It would be so hard to pick the most fun I've had on the show or the most interesting person I've met. I can, however, say that Craig Cameron is one heck of a guy. And I did four episodes with the Total Team Roping Crew and we certainly had a lot of laughs. I was not spared in any jokes and had to fend for myself- both off-air and on-air- for 2 days. I also really thought that i knew a good deal about horses before Horse Talk. But spending as much time as I have now with veterinarians and horsemen, I realized that it's true you won't ever know it all and the process of learning is life-long. I love the horse health episodes and find all those subjects fascinating- as well as so helpful as a horse owner.

CV: As a television personality you are a style icon for many women across the country. How would you describe your style and what or who has been your biggest fashion inspiration?

LI: Picking out 5 different outfits a week can be a challenge, let me tell you! I truly love being a cowgirl and believe it's a privilege to be able to dress like one. Although my style is always changing, a few things will always be a part of my wardrobe: A good hat and a wild rag.
I love cowboy hats and love that I have a job where I can wear one everyday. JW Brooks makes my hats and his wife Jody is a cowgirl whose style has influenced me- she ALWAYS looks good. Kathleen Brannon, the designer of Desert Sage Bead Art, is, in my opinion, the best dressed woman in our industry! Every time I run into her, I make it a point to try and dress more like her, but it never happens- style like that can't be recreated. It is my mom and sisters, however, who will always be my biggest influences. Our mom was very particular about how we dressed and we are so much better off for it. My mom always has- still does-remind us to wear a ribbon in our hair, to be feminine no matter what we're doing. I still do wear a matching ribbon whenever I can. It was my mom that turned me on to accessories like wild rags and turquoise jewelry.

CV: You travel a lot for your job. What is the neatest place or event you have been to?

LI: Travel is a huge benefit to my job. I went to Brazil in 2012 which was obviously a neat opportunity. But, honestly, I just eat up any horse event I go to. Last year I was invited to ride in the celebrity challenge at the Snaffle Bit Futurity. That event is first class and is at the top of my list. Road to the Horse is always a big event for me, a lot of real horsemen attend that event. Nothing, though, compares to the Wrangler National Finals. That, for me, is ten days of Heaven.

CV: Who is the cowgirl that you look up to and admire?

LI: I look up to a lot of cowgirls, but Pam Minick is a cowgirl that I've always seen as a good person to learn from. Getting to know her, and being able to call her a friend is pretty spectacular. First of all, she's hilarious and people love being around her. She's accomplished so much professionally, she's done it all. But what I really like about Pam is that she walks the walk, too. She was a world champion breakaway roper and is a familiar face in the short round of whatever roping she's at these days. I also really love being friends with Sadie Lynne from Cowgirl Chicks- talk about a cowgirl. I really look up to girls that ride. Really ride.

CV: What is your advice to girls who want to pursue a career in the equine industry?

LI: I would say to girls who aspire to having a career in the industry, the same thing Pam Minick told me in the first conversation I had with her: "To never lose your spark."  Keeping your spark is easy to do if you keep company with like-minded people. If horses and the industry are what make you happy, find a way to be around it. Lately I've been one of those "do what makes you happy," "Life's too short" people. But, really, it's true. When you're doing what makes you happy, then life is so much easier. When you're doing what makes you happy, you won't lose your spark!

Be A Zen Cowgirl

I think Facebook has really allowed people to take a look into the minds of others. Most people are strongly controlled by outside forces and their posts reflect that in "they did this to me", or "they irritate/make me mad/are horrible people".

We will always remain angry and frustrated if we feel people are always wronging us. Other people aren't the problem. Our reaction to people is the biggest problem of all.

I know I love living my life around animals because they are always so loving/excited to see me/happy. That is because they live so deeply in the present. But as a human, I must deal with people too. We must realize if someone is a jackass to you (which is going to happen time after time after time) the only problem you will have is a poor reaction.

To react peacefully with a calm, understanding manner will make you happier. So when that dirty rotten son of a gun says something offensive and you feel those pangs of anger and disappointment don't act. Release your expectation of others, smile, realize humans aren't perfect, and be loving toward that person.

You will win in the end because people like that don't usually don't get a reaction like this.

Cowgirls are known for their tough "ain't gonna take no crap off no one" attitude. But I think it takes a stronger person to react like this. People can be mean and crazy- but all we can do is be happy and toss all your expectations of people out them window!

Want to Find Out Who You Really Are?... Learn How To Rope

Bailey Jo Thompson looking gorgeous!


Doing a little dummy roping!

Kristi Renz on the heels!

A handy girl with a rope is a beautiful thing:) Lots of women ride horses, but only an elite handful can DO WORK in the practice pen and competition. I aspire to be a professional roper one day and look up to the cowgirls that are out doing what they love. Not only does the sport require excellent horsemanship skills, you have to put in a lot of time and practice- for you and your horse.

Want to find out who you really are? Learn to rope. Anyone who has been frustrated with roping knows exactly what I'm talking about. It can bring out the worst in a person. Before my first lessons, I thought I was confident, calm, and collected in my horsemanship and ability to learn new skills. I was wrong.

I have always wanted to rope. I'd see chicks roping and dream of the day I would be spinning steers and competing. Lucky for me, I am in a relationship with a man who is as gifted with a rope as any cowboy out there. Naturally, he decided to take on the task of teaching me. We spent last winter in Arizona putting on jackpots, taking in outside horses, and working on roping. I was so excited to be good that I forgot you have to suck really bad before you can start getting good.

Needless to say, I shed a lot of tears and was so upset with myself. One day, I missed ten in a row heading for Matt and I just broke down. I really didn't like who I was becoming in my journey to get good. I freaked out on the horse and lost my temper, which I ABSOLUTELY am TOTALLY AGAINST. He was ducking and running off and it was all my fault because horses do what we train them to do, and I didn't know how to get him to do it correctly. I realized that day that I was a HOT MESS. My principles of who I was and my patience levels weren't congruent with who I thought I was. Matt had heel horses in for training and I was the only one who was there to head for him and I was not holding up my end of the deal.

I learned a lot about roping and training horses last winter. But I learned even more about myself, and the person I didn't want to be. A person who was frustrated, hard on themselves, and hard on horses. Which brings me to the philosophy of training.

Last summer when I worked for Western Sky Equine starting colts, I remember something my boss Sue told me. I was frustrated with a colt and felt so angry. She said that God had put that horse in my life for a reason, and I was there to help them learn and give them a great beginning. That really hit home with me. There is no place in a teacher's role for abuse, anger, or impatience. This doesn't mean I don't ride the hair off my horses or that I spoil them and let them walk all over me. It simply means I am a fair and compassionate teacher and partner. I believe in working a horse to their full potential. I ask less than one hour for a horse to work for me. One out of twenty four! I provide food, shelter, health care, shoes, protection, and companionship. If I got all of those things and only had to work one hour a day I'd be pretty jacked! So, when it comes down to it, business is business.

But... horsemanship should never be about pride or anger.

I'm working on training a barrel horse right now. My mentor has taught me a lot and I am so thankful for meeting her here in Colorado. I like her because she is honest. She doesn't sugarcoat anything, which I respect and admire. And sometimes, let's face it... the truth hurts.

Anyone that has been around horses have had those moments where you realized you weren't as awesome as you thought you were and it all slaps you in the face. I'm getting better at accepting these and enjoying constructive critiscm as I get older. If she would've told me the same thing when I was twenty, I might've fumed. The mare I have is showing a lot of potential and I was starting to amp up the pressure and tuning on her a little too much. My mentor came over and told me I was picking. I was drilling her and making her do the correct thing over and over and it was frustrating the horse. She thought she was doing it wrong and looking for the answer over and over again. The horse was frustrated and I was too. I asked the gal what I needed to remember next time I was working on my horse. She said there's only three words you have to remember:

GET OVER YOURSELF

As trainers we tend to get really goal oriented and sometimes that's not fair to our horses. She said I needed to stop being so type A and start thinking about my horse more. Horses don't care about how fast we stop the clock, or how many buckles or saddles we've won. They just aim to please us, either out of fear or respect. As I evolve in my horsemanship, it becomes less about pride and more about my relationship with my horse.

I want to be a cowgirl that trains using compassion and encompassing fruits of the spirit: LOVE. JOY. PEACE. PATIENCE. KINDNESS. GOODNESS. FAITHFULNESS. GENTLENESS. SELF CONTROL. Any great trainer whose horses love and respect them has these characteristics. Roping showed me I have a lot of work in the PATIENCE, and SELF CONTROL department.

I have been venturing back to Montana and roping a little bit and it feels like its coming together. Matt's mare Ginger is helping me build my confidence and roping feels a lot more fun now. I can't believe how much I didn't know about ME before I started roping.

Before I sign off I'd just like to say that anger in training is a result of a lack of knowledge. The more we know about horses, the better horses we can make. Happy Headin' and Heelin',

Lesli

"BREAKIN' NECKS and CASHIN' CHECKS" Cowgirl Profile: Wylene WIlson of Wild West Horsemanship

WATCH FOR THIS GIRL!!!

(Photography by Charles Brooks)

Wylene Wilson is making a SPLASH in the equine world! Not only is this chick hilarious and gorgeous, she is more of a hand than any man I've seen. It only makes sense that she specializes in colt starting!



Dubbed as "Extreme Wylene" because of her daredevil riding presentations and fearless competing style, Miss Wilson sure is building a reputation for herself. She has won Extreme Cowboy Races, Mustang Makeovers, and was just in an inspirational documentary about mustang trainers called "Wild Horse, Wild Ride". The film has debuted at many film festivals across the country and Wylene can add *MOVIE STAR* to her resume.



I met Wylene at one of her clinics in Arizona and she invited me to come assist her with a clinic in St. George, Utah. We had a blast and I learned a lot from her. I was blown away at how great the colts turned out. I have always started colts so slowly and with Wylene I was loping down the river wash on colts on their 2ND DAY! Her style and the way she builds confidence in horses is almost hard to believe!



Choosing Wylene as my first cowgirl profile was easy because she exemplifies COWGIRL! She can get the job done looking damn good! She wears makeup, hair glitter extensions, and a flower in her cowboy hat. Check out her website and youtube videos...It's a kick!!!

www.girlinprogress.com/wylenewilson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oc4IMcfUyzQ

***Charlie Brooks, Wylene's friend and professional photographer is great at capturing all of the CRAZY moments:) Check him out at www.brooksphotog.com/ ***

"As Long As We Structure Our Lives in a Way Where Our Happiness Is Dependent Upon Something We CANNOT CONTROL, Then We WILL Experience PAIN."

Are you someone that allows the troubles of the world to affect your level of joy? Most people are. I read this quote in Tony Robbins' book "Awaken the Giant Within" and I realized how simple happiness could be. We all believe that we will have joy around the corner; when we open up our new business, or get married, or get a material item. This is false. This belief system will make you depressed. Ever wonder why rock stars and celebrities are so unhappy and headed to rehab because of addiction? Most of them have expected their success to bring them constant joy and when they reach the top they feel unfulfilled. They need Coke, Meth, and Ecstasy to flood them with endorphins. Tony Robbins suggests setting up your happiness so you're in control. Create and list by filling in the blank: ANYTIME I ____________ I FEEL GOOD.

If you ever start feeling down- grab the bull by the horns and do some of the activities on your list!!! Here are a few from mine:

LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT HORSEMANSHIP

READ MOTIVATIONAL BOOKS

SPEND TIME WITH MY DOG

WORK WITH YOUNG HORSES

DOIN' SOMETHIN' RANCHY:)

Here's a few more from my list...exercise. being a good listener, helping someone and expecting nothing in return. doing spin class. g something new. being positive. eating healthy and frequently. listening to music. hanging with girlfriends. getting dolled up. lighting candles. getting massages...

It's awesome if you can combine some of these together to get an extra boost!!! For example- this is dorky but I created a DOG WALKING MIX of happy songs on my ipod and combined listening to music with hanging out with my dog.

CREATE YOUR LIST and let me know how it goes:)