Every morning before I start my day, I try to find something inspirational to listen to—something that challenges my perspective or reminds me to keep pressing forward. Some mornings it’s a podcast or a YouTube video. Other times it’s a story from someone who’s been through the trenches and come out stronger on the other side.

Recently, I came across a video of Steve Harvey sharing what he called a “turn back moment.” He said every person reaches a point where they either get stubborn, push through, and decide they’re never going to quit—or they turn back to their Plan B. And he said something that hit me right between the eyes:

“If you quit, the guarantee is that it will never happen.” – Steve Harvey

That simple truth stopped me in my tracks. Because he’s right—if we give up, the outcome we were working toward becomes impossible. There’s no chance of success without faith, effort, and persistence.

Staying the Course

I’ve carried a saying with me for many years: Never give up and you’ll never fail.
Now, that doesn’t mean I’ve been successful at everything I’ve ever done—far from it. But what it does mean is that I’m never truly failing as long as I’m still trying.

In horse training, there are countless moments that can test your patience. I’ve got barns full of horses right now—some coming along great, others still struggling to understand what I’m asking of them. It would be easy to get frustrated, label them as “difficult,” and move on. But if I quit on them, the guarantee is that they’ll never get it.

When a horse doesn’t respond the way I want, it’s not their failure—it’s my opportunity to be a better teacher. And if I stay the course long enough, keep my faith, and keep showing up, that horse will eventually find the right answer.

Faith, Failure, and the Try

I also read an article recently by world champion team roper Matt Sherwood. He said,

“If you never take the risk it takes to win first, you’ll never win first.”

That line stuck with me because it’s true in and out of the arena. Sometimes I catch myself not wanting to push a horse out of its comfort zone because I don’t want things to fall apart. But if I never let that horse try—if I never allow them to make a mistake—I’m not giving them the opportunity to learn or build confidence.

The only way we and our horses grow is by stretching past what’s comfortable. When I relax, put my hand down, and trust my horse, that’s when they start figuring it out. And that’s when confidence starts to build—through consistent tries and well-timed releases.

Early in my career, I struggled with that. I was the king of micromanagers—always trying to fix a problem before it even happened. Looking back, I wasn’t teaching; I was preventing learning. I thought I was “training,” but really, I was robbing my horses of the chance to think, try, and grow.

Perspective and Patience

The older I get, the more I understand how much our mindset influences our horsemanship. Some horses are naturally gifted—just like some people. But talent alone doesn’t guarantee success. Progress comes from persistence.

When you work with horses long enough, you start to realize they’re all a little different—just like people. My son Wade is naturally patient and steady, and his horses reflect that. My daughter Hannah and I tend to be more anticipatory—we want to help too soon. Knowing that about ourselves helps us adapt and get better as trainers.

No matter who you are, growth starts with self-awareness and a willingness to keep showing up, even when it’s hard.

Don’t Quit on the Process

There have been plenty of times in my career when I could have taken an easier route—jobs that might have paid more or carried less uncertainty. But I chose this path because I love it, even on the hard days.

When you work in an industry where there are no guarantees, it’s easy to second-guess yourself. But at the end of the day, the only true failure is quitting. If you stay faithful and keep working toward what you believe in, the reward will come in its own time.

As you head into the rest of your week, remember this:

If you quit, the guarantee is that it will never happen.
Never give up—and you’ll never fail.

And one more thing—take care of yourself along the way. In this industry, we’re great at taking care of our horses, our families, and everyone around us, but not always ourselves. Do something for yourself once in a while. You can’t pour from an empty cup.

Thanks for reading, and as always—be your best.