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Yes, Unhinged, I know that the answer is "well, you are a Cub fan, so that'spretty self-explanatory"...but that leads me here...

We just got back from a visit to the great started of Montana. Spent time across the southern part of the state, from Billings to Missoula. Beautiful country of you've never seen it.

While we were there, Mrs. Cap made mention of making a move. She talked about where she could see herself living one day. She recommended that I go talk with a couple friends about learning to be a cowboy so we could live there.

But she had no idea what I've been pondering...

For the past 20 years, I've had a dream of owning/running a retreat/conference ranch. A place that would ultimately be available for up to 150 guests at a time. A place where we could host leadership trainings, pastoral conferences, offer free sabbatical stays, and, it sounds crazy, but host rodeos.

When we were there, I contacted the two friends who my wife said need to give me "cowboy lessons". I asked what they thought about Montana. They both said "You say the word and we'll come with you."

I was shocked.

I had lunch with one of those friends today. Told him that I was seriously thinking about Montana in the next few years. Then, I told him about my grandiose dream of a retreat/conference ranch. He looked me dead in the face and said "Did I ever tell you THAT was my dream? When do we go do this?"

I was shocked...again.

Talked with a third friend about it this morning. Talked to him about some ranch land I've already looked at with some of the ideas I have about the business.

He asked "When do we leave to do it?"

Another moment of stunned silence.

The other "cowboy" got a phone call this afternoon. We talked about the dream. He said "Tell me when and we'll load it all up and join you."

Wow...three discussions...three men who would all serve specific roles in the overall business...three men whom I would trust my life with...three men ready to make it happen and ready to put up money for their ownership stake.

And then...Mrs. Cap came home after a workout and said "The strangest thing just happened. I was listening to a song and some program came on in the middle of it. I only got to hear about 5 minutes of it, but it basically said that whatever my husband's dream is, I need to be there alongside him, ready to move. So, is there a dream you need to tell me about?"

Yeah...there is...

So, I told her.

This wasn't a conversation we could have had even two years ago. Then, she would have told me something about how it was irrational and a fool's errand and how I've never done anything like that before and that it would likely just fail and we'd be left penniless.

But tonight, she said "You can do this. I love the vision. How would you feel if you didn't get to see it reach that vision? What if it wasn't all the way where you dreamt by the time you retired or died?"

And I told her "I don't expect it to do all that I dream in my lifetime. But in the lifetime of [Cowboy 1] and his son...or our oldest...yes, I can see it reaching that point. I can see this as a generational opportunity.

And she responded with "Whatevwr you decide, I'll be right there beside you."

And I believe it. I have dreams. I have a vision. And for the first time ever, I believe that she is with me...not against me. And THAT feels good.

Unhinged, maybe I'm not so crazy after all.

But really, who am I kidding? I am nuts...

😊😊😊

Good stuff, Cap. I wish you and Mrs. Cap a beautiful and happy journey! 😊

Montana is awesome.

I lived in Wyoming for a while and loved that, but southern Montana is off the charts amazing.

Sounds more like a plan than a dream at this point — good for you Crazy Cap!

That's great news, Cap.

Living a good life takes a lot of work. But it's not exactly work if you're doing what you want to do.

You don't look crazy at all.

It looks like you have a group that can do a solid risk assessment, a group that you can work with well, a group that brings necessary skills to the table. That's a great start.

The least you can do for yourself and your friends is to work with them to see if you can make your dream a reality.

I have a vision. And for the first time ever, I believe that she is with me...not against me. And THAT feels good.

First of all, I’m happy for you. This speaks volumes for the growth between you two.

As far as your dreams go, I encourage you to listen to what they are trying to tell you from both your head and your heart.

These past few years have been challenging. I lost my mother to cancer during the height of Covid. I have worked in healthcare through a pandemic. My husband lost his mother to Covid. We have lost other family and friends in the recent past, as well. I have also just recently been diagnosed with macular degeneration. I am "young" but have a shelf life on my vision that is unknown.

We decided that life is much too short to wait for retirement to do the things we want to do. Based on family history, if we wait we may not have the ability physically at that time. With the kids on their own, we sold our house and most of our belongings. We bought a travel trailer and just took off to see the world while I still can. We are two months in and neither one of us has a single regret. We are living our dream!

All this to say, go for it. Live the life you envision. It’s not crazy at all.

One of the reasons people with business degrees – maybe especially in finances – make terrible entrepreneurs is that most of the courses are about risk-evaluation and management and avoidance. All new businesses have risks.
I encourage you to chase up on your vision and your dream. Only do it while applying the lens of reality rather than roses. Look at the numbers, the projected income, your break-even-point, your costs, risks, pricing…

Can you make it with 30% average capacity? What if the conferences don’t roll in? Do a best case/worst case comparison and make sure that 12 months from signing a deed you aren’t wondering where your next meal will come from – or how to cook it since the utilities are off.

I also encourage you that the roles of the "friends" is very clear, along with an exit strategy and all that. For example: If you all go in as equal partners and one wants out in a year… Have the exit strategy outlined so that you all know the money is tied up for X years or the remaining two have first right at purchasing the third at a fixed price or whatever.

There is a reason I’m suggesting these things: On this site nobody entered a marriage with the intention of divorcing, and most started the D process hoping to remain friends. Yet the vast majority that do divorce have at best indifferent emotions to their exes. Something comparable applies to business partners when things don’t work out… I started a company years ago with two of my best long-term friends. Went out of business back in 1996 and I have met my "friends" maybe 2-3 times since. Never as a group.

You're not crazy, and this sounds like a beautiful adventure!!! Best wishes to you guys on a joint project and a fresh start.

Maybe after all the breakthroughs you guys have had this past year have paved the way for the time to be "ripe" for this dream of yours to succeed.

This is great stuff, this is God (or the universe however you believe) laying the groundwork and opening doors. You just just know when it’s right and all you have to do follow the calling. I’m very happy for you.

You're not nuts. God is clearly sending you a message. Receive it and act accordingly!

Hi Cap,

I love the dream, and sometimes we have "God moments" when the master gives us a vision just like this.
But like Bigger said, and the Bible affirms, carefully consider whether you can do the building project (and here I'm referencing Luke 14:28ff), and then move forward from there.

I love that Mrs Cap is alongside you in this, for me, that's the best part.
And when/if I make it to the Rockies (I live in Aussie), I'll make sure to visit you in Montana. It sounds beautiful.

God's blessings,
FAWH.

What amazing coincidences.
I wish you all the success in the world.

I have found bigger to give great advice.

My marriage and our joint business needed an operating agreement we both agreed to anf honored. So I am really in favor of operating agreements/buy sell clauses and exit strategies if there are multiple parties involved.

I'm going to give my off the cuff personal advice. Maybe because I'm a big baby that doesn't want to open a bakery because the margins are shit and I already have a good paying job in a field I enjoy.

It's easy to get carried away with a romantic concept of any idyllic existence. There is a lot of competition in this segment, though I'm not sure if the failure rate is the same as restaurants or other smaller to fund "I always wanted to run a...." businesses. There are places closer to society that you will be competing with, e.g. (California, Texas) and places with better name recognition and airport centrality (e.g. in Colorado/Denver, Utah/SLC) and even once you get through that you are still not out of the woods, looking at competition from Idaho and Wyoming. This "dude ranch corporate retreat" concept really is a national market.

Montana has pleasant springs and summers. Fall is not quite "miserable", but it's not great, and there are hard winters. The infrastructure is mediocre, so you'll need good backup plans (e.g. standby generators, stored water). If you are going to have good year-round traffic (or at least only a short slack season in early spring and fall) proximity to a ski hill will be key.

Thank you all for the encouragement through my meanderings.

I have seen these "openings" several times over my life. It's been a challenge each time to overcome the "what if's" and make that leap.

TIF, to answer the questions about all the downsides, I have actually spent time over the years creating the "stages" needed for the vision as well as working through all the other cash flow related concerns. All 4 of us (or more...?) would still own our other outside businesses & wouldn't have overall cash flow issues on a personal level. The center/retreat would also be a portion (50-ish acres) of a larger working ranch (500-1500 total production acres).

I spent 15 years teaching marketing strategy & implementation, so the focus would be for a very specific market rather than a shotgun approach. Among the 4 of us, we bring over 100 years of business ownership experience (and that's not cou ting the generational experience as two of the 4 are 3rd generation owners of their current businesses).

This is still the early part of the entire process (which I see as a 3-5 year process to find & procure the right place at this point), but I really do believe that the green light has been given and the door has been opened for the opportunity.

Thank you all again for the encouragement...even though I do know that I'm a bit on that crazy side.

Sounds like you've thought it out. I get friends that go on vacation then think they can make vacation their job.

Sounds like you've thought it out. I get friends that go on vacation then think they can make vacation their job.

100% know that feeling! Have had many folks come off a vacation & talk about making that their life...only to drop the thought right after going back to their day job.

I think I'm too much of a researcher/planner to under-think things. Now, overthinking...I have a PhD in that!

[This message edited by CaptainRogers at 5:48 AM, Saturday, June 3rd]

This is what happens when you have the security and energy to take the focus off the marriage (or the R), and focus on yourself.

It's liberating, refreshing, empowering. Risky or not.

This kind of energy/feeling emerging was one real sign that I was indeed recovering. Support from the spouse was important, but not the most important aspect, and that also felt great.

Wishing you the best in whatever you decide to do!

Cheering you on from my spot, just a ways south of Montana!