What a cow taught me about writing

Think. Write. Lead. - Issue #84

We first saw this cow at a pub in London.

A cool, funny-looking cow, riding a motorcycle.

It was a TV commercial, of course, not a live cow.

But it’s pretty cool.

Check it out:

But a few days later, when visiting the Scottish Highlands, we saw plenty of those cows.

The Highland cows, or hairy coos, as the Scots call them, are unique to Scotland and (according to my wife) super cute.

Hairy coos are captivating.

When you first see one, you stare at it for a while and you can't help but smile.

That's because our brains are attracted to novelty—they release dopamine when presented with something new.

And that, my friend, is what you want your content to be like.

Turns out that there's more to the "heilan coos" than meets the eye.

Here's what I found:

• They're adaptable: They are well-adapted to harsh climates and rough terrains, thanks to their thick, double-layered coat.

• They're chill: Known for their calm and docile nature, they're easier to handle compared to some other breeds.

• They're long-lasting: They have a longer lifespan than other cattle, often around 20 years.

• They're efficient: These cows are excellent at converting poor-quality forage into milk, meat, and hide, which makes them ideal for less fertile landscapes.

• They're recognizable: Their long hair and long, curved horns make them immediately recognizable and quite photogenic.

• They're healthy: The meat they produce is leaner and lower in cholesterol than some other breeds.

• They're high quality: Though not primarily milk cows, their milk is rich in butterfat.

• They're low maintenance: They require minimal shelter and supplemental feeding, thanks to their adaptability.

Great Scott! That's amazing.

I guess we should be more like hairy coos...

• Agile and adaptable to market changes and challenges (with AI, for example).

• Calm and patient to play the long game of thought leadership.

• Creating content that is perennial, not ephemeral.

• Ruthlessly efficient, doing more with less.

• Unique in our POV.

Just as Highland cows produce lean meat and high-quality milk, focus on creating high-quality content rather than pumping out content in mass.

So let's moo-ve along and apply these lessons to our writing process.

THINK.

• Are you constantly adapting to new market conditions, technologies, or audience preferences?

• Do you have a long-term strategy to ensure the longevity of your business or brand?

• Are you optimizing your time, money, and skills to achieve your goals?

• What makes your content stand out in a crowded market?

• Are you focusing on creating high-quality content that offers value, or are you stuck in a quantity-over-quality rut?

• What parts of your content creation process can be streamlined for efficiency?

WRITE.

I could give you a lot of writing prompts here, but you probably won't have the time to do them. So let's focus on one: Quality Over Quantity.

Choose one piece of existing content and spend an hour improving its quality. Focus on depth, relevance, and adding value for your audience. That's it.

Bonus: If you haven't yet, write your elevator pitch, encapsulating what makes you or your offering unique in 1-2 sentences.

LEAD.

Cows don't actually lead or create thought leadership.

Nor do most humans.

You can, though.

It's an intentional process that requires you to plan ahead and become more efficient and resourceful.

Like developing a 2-year roadmap for your business, including milestones and KPIs.

Or auditing your current projects to identify any redundancies or inefficiencies and eliminate them.

And whatever you do, please don't be boring.

Let your writing stand out like a hairy coo in a herd of dairy cows.