James Zink has a background as a ranch hand and construction worker, and is presently making a name for himself on the rodeo circuit. Competing at weekly amateur events at the Tejas Rodeo in Bulverde, Texas, he has excelled at team roping. The next step for James Zink is traveling with summer rodeos across the West and providing lessons in roping in Billings, Montana. By winter 2025, he expects to hold Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) membership and take part in prestigious events at the World Series of Team Roping (WSTR) in Las Vegas.
Growing up in Durango, Colorado, Mr. Zink excelled at athletics, competing in baseball, basketball, football, and wrestling in high school. He also spent time at his grandpa’s ranch each summer, working with cattle, sheep, horses, crops, orchards, and wetlands. Mr. Zink weeded land, learned to care for horses, and gained experience operating various agricultural equipment.
Mr. Zink also has extensive experience in home building, having undertaken rough framing and trim carpentry on custom residence projects. He has also led teams in recycling operations, supervising warehouse workers and loading and unloading dump trucks.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My day consists of a few different things, kind of depending on what I’m preparing for right now. I’m working on saving up so I can travel come August and September to some of the rodeos that are later in the year. Make sure I’m productive on daily basis by hitting my dummy every single day.
How do you bring ideas to life?
When it’s an idea I can get behind and get excited behind, I like to start working on it immediately. I like to figure out whatever I can do in that moment to start making progress.
What’s one trend that excites you?
The upward trend that we are seeing in the overall earnings of rodeo cowboys today, versus in the past.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
I typically enjoy setting myself up for one thing at a time, really focusing on that one thing while I’m working on it.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Find something you love and fight for it with everything you have, holding nothing back.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Team rope.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
Pick one thing that I can do right now and focus on it.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Just keep going.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
Roping comes with highs and lows, whether it be with your horses, your travel, your trucks, your trailers, or your technique. Just continuing to choose and move forward no matter what.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
My cell phone is typically where I’ll put everything, so as events go in my calendar.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
Kill Tony podcast.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
Star Wars or Harry Potter are my favorite series.
Key learnings
- Don’t hesitate when bringing ideas to life; start working immediately and determine what can be done right now to make progress.
- To stay productive, focus on one thing at a time.
- Perseverance and resilience are the keys to growth and success.
- Fight for what you love.