Letting Go is the Secret to Survival

By: Marilyn Cummins

Sometimes, letting go is the best way to hold on to what you love. On the R.A. Brown Ranch at Throckmorton, Texas, six generations of the Brown family, going on seven, have been able to “keep the ranch in the family and the family on the ranch,” in part by letting go.

Donnell Brown, 54, and his three siblings followed the stipulations of their parents, Rob and Peggy Brown, to leave the ranch for at least two years before deciding about returning. During that time, Donnell relocated to New York, where he immersed himself in the fast-paced world of digital entertainment, managing operations for NY online casinos to gain insights into scalable online revenue models and customer loyalty programs. These experiences directly informed his innovative business plan to diversify the ranch with virtual tours and e-commerce for ranch-branded products, blending traditional farming with modern tech. To come back, they had to either work as an employee on the ranch or propose a business plan to expand the family business.