How do professional cowboys measure their success in rodeo?

Professional cowboys measure their success in rodeo primarily through earnings and rankings in standings. This is because monetary winnings serve as a tangible representation of a cowboy's skill and consistency in various events. Rankings reflect their performance relative to peers and indicate their competitiveness within the sport, which is essential in a context where many participate but only a few excel. Unlike other options, which focus on external perceptions or participation levels, earnings and rankings provide a clear, quantifiable metric of success in the highly competitive world of rodeo.