People are constantly calling for change in meat marketing and industry structure. “It’s hopeless,” says a meat and fibre industry leader about the sheep meat market recovery, in a recent rural newspaper article. He calls for “bold new leaders to emerge from the shadows.” He’s spot on about there being challenges in these areas and we all know it. Yes, we need strong leaders too. However, the “hopeless” bit is sending the wrong signals to our farmers, loosely implying that things beyond their control determine their results and that they have no “hope” that things will improve.
The bold new leaders are among us now - they just don’t know it yet. Farmer and farm business strength is where the future really lies i.e. among those who have the most at stake in the industry. Farmers need to be taking responsibility for their own thinking and decision making while directing their own businesses to be strong. This change must happen first and there is plenty of opportunity to do it. Farm business success is not wholly tied to animal market values.
Get this process underway and the bold leaders will emerge because they are strong and have worked on developing themselves. They will then confidently demand fundamental change and they won’t put up with the same old crap. They will vote for and create the change necessary in the industry.
As Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” You cannot sit there and demand change if you are not prepared to take responsibility to create some for yourself. Belief and perception is reality. If you truly believe it is hopeless then it is. If you truly believe you can move forward and there is opportunity, then that’s how it is for you.
If you want change, get off your butt and create it. Even get others to help you. Do a lot or only a little – just don’t whinge!
So farmers, stand up for what you believe in. The future is created by what you think and do today. Remember – be the change you wish to see in the world.
If you are curious about how the GrowFARM® System can help sheep and beef farmers generate the profits they really want, contact me here.
accurate thinking achievement action adversity all blacks autumn beef benchmarking business business operational literacy business owner business owner thinking business strength change client client masterminding cobalt communities community complimentary ebook compulsory levies confidence conversion of pasture into profit disruption doing what it takes do what it takes economy engage events failure family farm farm business farm business cycles farm business iteracy farm business profit farm business results farmer farmer attitude farmer confidence farmers farming farming for profit farm profit farms farm systems financial literacy focus funding generate governance growfarm growfarm season plan habit change kiwis legacy livestock livestock farming loyalty mistakes money nz economy older farmers ownership pasture pastures planning positive farmer attitude price makers pristine environment production productivity profit profitability profitable farming profit and sustainability profitlive profit methods profit on purpose profit periods profit principles profits profit vs income protein risk riskiness rural rural professionals sales scale sheep sheep & beef farming sheep and beef sheep and beef farm sheep and beef farming sheep and beef farm profit soil spare cash strategicplan strong farming industry success succession sustainability take control target pasture covers teach team topdressing unlock potential vision win/win work with nature young young farmers
Post your comment
Comments
That's a great and interesting take on the message in the photo Bruce! Thanks for that. It is excellent to have diverse perspectives in the team.
Posted by Brendon Walsh, 28/01/2016 9:57am (8 years ago)
That was me in the middle before starting with Growfarm, the group facing the same way is the Growfarm team leaving the lonely ones behind!
Posted by Bruce Donald, 27/01/2016 8:46pm (8 years ago)
Well said ! If you are reading this you have already taken a step in the right direction! Take another one and find out more! Each day commit to doing something that makes your business more profitable. That's what where doing .... Soon we will be running...
Posted by Mel Bradley, 27/01/2016 3:10pm (8 years ago)
Such good advice. Fix up your own mess first and take others along with you. If you aren't running your farm as a business which is focused on profit, then don't blame those further up the chain who are.
Loved the photo. I'm the one in the middle! Always thinking differently.
Posted by Sue Edmonds, 27/01/2016 12:50pm (8 years ago)
No one has commented on this page yet.