There are 3 essential skills, beyond being great at on the technical side of things. Skill 1: Strategic Thinking Written for Progressive Dairy and originally published Nov/Dec 2023 Scaling up or even surviving in dairy requires three essential skills beyond being great at the technical parts of dairy farming, such...
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Business Growth Strategy, Uncategorized
Move from Vision to Reality – Strategic Planning part 3
Is everyone pulling in the same direction? Written for Farm Futures and originally published Nov/Dec 2023 "We're family, and we work together every day. We know what each other wants." This is often the unspoken thought for many farmers, and it's logical reasoning. However, this logic makes several assumptions that...
Business Growth Strategy, Uncategorized
Complacency can Kill a Family Farm
Disbelief and Inaction can result in disaster. Written for Farm Futures and originally published Oct 2023 The high-performance aircraft engine ran smoothly above the Rocky Mountains on a trans-mountain flight, and the weather was sunny and calm. Life was good. The pilot scanned the engine monitor, and it showed the...
Business Growth Strategy, Succession Planning, Uncategorized
Why do People Resist Change – Part 2
Three types of Resistance to Change I don't like it. I don't understand it. I don't trust you. Written for MILK magazine and originally published Aug. 2023 The entire dairy industry is going through massive restructuring and change. These changes are forcing dairies to scale up to remain competitive, working...
Business Growth Strategy, Uncategorized
Core Values – strategic planning part 2
Using Core Values Understanding your farm's values creates clarity and alignment around what we care about at a gut level. Written for Farm Futures and originally published 6/28/2023. Last week I outlined the benefits of using formal strategic planning on farms. In addition to aligning generations as part of a transition plan,...
Business Growth Strategy, Succession Planning, Uncategorized
Good Conflict is Necessary – Really, it is.
Good Conflict unearths all possible scenarios and the best solutions Written for Progressive Dairy and originally published June 2023. High-functioning family businesses need good conflict just as much as they need the right protocols for production. "I don't see it that way at all! I don't think you are seeing...
Business Growth Strategy, Uncategorized
Strategic Planning Part 1
What's the Plan? A good strategic plan allows for better and faster decision-making at all levels. Written for Farm Futures and originally published May 2023. Farms are busy places, and there is always more work than time in a day. One day and season runs into another; before you know...
Business Growth Strategy, Succession Planning, Uncategorized
Why do People Resist Change?
Have you ever wondered why some topics, people, or plans resist change? Written for MILK magazine and originally published May 2023. The dairy conference "season" is drawing to a close, and you undoubtedly have many good ideas you would like to implement on your dairy. After my presentations, I'm often...
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Work-Life Balance, or Work-Life Boundaries
Embracing boundaries allows all family members to grow at work, and at home. Written for Farm Futures and originally published 3/14/23. Have you ever heard that Good Fences make good neighbors? It's true even within family farms. How many hours can you expect from yourself? How much time does it...
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Do most important work first
You likely have a to-do list, but what about a stop-doing list? Written for Farm Futures and originally published March/April 2023. The farm to-do list never ends and often seems like it has a life of its own. It continues to grow even as items are checked off. Many farmers...