“I’ll wait for the water to go down and if it’s not too late, I’ll plant it again.”
– Dick Heston (1933-2002), circa 1968, during a flood of our best land
We were over a quarter mile from where the creek was supposed to be, yet the water was lapping at our toes. Our neighbor, a finance guy from an aluminum plant in town had said, “*&^%$# Richard! What are you going to DO?”
Dad’s reply is above.
As a 7-year-old boy, I had no idea what I was hearing. Years later, I realize I learned a short set of lessons that rule all businesses, agriculture related or otherwise.
Lesson #1: Prepare the soil
Lesson #2: Plant the seeds
Lesson #3: Take good care of it, as best you can; fertilize, irrigate, get rid of weeds and bugs
Lesson #4: Pray For The Best
Lesson #5: Harvest
Like the flood (only probably much more subtle!) right here, right now, something is happening. It’s likely out of our control and it’s likely either bigger or smaller than we would think if we were aware of whatever it is. But there are no coincidences. Take the long view and remember, the heart of the matter lies in what we do next. Dad was a master at not worrying about stuff he couldn’t change. (Mom, on the other hand, more than covered both of them in that regard…) On the farm, and in our workaday lives now, it’s still true. If we follow these lessons in this order, and we focus on what we ought to do next, our harvests will be strong and the difference we make will carry on after us.
This morning, over coffee, Ed Stillman, one of Austin’s leading Vistage Chairs, asked me about my business philosophy and I heard myself recanting this story. So with thanks to Ed for prompting the memory, and to Dad for “preparing the soil, planting the seeds, taking good care of me and praying for the best,” I offer it today as a business leaders best bet to consistently make a difference.
PS If you’re a business leader and you’re not in Vistage (or TEC, for you Wisconsin subscribers), go to your phone or computer now, and join a Vistage group. I don’t get a dime if you do, but you’ll get lots of them… Just sayin’…
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