During our Ranching for Profit Schools and Executive Link meetings, we listen in and participate in many ranch business conversations. Also at other events and gatherings we get to hear a lot of “coffee shop” conversations. It is amazing to hear the difference in tone and especially attitude between those two groups. Here are a few snippets from conversations I have had or have been shared with me this year:
- An EL member told me they are in the middle of a historical drought and regarding their stocking decisions: “I should be panicked, but I am not!”
- At a local branding, there was this concern: “Think these fuel costs are going to affect the calf market?”
- A reflection at an EL meeting process: “I was looking for a silver bullet, but I discovered it’s more like masonry, building one brick at a time.”
- A comment on grazing through a drought while gathering at a different branding: “It will be good to force those cows to eat the weeds.”
- A young family implementing decisions on the ranch after several years in EL: “It’s been very freeing getting paid from the ranch!”
Some of those comments probably make you cringe, and some make you smile. I always enjoy asking questions during conversations, because asking the right questions will generally open the conversation up to deeper thoughts. And our thoughts influence our conversations. The fuel example above has legitimate concern, but at the same time, for your business what percentage of total costs is the fuel line? I bet it’s minor in the grand scheme of things. Which leads me to ask where do you spend your time and energy? If you spend your time and energy worrying about fuel costs, you will be cheaper with fuel, you might skip that trip to town or carpool more. If you spend your time and energy on your livestock marketing, you will probably pick up enough value to pay for the fuel several times over. I understand it is easier to play the victim than be accountable, it happens to me too but it’s not worth it in the long run.
The first time I noticed positive hallway conversations was at an EL mega-conference where all I heard was goals, plans, and opportunities. Rather than markets, weather, government, and the associated problems. There are things we can’t control, but we can always control our attitude, behavior, and response. Take a listen to Caden and Jori Smiley as they talk about how EL has changed their mindset, business, and relationships.
