Adlai Stevenson was spot on when he noted that most of us “…cannot read the handwriting on the wall until our back is up against it.” It’s easy to get lulled into complacency in good times, thinking that they will last forever. But do we really think there will never be another downturn in the market, or another drought?
When is the best time to face these challenges? Is it when the challenge is upon us, we are in crisis, and running out of time, money, and options? Or is it when the challenge is in the future, times are good, and we have time, money and lots of options? Of course, it’s when times are good.
There are many challenges we will face in the future. We will face them most effectively, reducing threats and finding opportunities, if we confront them long before they confront us. The best time to create a family employment policy is while your kids are young. The best time to draft your drought plan is when it’s raining. The best time to prepare for a market downturn is when prices are high.
We have a choice. We can procrastinate during the boom and engage in crisis management during the bust. Or we can take time now (RMC recommends two mornings/week), when we have time, money and options, to develop contingencies and plans for the challenges ahead.
Some people may feel that, with markets as strong as they are, they don’t need to challenge the status quo or consider strategic changes so that their ranches will continue to produce the results they need whether prices are high or low. They see the Ranching for Profit School as something they might attend someday, when they need it. What they don’t realize is that it’s in the good times when they’d benefit the most!
Whether you read it or not, the writing IS on the wall. And the best time to repair the roof is before the storm.
