Recently I visited my talented friend Michele on her farm. Oh I should tell you … in case you didn’t already know…I am a city girl – from the tips of my blonde highlighted hair to the soles of my stilettos – proudly a city girl.
As an international productivity expert I am privileged to travel the world serving audiences that involves significant travel away from my honey and involves going from the airport, to the hotel or convention center …and back to the airport (not much sight-seeing).
My first trip to Indianapolis was to open a conference for a group of true rock star, world-class DJs – they were awesome and showed me true Hoosier hospitality! Michele lives in Indiana and the idea of being so close and seeing a friend made the trip even more impactful. You see Michele has an exquisite farm and is a huge advocate in the agriculture industry.
Don’t let the stilettos fool you – farming could be in my blood? My grandfather had a farm, aunts and uncles had farms, as a little kid I spent time on farms … but as an adult… not so much!
My American friends tell me I remind them of Lisa from 1960’s comedy, Green Acres. Lisa was a glamorous, bejewelled wife dragged unwillingly from the privileged city life she adored to a ramshackle farm (sometimes that was how it felt moving from Sydney to Doylestown) – ah but now I love it! In Green Acres they lived in Hooterville… well that cracks me up every time!
Anyway… during my truly delightful visit with Michele and her amazing family I was shown the most generous hospitality, witnessed the hard working and rewarding life of those who choose to support our world in agriculture … and I loved it!
While I may not have a career in 4H, here are my observations on what we can learn from farming to increase our impactivityTM:
Pay attention – a farmer invests attention in the most strategic activities to the most tactical details. From forecasting future crops all the way through to the livelihood of the animals they care so deeply about. Just like in business, they know who to focus their attention on and how to get the best results for the whole team.
Provide refuge – did you know that farms provide up to 70% of wildlife refuge. It made we wonder if as leaders we allow people to feel safe and secure in their environment with us? Do we support their growth and give them the tools they need?
Technology is only a toolfor the job, not the job – farmers understand the most important tools for the greatest results. Often as leaders we make technology more important than people. We choose to clear our email instead of having a real conversation with someone we care about.
You can’t rush brilliance – I enjoyed the sweetest tomatoes the garden that had been allowed to ripen perfectly on the vine – their sweetness was testimony to the patience to allow them to grow fully into the best version of themselves. As leaders we rush people and process so we can ‘git r done’ (in the words of the famous philosopher Larry the Cable Guy). Some of the best results can be achieved by allowing others to showcase their brilliance.
Resistance requires patience – Michele’s adorable young daughter proudly exhibited incredible skills showing me how she has cows (10 times her size) walk, pause and strut their stuff for the 4H judges. Her gentle words, definite gestures, and knowledge of the personality of the animals she cared for, ensured they did exactly what she guided them to do. She made it look so easy … when I tried same techniques …hmm not so successful! Even the smallest calf did not respond to my lack of patience, it reminded me we have to sometimes allow others to make their own journey, not the one we think they should take.
While my stilettos and I often deeply long to be stepping out in the hustle and bustle of Sydney streets, my visit to the cornfields reminded me no matter what shoes you choose to wear; we all need to slow down, observe our surroundings, support our advocates and choose to make an impact on our planet.
