5 Ways to Grow Your Business: Lessons from the Farm

I have had the privilege to work on my family farm since I was a little boy.  My dad, Mike, is an amazing farmer.  So is my grandfather, Jim.  So was his father, Frank.  Each of them has received awards over their lifetimes for their agricultural successes.

Most people don’t realize that a good farmer must be very smart to grow crops in unpredictable circumstances of weather patterns, pests, etc.  In fact, good farmers are typically human calculators, great inventors and engineering minded.

Here is what a farmer would say to a business owner to grow a business:

1. Build a strong seed bed (foundation) - Without a level field with a healthy topsoil it is very difficult to grow a strong crop.  The same is true with business.  Without a clear direction and growth plan it is difficult to be successful.

2. Pour into the field with Nitrogen (Train) - Most leaders and companies are too busy to pour into their people.  Without any development, people become complacent.  Great crops come from lots of fertilization.  You normally get that investment back.

3. Eliminate Weeds (Crucial Conversations) - Weeds kill crop values. Morning glory is a terrible weed for wheat farmers.  It slows the combine during harvest and discounts the price at the Mill. Negative and hurtful employees damage twice as much as you think they do.

4. Pour on the Water (Nurture) - Nurturing is different than training.  Nurture is being real with people. Giving them what you would want - extra thanks, a signed note, or a consistent encouragement.  Without water, nothing flourishes. 

5. Keep the entire farm clean (little things) - A good farmer knows that clean bar ditches, mowed edges and an organized shop can help the entire process flow smoother.  A business can’t ignore the little things.  Clear signage, clean offices, and organized areas make a huge difference in productivity.

A farmer can’t control rain, unless they have irrigation. In fact, there is not much a farmer can control.  Yet in your organization you can control more than you know.  Plant, fertilize, control and water. 

Posted on August 26, 2008 in Business Growth