Where we are today is nothing more than a culmination of our decisions. Sure, luck has something to do with it – and the economy. But take the long view and look back at your life so far. (This might be a short view if you’re young.)
You decided to go to college, or not.
You decided on a major.
You decided to come back to the farm.
You decided she was the one you wanted to be with for the rest of your life.
You decided to expand when interest rates were high.
You decided that you didn’t have time for the details or paperwork.
You decided this was the time to sell corn.
Isn't it amazing how all of these decisions take you somewhere, lead you to the next step, define you?
It's these decisions, one by one, that create your future, your business, your legacy.
And it’s a good idea sometimes to just sit quietly and look back and think about how you got here. It’s the best way to figure out where you’re going to go next. It’s the best way to put yourself on a better track.
This is my first blog at www.farmfutures.com. I'm charged with focusing on the financial part of farming. If you look it up in the dictionary, FINANCE is defined as control of money: the business or art of managing the monetary resources of an organization, country or person. I plan to spend just as much time on the art of finance as I do on the business. My goal is that I prompt you to look at things another way – and take some ideas from here to make your own better business and better life.
I've always admired Warren Buffett, and how he was able to build his future, one decision after the next. Look at some of his early decisions:
He decided to sell newspapers as a boy.
He decided to buy his first shares of stock at age eleven.
He decided to drop out of Wharton Business School and transfer to the University of Nebraska.
He decided to take a Dale Carnegie public speaking course.
He decided integrity would be a guiding beacon in business.
He decided to donate his fortune to charity.
Some of his recent decisions concerning a former executive of the company have put Buffett in the news again, in a less flattering way - proof that every decision can be important.
The message here is not to create decision anxiety, but to make us more aware that we do move forward purposefully.
So what are decisions you could make to move your business in a better direction?
Decide to know and understand the financial ramifications of your business decisions. Decide to spend time reflecting on what’s right and what's wrong in your business. Decide to take active responsibility and be the CEO of your farm.
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