IS your farm plan done? Everything is set for the year ahead?
Have you remembered to ‘fertilise the top paddock’ or made decisions to ensure you have a good life to go with a ‘good’ farm?
Maybe it is easy to disregard this, but planning to nurture yourself and your family are key to choosing a good life and ‘growing yourself’ to cope with whatever life throws at you.
Leading business consultant Ken Solly, Solly Business Services, Naracoorte, has five top tips in choosing the life you want instead of leaving it to chance.
- Regardless of your age, always have all five plans in place – business, personal, retirement, succession and estate (one page for each can suffice);.
- Make sure you are always on the learning curve in all areas of business and personal life.
- Ensure you at least have three weeks annual holiday in one block and you have a major interest away from the farm.
- Time management and success go hand-in-hand.
- Consciously decide how enjoyment and pleasure will be a part of everything you do.
“A good life is a decision – just make it,” Mr Solly said.
“Your success in life is usually directly proportional to your planning and discipline, you also have to work hard on your relationships – get the people right and the profit will follow.
“Always be sceptical of your own beliefs, you don’t fix new problems with old tools, and find ways to reward yourself.”
Without doubt, farming throws many challenges, but Mr Solly says there are some important things to remember in tough times.
“Don’t ever see yourself as a victim – extract every bit of learning from a mistake or tough time, tough times will re-emerge,” he says.
“Learn how to preserve yourself in adversity, don’t you become the ball and chain in the business and family.
“Don’t let farming dominate your life, ensure you get off the farm regularly.
“Share your problems with someone else, don’t beat yourself up; and keep busy.”
Hear Mr Solly speak at the Hart Field Day on Tuesday, September 19, 2017.
- Details: hartfieldsite.org.au
