The vast majority of country people spend a lot of time on the road each week.
I average about 900 kilometres weekly. Despite the costs, it does provide an opportunity to make use of this time.
Some people (including me) find driving quite relaxing, particularly on country roads where there is not so much traffic to contend with. Travel is much more comfortable than it used to be. Back in the day we only went to Adelaide a couple of times a year, and it took three to four hours to get there, depending on what trucks you got stuck behind on the old Princes Highway. It's also fair to say the vehicles are much more comfortable than in previous times.
Perhaps one of the downsides of spending a lot of time on your own ... is the time you have to think.
While I do make phone calls on my bluetooth, I still listen to the radio a lot. In recent times I have also embraced audiobooks and podcasts. These can be downloaded on your phone and listened to at your leisure.
I choose to have a monthly subscription to an audiobook provider. For me the $16 a month subscription fee ensures I download a book monthly, and actually listen to it. There is almost an unlimited choice of topics in the audiobook or podcast world.
Podcasts can be very interesting. I have found the most obscure niches where people have built very successful podcasts. Generally the podcasts are a bit shorter in length, at 45 minutes to one hour in duration. This makes it easier to listen to a full episode, depending on how far you are travelling.
Most audiobooks I listen to are autobiographical in nature, and normally about business owners that started their businesses from scratch, and have ended being quite successful. Most of these lay bare the truth of how they got there. They discuss the trials and tribulations along the way, including the number of times they almost went broke. The classic 40-year overnight success story.
Related reading: Good people skills key in growing business
Other audiobooks I listen to are on the subject of mindset, a very important topic. Perhaps one of the downsides of spending a lot of time on your own, like most people do on farms, or those that travel a lot, is the time you have to think.
It is really easy to get wound up on what other people are saying, or suggesting to do. Sometimes this advice is valid, on other occasions it can be quite destructive. It is really important to understand what is being said, and more importantly how to react to it. There are lots of things we can't control, but we can control our thoughts.
These resources are easy to access, and not very expensive. They can be listened to while on the road, driving the header, tractor, or whatever else you happen to be travelling in at the time.
You can target areas to learn and improve your knowledge, or just listen to something new, to broaden your horizons, and provide another perspective on life.
Technology in the agricultural sector has transformed lots of farming operations, and the ability to access information on the run is another aspect of technological change.
- Details: bagshawagriconsulting.com.au
Start the day with all the big news in agriculture. Click here to sign up to receive our daily Stock Journal newsletter.