Leader Farming requires personal growth and helping others develop a growth mindset. Developing a growth mindset starts with how you see the world, abundant or scarce. A farmer doesn’t worry about the grocery store running out of food because he knows how to grow and raise his own. He knows that besides his work ethic, his willingness to take risks and ability to adapt or change with the seasons will continually put food on the table. Just like the farmer, with weather, there are sometimes factors outside of our control, but worrying about these things can cause us to develop a scarcity mindset. However, overcoming scarcity requires taking risks or having trust, depending on how you look at it. One of my favorite quotes is from the movie Facing the Giants:
“Grant, I heard a story about two farmers who desperately needed rain. And both of them prayed for rain, but only one of them went out and prepared his fields to receive it. Which one do you think trusted God to send the rain?” Well, the one prepared his fields for it. Which one are you? Mr. Bridges continued. “God will send the rain when He’s ready. You need to prepare your field to receive it.”
Which one are you? Assuming you are not caught up in a scarcity mindset and are willing to take risks, you will be prepared to grow when the rain comes. However, in order to keep growing, you must be willing to change. The farmer must continuously adapt to the seasons and change from year to year. No matter what he does, Winter comes, but Spring, Summer and Fall will follow. Additionally, each year, he looks for more efficient ways to produce his crop and increase his yield. Change is inevitable and in my business, I tell my leaders “change is here to stay!” I was a proud leader farmer this week when one of my leaders (Zach Ayers) posted a communication to the rest of the team (I did not give him these words or tell him to do this): “I want to encourage all of you with a thought: Where we are today, we cannot continue to stay. Leaning into this thought will help us promote growth not just in our business, but in our personal lives as well. We grow by the change that we embrace or create…So embrace it! If you don’t like the change, then be a part of creating the change, but we cannot continue to stay where we are. Serve well team!”
Great post this week, I always read them and it’s always a good way to start a Sunday! Thanks!