Although each individual will interpret the “E” word as they will, it comes back to “being the best you can be in everything you do.” The point here is not that you must achieve some external standard of excellence but that you are “striving to create excellence”.
The actions of doing what it takes, learning, growing and continually improving must be done every day for the habit to be created, and for the results to flow. Yes, excellence is a habit (just like brushing your teeth in the morning). Remember, it is no harder to build something great (nor does it require more suffering) than to perpetuate mediocrity. In fact it usually involves less suffering and perhaps even less work over the long term!
Excellence in your business comes in two parts – holding yourself to solid principles, and then consistently implementing those principles throughout your business. You can only implement enduring excellence in your business if you first implement it within. For Farm Business Owners this includes (among other points) personally nailing down what you really want and committing to moving there, being a person of your word, doing what it takes to learn what you need and following through with action to deliver on plans. Business-wise, it includes robust planning before the action is needed, identifying profit periods for various types of livestock, proactively setting up the business financially and operationally to take advantage of those profit periods, fully feeding quality animals during those profit periods, making solid decisions on time and knowing your KPIs and numbers (profit, ownership, pasture, animals etc) at all times. This can certainly be done by using high quality systems, support and culture.
Why even build something great or strive for excellence? The journey holds many incredible benefits which may include financial and emotional security, better business outcomes and clarity (what is vital, what is not). Maybe it’s just because you can! Perhaps the highest reason is your own search for meaningful endeavour (i.e. meaningful use of your own abilities and energies)?
Can you really build something great or have excellence? Absolutely! If you are prepared to back yourself and strive to be the best you can be, the tools, knowledge and help will turn up – they are all around you if you open up to them. Doing just what you can to get by will not cut it. At GrowFARM we back you 100% in your strive for excellence and we urge you to adopt (if you haven’t already) the attitude of demanding the best from yourself and from what life has to offer, every day.
Do what it takes!
This article appears in the GrowFARM Connector (January 2010) - our monthly e-Newsletter. Click here to subscribe to the e-Newsletter