If you’ve ever talked to entrepreneurs passionate about their business, you know that they have more knowledge about one product (crop) than the average produce consumer would even want to know. The article, “Core Principles for Life, Farming, and Business Success” lays the foundation principles for this success mindset and it provides a perspective for continued success in what matters most to you and your business.
A farmer cares for their crop like children. She knows everything about the crop and follows an annual schedule to ensure the proper care and attention to her babies. Every year she takes seven basic steps to make certain she gets the maximum yield for her effort.
- Prepare. She knows the exact ph balance of the soil and adds to the mixture as needed. She tills the soil in the best direction to avoid erosion.
- Plant. She knows what time of year is the best to plant and adjusts accordingly to the weather.
- Weed. She knows the difference between new growth in her crops and invasive weeds, and removes the weeds immediately.
- Protect. She treats the crops for pests, and stays aware of new threats that may be in the area that year.
- Fertilize. She fertilizes the soil to provide proper nutrition to her plants and encourage maximum potential.
- Harvest. At just the right time, when her crop is at its peak, she gathers her team and brings in the harvest.
- Rebuild. She leaves crop residue in the field to enrich the soil for the next year. Organic material turns into nutrients for future growth.
Your business needs the same focused knowledge of your product, your business, and your market.
- Prepare. What are the inherit strengths of your staff? Have you studied your market? Do you know the best direction to proceed? Do you have a business plan?
- Plant. Are you located in the best area to attract and meet with customers and clients? Does your business calendar jive with the ebb and flow of your business?
- Weed. Is your product or service the best possible quality? What issues and challenges can be more proactively resolved? What can you remove from your business to make it more efficient?
- Protect. Do you know your competition? What makes your business unique? How can you make your business top of mind?
- Fertilize. What can you add to feed and grow your business? What do your client surveys indicate that would improve the value of your offerings? What training or education would yield the best results?
- Harvest. Do you have a good sense of timing? Do you know when to ask for the sale? Have your helped to facilitate the buying process? Do you know how to keep your clients returning and referring you to others?
- Rebuild. How can you evaluate your business each year? Are your systems like CRM providing knowledge that leads to results for business improvement? Are your systems building real worth in the business? What do you need to do to be ready for the next season?
Good farmers know their crop and know what it takes to get the maximum results. Then, they put in the hard work to make it happen.
For a valuable conversation and optional business assessment click here or select one of the original post.
