Better Pork - August 2016

Better pork

August 2016

SECOND

LOOk

hy do some producers keep

succeeding?

One of my life-long inter-

ests was to study why some producers

keep succeeding while others within

the same commodity, county and

resources keep struggling. What is

it that allows some to be at the right

place at the right time and others to

strike out? We know it’s not inheri-

tance, mental aptitude, credit, gov-

ernment, prices, family, IQ, in-laws

or plain luck, although each may be a

temporary impediment or success.

Here’s my take based on what

so many producers and profession-

als shared with me — simple basic

philosophies or guidelines that set

them apart.

“Dwell on the solution not the

problem” was a phrase best instilled

by Denis Waitley, a psycholo-

gist working with top athletes and

professionals. This simple phrase

determines many attitudes in people.

Pursue your objective one step, one

detail or one bite at a time, until you

“eat the whole elephant.” A clear set

of written goals lessens a problem

(physically and mentally), but needs

to be substantiated with a good data

set and good follow-up statistical

analysis. Many people continue to

aim, aim, aim and never fire, but like

Milly said in the 1954 movie, Seven

Brides for Seven Brothers, “don’t

stand there, do something.” Fifty

per cent of job completion is getting

started. Hang out with others that

dwell on the solution, not the prob-

lem. Don’t let your counterparts get

you down.

An African proverb says “If you

want to go fast, go alone; if you want

to go far, go together.” The sum of

the team will always be better than

the sum of the same individuals

working alone. Using a team-based

approach to solving business prob-

lems enables you to capitalize on

their strengths and minimize weak-

nesses. Recruiting professionals in

their field for specific duties allows

you to ensure the best process-im-

provement initiatives. Communica-

tion skills need to be continuously

refined as most people do not listen

with the intent to understand; they

listen with the intent to reply. Throw

the negative prognosticators off your

bus! Working as a team allows you

and your team members to take more

risks. Conversely, sharing success as

a team is a bonding experience. In

a team-oriented environment, the

riskiest idea often turns out to be the

best idea. Teamwork allows employ-

ees the freedom to think outside the

box. In short, as an old saying goes,

“if you think you can do it alone, you

are a fool.”

My wife tells me, “there is no such

thing as no time — take it out of your

vocabulary.” I must admit defeat

in this debate (although begrudg-

ingly). Top-selling business author

Brian Tracy says by knowing how to

prioritize tasks, you can increase your

productivity and output by 25 per

cent or more from the first day that

you begin working consistently from

a list. The good news, according to

Tracy, is that every minute spent

planning saves as many as ten min-

utes in execution. It only takes about

ten or twelve minutes for you to pri-

oritize tasks by planning out your day

and create a to-do list (thus I have no

time to do flower beds). This small

investment of time will save you at

least two hours (100 to 120 minutes)

in wasted time and diffused effort

throughout the day. When you make

out your to-do list the evening or the

night before, your subconscious mind

works on that list all night long, while

you sleep.

This article is not meant to be

your proverbial guidance but rather

have you look at yourself and ques-

tion what clichés drive you.

Richard Smelski has over 35 years of agribusiness

experience and farms in the Shakespeare area.

Focus on solutions rather than the problem

Why do some producers succeed where others do not? Set your goals, plan and take

action one step at a time.

by RICHARD SMELSkI

“Throw the negative prognosticators off your bus!”