Adapt your farm to the changing environment
Thinking about the future is much harder now than it was three years ago. With global uncertainty and market volatility, it’s easy to shift into business autopilot. Help your farm move forward by taking action.
“Resilient leaders help people adapt during times of crisis and change — they pivot,” says Mary Kelly, CEO of Productive Leaders. “Pivoting involves changing your course, strategizing on how to best serve the changing needs of our markets and helping others through the difficulties.”
Start by examining five areas outlined on this page within your farm business, Kelly says. She offers this template to walk you through the process to create a resilient and proactive operation.
5-Minute P.I.V.O.T. Plan
P=PURPOSE
What is important to you? What drives you? What gives you meaning?
Circle 3 words that describe your purpose — what you most want to do:
- prosper
- possess
- produce
- plan
- prevent
- progress
- prompt
- participate
- pledge
- promise
- promote
- pacify
- perceive
- praise
- provide
- propel
- prepare
- persist
- present
- publish
- propose
- perfect
- persuade
- proceed
I=INSPIRE
Circle 3 words that inspire you when you think of your life’s work:
- ignite
- impress
- inform
- imagine
- improve
- influence
- imbue
- include
- invest
- immerse
- incorporate
- innovate
- impart
- increase
Answer the following questions using three of the i-words you circled above:
EX: This is a great time for me to innovate my business with new products and services.
This is a great time for me to ______________________ my ____________________________
to _____________________________________ by_______________________________________.
V=VOLATILITY
Where are you right now on this spectrum? Where is your team?
Circle the word or area that best describes how you feel about the changing environment:
- vague
- vexed
- volatile
- valuable
- victorious
O=OPPORTUNITIES
Where is there a need in your community? In your industry? In your business?
T=TOOLS/TRAINING/TECHNOLOGY
What do you need that would make you more successful?
TOOLS
Get a new: ________________________
Use an app to: ________________________
Learn how to use: ________________________
TRAINING
Take a course in: ________________________
Ask for advice: ________________________
Read: ________________________
TECHNOLOGY
Do I need to invent it? ________________________
What can be automated? ________________________
What can be simplified? ________________________
Read more from Mary Kelly: There’s no going back: Time to PIVOT
