For the past decade I’ve spent countless hours in a gym, on a field or in a converted warehouse somewhere coaching one of my kid’s sports teams. These experiences are often exhausting, frustrating and endlessly difficult.
However, when an outing goes well, there’s no sweeter feeling than a solid performance and a good win. In farming, one good year could change the financial picture for several seasons ahead.
SPEND OR INVEST
One lesson I’ve learned from my years as a coach is the coaching is only as good as the players being coached.
In other words, a coach can show their players everything they need to do to be successful, but unless the players listen and take ownership, the results are likely less than optimum. These players are spending time at practice but not reaping the rewards.
Alabama’s head football coach, Nick Saban, is well known for creating winning teams and winning processes. He tells his players there are two things they can do with their time:
- They can invest their time.
- They can spend their time.
As ag producers, love Saban or not, this question is relevant to 2022. Are the steps you’re taking each day simply spending time or are they an investment in the future?
EXECUTE THE PROCESS
Take time during the pre-season to think things through.
Practice with purpose and set near-term and long-term goals. Then be sure to execute those decisions. It’s not enough to just show up in the field at planting if your goal, for example, is improved emergence.
Like in sports, you must add the days and the hours to the correct processes. Only then, will you be investing your time rather than spending it.
