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January 2006 Issue
Tips for a successful new year
by Darrell Anderson
“No horse ever gets anywhere until he is harnessed. No steam or gas ever drives anything until it is confined. No Niagara is ever turned into light and power until it is funneled. No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated, disciplined.” – Harry Emerson Fosdick
As we embark upon a new year in the purebred swine industry, it is the perfect time to remind us all that as our industry continues to change, each of us must be “focused, dedicated and disciplined.”
Much of your success depends on your ability to market your product successfully. Troy Marshall, a friend of mine in the cattle industry, recently shared some observations on marketing traits of successful seedstock producers in his weekly “Seedstock Digest.” Here are a few that I stole (with permission):
1) They compete every day. They are not obsessed with what the competition is doing, but they are keenly aware of their strengths and weaknesses, and the opportunities and threats they might present.
2) They understand that their future will be decided not by outside forces, but rather how they react to them. They are aware of the trends in the industry, not only in terms of production and genetics, but what their customers will be demanding in the future. They also understand they must take care of their customer.
3) They are optimists. Books have been written about this trait, but the most successful producers are optimistic about the direction they are heading and the direction of the industry.
4) They are patient. Charting a course and sticking to it is a rare quality. They take advantage of the impatience of others that are always shifting direction.
5) They forget. The wrong choice of a boar, a bad decision, is rightly treated as something in the past. They do not let past mistakes and history impede their progress.
6) They are well grounded in the economic drivers of the business and understand what makes for a more valuable eating experience and more profitable production. They also understand the tenants of animal breeding and animal husbandry.
7) They aren’t afraid to steal from their mentors – they pick out the best of various programs and incorporate their successes into their own programs. (Hey, that makes me feel better about stealing this editorial).
8) They embrace balance – not only in terms of their genetic program, but in their life as well. Some of the most successful producers struggle with the concept of balance, but it means keeping the livestock in their proper perspective, which usually means well below family, God and an occasional hobby or interest outside of the business. They have learned to say ‘no’ twice as often as they say ‘yes’, while still embracing the future and staying positive. They enjoy the journey as much as the destination, and find themselves working with the laws of nature rather than trying to bend them to their will.
9) They live the concept of integrity and character. They have a clearly defined set of values that they live by that leads to an integrity that is easily evidenced. Character is far more than honesty, and they understand that it starts with the little things, things that are rarely seen by others.
10) They love life, they love their family, they love what they do, and they love their stock.
11) They are flexible and teachable. While they are firm in certain beliefs, they are always adapting their views and are constantly looking to learn.
12) Despite their competitive nature, they avoid excess and focus on moderation.
13) They are disciplined.
14) They are team players. A team of less talented people can accomplish far more than one truly talented individual.
15) They understand that it is the little things that make the big things happen. The attentiveness to detail is paramount. They make excellence a habit.
16) They have a plan, and they utilize every minute of the day. They don’t mistake activity for achievement.
Thanks, Troy. You’ve challenged us all. If I would add one more trait to the list, it would be “vision.” Much success of livestock breeders is the result of their “vision.”
Let me close with this quote from Psychiatrist Carl Hammerschlag: “Vision is the capacity to believe in what my heart sees, what others can’t see. Vision is seeing positive possibilities where others see only negative probabilities.”
