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January 2008 Issue
How far will you go?
by Jennifer Shike
As a new year gets underway, I find myself getting restless. Maybe it’s all the hype about making New Year’s resolutions – although I admit I’ve never been really serious about making or keeping resolutions. However, I think my restlessness is really caused by this belief I have – a new year equals a new possibility.
I usually view myself as a person who likes change and is willing to try new things. But lately, I have found myself trying to divide this attitude into different boxes. I am excited to make changes at work. That attitude goes in the “yes” box. But I’m a little slower to make changes in my personal life. That attitude goes in the “maybe so, or possibly no” box.
All of a sudden, I’m realizing that the older I get, the more I like being comfortable. I’m not just talking about warm slippers and cocoa on a cold day. I’m talking about safety, security and stability.
It’s not bad to want to be safe, secure and stable, is it?
No, but T.S. Eliot says, “Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.”
This doesn’t just apply to careers or school, but also to our personal lives.
One thing I love about working with NJSA members is that they normally aren’t afraid to try something new. They thrive on adventure and new experiences. However, as I watch these kids become adults, I see some of them start to hold back from trying new things and going after their dreams. When the little kid in us leaves, sometimes our sense of adventure and flexibility does, too.
It’s not easy to make changes – but I believe our industry is a great example of the power of change. The swine industry is one of the most progressive livestock industries. It’s amazing to look back even three years ago and see how our brochures, handbooks and study guides are already outdated in their appearance because of the change in hog type.
Swine producers have to be innovative and willing to change to meet the consumer’s demand. NJSA members can learn so much from watching the industry around them. Just as everyone was getting comfortable with a certain hog type, it became obvious that we had gone too far and needed to come back to a more production-oriented hog – a change that isn’t easy to make. But a change that is positively influencing our industry.
Consider these things when deciding whether or not to take risks this year.
Look ahead. Think about the rest of your life – not just tomorrow. Weigh this question in your mind, “What difference might this make over the span of the next several decades?” Small risks might create huge long-term benefits. And doing nothing means you deny yourself any of those long-term benefits. People often view doing nothing as a neutral response when really doing nothing is a negative way to approach life.
Failure isn’t bad. As I visit with some of our industry’s top purebred breeders, I can’t tell you the number of times they’ve shared with me about the many failures they endured before they hit their big breakthrough. If you consider the choice they could have made to stop when they failed, you can see what losses our industry would have without these breeders’ willingness to fail a few times.
Steve Pavlina, a personal development specialist, describes this process as a conveyor belt. “There’s a new success on that belt somewhere ahead, and the faster the belt moves, the sooner it will arrive.”
Don’t give up. Don’t forget when you take risks, you will most likely experience a flat period at some point. Flat periods occur when you are working hard and getting little to show for it. This happens to everyone – so don’t let the fear of a “flat period” keep you from taking risks. Give yourself time to work through it and keep a positive outlook.
I can’t deny that I will always enjoy the opportunity to find comfort in my slippers and cup of cocoa. But I also know that if I don’t get a little uncomfortable and risk going too far in my personal life, my career and my dreams, I will miss out on joys that are beyond what I can imagine today.
Short-term thinking and risk aversion get us nowhere. I challenge you to set your sights high and take a few intelligent risks this year. Who knows where that can take you in 2008?
