I had the privilege to grow up on a farm in Zambia. My father planted maize and tobacco in the early days, and later he planted maize only. I was always fascinated by the implements and the tractors, but behind the scenes, a lot of planning was going on.
I will share some of the things that corporate South Africa can learn from farmers.
PLANNING FOR THE DRY SEASONS
Volatility and debt are part of a farmer’s day-to-day job. Yet, they plan with precision and make sure that everything is ready when the rain comes. Farmers plan for dry seasons, not just rainy seasons. Resilience is not just a good character trait to have; it is an essential tool for survival.
EXECUTION IS EVERYTHING
You can have all the equipment, implements, raw materials, and tools, but if you don’t get them out of the shed and into the field, then they mean absolutely nothing. The right seed and the right fertiliser must be planted in land that has been prepared prior to the planting season.
In business, you can have all the staff, all the plans, and all the intellectual property, but you have to implement the strategy with the correct people.
THE POWER OF LONG-TERM PATIENCE
Farmers are the ultimate example of patience. You leave the wine in barrels for 12 months, bottle it, sell it, and then get your money from the retailers 60 days later. They plant crops in June–July and get their money in October–November—if it rains!
Long-term thinking is part of the job for farmers, yet in the corporate world, we want instant results; otherwise, the plan needs to be changed!
STEWARDSHIP OVER EXTRACTION
With long-term thinking comes stewardship, and you have to look after the land. Crop rotation, land rotation, and constant awareness of what is good for the land are non-negotiable.
In business, it often comes down to extraction rather than stewardship because short-term results are crucial. Are you only extracting, or are you actually putting back into the “land and its people”?
COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION
Farmers are the masters of self-reliance, yet when a natural disaster strikes, they stand together and help each other. Often in business, we are competing so hard that it becomes impossible to collaborate. Competing hard is good, but not to the point where it stifles collaboration and sharing skill sets.
FAITH IN THE UNPREDICTABLE
I have always had massive respect for farmers because I understand that nothing in farming is guaranteed. The movie Faith Like Potatoes is a great depiction of how much farmers need to take risks with the faith that things will work out in the end.
If it doesn’t work out, then it is not the end!!
From my side, thank you to every single farmer in this country for the example that you set for us on a daily basis.
GET IN TOUCH
If you would like to get in touch with me about my key note presentation, Debunking Motivation, please send an email to corne@cornekrige.com. Visit my website to review my speaker sheet for more info. I also share my story on my social media pages on Facebook and LinkedIn.