That time in your life when you truly wish you could claim a superpower but you know deep in your heart others have done it successfully before you.
And you know the only superpower you have is recognising others who have it
Many of you have experienced my frustration that agriculture is living in the past.
I thought because I came from the future agriculture would listen.
I was so wrong.
For several years, in my past life I managed a business whose owner was behind the most powerful lobby group in Oz
A man who was so open and honest and shared his wisdom with me. Every woman needs a man like this in their life.
I returned to my farming roots in 2001 and made the very incorrect assumption I could say to agriculture
‘Here is a template for the most successful best management practice in advocacy in the world and we can embrace it.’
I naively thought agriculture would get excited, evolve and emulate it.
Big Wake up call for me. Farmers were not ready to take responsibility of their own futures and have the foresight to say.
‘WE ARE part of the problem’. See footnote
“The science shows that the secret to high performance isn’t our biological drive or our reward-and-punishment drive, but our third drive—our deep-seated desire to direct our own lives, to extend and expand our abilities, and to live a life of purpose.” Daniel Pink
The most exciting thing about being part of the problem is the opportunity to be part of the team that designs the solution
Great leaders are the ones who think beyond “short term” versus “long term.” They are the ones who know that it is not about the next quarter or the next election; it is about the next generation.” Simon Sinek
I get out of bed every day because emerging leaders in agriculture give me hope
Footnote
This post was inspired by the National Farmers Federation newlsetter which I use a meter of where agriculture is heading in the advocacy space. Once again it led this week with a story about us going into battle.
Industry slams Unions for backpacker visa comments
Australia’s agriculture industry has slammed the Australian Workers Union, Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) and the Transport Workers Union for their call to ban the working holiday maker visa. The NFF said the stunt was a shallow and shameful attempt to grab headlines at a time when the farm sector was facing a dire worker shortage.
What is the alternative. Nobody says it better than Simon Sinek and I look forward to the day we have the courage or is it the foresight to follow the lead of The Pharmacy Guild
Leaders can rally people against something quite easily. They can whip them into a frenzy, even. For our emotions can run hot when we are angry or afraid.Being for something, in contrast, is about feeling inspired. Being for ignites the human spirit and fills us with hope and optimism. Being against is about vilifying, demonizing or rejecting. Being for is about inviting all to join in common cause. Being against focuses our attention on the things we can see in order to elicit reactions. Being for focuses our attention on the unbuilt future in order to spark our imaginations.
Imagine if instead of fighting against poverty, for example, we fought for the right of every human to provide for their own family. The first creates a common enemy, something we are against. It sets up the Cause as if it is “winnable,” i.e., a finite game. It leads us to believe that we can defeat poverty once and for all.
The second gives us a cause to advance. The impact of the two perspectives is more than semantics. It affects how we view the problem/ vision that affects our ideas on how we can contribute.
Where the first offers us a problem to solve, the second offers a vision of possibility, dignity and empowerment.
We are not inspired to “reduce” poverty, we are inspired to “grow” the number of people who are able to provide for themselves and their families.
This is how movements come to be. It starts with a few people. Their idealized vision of the future attracts believers.
Those early adopters don’t show up to get anything, they show up to give. Simon Sinek – The Infinite Game
