This is a really personal post for me to write. My entire self-identity can be traced back to my childhood and growing up on a dairy farm. I often describe it as real, raw and refreshingly authentic… which unsurprisingly, are also the qualities I strive for today as an entrepreneur and a small business success coach.
This might be a bit of a longer post, but please hang in there. I share these takeaways not just as a bit of insight into what it’s like to grow up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin, but as life lessons that I think can help anyone, no matter where you are in your life or career.
These are the nine most important things I learned growing up on my parent’s farm:
#1 – A strong work ethic means no excuses.
On a farm, you do what you have to do to get the job done. There’s no putting things off until you feel like doing them. Cows are depending on you to milk them, feed them, and clean up after them. It’s not always fun but it needs to get done. Because of this lesson I learned early on, I’m not afraid of doing hard work. Building something great takes time and if you start making excuses to get out of it, you’ll never get to enjoy the payoff. On a farm, the payoff is delicious fresh milk. In business, it’s a successful, profitable company.
#2 – Mental strength is just as important as physical strength.
Working on a farm requires a lot of physical strength, but it also requires a lot of mental strength. In a traditional office job, for instance, you’ll experience many accomplishments and some disappointments. On a farm, it seems like those ebbs and flows are magnified tenfold. Things don’t always go as planned, and you have to be able to bounce back quickly with a strong backup plan. If you let one hiccup get you down, your farm won’t last very long.
#3 – A good partner at your side is the key to success.
You can be the strongest person you know, but without a supportive partner by your side, you still don’t have everything you need to be successful. I watched my mom stand by my dad’s side through the highs and the lowest of low times. She supported him when he had a risky idea that he wanted to try. The amount of trust she had in him and his business was immense. Some people believe they can find success on their own, but I know the most accomplished business owners have someone on their side, cheering them on through it all.
#4 – You have to know why you’re doing it.
Have I mentioned working on a farm is tough? There will be lots of times when you question if it’s all worth it. You have to always keep in mind why you’re doing it so you can get through the worst of it. For my parents, it was the freedom of living their life the way they wanted to. For many business owners, the reason is probably something very similar.
#5 – All work and no play will make anyone dull.
We all know those people who seem to work around the clock. They thrive on answering emails at 11 pm and going into the office on the weekend. Trust me, this WILL make you crazy. Maybe not today, maybe not this year, but eventually, it will catch up with you. At the same time, you’re missing out on the human connections that make life meaningful. I have to confess, I am still working on this one, even after watching my parents work way too much growing up.
#6 – When it comes to money, learn to spend some and save some.
Farming is probably one of the most financially unpredictable industries out there. While dairy farms are a little more predictable than crops, I was taught very early that it’s so important to budget and save for unforeseen circumstances. When school was out for the summer, my parents would pay me to feed the calves and milk the cows. I learned first hand how doing a good job could pay off, and how to save some of my money rather than spend it all as soon as I got it.
#7 – Find ways to have fun on a budget.
Because we didn’t have a ton of money, we had to be a little creative. Instead of taking family trips to Disney, we went camping. My parents invested in a camper, and as a kid, I thought we were SO cool. It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money to make memories with the people you love. As an adult, I sometimes find it difficult to splurge on things because I was brought up in a frugal household. I am working on letting go of some of the control I have around money so that I can enjoy spending more of it.
#8 – Chase your own dreams, not somebody else’s.
My dad didn’t run a rural dairy farm to make a ton of money. He did it for a lot of other reasons: because he loved it (farming is in his blood) because he enjoys being out in the open field, he craves a life of freedom, and because he gets a huge kick out of taking his kids and grandkids on tractor rides! Similarly, I’m not looking to run a huge, multi-seven figure organization anytime soon. My true love is working one on one with inspiring female business owners to bring their bold visions to life. Your dreams might not look like someone else’s, and that is 100% okay.
#9 – Family time (and time in general) is precious.
Farm life is hard and requires a lot of you, physically, mentally, and emotionally. However, every single night at around 4:30 pm, we would sit down together and share a home-cooked meal. My dad would always have to go back out afterward to do the evening milking, but this was a family time that we could all count on. I have so many memories of those meals, and I continue this practice with my own family. It’s a tradition that I hold so close to my heart and that I hope to pass down to my own children as well.
On the surface, it might seem like there’s very little overlap in the life of a dairy farmer and a corporate executive. However, I think the lessons I learned from my parents have helped me understand everyone a little bit better.
I think when you strip away the job titles and accolades, someone who works hard is just someone who works hard. I consider myself so incredibly lucky to have had this experience. Even though my parents no longer run the dairy farm, they will always inspire me with their work ethic, their values, and their wisdom.