On The Scoop podcast, I ask every interviewee three questions: what do you wish you knew six months ago, what keeps you up at night, and what’s one prediction for the year ahead?
A Dose Of My Own Medicine
I thought it was only fair I answer at least one of those questions. So here’s my big prediction for the 2022 growing season.
For many in ag retail, this year will set the stage for the future. The stakes are high—with concurrent high input prices and high commodity prices. The drumbeat of technology is getting louder. It’s time for retailers to find their rhythm and be ready to take more and more technology to the field.
Healthy Stretching
I’m encouraged by the number of professionals I talk with who are trying new things. Perhaps these are ideas they never thought would be relevant to them, or they are improved versions of things that had failed in the past. Smooth your path with even baby steps today to avoid friction later.
For those ag retailers who are resistant to embrace opportunities, there could be a pretty big crowd saying coulda, woulda, shoulda.
This spring, I had the chance to present to a college class of ag communications students. In preparing my presentation, the take-home message became clear—it’s the journey, not the destination. And maybe moreso, everything doesn’t have to have a linear trajectory. When you are trying new ideas and proving value in your work product, the yields are surprisingly large. Especially for folks on the front end of their careers, don’t limit your potential.
