To return, or not to return – that is the question

I went to college with a mix. There were those who were without a doubt returning home to the position waiting for them, those who wanted to but no room was available, and finally, those whose family wished their son or daughter would return but their child had other ideas.

Oh, and then there were those who set out with a plan and realized plans can change. A lot.

If only I had an acre for every time I was asked, “So, Laura, what are you going to do? You going to go back or what?” Never one to take the normal route, I found a way to do a little of both; but that’s another story for another time.

To return, or not to return… Farming and ranching aside, it’s a question any person who comes from any sort of family business must face, and popular enough to be the focal point of a session at this year’s Cattle Industry Convention in San Diego. Thankfully there’s a saving grace in the fact that others have gone before us and are willing to share their dos and don’ts.

Dan McCarty, a fourth-generation Colorado cattleman and NCBA’s director of industry and affiliate outreach, was on hand to talk about his decision-making process and what eventually led he and his wife to venture out on their own.

“It sure makes family dinners a lot more fun,” he joked, sharing that “it” steered conversations away from business.

Dan’s story is unique, as is mine and I’m betting yours as well.  But that doesn’t mean there aren’t common threads that tie us all together in this adventure.

Here’s what Dan had to say:

• Set goals: “Keep a picture in your head of what you would do in a perfect world, and then dial it back a little to be realistic.”
• Take risks: “Take risks, but only those you can survive. Take calculated risks, because if you do fall down, you better get up right away.”
• Find your niche: “I wanted to have 1,000 cows by now, and we aren’t there. But we’ve found our niche and can build on that for our future.”
• Get involved: “Relationships are important. Find the right people to surround yourself with and bounce ideas off of when making decisions.”
• Know business: In or out of school, study because “marketing, business and finance will never go out of style and are essential to any line of work.”
• Challenge yourself: “Don’t just find opportunities; find the opportunities that challenge you and make you ask, ‘why?’ That’s when personal growth happens.”

Thanks for allowing me to tell your story,

Laura

To read more on this session, or many others form convention, visit the newsroom at www.4Cattlemen.com.

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