If you grew up on a farm, you know there’s a different rulebook for life—and it’s usually dirt-stained, dog-eared, and smells faintly of hay. Farm life doesn’t mess around; it’s a teacher of resilience, hard work, and a healthy appreciation for the things you can’t control. As it turns out, those skills don’t just help you handle early mornings and unpredictable weather. They’re a guide for how to grow in your career, whether you’re wrangling chickens or quarterly goals.
Hard Work is Just Part of the Deal
On the farm, you learn early that nothing gets done by itself. Animals need feeding, crops need weeding, and all of it often starts before dawn. You work until the job’s done—not because there’s a reward waiting, but because that’s how things get done. This focus on the task rather than the clock carries straight into the workplace. You learn that real progress isn’t about filling time but about tackling challenges head-on, even when the going gets tough. Plus, after cleaning out chicken coops, spreadsheets don’t seem so bad.
Weather Happens, and So Do Setbacks
Farming has a way of reminding you of what’s beyond your control. One minute, you’re looking at a bumper crop; the next, an unexpected frost or dry spell knocks everything off course. I once had to replant vegetables twice because California had two weird frosts in a row. This breeds resilience and teaches you to adapt rather than panic. It’s a lesson that translates directly to work, where projects face surprise setbacks or sudden shifts in priorities. Instead of spinning your wheels on what went wrong, you learn to pivot. It’s like the old farm saying: “Don’t cry over spilled milk—grab a mop and keep going.”
Eyes Open, Ears Up: Details Matter
Out in the fields, it’s the little things that tell the bigger story. Whether it’s a patch of leaves looking “off” or a change in the animals’ behavior, you learn quickly that details matter. Noticing these things early can save you from much bigger problems later. In the office, the same idea applies: the devil’s in the details. Catching an issue before it snowballs or recognizing a small improvement that could make a big difference can set you apart. Think of it as fieldwork in the office: you’re watching, listening, and keeping your fingers on the pulse.
It’s Not About the Hours; It’s About the Harvest
On a farm, it’s about what gets done, not how long it takes. If a storm’s coming, you don’t clock out just because it’s quitting time. You keep going because that’s the only way the job’s going to get done. This mindset is a real game-changer in the corporate world, too. Focusing on results rather than hours makes you more efficient and goal-driven. After all, no one wins points for “Most Hours Clocked in Excel.” The people who grow—personally and professionally—are the ones who focus on the harvest, not the hustle.
Growing Your Career Like Growing a Crop
Building a career, like raising a crop, doesn’t happen overnight. It’s about small, steady steps forward, paying attention, and making adjustments when things don’t go as planned. Sometimes you’ll face bad weather or a dry spell, but you learn to keep at it because you’ve seen what persistence can do. Farming teaches you that great things don’t happen by accident; they come from working hard, showing up, and putting in the time and care to help things grow.
Now, I wasn’t raised on a farm, but over the last 12 years, working on the farm has taught me so many lessons that apply to Corporate America. Hard work, adaptability, a focus on details, and a results-oriented mindset can take you far. It’s a roadmap not just for crops but for careers. And the beauty is, when you apply these farm-bred principles, you’re prepared for whatever the season (or workweek) throws at you. After all, growth—whether in the field or in your career—isn’t about perfection; it’s about persistence.
Happy Thursday Lovelies,
-srt
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