Autumn Update

Newsletter #8

Its another wet day here is East Cambridgeshire, it’s dull and gloomy and it’s very hard not to let the weather dictate the mood at the moment. October has been wet, very wet. Some parts of the East are over 200mm for October for now, that can be over 4 months worth of rain in just a few weeks. My friend in West Wales is currently getting his farm prepared for another storm, it just seems relentless at the moment.

Livestock are in buildings earlier then normal. Seed still sits in the shed as the ground is just too wet to sow new crops and where crops have been sown, these can be found under water in places and really suffering. My heart goes out to those of you out there that are really struggling right now.

Although we can do little to influence what weather we receive, my over riding feelings are to keep in touch with people we know that are having a hard time. Reach out, offer a hand. Lend an ear. See where they are with things and if you are appropriately positioned to help in anyway.

This autumn marks the first for me in 14yrs that I’m not either growing my own crops or directly managing them for a business. As much as this is a positive for my own stress levels, this does not stop me being 100% invested in the crops I am helping people establish and looking out for other farming friends and the struggles they are facing right now. In someways I didn’t expect to feel quite this involved this autumn, but I’m glad I am. I enjoy being at the coal face. Being at the heart of things. Helping people.

So personally for me right now, I am currently still mixing things up between farming and working hard behind the scenes on establishing my new business. I am really enjoying being back at the heart of things, helping people on farm. I have always enjoyed being on machinery, in some ways it gives the mind a little break from the strategic management side of things - and probably why I have thought for a long time that good Working Farm Manager jobs are some of the most fulfilling careers out there.

I am particularly excited about the coaching arm of my business and the potential benefits that it can offer to individuals and businesses. Over the last 12 months I have absolutely thrived by working with 2 coaches and here are some reasons why,

• They hold me accountable

• There is always support there when I need it

• We figure out problems together and build strategies

• They are neutral figures and are non bias (non family etc)

• Any issues are resolved quicker then I could on my own

• They challenge me

I am so excited to build the coaching side of things, I know how critical a coach is to my own growth and I am very confident I can help people and businesses in this area going forward.

If this sounds of interest to you, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

I hope the next band of bad weather doesn’t affect you too much, and as ever, please do reach out to someone if you need a little helping hand with things!

Take care,

Ben

Fancy working together?

- I offer a strategic Farm Manager service. 

- Mentoring and coaching individuals and employees.

- Creating sociable events for physcial and mental wellbeing.

I would love to hear from anyone who would like to start a conversation. Just reply to this email.