Newsletter #12

Good Afternoon everyone, and what a stunning afternoon it is here in East Cambridgeshire. Bright blue skies, eye hurtingly bright low winters sun and a fresh frost to match!

Happy New Year to all my subscribers, new and old. Thank you for your support through 2023 and for 2024 my aim is to ramp things up with this newsletter and bring even more value to the farmhouse kitchen table!

2023 for me was full of positive actions, but also a period of finding my feet in the self employed world and establishing exactly where I want to go with business and family life.

I am now ready to give 2024 everything, I have great clients already on board, a very encouraging family and a great support network around me to keep me accountable!

So, my offerings for 2024…

Although my aim is to offer a flexible, bespoke farm management / coaching service to my clients. I think its important to have some structure to what I offer. I have broken these down into the most popular models that are working for my existing customers to date.

Complimentary Reset Sessions

Throughout January I am offering a complimentary, 45min session with me to discuss things exactly how you wish. Generally these are done via Zoom, this works very well and this means it is accessible to everyone regardless of location. If fairly local to Cambridge, then we can meet in person for this also. Walk and talks are great for first introductions etc!

So for these sessions, we could look at where you currently are with things, whether that is business, professional or personal etc (or a mix of everything) and we will look to gain some clarity on where you want to get too. We can look to identify any hurdles that currently exist, or could become an issue as we look to progress things. To wrap the session up we will have a few take away points each to go away and work on. I will normally then email you over some notes in the following days after the meeting.

Recent case study - I had a really positive zoom call with a farmer from the West Country just before Christmas. We had exchanged a few messages via Twitter before this and kind of assumed the distance between us would prevent any meaningful conversation. However, we jumped on a zoom and had a really positive session. In this case the farmer wants to free up more of his time to work ON the business, and not so much IN it. We chatted about somethings he can work on to try identify where his time is going and potentially how to free himself up more from the day to day involvement on the ground. Off the back of this session, we are meeting in person in the coming weeks for a look around the farm where I live - I am extremely excited about this! 

4 week 2024 Kick Start Support Program

If you have big aims and goals for 2024, or maybe you have started the year completely overwhelmed with everything, or somewhere in between - then my 4 week Kick Start program will help you find clarity and focus to really help get 2024 off to a flyer!

This is what to expect from this program

• An initial meet up in person for a couple of hours, if based relatively close to Cambridge - if not that we can do this via Zoom. Meeting up for a coffee for the initial session does help massively in building our relationship. I can come to you, if you would like to show me some aspects of your business or if you want a change of scenery then I am happy to host you on the farm here also!

• We will detail exactly where you are and where you want to be in 4 weeks. We will look at tools and strategies to get you where you want to be.

• Together we will detail what actions need to be put in place for the month.

• A 1.5hr online follow up at the end of week 2 ( we can do this in person if relatively close by at the time). Progress so far discussed and reviewed. Any extra action points established to help you meet the 4 week aims.

• Unlimited 1-1 messaging support between the meetings. (Watsapp / DMs / Email)

• Truely bespoke support from me, across the whole 4 weeks. The 4 weeks are about your goals, your challenges and where you want to be - I will be on hand to keep you accountable and to help you achieve what you want to!

The investment - £397.00

This price is set for January and at this level to help people who want to help themselves at the beginning of 2024. From Feb this will rise accordingly. 

3 or 6 month Support Package

A bigger view support package then my 4 week program, but with no less support from me.

3 to 6 months support gives us the time to really delve deeper into your challenges / goals and provide us a longer period to build relationships and projects etc. A longer period helps cement roles and responsibilities, and keeps all parties accountable for a longer duration of time.

Here is what you get -

• 45 min complimentary call to ensure we are a great fit to work together!

• 1 full day a month on farm, or 2 half days. These sessions are completely bespoke to you. It is expected that the first day will consist of exploring your challenges, learning about you and the business you run / manage / employed in and where you are looking to be with things in 3 / 6 months time.

• Once we have established current procedures and aims for the future, subsequent sessions could well include monthly / fortnightly reviews, brainstorm sessions with you (and the team if you wish) and setting targets for the month ahead.

• Unlimited 1-1 messaging support between the meetings. (Watsapp / DMs / Email)

• Truely bespoke support from me, across the months that we are working together. The support from me will be 100% focused on your goals, your challenges and where you want to be - I will be on hand to keep you accountable and to help you achieve what you want to!

The investment - 3 months = £2,500 or £847.00 a month for 3 months.

6 months = £4,500 or £767.00 a month for 6 months.

*Having the meetings on farm is my ideal scenario, being on farm helps me understand the business so much better and I get to know the lay of the land, I get to know the team better etc etc. I am happy to travel to your business for the above prices, if you are within approx 1hr of Cambridge. I am more then happy to travel further but we may have to alter the above prices to allow for more traveling etc.

6 month case study. I am currently helping a farmer over the course of 6 months by developing and mentoring his recently promoted farm foreman. We have scheduled meetings twice a month, each month has a theme (health and safety / machinery etc) that we focus on. Each meeting I spend with the farm foreman, we have a catch up about whats currently happening on the farm and how the past month has gone etc. We then focus on the months theme and delve more into the detail etc. I will then leave him a plan of action with some points that he wants to get done and this is a tool to help with accountability. I will catch up with the farmer during the farm as well to discuss progress.  

VIP half day

This one is all about you, a chance to get off farm, chat / talk / moan to someone who isn’t family and to be treated to a little extra for a morning and lunch.

We will meet on the farm where I live and work from. Its a regenerative farm and a hugely inspiring environment to be exposed too.

What to expect from this session

• Meet at 9am for a breakfast roll, pastries and coffee / tea.

• We will then use the next 3 hours focusing on you. This can be office based and / or walking and talking around the farm.

• The subjects we focus on for the 3hrs is entirely up to you. How and where do you want to develop and progress? - personally / business wise etc. Whats holding you back? People / finances / mindset? I want you to be honest with yourself during our time together, so can go away full of optimism and positivity going forwards.

• We will look to establish some strategies to help you achieve your goals.

• At midday we will head to the Carpenters Arms for a splendid 2 course lunch (included in the price). https://www.carpentersarmswilbraham.co.uk/

• I will review our session together and send you over a report and an action plan for you to work on.

• Unlimited 1-1 messaging support from me for 4 weeks after of VIP session. (Watsapp / DMs / Email)

The investment - £397.00

There we are, my initial offerings for 2024. As mentioned above, I will always remain flexible and will build my services around what the client desires. But by stating the various offers above, I hope it gives some clarity and structure to what services I am bringing to the table.

If you are ready to give 2024 your everything, and just need that little bit of extra guidance and accountability then please get in touch. Drop me an email or DM on twitter @bencm305

Take care

Ben

Fancy working together?

- I offer a strategic Farm Manager service. 

- Mentoring and coaching individuals and employees.

- Creating sociable events for physical and mental wellbeing.

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

Find me over on X and IG - for all things Farming, Family & Ipswich Town Football Club!  https://twitter.com/bencm305

IG - @greenacres_23