Part III
We hired several employees in years four and five, but instead of transferring work to them we just allowed more and more work to creep in so that we remained as busy as ever, with no relief in sight. We were stretched so thin that things came to a breaking point for me physically in 2016, the year we bought our own farm and moved our existing operation to it (mid season!), remodeled a farm house, and went through tremendously stressful upheaval in our business relationships. It was almost the end of me, almost the end of our family relationship.

BUT. It did not have to be this way. It seemed like the only option along the way of those first 5 years of meteoric growth, but let me repeat – IT DID NOT HAVE TO BE this way.

I wish, more than anything else about small business life, I could communicate this to every dear, aspiring farmer who crosses my path: Don’t completely give your physical stamina and strength to your business. Please don’t exhaust yourself for years (or even months) at a time in exchange for stronger or faster business growth! Please pace yourself, set realistic goals, remember that you’re human. {to be continued!}

Psalm 90:12 “So teach us to number our days, that we may get a heart of wisdom.”