Tag Archive for: Planning

Do You Care Enough to Fix It?

In my last blog, I discussed the steps needed to continually move to higher levels of achievement. I understand that we are often surrounded by negative news, but we cannot let that impact our levels of achievement. Often, it’s a matter of adjusting our approach, but sometimes it is simply a matter of managing our time more effectively.

On a phone call with a Client recently, I asked for an update on a key project they were working on. Instead of an update, I heard, “John we are just swamped right now…” While that might be true for a lot of us, we need to move beyond it. There are always more tasks to do than there is time for their completion. That’s why we need to prioritize our challenges & goals and lay out the steps to complete them.

First, here are the three biggest fallacies of “Time Management:”

  • People believe they can get more time. No, you already have all the time that is available to anyone. Thinking otherwise is what Author Dennis Waitley calls “Living on Someday Isle.” It’s a place where nothing ever goes wrong, and you have all the time in the world. You know, that place where someday I’ll…
  • People think they can save time & store it. This simply doesn’t happen. You must use it up, wisely, every day.
  • Some people believe they can manage time. Is this really possible? Or is it better to focus on managing ourselves within the time we have available?

You can use any number of different tools like the “Time Matrix” from Stephen Covey or a “Productivity Pyramid” to rank your priorities, but what I like to do is list my Top Three Tasks each day, as recommended by my Business Coach Dan Sullivan of the Strategic Coach. As Dan suggests, if I only get these three items completed, I’ve had a successful day.

Of course, this doesn’t mean you cannot do more tasks, if time allows, so I’ve got you “Overachievers” covered, too. If I have extra time, I may try to check off another small task, but the ultimate key is to maintain focus on what your highest priorities are, while not reaching a burnout phase.

Most important, as you go through this process, stay focused on your goal, track your progress regularly and celebrate your wins. Then, I will see you at the Finish Line!

“If there are nine rabbits on the ground, if you want to catch one, just focus on one.”

Jack Ma

Let’s take your business to the Next Level!

Are You Willing?

As you move through this year, it is important that we consider the following question. Are you willing to pay the price for greater levels of success? I assure you that this is a question worth answering, because it will provide the very foundation upon which your entire year can be built.

What exactly do I mean when I ask, “Are you willing to pay the price?” Let me begin by explaining that none of us reaches 100% of our goals, but as the legendary hockey player Wayne Gretzky stated, “You will always miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

So, with this in mind, let’s operate on the assumption that you do want to succeed at an even higher level. What will this require? My first step is always to lay out a plan. What is it you are trying to achieve, who is involved and when do you want to hit your goal?

Futurist Jim Taylor was even more blunt about this process when he stated, “Plan for the future, or you will have no future.” When I work with Clients on their goal achievement, I follow a process called SAVE™. This is an acronym for Simplify, Analyze, Visualize and Execute.

Just as when we run into any problem or new challenge, we need to Simplify it by breaking it down and answering what was behind it, how do we overcome it, what is our ultimate objective and finally who can help us win with this hurdle.

Then, we Analyze all the variables involved with it. Are there problems to overcome, and what is the cost & return of doing this? Then, begin to Visualize the outcome that you desire. Finally, we need to Execute, and this is a step that people often have difficulty completing. Why? This is simply because other people (parents, siblings, friends, or neighbors) dissuade them from moving forward.

I am not suggesting that you totally ignore them. However, unless they have been in the exact same position that you are and all other factors are precisely the same for you as they were for them, I suggest you consider their advice and then move forward if you have followed the four steps above and believe you can succeed.

Let me provide you with an example. I recall a case where our Client’s dairy herd was producing 72 lb of milk/cow per day. He wanted to get in the 80-85 lb range consistently. What did it take? Following a change of Nutritionists, it necessitated grooming the free stall beds daily, adding more water troughs for the herd, adjusting the breeding program to move his herd’s Days in Milk to a more consistent level of 160-170 days year around and then culling his herd more heavily, which was a blessing with the recent higher beef prices… And he got there in a relatively brief period of time!

What is the Next Goal or Challenge you want to achieve? Please let me know if I can help you. You can reach me at john@success-strategies.com, and consider the following advice:

“The future belongs to those who see possibilities before they become obvious.”

John Sculley, Former Apple & Pepsi CEO

Let’s take your business to the Next Level!

Will You Thrive?

Currently, most of agriculture is in a challenging situation, with interest rates just starting to be reduced, costs that are out of sight due to inflation since 2021, and regulations on labor & other business items that are, at best, onerous.

However, given those variables, are you positioning yourself to do more than just survive our current downturn? Are you positioning yourself to thrive? At the risk of sounding like the eternal optimist, let’s discuss what this will require.

Here are a few steps to implement:

  • Skip the “worrying.” It will do absolutely nothing, except cloud your thinking. As Mark Twain so accurately stated, “Worrying is like paying interest on a debt you never owed.”
  • Why not focus only on achieving greater levels of success. What do you need to do to make things better? Spend some time thinking about this.
  • Fine tune your Revenues & Expenses. Are there particular items that you have been wanting to address but have been putting off?
  • I just completed my first two Client Budgets for 2026. Their specific focus was on the areas of Labor Efficiency & its resulting costs, Feed Costs, Insurance (which they have now bid out…), and the length of Loan Amortization of term loans.
  • Is it time to “pull the trigger” on Capital Expenditures with a definite payback? One of my Clients just initiated the installation of an $80,000 Sort Gate in their milk barn. With 2,600 milk cows, they figured the 1.5 lb/cow increase in production at $15/cwt would pay for it in 135 days. However, the bonus was on reducing their labor force by two men, a savings of $110-120,000/year!
  • Another example was a Client who bought a slightly used 17’ disk that will reduce the number of trips across their field by 1/3, saving on fuel costs…
  • As I suggested on bullet point #3 above, are there new Revenue sources you can add? One Client of mine is in the process of adding solar panels that will provide them with $95,000 savings/year on electricity. This is huge.

The biggest point here is that we all can do more than just survive, even in the toughest economic environments. Why just survive? That’s simply “Amateur Hour Stuff!” Let’s find ways to thrive, for as Winston Churchill so accurately stated:

“There ought to be ways of reforming a business, other than by merely putting more money into it.”

Let’s take your business to the next level!

Do You Measure Up?

Not long ago, I had a meeting with one of my Clients and his Banker. We were feeling quite good about our YTD financial numbers, but we also wanted to touch base with her about some upcoming projects that we were starting to outline for future expansion.

Now, I went into this session thinking that we had, thus far, had a really good year. However, we were quickly reminded that this Client was still not in the bank’s top 10% in terms of profitability. After recovering from the shock of her comments, I reminded her that 90% of the bank’s customers were not in their top 10% for profitability… It was a mathematical fact.

However, I felt that it was better not to “win the battle & lose the war” by delving more deeply into this point. Thus, I shared a comparison of how far this Client had come. When we started with them five years ago, they had experienced several years of large losses, and they were now well on their way to a third consecutive year of solid profits. The best part of this discussion was that I had the financial analysis to prove it.

If you had been put on the spot like we were, could you have countered the Banker’s anguish with similar analysis? With the tight margins that have historically plagued the dairy industry, I suggest that you develop a system to track these same numbers.

Allow me to share three reasons to do this and obtain a firm grasp of your Cash Flows. First, why would anyone want to run a business and not know how they were doing financially? It is the “scoreboard” for your operation. To keep moving forward successfully, you must know how your operation is faring. It should be a solid source of motivation for you to make the necessary adjustments and continue getting better.

Second, it is good to be prepared if and when you are ever confronted by comments like the one we received at this bank meeting. I can hardly describe the joy I received in cutting through the misinformation and setting the record straight, based upon their true results… Having this information can also help if you ever need to find new financing.

Finally, think about the next generation of your operation. This is a challenging industry, and if we want the next generation of leaders to participate and make it even better, they will require a solid understanding of what they are getting involved in, because there are so many other opportunities available to them. Let’s help them as they seek to lead your operation forward to even higher levels. Remember, their success might even represent your retirement funding as they take the lead.

Financial analysis is one of the key areas that we focus on at Success Strategies, Inc. If I can assist you with this process, please let me know.

“The future belongs to those who see possibilities before they become obvious.”

John Sculley, Former Apple & Pepsi CEO

Let’s take your business to the Next Level!

What Could Be Worse?

I recently heard Robert Kennedy speaking about a conversation that he had held with Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk, prior to his sad and unwarranted assassination. Kennedy suggested that there were worse things than dying. One such example would be to live in a communist or socialist state where you had no choices, effectively in a position where you could not make your own decisions, one where you had no Constitutional rights.

Now, I do not want to turn this blog into a political diatribe, but I do wish to use it as a launch pad for you to reach a higher level of your future. If money were not an object, would you pursue some role that is different than your current one? Do you absolutely love what you are doing in your life? Do you have higher aspirations? Are you being your best self?

If so, I applaud you. My point is that we have so many options available to us. Let’s not overlook them, particularly out of fear. Fear is nothing more than an acronym for – False Expectations Appearing Real…

Have you been thinking about something new and challenging, career wise or for your Family or something even bigger? Set the goal, recognize the obstacles, and then figure out how you can mitigate each of them, as you set out on your new mission.

Motivational speaker Les Brown tells the story outlined by Dr. Howard Thurman, who said that the ultimate positive would be to be on your deathbed and be completely surrounded by your Friends and Family, providing you with your final moments of love & comfort, celebrating your accomplishments in whatever you had pursued.

Contrast that with the pain associated with being in the same situation, except that you are surrounded by your unfulfilled dreams, and these dreams say to you, “We came to you, and only you could have fulfilled us. But now we must die with you.”

What a sad situation that would be… What goal or decision have you been putting off?

Please don’t let another moment go by without addressing this. Move forward with your dream. Prove the naysayers wrong!

I will see you at the finish line and if I can assist you on this process, please let me know.

“Wherever you are in life, you made an appointment to be there.”

Les Brown, Motivational Speaker

Let’s take your business to the Next Level!

What Should I Do Next?

Recently, I had a Client ask me if they should go ahead and order the steel roofing they need for a barn reroofing project. The conversation turned to tariffs and what their impact might be on prices. Since he has the necessary Cash & Credit available, I suggested that he proceed. I’ll explain why in a moment.

However, I first want to address the issue of tariffs since they seem so prevalent in discussion today. First, tariffs are nothing new. Countries have been placing them on the U.S. for years. Prior to the Federal Income Tax being put in place in the early 1900’s, it was the primary source of financing for the U.S. government. While they can impact prices somewhat, the impact of tariffs is often absorbed by the Importer or Exporter whereby they take a smaller margin, at least for a while. Why were they put in place to begin with?

For the past 20+ years, the U.S. has run trade deficits with our trading partners, and these deficits were being financed by taking on additional government debt. Given the large trade and budget deficits of the U.S., we could not allow this to continue. The tariffs were also designed to move manufacturing back to America. Given the multiple trillion-dollar investments being pledged by corporations, it seems to be working.

Yet, let’s get back to the decision about reroofing the barn. Since the Client had the funds and his herd will clearly benefit, why wait? The tariffs and all kinds of regulations will occur. However, they should not impact a sound business decision. Besides, are they the “real” reason prices have risen or is it the impact of the past five years’ inflation?

When we are facing a decision, let’s consider the following steps:

·       Decide at the outset what goal you want to achieve.

·       Consider the pluses and minuses of the various options.

·       What are the next steps?

·       Who will complete these steps and by when?

If you focus on these key steps, you will undoubtedly make better decisions and achieve solid progress. Besides, if we always waited for prices to drop, wouldn’t we all be driving rusty cars from 1962? Think about it.

“It is always your next move.”

Napoleon Hill, Author of Think & Grow Rich

Let’s take your business to the Next Level!

What’s Your Next Action Step?

Do you have a Goal? Brian Tracy, in his book The 32 Unbreakable Laws of Money and Success, outlines a 7 Step process that we all should follow to achieve the goals that we desire.

Here is a synopsis of those seven steps:

·       “Decide exactly what you want.” This is just like archery. You are very unlikely to hit a goal you cannot see. In the case of archery, if you are blindfolded, you probably won’t hit the target. The same holds for goals not set.

·       “Write it down.” There is some “magic” to writing down your objectives. Your subconscious mind works toward them, even as you go about other tasks. Don’t overlook this “hidden” advantage.

·       “Set Deadlines.” Otherwise, nothing happens, so create a “Sense of Urgency!”

·       “Make a Checklist.” What needs to happen? By when? By whom?

·       “Organize Your List by Sequence and Priority.” In what order do the steps above need to be completed?

·       “Take Action.” This is imperative.

·       “Keep Going.” In the infamous words of Winston Churchill, “Never give up!”

It is important that we then manage our time and, frankly, make every moment count, and just in case you are nervous about making a big decision, please allow me to offer you a story from my Business Coach Dan Sullivan of The Strategic Coach:

“When I started as a copywriter at a large ad agency in Toronto, my creative director taught me something that changed how I approach decision making.

He was a tough street kid who didn’t go to college until his thirties, and when people would stress about making the “right decision,” he’d look at them and say, “Nobody makes right decisions. You make a decision—and work like hell to make it right.”

That mindset has stuck with me for decades. And in today’s world, it’s more relevant than ever.

In times of uncertainty, most people wait. They stall. They default to bureaucracy. They overthink and delay progress because they’re afraid of making the wrong move.

But entrepreneurs have a distinct advantage: You don’t have to wait. You can make a decision right now and start moving forward—while everyone else is still standing still.

This mentality—prioritizing action over perfection—is what separates entrepreneurs who thrive from those who get stuck. Because when you’re indecisive, you’re not just pausing … you’re slipping backward. You’re building pressure, second-guessing yourself, and cutting yourself off from learning.

But the moment you make a decision—any decision—and take action, everything changes.

You start learning.
You gain insight.
You build momentum.
You get feedback and make improvements.
You make progress.”

I’ll conclude with Dan’s final thoughts on this:


“Uncertain times don’t have to slow you down. In fact, they can be the best time to invest in yourself—because while the rest of the world waits, you can move forward.

The entrepreneurs who win aren’t the ones who play it safe. They’re the ones who act, learn, and adapt.

Because indecision isn’t safe—it’s the riskiest position of all.”

If I can be of assistance to you, please let me know.

Let’s take your business to the Next Level!

Are You in a Delay Pattern?

As some of you may know, I fly a lot in my consulting travels across the U.S. I believe I have 1.4 million Lifetime Miles on United Airlines, as well as miles on some other flight providers. In those travels, “Delay Patterns” are not unusual, due to heavy air traffic flows & some weather challenges. Frankly, the airlines do a decent job of handling most of these hurdles.

A bigger concern I have is the number of delays that businesspeople experience in their ongoing activities. Bank approval of loans often gets delayed, with no apparent reason… Likewise, operators get delayed in making decisions, sometimes due to these loan approvals, but other times due to self-imposed postponement.

One example I can think of is the dairy client who stated that he would never pay $2,200 for a fresh two-year-old, so he paused. Today, 18 months later, the market prices of these cows are $3,500-4,000! Another prospect thought that $3.5 Million was too much to invest in a new rotary milk barn for his herd. Today, the cost has climbed to $6 Million…

To clarify, I think it’s essential that we realize we are in a different arena today. Post COVID, political handouts, government borrowing and the inflation that all of that has created, costs have increased and may very well continue into the foreseeable future. Now, that is not the only reason to move forward. They are just examples above.

However, let’s set a new course and simply make sound decisions, based upon their own merits, not just because something seems “too expensive.” Weigh out the pluses and minuses and then make the decision – Yes or No.

If there are risks associated with the decision to move forward or not, can they be mitigated? If so, go for it. If not, consider an alternative route.

Do you need one more reason to make a decision? Lack of good, well thought out decisions often can “mortgage the future” for your successors and leave the next generation in a deferred and often less enviable position. Who pays for this delayed action? They do.

Additionally, there are often positive results that are missed by delaying decisions. One client, in spite of having the funds available, deferred on building a new Bed-Pack barn. The result? They missed out on better cow comfort, more milk, and more revenue. They also failed to achieve an improved debt structure, as a result of their decision to not add an Asset to their Balance Sheet with no additional debt. Why wait?

What decision have you been deferring? Weigh the pros and cons before you decide and then move on to the next step today!

Let’s take your business to the Next Level!

What’s Your QTR?

Last week, I heard a new term, or at least it was new to me… QTR or Quality Time Remaining.

Of course, I have heard of Quantity Time Remaining. If you are 50 years old and plan to live until you are 80, your Quantity of Time Remaining would be about 30 years.

So, what is this term Quality Time Remaining? It is not only how much time you have left, but it is also what can you offer? How much time do I have left to contribute positive output that can impact others for the better?

I was talking with a prospect last week, and he said that, for the first time, he was being asked to provide his bank with an Annual Budget. I did not consider this an unreasonable request, but after 50 years with the same lender, the prospect was slightly offended. The loan officer’s quantity of time was 30-40 years (before he retired), but his Quality of Time was currently low on this measurement. He was new to this role and did not know how to create a budget with the customer. I’m not sure how he will interpret it when he receives a new one… Nonetheless, never having generated one before, the borrower did not know how to complete the process either.

Ultimately, it created an opportunity for me to build a budget for them. While the borrower “reacted” to the situation, I wanted to take a different approach. Have you noticed that “reactive” and “creative” contain the same letters? If I view this as an opportunity to be creative, the entire process will go much more smoothly.

My suggestion for you? Boost the amount of times when you can be creative and minimize the times when you are reactive. Life will be far better, and you will boost your QTR as well! Stay focused, and you will be prepared for whatever arrives, instead of wondering what just happened.

“People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can’t find them, MAKE THEM.”

                                                George Barnard Shaw

Let’s take your business to the Next Level!

Were They Planning to Fail?

Recently, I visited a business prospect who suggested that, frankly, he did not know how they arrived in the challenging situation they were currently facing. After looking at their situation, I made two quick suggestions that may yield an additional $100,000 of profit.

Their situation reminded me of the cartoon with the two cowboys leaning on a fence and a starving cow standing next to them. They said, “Gee, just don’t know what happened, but she just suddenly took a turn for the worse…” The reality is the cow had been starving for weeks. They just hadn’t been paying attention…

This is all too common in business today, and the resulting downturn for some is coming faster than ever. While we cannot control the impact of variables like COVID, inflation, higher interest rates or tariffs, we can structure our business operations to build some “cushion” for these types of impactful events.

We know these various challenges will arise at times, sometimes when we least expect them. With this in mind, let’s develop a plan to overcome them. Remember, tough times don’t last; tough people do!

What can you do? First, develop a plan for what you want to achieve, or as Stephen Covey often stated, “Begin with the end in mind.” What are the obstacles you will potentially face, and how can you mitigate these? Set dates for the steps you will need to take and determine who will be implementing these tasks. Otherwise, you could end up like the four people: Everybody, Anybody, Somebody, and Nobody.

Everybody agreed that a task was essential. Anybody could have implemented the next step. Somebody should have taken charge, but, in the end, Nobody did. The result? They were “painted into a corner” with no way out…

Don’t get caught in this trap. Develop a plan, monitor its implementation closely and adjust it when necessary. Stay the course, and you will be “Ready for the Big Dance” when good times arrive, instead of sitting on the sidelines, wishing you had made some changes.

“A good plan is like a roadmap: it shows the final destination and usually marks the best way to get there…”

                                                            H. Stanley Judd

Let’s take your business to the Next Level!