There’s a lot that goes into running a business.
There’s also a lot that goes into running a farm.
Most days, I’m doing both.
It doesn’t take long before you realize you don’t get to specialize in just one thing.
You become a little bit of everything.
Vet.
Trainer.
Mechanic.
Problem solver.
And somewhere in there…still running a business.
It’s a lot.
I have dogs that don’t get along.
They’re siblings. They’re older. They’re all wired the same way — driven, herding personalities that all think they should be in charge.
If I don’t stay aware of what’s going on between them, things escalate.
Fast.
There’s no “set it and forget it.”
You stay on top of it…or you deal with the aftermath.



Horses aren’t much different.
My mare lost her partner and had to adjust. When we introduced a new one, the dynamic changed again.
What used to work didn’t work anymore.
Different personality.
Different hierarchy.
Different behavior.
You either recognize that shift and adjust…or you end up with problems.



And then there are the decisions no one wants to make.
We had a goat that wasn’t going to recover.
I could have waited. Called the vet. Delayed it.
But sometimes the right decision is the hard one.
And it needs to be made when it needs to be made.
Not later.
(Rest in peace my beautiful Handsome. 3/6/16 – 5/12/26)



All of that…translates more directly into business than most people realize.
Staying Ahead of Problems
Most business issues don’t come out of nowhere.
They build.
Slowly.
Ignored warning signs.
Small shifts in direction.
Things that feel “off” but don’t get addressed.
Until they turn into something bigger.
Things Change
What worked last year may not work now.
The landscape changes.
Technology changes.
Competition changes.
If you’re not paying attention, you end up reacting instead of adjusting.
And Sometimes You Have to Decide
Not every idea works.
Not every direction is right.
And sometimes the best move is to stop, reassess, and change course.
Even when it’s uncomfortable.
Final Thought
Whether it’s animals, equipment, or business — the pattern is the same.
Pay attention.
Adjust when things change.
Make the hard decisions when they need to be made.
Because waiting usually makes things harder.