Senwes Scenario December 2017 - March 2018 | Page 33

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F UT UR E F O CUS • •
often it is helpful to actu-
ally search for the irritat-
ing ‘flea-sized’ problems
to see if they can be dealt
with quickly. It is always
better to be proactive
than to sit in a puddle
of gloom - even if you
are just nit-picking
through the details of your busi-
ness, conducting self-examination
or cross-questioning your vision
and what you are doing about
it. Ask yourself whose voices you
are listening to. Analyse whether
these are constructive or negative.
Herald says we must identify the
little things which “can stop your
journey dead in its tracks”. Things
like impatience, frustration, lack
of self-belief, listening to too
many other voices, unrealistic
expectations and comparing one’s
self to others. Negativity (little
foxes) can negatively impact your
desires and dreams (your vine-
yard). Herald advises that if one
is going through a tough time,
stop, list the trouble spots and
rank them from most important
to least important then deal with
them accordingly. This stops one
from running around in circles
and gives direction.
MONEY CAN’T BUY ME LOVE...
In the book ‘Mind over Money’
Louis Fourie and Graeme
Codrington remind us: ‘You
DON’T need to be rich to live a
fulfilled and happy life... but you
DO need to feel secure’. Many
farmers are feeling the stresses of
a depressed agricultural sector and
its stealing hope and snuffing out
joy. This is not only influenced
by economics but sadly also by
a political environment which
has placed unrealistic burdens on
the agricultural sector without
investing the necessary expertise
and finances. In this respect many
factors are outside of our control
and threaten our business and
security. However, our choices
remain within our control.
TAKE A DEEP BREATH - MORE
MONEY ≠ MORE HAPPINESS
We hold the key to our hap-
piness and it lies in the drive
behind our decision-mak-
ing. We may choose how we
react to political, economic and
social influences in our world but
it is important to acknowledge
that our choices can’t only be
driven by the pursuit of money.
Life always presents challenges.
It may mean facing the need to
make some changes... because
sometimes change is exactly the
right thing to do! But staying in
control and keeping positive are
important characteristics which
will help us to commit and stick
to decisions with a long-term
view. Personality and attitudes do
not change just because one has
more money and security - they
get on the wagon and go wherev-
er we go!
DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY
According to Fourie and
Codrington, happiness is:
Accepting yourself.
Being part of a resonating
happy household.
Being in charge of material
stuff, instead of being ruled by
that stuff.
Experiencing your world of
work as positive, challenging
and satisfying.
Not fretting about your
financial affairs, but instead
handling your money matters
responsibly.
BREATHE IN THE FUTURE – BREATHE
OUT THE PAST!
F arming can be a multi-gener-
ational business. Many farmers
carry this as a burden, feeling they
should be doing a better job of
building a successful business to
pass on. Sentiment should not
cloud wisdom. Serial entrepreneur
Fred Mouawad’s family business
is in its 126th year of growth. As
an 8-time CEO he has learned
that it is important to 1) Know
thyself – be self-aware and reflect
often; 2) Recognise that you are
only as good as the people around
you; 3) Be both internally and
externally focused to align your
business; 4) Have a winning
mental framework which defines
your vision for the business and
then build your team accordingly.
He still uses 7 guiding principles
every day:
Courage - Dig deep and drive
ahead;
Discipline - Be mindful of num-
bers and resources;
Respect - Your clients, investors,
stakeholder, employees are your
wealth creation;
Build - new markets and new
opportunities;
Talent - take fresh new talent
on-board;
Wisdom - Value wisdom, learn
from others;
Guardianship - Take the long
view rather than the fast exit.
KEEPING PERSPECTIVE: AS LONG AS
MY BREATH IS IN ME...
We must always focus on our pur-
pose in the big scheme of things
and seek out Father God’s plan
for us, for “The Spirit of God
has made me, and the breath of
the Almighty gives me life” (Job
33:4). We should first turn to
Him every day, not only when
we no longer know what to do
or say: “Let everything that has
breath, praise the Lord!” (Psalm
150:6).
SENWES Scenario • DEC 2017-MAR 2018
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