1 . It ’ s a heart decision
We arrived at my father ’ s compound sometime around 8pm and as we settled in for the night , he prepared himself to tend to the sheep , dogs and chicken . I offered to help because I could see he was tired but he refused , saying he could do it and I let him . Shortly , I started hearing some tapping sounds as if someone was grating vegetables outside . Seeing the look of concern on our faces due to the time , my mother smiled . “ It is still very early for us . He will cut the fodder , spread it on the troughs , mix the chicken mash and finally feed the dogs .” I couldn ’ t understand the situation so I took a torch , wore a heavy jacket then walked out the door . We spent the next hour preparing animal food which provided a platform for us to .
He told me how the two sheep that had been relegated to only being good for the village butcher , had by our visit , given birth to four lambs . “ Son . When I saw those two sheep , in my heart I knew I had to have those sheep . I was tired of staying idle and knowing that I was going to be a grandfather , it occurred to me that I did not have a blessing to leave my children ’ s children . I couldn ’ t even explain it to your mother coherently . All I remember telling her was that I knew it would work for us .”
Farming done right will always make sure that you never lack .
As I retired to bed that night at around midnight , I wondered how many times I had got that tug and sense in my heart about some venture . Something that you can ’ t explain to anyone . It remains there and sometimes only when you are in your quiet space does it come ever so strongly asking , will you do anything about me ?
2 . MMI disappear in oblivion
The next morning , we woke up to find the sheep enjoying the delicacy we had prepared a few hours before . Even though she couldn ’ t walk , my little princess was struggling to leave my arms to touch the sheep and my father proudly took her and led her to one of the small lambs . After breakfast I accompanied my dad to the nearby field to graze the sheep – an opportunity for another lesson !
“ There was a young man who started building his wealth as an employee of his uncle . At the time , it was all about him . It ’ s not like he had a plan to have twelve sons . “ I know it got to a point in his life where he knew he could no longer raise his family in the same vicinity as his uncle ’ s . At some point , he sent his family to a different direction for a moment to evaluate his life . In that moment , he had a very deep struggle that resulted in his transformation . One that never left him the same .”
“ Son , I have been young and I had fun with a lot of friends travelling just like you to many countries , giving my children a flamboyant time , and am only realizing now at the age of 50 how vain all that was . It was all about Me . If it made me happy I pursued it . I never planned for the old age . Now I have two choices - sit and receive a monthly allowance from you or use my strength to do what I did not do when I was young .”
The questions were racing in my mind - Where does it stop just being about me ? How do you know to cross the line of life ’ s mission ? But the answer seemed come from someone who was listening to me . “ No it isn ’ t .” You define your own parameters of success but at the core of that definition is an absence of self .
3 . The cash will come in the least of expected ways and won ’ t stop
Later on in the evening while preparing animal feed as the previous night , I was prompted to ask my dad how he sustained the needs they had .
“ Farming done right will always make sure that you never lack . Nothing goes to waste and rarely do I input foreign components . The
sheep and goats give me wonderful manure , the vegetables give me food and I sometimes sell some of the mature goats , dogs , eggs and harvested crops . With the returns , we are able to eat well , buy extra inputs and have a reliable water supply . We are faithful to the grounds and the grounds make a great compensation to our lives .” “ But dad ,” I asked somberly , “ I am working in the city daily , I give it my best , I get my salary but it never seems to be enough . How do I make sure that the cash comes and never stops ?”
“ Don ’ t be sad . You have never lacked for a day . It ’ s just that the money you are looking for is slippery . When I started , I wasn ’ t looking at making tons of money . All I wanted was to make sure that we would not go hungry and we didn ’ t burden you for our daily needs . Farming is not something you do with money in mind . The money yes will come and it won ’ t go away ; but it starts with commitment to the work , persistence and a passion for what you are doing . Shortly , the money component will slowly begin to come though .
4 . You can ’ t do it alone
As the sun rose the next morning , we woke up to a conversation between my dad and someone I later came to learn was a local veterinarian who had come to help with two sheep that were having some ailment . About an hour later the vet left just as another young man knocked on the gate . He was coming to help spray the kales . Because of the smell and after effects of the spray , we left for another session of tending sheep .
“ Sometimes it ’ s easy to just default to calling these guys but we must learn to solve our own problems . No one knows my sheep like I do but because they were not getting better , I had to call the vet . And now am old . I can ’ t breathe the pesticides .” I perceived that my dad thought it a weakness to call for expertise and I offered a quick reassurance , “ It is never wrong to ask for help . There are things you may not know and surely , you can ’ t do it all alone . It ’ s okay to ask for help .”
My dad went quiet for a moment nodded quietly . “ You have learnt well . You must learn to do everything with your hands but leave the expertise to the experts . Allowing people to help you is not a sign of weakness . It allows you to avoid costly mistakes . If you ever need help , do not hesitate to ask . I may not have the kind of money that the city promises and never delivers but I have many years under my belt and a word of wisdom can take you further , and help you avoid much trouble .”
5 . The story cannot and should not end with you
As we ate dinner that night , which was our last , my father saw a perfect opportunity to talk to my wife and I . “ My children . Both of you are my firstborns and I have a father ’ s responsibility to culture you into the greatness you have . All you do in someone else ’ s company as an employee ends the day you walk out . In business , it all ends if you do it just to feed your family . Think beyond yourself and your children . Think about others who can benefit from what you are doing . Don ’ t let your strength die in the city .” With that profound statement , the evening news began and it grabbed our attention .
It was with heavy thoughts that we took our 3 hours journey back to the city the following afternoon ready to make some impactful decisions on our lives , habits and plans for the future .
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For more lessons from the farmer to live in the fast world of the city we recommend the book “ Raising Barns : How Dairy Farming Trained an Entrepreneur for a Career in the City ” by Garry Krebs
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