Sometimes the winding roads turn out to be the straightest paths.
Last week I hopped on a call with an SDSU student who is soon to graduate with a degree in business and a minor in sustainability.
His studies led him to become interested in local food systems and agriculture, which eventually led him to working at a couple of local farms.
He reached out wanting to hear my thoughts and advice on pursuing a career in farming.
In speaking with him, I could sense his optimism and eagerness to make an impact in the world.
It was refreshing.
He had some wonderful questions about my initial interest in agriculture, my journey to becoming a farmer, and how my previous work in tech has helped me start and run my own business.
But it was his last question that made me pause.
“What is one thing you would tell yourself before taking over the tiny farm?”
I went quiet for a moment, allowing whatever was stirring in my heart to find its way into words.
After a few long seconds, I responded.
“Nothing.”
It's not that I knew everything I needed to know when I started. Quite the opposite. I hardly knew anything!
But everything I would eventually need to know had to come by way of experience. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have taken my own advice to heart anyway.
And every step along this journey, I've come to recognize, was foundational in some way to my growth as a farmer, a business owner, and a person.
Was it always fun? No.
Did some of my mistakes cost me money? Yes.
Were there moments I questioned what I was doing? Absolutely.
Would I want to go back and do it all over again? Not really.
But am I content with where we've arrived and where we see ourselves going?
100%
If I could say anything to myself back then, it wouldn't be about what I should have done differently. It would be a reminder of something I hope I never forget.
I would tell myself to keep that fire inside you burning bright.
Don't assume it will remain lit by default. It's something you must tend to daily.
How?
By continuing to listen to your heart. By telling the truth. By creating beautiful things you're proud of. By expressing gratitude. By spending time in nature. By knowing your neighbors. By involving yourself in your community.
These aren't necessarily the things you're taught in business school, but they're what I've found make for a full life. And, in my opinion, they're also the bedrock of building lasting, community-oriented businesses.
The funny thing is, these aren't things that can really be taught so much as they are learned through personal practice.
That is, through experience.
The journey to this point has been anything but a straight line.
But looking back, I can see how even the mistakes and meanderings played a part in shaping who I've become.
And somehow, they brought me closer to the life I wanted to build.
For that, I wouldn't change a thing.