When the goldfish is sick, you treat the water, not the fish.
 

Stop trying to change yourself; instead, consider changing your environment.
 

Farming can be isolating, making it easy to fall into a routine and feel stuck. Many people find themselves repeating the same year over and over, wondering why nothing really changes.
 

Managing a plant is no different. If it's sick, you can:

• Change its soil.
• Move it to a better spot (more sun, less sun).
• Water it.
• Fertilise it.
• Give it some pesticide/insecticide if it needs help.
   

Sometimes a tiny change can significantly impact the growth of the plant.
 

We are no different.
 

I've witnessed stressed and struggling business owners thrive when placed in an environment with successful counterparts. Just the shift of being around such people has a positive influence.
 

Here are a few things you can do to change (and in most cases, improve) your environment:
 

• Give your household a cleanse-fresh paint or a thorough cleanout.
• Get rid of things you don't need.
• Place fresh flowers and plants around your environment.
• Play pleasant music in the background at home (fun fact: playing classical music in jails brings peace to the entire prison population).
• Take a break from the news or consider ditching the TV.
• Make your office a great place where you enjoy working. Consider investing in a comfortable and inspiring office space (remember, money is made in the office, not the paddock).
• Tidy up your sheds and yards.
• Clean and organize your machinery and Utes; a neat environment promotes clear thinking.
• Display your goals and plans for the next 10 years on your office walls.
• Keep your strategic plan where you see it every day.
• Consider changing your diet and focus on getting healthy.
• Get fit. Exercise has a significant impact on well-being. If going to a local fitness centre is not feasible, explore online options.
• Get off the farm. Travelling and experiencing a new environment can change your perspective.
• Meet new people. While it may be intimidating, meeting new people can be impactful. You could attend events or workshops, like our two-day TOP Producer Program, where farmers share experiences and leave feeling inspired (details here: https://pages.farmownersacademy.com/topproducersprogram )
• Read a new book, listen to an audio program or take a course to promote personal growth.
• For some, selling up and moving to a new area might be an option worth considering. My wife and I did it a few years ago, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions we've made. We're much happier in our new home.
   

I'm sure there are many other things I've missed, but make this year the year you make some changes to your environment and see what happens.
 

Have a great week!
 

Andrew Roberts & the Farm Owners Academy Team