Recently, I found myself standing at the edge of the Babinda Boulders in Far North Queensland - a place as stunning as it is unsettling.

The water was calm. The rainforest lush. A picture of serenity.

But all around were signs:

“WARNING. 21 lives lost here. Hidden dangers below.”

At first, it seemed hard to believe. But the deeper you looked, the clearer it became: what you see above the surface doesn’t always tell the full story.

And it reminded me…this is exactly how farm businesses get caught off guard.

From the outside, your operation might look strong. But without visibility into what’s really happening under the surface, you risk being swept away by something you didn’t see coming.

And that hit me hard.

Because if you’ve ever run a business - really carried the weight of one…you’ll know the feeling.

Everything looks fine. Maybe even great.

But beneath the surface?

The stress. The uncertainty. The quiet drift toward overwhelm.

This Is How It Happens…

No one sets out to get into trouble.

Just like those who’ve lost their lives at the Boulders, most of us step in with courage, hope, and a love of the land.

But farm business can be deceptive.

Behind the neat paddocks and new machinery, there are often:

• Rising overdrafts
• Poor visibility on cashflow
• Decisions driven by pressure, not planning
• Fear of facing the numbers, in case they confirm our worst suspicions

And here's the truth no one talks about enough:

We sometimes make decisions to keep up appearances.

There’s pride tied up in our farms. In how they look. In what others think.

We want to show strength.

We don’t want to admit we feel out of control.

And we’d rather delay a hard conversation than face what the spreadsheet is trying to tell us.

But appearances don’t build profitable, sustainable businesses.

Clarity does.

What do We See in the Best Farm Businesses?
After years of benchmarking the Top 20% of farm businesses, we’ve seen this pattern again and again.

It’s not always the best-looking farms from the outside that are the most profitable.

But one thing is consistent across every high-performing operation:

• They know their numbers…and trust them
• They make decisions early…before a crisis hits
• They use their forecasts to lead, not just react
• They don’t fly blind…ever…when it comes to cash

These business owners aren’t “lucky.” They’ve simply chosen to do the work.

They’ve swapped fear and guesswork for clarity and control.

The Lifesaving Power of a Cashflow Forecast
In farming, like at Babinda Boulders, it’s not the rough waters that get you, it’s the danger you didn’t see coming.

A strong, simple cashflow forecast is like standing on higher ground.

It gives you time.

It gives you perspective.

It gives you the chance to make better calls.

Because when you see what’s ahead, you can act with intention, not desperation.

We know many farm owners were never taught how to build a cashflow forecast that actually works, that’s why we created this course.

The Cashflow Optimiser short course is a step-by-step system to help you:

• Build a working forecast that suits your farm business
• Use that forecast to guide key decisions (not just glance at it once a year)
• Feel confident when it comes to cash, and investments in your farm business
• Stop reacting and start leading with calm, data-backed direction

And right now, for a limited time, it’s available for just $9 (usually $197).

That’s not a gimmick, it’s our way of saying this matters too much to be out of reach.

Regards

Sam Johnsson

CEO – Farm Owners Academy

P.S. If you’re tired of flying blind or carrying the mental load of “not knowing,” this is your first real step toward peace of mind. Build a forecast that works. Get the Cashflow Optimiser for just $9!

P.P.S. Pride won’t pay your bills. But a clear cashflow forecast might help you reduce it. The best farmers we work with don’t guess. They know — and that’s why they thrive.