"Better late than never" is an oft-used phrase in my vocabulary. It’s one of those things you can whip out when you don’t have anything nicer to say. It’s the most diplomatic way to say, “You were supposed to have this done three days ago, Bonehead!” and the slightly less passive-aggressive option compared to “Look who has finally decided to grace us with her presence.”
I’ve been on the receiving end of many similar comments throughout my life because, for better or worse, I tend to be late rather often. The excuses vary and are usually genuine, but an underlying factor is my utter dread of that brief time period that precedes most gatherings where you have time to make small talk – but can’t start a real conversation because you’re going to have to stop in a minute because The Thing is starting. I would definitely take the tardy attendee’s walk of shame than that itchy little interlude of stilted small talk.
As the new year rolls around, I have been reflecting on the paths my life has taken over the 30-plus years I have occupied this mortal coil. What is my greatest adventure so far? Where were the really big screwups? What are the defining moments in my life? Where do I go from here? Is it too late for me to make the changes I need to get to where I want to go? After all, there are some things in life even I don’t want to be late for.
You may roll your eyes at the idea of a 30-something ag nerd questioning her life choices as if she were a modern-day Ebenezer Scrooge, but I maintain that it’s a healthy thing to do once in a while. It’s like taking an inventory of hay supplies to make sure you have enough to last through winter, or actually going through that shoebox of receipts to see how much money you spent on mineral supplements last year. Taking a look back at where you’ve been either helps you appreciate where you are and how far you’ve come, or it can provide the motivation needed to enact real change and start planning for the future.
Many of the articles you have and will read in the pages of this magazine talk about how far the cattle industry has come and making plans for the future, whether that’s regarding business and financial decisions, investing in genetics that fit your operation, or preparing for calving difficulties. Our cover feature tells a story of taking a dream and putting in the work to make it a reality. Another feature tells the story of a ranch that took the leap to invest in new technology, and how it has paid off.
These are the stories we love to tell, and embody what our publication aims to be – a resource for the progressive cattle producer, one who wants to learn and grow in pursuit of profitability and longevity, who is willing to make those necessary changes that improve their operations one step at a time. I’m not saying everyone needs to become the next King Ranch. Maybe it looks more like moving from a pen-and-paper record-keeping system to a digital system or cutting labor requirements down to one or two people. Maybe it’s realigning your genetics to suit your environment or investing in a little more technology. It’s never too late to find opportunities to improve in small and simple ways.
So if you were to ask yourself, “Is it too late for me to make the changes I need to get to where I want to go?”, the answer is no. It is never too late to do better and be better.
