It was about 30 minutes.
Thirty minutes of my life that I won’t get back as I looked for a piece of scratch paper. Scratch paper (ehm, trash) is what I called it, but my husband had a different description: “an important piece of paper with the measurements for so-and-so’s and such-and-such farm …” (yes, I’ll admit my eyes glaze over when he starts talking welding).
Sure, I understood that this crinkly old piece of paper held some important numbers, but how was I supposed to know when it was tossed on the kitchen counter, looking like it had been in his pocket for weeks? So then, per usual, we went on the hunt – the hunt to find a paper that I should’ve known not to toss. Can anyone relate?
During my time as an editor, I’ve bounced around in many farm rigs and pickups, some clean-ish and some that could flare up asthma from all the dust. I’ve seen cow tag numbers and phone numbers scribbled on center consoles, receipts clipped on dashes, farm magazines tossed in the back and notebooks with water stains. It's obvious that a lot of farmers and ranchers work out of their truck – a traveling office of sorts. I can see why; everything you need is always there … if you can find it.
That’s why a certain email caught my eye recently, titled “Creating an effective place to work.” Because who doesn’t need a better work area? I know I do.
Written by Ranching for Profit, a program designed to teach ranch management skills, it said, “The best ranchers I know have effective places to work. Now, I’m not talking about a comfortable pickup or a fancy chute-side area. I’m talking about effective places for ranchers to work 'on' their business. … An effective workspace is somewhere different from where you serve your roles as parent, spouse, son or daughter. Most farm and ranch business leaders try to do their 'work on their business' tasks in their pickup, from their recliner or on the kitchen table. It’s no wonder why the 'work on their business' tasks are often undone or not done well.”
The email went on to highlight some commonalities in work areas of the best farm and ranch business leaders, including:
- Physically disconnected from the home – preferably a healthy distance away from the home
- It is a comfortable and inviting place to be
- Good lighting
- Individual workstations for key individuals in the business
- A conference-style table with enough chairs for all to sit around it
- Space to enjoy meals together
- Planning tools on the wall that are updated regularly (maps, grazing plans, key targets and progress, workflow metrics)
- The entire space is relatively clean and uncluttered
- The business’s mission is clearly posted
Take what you want from this, but I know it inspired me to clean up my at-home-office and nag my husband a little more (wink). Because if there’s one thing farm and ranch families know, it’s that the work will always be there. The question is: Will you spend your time doing it … or hunting for it?
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