There are natural cycles of expansion and contraction.
In life, business, and farming.
I know business has been slow for many and a lot of markets are experiencing shifts from many different factors like AI, world events, and recession effects.
On our farm, we downsize our herd of sheep before the winter.
Since we need to buy and feed hay instead of grazing our animals on pasture, it makes sense to contract (and put some amazing grass-fed meat in our freezer).
In the spring, we’ll have a new generation of lambs and our flock of sheep will expand again.
Some businesses are seasonal and can anticipate and adjust before a contraction like we do with our winter flock of sheep.
But there’s a big difference between consciously choosing to thin the herd or slow things down…
And having a pack of coyotes or a bear take out a bunch of sheep in the middle of the night.
One can be planned for and the other is something you hope will never happen.
But if it does happen, where your business contracts against your will because of a shift in the market or competitors, we can learn from how farmers handle attacks on their livestock.
After an attack, farmers band together and help each other regroup.
They’ll offer up replacement livestock, help set up better fencing, or offer to take the remaining flock until a safer solution can be found for housing.
This is a very human response to unforeseen circumstances, and it goes a long way toward building the community we all long for.
Recognizing The Predators
I often hear coyotes howling late at night near our farm. The sound of a pack of coyotes passing by is chilling.
We see their scat in our field, so we know they come close to our home and barn.
That’s why we do what we can to protect our sheep when they’re outside with electric fencing. It’s also why our chicken and duck coops are sealed tight with hardware wire cloth.
In your business and career, you might see some trends and changes happening that you need to protect against.
Maybe they’re:
- AI coyotes
- Burnout bears
- Layoff wolves
- Competitor foxes
If you see these types of “predators” coming or notice others in your industry dealing with them, then you can prepare.
Even basic awareness can be enough to give you time to come up with a strategy to avoid the worst effects.
But don’t think that you need to defend against the predators all by your lonesome.
Building Community Resilience
Building community doesn’t just happen during the good years and the easy growth.
It happens when we’re struggling and trying to find solutions – together.
I believe we’re in such a period right now.
Where there’s some contraction happening against our will from predation…
And some contraction might also be happening through increased clarity about what matters most to us, as humans.
Where we might be realizing that how we’ve been running our businesses isn’t as sustainable as we thought.
Where there’s a sense of precarity… and we’re realizing we want to be able to take more breaks to rest, and not be on the content hamster wheel or the performative social media stage anymore.
But one thing I’ve learned about contractions is that they can also happen out of fear, especially if you’re operating in isolation.
Having a safe place to discuss and problem-solve can lead to better solutions.
Trying to figure everything out on your own means you’re cutting off the brilliance of others.
Life and Business Aren’t a Solo Mission
And asking for help means we can give others a chance to support us, and vice versa.
The thing I’ve learned over the years in business and more recently in farming: it’s not a solo gig.
Even if you don’t have a team in your business, you’re not alone.
Reach out, talk to colleagues, hire a coach or a strategist.
Some contraction is bound to happen, but expansion is just as natural of a cycle, too.
I’d love to hear your thoughts and if you’re looking for people to connect with and build community: the comment section is a great place to do it!
