Halito (Hello) from Dr. Evan Whitley, Executive Director of Agriculture.
My first “real” job (or the first where I actually got paid) was working at the feed store in the small town where I grew up. At the time, I guess I viewed it like most teenagers would: “Hard work. Low pay,” which it definitely was as most of my duties involved delivering feed, hauling square bale hay (yes, it was that long ago) and unloading delivery trucks. The experience taught me about hard work, created in me a work ethic that stands to this day and – to an extent – helped shape my decision to pursue further education and a career in agriculture and natural resource stewardship.
However, in retrospect, one of the most important aspects of these developmental years was the personal relationships formed with the many farmers and ranchers who sometimes just came in for a hot cup of coffee and a round or two of checkers. Most of them were just killing time, but each were eager to share what I call “nuggets of wisdom” – some more than others, so long as you were willing to listen.
During one of these morning rendezvous, I was preparing a delivery and heard an expression that’s stuck with me ever since: “You can have an egg for breakfast every morning, but you can only have chicken for supper once.”
Now, over the years, I’ve heard other phrases that essentially mean the same thing, but the point this gentleman was making – or, at least how I took it – was one should be intentional with each decision, and be willing to sacrifice short-term acknowledgement for long-term success.
In my opinion (and experience), this is a crucial cornerstone to leadership often overlooked for various reasons, but usually due to simple ego. The stewardship of natural resources – engrained in biological principles – require this perspective because progress often just doesn’t happen as quickly as we’d like… which reminds me of another phrase I like: “Check your ego at the door”.