Intensity. Is it a bad thing?

Hobbs Margaret and Allan Savory are two vocal advocates on the LinkedIn platform for grass grazing intensity. But let's not talk only about grazing, which is animal farming.

Let's talk about #work. #GTD (Getting Things Done) and other topics like #SalesSuccess. #CareerRecovery.

Thanks for viewing this article, which is number 10 in the newsletter, Displace Your Despair. In the last article, I referred to how intense "Mr Eureka", Archimedes, the mathematician was.

Today I read an article from Dan Goodman about a salesperson who was the 3rd hire at a start-up business. She worked 7 days a week, even on Christmas Day.

To make the long story short, Dan helped her when she left that company. Dan helped her reap what was owed. (Harvest that which she sowed).

My point is that she was working 7 days a week, week after week. Even if most of the weekend is not work, doing any work, even travelling for business is work, not rest.

Rest is key in Ultra-High Density Grazing of grasslands. That is how Hobbs Margaret does his animal farming in Texas. It results in healthier cows and for most of the year, longer grass being left on half of the farm to absorb and retain the rainfall.

Savory Institute has created courses to teach both farming and management based on ratterns and outcomes observed from how wild animals graze in natural environments.

The key to grazing success is found in rest. Resting the grass before it is eaten and trampled again.

There are lessons to be learnt here for those looking to develop their work skills. For those who have ears to hear.

I've read about and listened to stories from Mexico where the grass is nearly nonexistent. They put cattle on, wait a year, and do it again. It strengthens grass cover.

In the news here in New Zealand was an article about the research that Dr Katherine Tozer has been doing.

Again, the article was about the effects of rest on animals grazing grass, in the North Island of New Zealand.

So, what has that got to do with work in business-to-business sales, facilities management, accommodation business or other roles that require a consistent grind?

I picked those three categories because I have personal, hands-on experience in all three.

It relates to this newsletter because I believe that career growth is similar to developing resilient farmland.

Career growth, be it in self employment, a business with more than a few people, or employment in such a business requires getting things that matter done.

It's about learning skills.

But, as a Team Leader, I know that is easier said than done.

Every business wants us to focus on the work that needs doing. That's what we get paid for, right? The business gets paid for providing a solution that works.

The staff get paid for doing it.

When does the work of providing a better solution get done?

Let's get back to grass growth, shall we?

I'm not a scientist. I'm not a grass expert. But this much I do know. My goats love long plants.

They'd much rather eat something high off the ground than something close to the ground.

Why?

The long the roots the higher the fruits (seeds, etc).

An apple tree is favoured over a clover plant.

Why?

The soil nutrients further down tend to be more beneficial for the ruminant animal, like goats.

That is just one aspect of it.

How does this relate to work and rest?

Let's look, first at how much effort a plant requires to grow back eaten leaves.

A lot, right?

If we are a plant, and we are focused on regrowing leaves, we are less focused on putting down deep roots into the ground.

How will the plant get the opportunity to put down deeper roots and produce better seeds and fruits?

Time left alone. That's how. That's part of the story. There is more, but I can' t tell more right now.

Now, let's get back to the topic of work.

How does the worker, or employer or business owner have time to "put down deeper roots" so to speak, and produce better work?

Time alone.

But people don't get paid for that.

So, those that make that happen do better work. Those that don't may struggle to do better work.

I feel like there will be a few questions, if any of the "impressions" that LinkedIn™ suggests are reading this article actually result in time reading and reflection upon it afterwards.

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Neil Smith posts and writes articles to connect ideas, people and products together. He is a farmer by choice. He has a fulfilling full-time job, off-farm.

His beautiful wife and children help him farm goats, and make and market handmade soap. www.PalmOilFreeSoap.com and www.GoatMilkSoap.co.nz

Why do we need to curate our dreams? They'll slip away unless you do.

Many of us want to improve our #career or #sidehustle income. But the world is already at no. You don't have to do anything to get it.

The boss could say no to a new role or higher pay. The customer could say no to your offering. You have to do a lot to get to a yes.

When you are dreaming your mind is responding to time alone. It is helping you put down deeper roots. It is mulling over the things that matter.

That's why I curate those eureka moments, to displace despair.