Beyond The Farm

I don't think we're going 'back to normal'.  Period.  The pandemic continues. Political divisions deepen. Extreme weather events have become normalized. This is the world we live in. 

We face a more problems than ever.  We have choices though.  We can wait for governments to step in. We can hope that technology will save us. Those options have always had mixed results–usually creating two new problems for every one solved.  We can raise our voices, dig in our heels, and work harder too.  But those options also have limits to their success.

Albert Einstein said, "No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it."  Einstein was telling us that we could work like hell at trying to solve the problem, but that we wouldn't see the real path to the solution until we changed our perspective.

I've learned that my best work has come during the moments of greatest growth, some shift in how I see myself, others, or a set or circumstances. From leading Marines in counterinsurgency to implementing regenerative farming practices while pursuing a master’s degree in social innovation and sustainability leadership,  I've learned that those experiences share more similarities than differences—immerse yourself in the environment, observe without judgement, see connections in the larger system, and adapt your thinking to facilitate positive relationships for change.

That captures the Leadership Development and Change Management Consulting business that I now run, Odyssey Collaborations, LLC.  In a nutshell, I help people and organizations make the changes that matter. 

I'm still farming. The farm remains as refuge and the living laboratory where I test my thinking amid nature's cycles and occasional chaos.  Besides, my version of resilience combines regular doses of manual labor fueled by bacon.