Invest in Learning
Young beef leaders encouraged to invest in learning.
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (Jan. 28, 2016) — “You have to plant the seeds of trees under which you will never sit.” That was some of the wisdom business management consultant John Spence shared during a session for Young Beef Leaders at the 2016 Cattle Industry Convention & Trade Show in San Diego, Calif.
Author and executive trainer John Spence emphasized that personal development and identifying values and goals are essential to leadership and success.
Spence, who is also an author and executive trainer, challenged attendees, asking them, “What do you need to do that will make an impact 10 to 15 years from now?” He added, “You can’t just make daily decisions; you must make 20-year decisions and think about the next generation.”
Spence spoke Jan. 28 and was sponsored by Caterpillar.
For the young producers, Spence emphasized that personal development and identifying values and goals are essential to leadership and success. He advocated developing a network with people who can help you succeed, as well as “having the courage” to ask for help from people.
Additionally, Spence emphasized the importance of being a lifelong learner.
“If you’re not dedicating 10% to 15% of your time to improving [yourself and your business], you’ll be outpaced,” he said.
He emphasized, “Invest in yourself. It will change your life and career.”
Regarding resources for learning, Spence noted that many courses are available online. Several are free. He also encourages individuals to read books to challenge their thinking and increase knowledge. He reported that after graduating from college, the average person reads 0.5 books per year.
“If you read six books a year, you would be in the top 1% of the U.S. population for self-learning,” Spence pointed out. “If you read 12 books per year, you would be in the top 1% of the world for self-learning.”
Spence encouraged attendees to take time to develop a focused plan for their future. He said, “Ninety percent of people have no written goals. They have no plan for success. Hope is not a strategy.”
Learn more about Spence at his website www.johnspence.com and see some of the books he recommends by clicking on “Resources.”
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