Brett Hicks spent 11 years building what looked like success from the outside: a poultry operation, a thriving real estate business serving poultry growers, and an active role in ministry. Then he walked away from all of it. Not because it failed, but because something else was calling. In this conversation, Brett talks about what it took to close one door before the next one opened, the lessons learned from growing up on a farm when your father worked offshore for 30 days at a time, and what he's discovered about faith, decision making, and the willingness to move forward without a safety net. This is a conversation about what happens when you burn the ships and step into the unknown.

In this episode, we cover:

• The cows have to get fed, no matter what. Growing up in agriculture teaches a level of responsibility and compartmentalization that most people never develop. The work has to get done whether you feel like it or not, and that discipline carries into every area of life.
• You can't expect the next door to open until you close the one behind you. Moses stepped into the Red Sea before the water parted. Faith isn't waiting for God to move while you stay comfortable. It's taking the step forward and trusting He'll meet you there.
• Your mind will quit before your body does. Most people never find out what they're capable of because they let their limitations live in their head. The willingness to push past discomfort, to do hard things, is what separates those who grow from those who stay stagnant.
• If you're not growing, you're dying. In farming and in life, standing still means falling behind. The question isn't whether you'll face challenges. It's whether you'll keep moving forward through them.
• You're living on house money. At the end of the day, the size of your operation, the success of your business, the legacy you leave on paper doesn't matter in the grand scheme. What matters is what you did with the time you were given and whether you were willing to use it for something bigger than yourself.

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Connect with Brett Hicks:

• Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-hicks-56609b11b/

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Resources & Links:

• Learn more about the Elite Mastermind and how to become a member
• Protect your livestock investment with Empire Ag’s risk management solutions
• Join The Dirt email subscription
• Book Jonathon as your next speaker

Mentioned in this episode:

Farming is a business—and at Empire Financial Services, we treat it like one. Our team helps farmers and ranchers get clarity on their finances, streamline bookkeeping, and build long-term stability. Click below to learn more.

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