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WE ARE CONTRIBUTORS TO "FFA TODAY" ON RURAL RADIO SIRIUS XM CHANNEL 147!  "FFA Today" airs on Rural Radio Sirius XM Channel 147 Saturdays at 7:30 AM Eastern and Sundays at 6:30 PM Eastern.

Please let RURAL RADIO know that you like hearing us on their channel!  Here is how to contact them and leave feedback:

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OFI 079: Matt Brechwald | Renewed Energy From Entrepreneurship

SHOW NOTES

KEY IDEAS:

This week we continue profiling my upcoming E-Book about the "health benefits of entrepreneurship."  We are talking about renewed energy today.  When you're job is the wrong fit, you will be devoid of energy.  The following chapter is all about how that energy comes back to you when you become an entrepreneur.  Here is the chapter below:

ENERGY

When I had my “safe” and “secure” government job I worked a 4 day week.  10 hours per day, 4 days per week with the same days off every week.  This was a big deal.  I had a regular schedule, which is rare with this type of system.  I had an extra day off every week.  But, at the end of my day and even on my weekends, I had no energy.

My job was not physically strenuous.  It could be stressful and taxing at times, but I bet your job is too.  What really sapped me of my energy was the job was no longer a good fit.  When a job is not a good fit for you, it becomes a grind.  I think people call it a “grind” for a reason.  Picture Sisyphus pushing his stone.  That is a “grind.”  When your job is not the right fit, you are pushing that stone mentally every day, calling on all of your resources to muster the energy and creativity to do good work.  This takes its toll.

So, when I would get home for the evening, I was drained.  Working out was off of the table, and creating a new business or being creative was off the table too.  My weekends were also unproductive.  The first day off was a recovery day.  The second day off was family time.  On the third day off I started dreading going back to work.  I did not get a lot done during this time.

The other problem when you are working a job that is not the right fit is that you start working for the weekend and your vacations.  So, you fall into that trap of buying toys and escaping.  Every weekend, you go seeking a feeling of freedom.  During these recreational adventures, you are not building a business or writing a book.  You are dulling the pain of working in a job that is not the right fit.

What I found was that when I escaped for these weekend adventures, I would have time to just be with myself.  I could escape from work and the thought of work for a while.  I could feel inspiration and creativity start to come back to me.  I would start to dream about a life in which every day I could wake up and feel free.  I could come up with a dozen great business ideas or ways to break out of my current trap.

My weekend would end, and back to the normal cycle I would go.  Pretty soon all of that inspirational thought turned into resentment.  All of those thoughts were painful because it felt like I would never be able to make any of them into a reality.  This just led to more stress and discontent.

The renewal of energy that I have experienced has come in four stages.  When I first started my own business, and especially when I made the first dollar from one of my own ideas it energized me.  This was an exciting time, and it gave me the energy to keep pushing, wanting that feeling again.  It also started to build the belief that there was something different out there for me, and the lifestyle I was dreaming of was possible.

Soon the energy I created with running my own business and seeing success was almost equally exerted trying to grow this business while maintaining my full time career job.  I was also dealing with the temptation of working on this new business while at my pr...

OFI 078: Making Money With Bees | FFA SAE Edition | Andrew Swafford | Bledsoe County High School FFA |University of Tennessee FFA

 

SHOW NOTES

INTRODUCING ANDREW SWAFFORD!

Andrew Swafford graduated from Bledsoe County High School in June of 2015.  He is now at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.  He is still active in FFA and still participating in an SAE project.

Andrew started his own business with honey that he was producing on his own property called Andy's Bee Keeping.  He is selling honey, lip-balm and hand salves.  He is marketing his products in stores, on social media and on his own website.  But that was not what impressed me the most.  Andy wants to grow his business to the point that he does not have to work another job.  Then he wants to build his own lab and develop technology that will help to solve world food shortages.  That is a long way from where I was when I was 18 years old!

SUPERVISED AGRICULTURAL EXPERIENCE: Andy's Bee Keeping - Honey Production and Product Sales

HIGH SCHOOL:  Bledsoe County High School, Pikeville, TN

COLLEGE: University of Tennessee, Knoxville

HIGH SCHOOL MASCOT: Warriors

FFA ADVISOR: Ronny Collier

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR ANDREW SWAFFORD:

Click on the picture below to be taken to the Bledsoe County High School Website:

Andrew's Website: Andysbeekeeping.com

Andrew's Facebook Page: Andy's Beekeeping

Andrew's Email: [email protected]

Andrew's Telephone Number: 423-653-6859

Andrew's FFA Advisor's Email Address: LINK

Bledsoe High School Telephone Number: 423-447-6370

FFA LINKS:

National FFA Organization

Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE's)

Support FFA 

Donate to FFA - One way that FFA students are able to start small businesses is through an FFA grant of $1,000.  In 2014, 141 FFA students received these grants.  With your donations, more students can get this head start - pay it forward. REASONS TO

DONATE TO FFA:

Only 2% of Americans grow and raise most of the food and livestock consumed by the other 98% as well as the rest of the world.  FFA is providing the needed education, training and resources to Americans that will carry that torch forward and insure that America continues to have inexpensive, quality food.

Rural Communities will rely on entrepreneurship in the future for population growth and job creation.  The FFA is a major catalyst to that entrepreneurial growth.

Farmers, ranchers and those working in agriculture give the rest of America incredible amounts of freedom because the search for food is as simple as going to the grocery store:

"Because American farmers are able to provide for so many of us, they give more and more of us the freedom to pursue goals and livelihoods beyond growing the food we need to survive."

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack 

LISTEN TO US ON SATELLITE RADIO!

WE ARE CONTRIBUTORS TO "FFA TODAY" ON RURAL RADIO SIRIUS XM CHANNEL 147!  "FFA Today" airs on Rural Radio Sirius XM Channel 147 Saturdays at 7:30 AM Eastern and Sundays at 6:30 PM Eastern.

Please let RURAL RADIO know that you like hearing us on their channel!  Here is how to contact them and leave feedback:

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialRFDTV

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RURALRADIO147

LISTEN TO US ON SATELLITE RADIO!

WE ARE CONTRIBUTORS TO "FFA TODAY" ON RURAL RADIO SIRIUS XM CHANNEL 147!  "FFA Today" airs on Rural Radio Sirius XM Channel 147 Saturdays at 7:30 AM Eastern and Sundays at 6:30 PM Eastern.

Please let RURAL RADIO know that you like hearing us on their channel!  Here is how to contact them and leave feedback:

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialRFDTV

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RURALRADIO147

OFI 077: Portable Sawmilling | Timber As Supplemental Income | Bill Sandusky

 

SHOW NOTES

KEY IDEAS:

Bill Sandusky is retired from the military and now makes a full-time living with a portable saw mill.  Bill describes a great business model that would have even more applicability for a person who has timber on their farm.  This business could easily be a full-time income for anyone, and would be a great supplemental income for those of us in agriculture and living in rural areas.

Farmers in the eastern half of our country and some of us in the West have timber on our land.  The wood on that land is valuable.  However, if you mill it into lumber you increase the value of that agricultural product immensely.  If you are looking to be self-sufficient on your farm and timber is available, or if if you are looking for a way to bring in extra income this interview is designed for you!

ADVICE FROM BILL SANDUSKY:

MENTOR: Find a person who is already doing this and tag along.  See how they do it, and let them teach you about the mistakes that they have already made so you can avoid those.

HYDRAULIC: If you are going to start a portable saw milling business, buy one with a hydraulic lift.  This is going to make all the difference in your ability to work all day milling lumber.

INVEST: Invest back in your business.  Give yourself a small salary, and put the rest of the money back into the business so you can buy better equipment and be prepared in the case of a break down.

BEST BUSINESS ADVICE THAT BILL SANDUSKY HAS RECEIVED:

HONESTY: The best advice that Bill has received is to be honest with his customers.  Let them know what you can and cannot do, and do not get yourself in a position that they are dissatisfied.

PERSONAL HABIT THAT ADS TO BILL SANDUSKY'S SUCCESS:

EASY GOING: Bill certainly is an easy going person.  From our first telephone conversation I have been very comfortable speaking with him.  He uses this habit to keep his work enjoyable, and to build lasting relationships with his customers.  This also helps him develop word of mouth advertising.

BOOK RECOMMENDATION:

How to Be Rich by J. Paul Getty is the book that Bill recommends.  This book laid a lot of the ground work for the practices that Bill uses in his business and life.

BILL SANDUSKY'S CONTACT INFORMATION AND SUGGESTED LINKS:

Website: bcsawmilling.webs.com

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: (865) 816-0054

OFI 076: Producing Hearty Sheep | FFA SAE Edition | Ross Blattner | Kuna High School FFA

SHOW NOTES

INTRODUCING ROSS BLATTNER!

Ross Blattner is a local interview for me.  He is currently serving as the chapter historian for the Kuna High School FFA Chapter in my hometown.  Ross is in both the sheep and cattle business.  He is marketing his rams to large sheep producers who run their sheep in public ground in Idaho.  Sheep production out here requires hearty animals.  There are very real dangers to the flocks.  In the West the sheep get moved overland, and they face danger from wildfire, coyotes and wolves.  Plus they go a long distance between water.  So, Ross has to make sure the rams that he is selling can stand up to these conditions.

SUPERVISED AGRICULTURAL EXPERIENCE: Sheep Production - Range Sheep Sales; Beef Production - Heifer Sales

HIGH SCHOOL: Kuna High School FFA

MASCOT: Kaveman

 FFA ADVISOR: Joe Blackstock

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR ROSS BLATHER:

Click on the picture below to be taken to the Kuna High School Ag. Department's website:

Nancy's FFA Advisor's Email Address: [email protected]

Kuna High School Telephone Number: 208.955.0200

FFA LINKS:

National FFA Organization

Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE's)

Support FFA 

Donate to FFA - One way that FFA students are able to start small businesses is through an FFA grant of $1,000.  In 2014, 141 FFA students received these grants.  With your donations, more students can get this head start - pay it forward.

REASONS TO DONATE TO FFA:

Only 2% of Americans grow and raise most of the food and livestock consumed by the other 98% as well as the rest of the world.  FFA is providing the needed education, training and resources to Americans that will carry that torch forward and insure that America continues to have inexpensive, quality food.

Rural Communities will rely on entrepreneurship in the future for population growth and job creation.  The FFA is a major catalyst to that entrepreneurial growth.

Farmers, ranchers and those working in agriculture give the rest of America incredible amounts of freedom because the search for food is as simple as going to the grocery store:

"Because American farmers are able to provide for so many of us, they give more and more of us the freedom to pursue goals and livelihoods beyond growing the food we need to survive."

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack 

LISTEN TO US ON SATELLITE RADIO!

WE ARE CONTRIBUTORS TO "FFA TODAY" ON RURAL RADIO SIRIUS XM CHANNEL 147!  "FFA Today" airs on Rural Radio Sirius XM Channel 147 Saturdays at 7:30 AM Eastern and Sundays at 6:30 PM Eastern.

Please let RURAL RADIO know that you like hearing us on their channel!  Here is how to contact them and leave feedback:

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialRFDTV

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RURALRADIO147

LISTEN TO US ON SATELLITE RADIO!

WE ARE CONTRIBUTORS TO "FFA TODAY" ON RURAL RADIO SIRIUS XM CHANNEL 147!  "FFA Today" airs on Rural Radio Sirius XM Channel 147 Saturdays at 7:30 AM Eastern and Sundays at 6:30 PM Eastern.

Please let RURAL RADIO know that you like hearing us on their channel!  Here is how to contact them and leave feedback:

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialRFDTV

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RURALRADIO147

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OFI 075: Precision Farming | Chris Tucker | AGS Sales & Consulting | Ag Technology

 

 

SHOW NOTES

KEY IDEAS:

Chris Tucker is the owner and creator of AGS Sales & Consulting.  In addition to two other businesses, Chris has entered the field of agricultural technology and precision agriculture.  He believes this is a business model that other people could replicate to allow themselves to either work in agriculture, live in a rural area or supplement their farm income

Chris is entrepreneurial by nature.  However, he is still striving for improvement.  He is attempting to leverage his knowledge into different streams of income and move away from a linear model of income only.

ADVICE FROM CHRIS TUCKER:

SELL: You are going to have to sell, if you start your own business.  There is no way around it, sales will be part of what you do.  So, if sales make you uncomfortable, find a way to conquer that fear.

RESOURCEFUL: Find ways to be resourceful.  Chris does this online and finds information that can help him to keep moving forward.  Find the places and things that will give you an edge.

BEST BUSINESS ADVICE THAT CHRIS TUCKERS HAS RECEIVED:

MULTIPLE SOURCES OF INCOME: Chris joked that he has not implemented the best business advice he has received yet.  But, he believes that getting away from linear income is hugely important and is looking forward to putting this piece of advice into play.

PERSONAL HABIT THAT ADS TO CHRIS TUCKER'S SUCCESS:

LOVE TO LEARN: Chris is constantly trying to gain more information.  His "love of learning" is important to his growth and development of businesses

BOOK RECOMMENDATION:

Dan Miller's Classic:  48 Days to the Work You Love: Preparing for the New Normal

John Acuff's Guide To Leaving Your Day Job: Quitter: Closing the Gap Between Your Day Job & Your Dream Job

Seth Godin's Classic: The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich (Expanded and Updated)

CHRIS TUCKER'S CONTACT INFORMATION AND SUGGESTED LINKS:

Website: precisionagusa.com

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 270-293-4406