The Fly That Died Trying: Why Working Harder Isn't the Answer for Your Farm Regenerative Agriculture Breakthrough

There's a powerful story in Price Pritchett's book You² that every farmer and agribusiness professional will recognize.

A fly finds itself trapped in a room with one clear mission: get outside. So it does what seems logical - it finds a window and starts working against it. Over and over. Wings beating with determination. Using every ounce of energy it has.

The fly is convinced that with enough effort, it will break through that glass.

Meanwhile... the door stands wide open just a few feet away.

The fly exhausts itself trying.

Why "Working Harder" Isn't Always the Answer

I understand the mindset completely. We've been raised to believe that success comes from persistence and hard work. One more acre. One more late night. One more investment to "make it work." Stay the course, follow the path!

But here's what regenerative agriculture has taught me (and what traditional thinking often misses):

Nature doesn't work incrementally. A single rain event can transform drought conditions. The right biological activity can revitalize a paddock seemingly overnight.

You know when you were getting ready to do that sports carnival – you practiced your long jump or your high jump day in day out right? You didn’t consider the breach you squarely focussed on the landing. Visualising your feet hitting the sand or hitting the mat after clearing the jump.

That's what Pritchett calls a quantum leap - and your business might need one too.

The principles are straightforward:

Reconsider your approach - If your current system is overwhelming you, perhaps it's time to examine the system itself.

Question conventional wisdom - "That's how we've always done it" often blocks the very progress we're seeking.

Clarify your vision - Get clear on your destination, then remain open to unexpected pathways.

Reconnect with your passion - Genuine enthusiasm provides the courage needed for meaningful change.

You Have Permission (Even If No One's Said It)

I want to offer you something that many dedicated farmers and professionals rarely receive:

Permission to stop feeling like you need to prove yourself to everyone else. Permission to trust your instincts even when others don't understand your vision. Permission to invest in yourself instead of waiting for external validation.

Because here's what I've learned: We often wait for proof that simply won't come in advance.

You want certainty the market will remain stable? Markets fluctuate.

You want guarantees from lenders? Approval isn't always forthcoming.

You want assurance your family will immediately support your big vision? They might need time to understand.

Absence of Evidence isn't Evidence of Absence.

Just because you can't yet see the resources, opportunities, or support doesn't mean they're not there. Often, they're waiting for you to take the first step.

Here's your gift:

Permission to PLAY - The beautiful truth: permission to play is really permission to fail forward. You don't need perfection from day one. Trial that new grazing rotation knowing it might need adjustments. Test that direct-marketing approach even if the first attempt doesn't hit the mark. Every stumble teaches you something valuable and positions you closer to breakthrough.

Permission to FAIL FORWARD - The farmers making real progress aren't those who never encounter setbacks - they're the ones who treat every challenge as expensive education. They fail fast, learn faster, and adjust with confidence. Each "failure" is actually feedback, moving you closer to what works.

Permission to FOLLOW YOUR PASSION - Here's the secret: passion creates permission. When you're genuinely passionate about healthier soil, sustainable profitability, or better work-life balance, that fire in your heart gives you the courage to take risks others won't. Passion transforms what feels impossible into opportunity.

The key insight: Potential doesn't come from proof. It comes from permission.

Permission to play. Permission to fail forward. Permission to let your passion guide you toward opportunities others can't even see yet.

The Door Is Open (And You're Invited to Walk Through)

This is precisely why we created the Living Legacy Community TM

It's where farmers, farm partners, and agricultural professionals come together to discover opportunities others might miss. We support each other in taking calculated risks, share what's working (and what we're learning from), and focus on meaningful progress rather than just incremental changes. It's an intentional community primarily for women in farming.

Inside, you'll explore strategies for breakthrough thinking - not just in production, but in profitability, resilience, and creating the lifestyle you truly want.

If you've been working diligently but still feeling like you're hitting invisible barriers...

Perhaps it's not about working harder.

Perhaps it's about finding the open door.

👉 Join the Living Legacy Community today - because every breakthrough starts with a single step.