Administrative Success: Records and Systems

Shalom fam? Today, we are focusing on the backbone of self-sufficiency: Administrative Success. If you want a homestead that is successful and thriving, you have to master your records and your systems.

Administrative Success: Track Everything

The tip I have for you is this: Track everything. I mean, write everything down, especially the important things. You might think you can remember it all, but trust me, you want to have dates and different things you can refer back to.

If you are a gardener, you need to know: what are you growing? What do you plan on growing this next growing season?. When did you start seeds? Write it down. That way, you can refer back and say, "Okay, I started these seeds on, you know, March 1st. Okay, so now it's April 1st. Now I can transplant them, put them in the soil".

Now, when you’re raising livestock, this is even more critical. You’ve got to make sure you keep records of when this animal was born, which parent, and what ear tag they have. You need to be able to track the breed and the lineages, who is the father, who is the mother. This isn't just for your own curiosity. If you ever want to sell those animals, you can give people those records. You can show them the due diligence you’ve done.

One of the most important things to log is the medical history. When was the last time they've been dewormed?. What medicine was given to them? What dewormer was given to them to target what worm? If you track that, you can say, "Okay, next time I deworm them, I'm going to give them this dewormer so it can target these other worms". It’s all about keeping notes and keeping records.

I’m not going to lie to y’all, this was one of the hardest things for me. I keep a lot of information in my mind, but I realized recently that you can only go so far with that. There is something powerful about taking something from your mind, which is the spiritual realm, and putting it on paper, which is in the physical realm. When you write it down, you’ve moved it from one atmosphere to the next. And look, it’s not just for you. If someone else has to take over for you, they can look at those records and just jump right into it because you took the time to log everything down.

Systems Matter

You have to build repeatable systems that function with or without you.

Think about your everyday routine, like feeding the animals. That is a system. You want to build that system to the point where, let's just say, you can't do it because you're sick or you're out of town. Somebody can just come in, and it's so simple, it's so streamlined, they already know what to do. They are already trained up because everything is labeled, everything is where it needs to be, and everything is fully stocked.

Build repeatable systems. As I said with the records, use those notes to plan. You should know, "Okay, every year around this time, this is when we administer the dewormer. This is when we give the vaccinations". You need an appointed time for the basic maintenance. Whether it's the time to shave the hoods or clip the hoods [hooves] off the sheep, the goat, or the cattle, you need a system for it.

You have to have a plan: This is what we're doing at this appointed time. This is what we're going to use. This is what we have. The better your system is, the more successful your homestead is going to be.

The Mindset of Success

To make these records and systems work, you have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Every day on the homestead ain't going to be a walk in the park. You’re going to have shenanigans with livestock or crops dying on you. You’re going to wake up and have to "put out this fire, that fire". But if you have your records and your systems in place, you can handle the problem-solving a lot better.

The quicker you can go out and fail, make mistakes, and learn those lessons, the quicker you can have a homestead that is successful and thriving. You’ve got to step outside of your comfort zone to elevate, just like people do in careers and businesses. You might get rejected or things might not go smoothly, but you need to get through those "nos" to get to the "yes" that takes you to the next level.

Closing Thoughts

We’re taking these steps to make sure our land is flourishing and abundant. Whether it’s seed storage in an organized bin so you never have to buy that pack of seeds again, or learning the specialty skills of a mechanic and veterinarian, it all comes back to how you manage your operation. Nothing on the homestead goes to waste, and that includes your time and your information.

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