I grew up on a farm with long pigtails. I learned a lot about life and business feeding baby calves, helping dad throw around hay bales, and scooping fresh milk from the big milk tank. Today I no longer feed baby calves but the things I learned back then are truer than ever. Old-fashioned values never go out of style. If anything, they only get more important and we grow up.

 

Work is a way of life.
Instead of being viewed as a means to an end putting hours in now we can enjoy life tomorrow; work was done with a sense of purpose, intention, and satisfaction. Farm chores were woven into life; overlapping with play and flowing with day-to-day life. Seven days a week those cows needed to be milked and fed. Hard work was a way of life and life was good.

Play hard.
Pet bunnies from the auction, the cow trough turned swimming pool, Sunday evening bike rides, and the tree house behind the barn. Three sit-down meals day, catching naps in the afternoon. There were trips to the cabin and picnics at the lake down the road. Happiness was homemade birthday cakes, strawberries from the garden, and a backyard overflowing with flowers. Work hard and then play hard.

Hard times and good times come and go.
Hard times hit, but there was faith that this too shall pass. The rain will come and water the corn, the sun will shine again drying the hay, and the market price for milk will increase again. The ebb and flow in life was expected and taken in stride. It all balances out in the end.

Sustainability is good.
I remember my dad saying, “Do it right, not halfway.” When something broke, we fixed it. If something needed done, we got in there and did it. Seeds planted in the spring, produced crops in the summer, fed the cows all winter, who provided milk year round. Results may not be immediate but patience always pays off. Plan for the future and build sustainability into business and life.

Routine and consistency yield results.
We didn’t over analyze or over-think things, we just did. Every spring the newborn calves were bottle-fed and peas were planted. Every summer the crops grew. Every fall the corn was harvested and apples churned into applesauce. Every winter we pulled sleds to the neighbor’s hill and flew down the hill. There was a steadiness to life, a consistency that provided a security and predictability. There is a place for innovation and change. There is also a place for routine and consistency.

Together is better.
It was a family effort. All working together, picking up where another one needed help. What we can do together is not nearly possible alone. Generosity and helping, it goes a long way. The end goal was the same: keep those cows happy and the farm running smoothly.

Old-fashioned values never go out of style. Never. Pride in a job well done. Humility. Hard work. Playing. Kindness. Keeping our chin up. Generosity. Helping. I learned these values bottle feeding calves and helping dad throw around hay bales. These values apply today when launching a product and building a digital marketing strategy. No matter how ‘modern’ we get, those values will always be on point.

Thanks for reading, what values did you learn as a child?