Leadership and Perseverance: Lessons from a Shearer

This summary draws on insights shared by the speaker, Tienie du Plessis, who speaks from his unique perspective as a shearer and farmer.

Key Themes and Insights:

• Leadership is Paramount:

    ◦ A team's effectiveness hinges on its leader, not its weakest link. Marcus Aurelius's quote highlights this: "I do not fear army of lions led by a sheep. I fear a army of sheep led by a lion".

    ◦ Good leadership addresses minor issues immediately, preventing them from escalating into major problems and frustrations. An example of poor leadership was a foreman who failed to stop shearers from "tapping" sheep out of frustration, allowing a bad habit to worsen. In contrast, a new foreman immediately corrected this behavior, demonstrating good leadership.

    ◦ Effective leaders lead by example, showing people "how" rather than just telling them "what" to do. An Australian classer demonstrated this by expertly shearing a difficult sheep, earning the shearers' respect and setting a clear standard. This contrasts with an arrogant New Zealand classer who lost credibility after making a mistake while trying to set a standard.

    ◦ Leadership is crucial in challenging times, as people look for guidance and hope.

    ◦ Everyone is a leader, whether on their farm or within their family, and has a responsibility to be the best version of themselves.

• Navigating Challenges and Uncertainty:

    ◦ Farmers and shearers face significant challenges, including unpredictable product prices, widespread negativity, and uncertainty about the future. Shearing, like life's difficult periods, can be incredibly stressful.

    ◦ Farmers are price-takers, a reality that is unlikely to change.

    ◦ Shearing difficult sheep, like those from canola fields (which make them lively) or large ewes, presents physical and mental challenges, leading to frustration and difficult working conditions.

• Personal Responsibility and Mindset:

    ◦ A core principle is: "If you can't change the problem, change yourself".

    ◦ This involves consciously choosing one's environment: surrounding oneself with people who provide honest feedback and "call out" mistakes, rather than "yes-men".

    ◦ It also means managing what one consumes from media, radio, and social media, as algorithms tend to feed negativity ("Misery loves company"). Choosing positivity allows one to radiate it to others.

    ◦ Hope alone is not a strategy; it only comes into play after all humanly possible steps have been taken to ensure an outcome.

    ◦ Perseverance is key: "You can only fail if you quit" and "Do not stop fighting" are critical messages for overcoming adversity.

    ◦ Standing up for what is right, even if it means standing alone, is a mark of true leadership.

• Spiritual Calling and Purpose:

    ◦ The speaker emphasizes that God has chosen farmers to care for their land, wives, and children, seeing them as instruments for His purpose.

    ◦ Farmers are described as "the unstoppable force" needed by God to produce food for the nation.

    ◦ Simple acts of faith, like saying grace before meals, can have a profound impact, inspiring others to engage with their faith, as shown by the New Zealander who started reading the Bible after experiencing table prayers.

    ◦ A prayer concludes the address, asking for strength, soft hearts, and guidance to make good choices and fulfill their divine calling.