MANAGEMENT

Owning and operating a business with a spouse can be one of the most rewarding challenges a couple can undertake. As with everything in life, success leaves clues.

How you portray yourself and your business to the public – including both current and potential clients – can significantly impact your success. When the topic of professional image is brought up, we often first think of appearance: our clothes and grooming.

Recently, I experienced an unusual situation with a ’98 Dodge Cummins farm and ranch pickup. My son and I were hauling materials to a fence project when a loud howling noise came from the engine compartment.

In 1954, my grandfather bought a new International pickup truck to be used on the family farm. It was a unique green color and had all of the traditional features expected in a working farm truck.

In ordinary times, dairy farms would only apply manures to alfalfa fields before they were seeded to build fertility and then rely on commercial fertilizers, when needed, for annual top-dressing.

“Alexa, order me a pizza and find me a custom harvester.” Alexa, the voice-controlled virtual assistant created by Amazon, has skills. It’s entertaining, can play Jeopardy with you and can definitely order a pizza, but it likely won’t find you a custom harvester (not yet, anyway).