Sample from Prepare For Leadership

One of my jobs on the farm was shoveling manure in the hog houses. Habit dictated that I was in a hog house doing that job around 3:00 in the afternoon when my Dad headed to town in his Jeep every day. I would look out from the hog house between shovels of manure and watch him drive off, knowing his destination was the local coffee shop. As I saw it, that was Dad’s religion, time to hang out with friends, “fellowship,” chat over a cup of coffee.

One day I jokingly asked, “Dad, what is happening in town every day right at the time the manure needs shoveling here on the farm?”

“Well, you see, Nile,” he answered thoughtfully, “we’re running a pretty significant farming operation here. Some serious responsibilities are associated with that . . . banking, administration, accounting, business. I have to go into town to take care of those things.”

“Oh, OK . . . so what do you call that part of the business?” I replied.

“Son, that’s management.”

With the smell of fresh manure still clinging to my nostrils I responded, “That’s what I’m going to be some day . . . a manager.”