Taking Risks

By Zig Ziglar

The entrepreneur is alive and well. Sometimes a big loss can be the catalyst for an even bigger gain. Many years ago, farmers in Delta and Montrose County, Colorado, lost a big barley-growing contract which put their future in question. The farming industry had suffered numerous reverses. Inflation, high interest rates and other factors had substantially reduced the number of farms. The situation was serious so the governor sent his economic team to preach value-added agriculture. John Harold, a local farmer and well-known figure, decided to take a gamble and bet on Olathe sweet corn. It’s truly a case of taking the proverbial lemon and making lemonade. In 1985 they shipped 12,568 boxes of corn. In 1994, they shipped a half-million cases. How did it happen?

Olathe sweet corn had long been a favorite in the Western Slope area of the country. By improving the storage and shipping process and assuring fresh delivery, John Harold made it a favorite from Atlanta to Los Angeles.

Harold’s role is primarily that of a coordinator as he works with 25 growers, including himself. They time the harvest so it occurs over an eight-week period. The corn is boxed in the field, 48 ears per container. Then it’s brought to Harold’s 20,000-square-foot cooler by truck. A forklift removes the boxes and a machine called a “clamshell” injects a slush-ice mixture into each box to make certain the corn is packed cold. Seventy-five percent of the corn is on trucks headed out the day it’s picked, and no corn sits in his cooler longer than three days.

By adding value to their product, the Delta and Montrose County farmers have opened a huge new market, a market facilitated largely by John Harold’s willingness to take a risk and try something new.

The message is clear. If you have any entrepreneurial spirit and are willing to take some risks, you can turn lemons into lemonade. Think about it and I’ll SEE YOU AT THE TOP!