Last week, I spent several days at a fly-in fishing camp in northern Ontario with my father and son.
For most of the year, my days are filled with meetings, client projects, strategic plans, workshops, phone calls, and travel. Like many people in agriculture, I spend a lot of time focused on helping others solve problems and move their organizations forward.
But for one week, all of that stopped and I was almost completely out of contact. No email, phone, or a 24 hr. news cycle. It was just water, woods, fish, and family.
And honestly, I needed it more than I realized.
Somewhere along the way, many of us start believing that being busy is the same thing as being productive. We wear packed schedules as a badge of honor. We convince ourselves that taking time away means falling behind.
The reality is often just the opposite. I found myself in dire need of space, rest, and renewal.
Whether it’s fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, woodworking, golfing, or simply spending uninterrupted time with family, we all need something that allows us to disconnect from work and reconnect with ourselves.
For me, that’s fishing.
There’s something about being on the water that slows everything down. The concerns that seemed urgent a few days earlier suddenly become manageable. New ideas emerge. Priorities become clearer. Stress gives way to perspective. I was out of touch for a full week and everything was still just fine when I got back.
When you’re watching a sunrise over a Canadian lake, it’s hard to worry about your inbox.
When you watch your son pull in the largest walleye you’ve ever seen in your life (a 28” mammoth), you realize what really matters to you. The value of this trip was measured in family time, laughter around the cabin, and the opportunity to think, reflect, and simply be present. By the time we flew back home, I felt something that many of us don’t experience often enough – recharged, focused, and ready for what’s next.
That’s a lesson I see reinforced repeatedly in the agribusiness leaders I work with. The best leaders aren’t necessarily the ones who work the most hours. They’re the ones who understand the importance of maintaining their own energy, perspective, and well-being. They know that you can’t continuously pour into others if your own tank is empty.
At Agri-Prime Consulting, we spend a lot of time helping organizations improve leadership, align teams, and prepare for the future. But behind every successful organization are people. And people perform best when they are healthy, engaged, and energized.
Taking time away isn’t selfish or unproductive. It’s an investment in your health, family, and ability to lead.
As I settle back into my routine, I’m grateful for the time we spent and the memories we made. But I’m even more grateful for the reminder that sometimes the best thing we can do for our work is step away from it for a little while.
The work will still be there when we return.
And we’ll be better prepared to do it well.