Patio Pondering: Decisions in the Quicksand of Information

This morning, as I mapped out my mental to-do list over coffee on the patio, the cooler air was a welcome change from much of this summer’s heat. Along with “soccer mom” duties for my son’s marching band, my thoughts kept circling back to today’s Pro Farmer corn and soybean yield projections.

Yesterday, I reflected on how we use information to grow. But since then, I’ve been struck by a different challenge: the fear of acting, even when we have information in hand.

Every day I listen to marketing voices ranging from Joe Vaclavik to Chip Flory, the University of Illinois, the Commstock Group, and many others. Yet, despite all those insights, I often hesitate to pull the trigger on a marketing decision. Too often I catch myself thinking, “It has to get better,” whether we’re trading near the lows or flirting with the highs.

The same dynamic shows up beyond grain marketing in our workplaces and homes. How do we work with our teams, colleagues, and families to make decisions with the information already available? How do we empower one another to step into the unknown when we already know so much?

Decision-making can feel like quicksand, the stuff Gen X kids like me feared in Saturday morning cartoons. Breaking free of the “I know, but what if…” mindset takes courage, trust, and sometimes a little nudge from those around us — but once we do, the momentum can change everything for ourselves, for our teams, and for those who depend on us.

I’ll be tuned to AgriTalk PM this afternoon to hear the Pro Farmer yield projections, just like I have for many years. Maybe this year I’ll use it to make a decision beyond no-decision.

What is your “Pro Farmer information,” the data, insight, or perspective that could impact your business or family? And more importantly, how will you use it to make a decision?