The people behind the success of any operation are the managers. To truly be an effective manager, what does it take? This week`s Success Strategies with John Ellsworth on DairyLine Radio answers that question. Click the play button below to hear the full segment.

Too often the success of a business is not realized because the management team has one of two ways of thinking: 1) We`ve always done things this way. OR 2) We`ve never done it like that before. Rise above this mentality and eliminate all unnecessary tasks! Efficiency is vital.

Effective managers…

1. Know where their time goes.
2. Build on strengths - theirs and others.
3. Force themselves to stay within priorities.
4. Concentrate where superior performance with produce outstanding results.
5. Make effective decisions by researching and reviewing options.

DairyLine’’s Success Strategies message for this week is from John Ellsworth. He shared the 5 primary rules for reform and how they apply to a dairy operation. To hear John’’s full segment, click the play button below.

Rules for Reform
1. Say what you will do and then do what you say.
2. If you don`t measure it, you don`t care.
3. Big reforms require long-term committment.
4. Communicate what you are doing and why.
5. Success is never final and reform is never finished.

“Wait for the future and there will be no future.” That was the subject of Wednesday`s Success Strategies with John Ellsworth on DairyLine Radio. While we have been enjoying record high milk prices, record high feed and oil prices have caused many producers to take a close look at their expenses. We are facing dilemmas and making tough decisions for our operations each day. Ellsworth reminds us that making it all work is not just about cutting costs.

1. Do you have a correct debt structure in place?
2. Have you been using milk price options wisely?
3. Review the inefficiences in your program.
4. Develop a plan for the future.

For more Success Strategies, click the play button below:

…won””t last forever! John Ellsworth reminds us of this certain fact in today”’’s Success Strategies segment on DairyLine Radio. Futures markets are currently predicting prices that average $15/cwt for 2008. Although this is positive, we need to recognize and be aware of upcoming changes that could decrease this number - supply & demand, tax breaks, interest rates, war and the upcoming election.

Ellsworth advises producers to think now and make decisions for your operation based on milk prices averaging $12/cwt. It is a perfect time to take advantage of high milk prices and reduce your overall levels of debt. Also, plan capital expenditures wisely; new buildings, more cattle and added equipment need to show a reasonably quick payback.

John Ellsworth quotes the book, Confronting Reality by Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan, in this Wednesdays Success Strategies segment of DairyLine Radio.

There are two new leadership qualities that are now considered indispensable in todays industry.

1. Business Savvy - Know how to make money.
2. Need to Know - The insatiable desire and curiosity to know whats new and different.

In order to change and adapt in our industry, as well as others, leaders need to know how to solve problems and identify opportunities. To hear more about what you can do and listen to real-world examples, click the play button below.

Our subject for Wednesday’’s second half broadcast of DairyLine Radio is Success Strategies with John Ellsworth. The topic is: Every business should develop a disaster agenda.

Does your farm or business have a plan in place for when a crisis hits? A consultant to the dairy industry for over 25 years, Ellsworth recommends listing the three worst things that you could think of happening to your business and then answering the questions of what you will do and how you will do it, if that crisis becomes a reality. Not sure where to begin? Click the play button below to hear the examples he shares and some real-world experiences where having a disaster agenda came in very handy.

Ellsworth has served the dairy industry in numerous capacities over the last 25 years. As a consultant for the Holstein Association, he has worked with hundreds of dairies throughout the US & Europe. He has also served as Director of Operations for NASCO International, Inc., responsible for developing their corporate strategy.

This segement is sponsored by: