1. Try to avoid every kind of unnecessary overhead expense you possibly can, if you intend to make profit, especially when you're fairly small. Anything that you can get an animal or a plant to do for you, that you otherwise have to do yourself or with iron, is money in your pocket.
2. Remember rule #1.
3. If you want to make small changes, change the way you do things. If you want to make BIG changes, change the way you SEE things. Be observant, recognize that natural systems can function entirely without you... and most things we do interfere with the natural order of things. God gave cows legs... let them use them. (Most of these quotes come from Gabe Brown's presentations... thanks Gabe!). Grow winter stockpiled forages anytime you can, and make THAT a priority.
4. Remember rule #1.
5. When you DO have to spend some money on "capital investments" or necessary equipment, don't try to cheat on quality... do it right the first time. What right is requires you to do some research, and seek out the experience of others, and preferably, that of much more experienced individuals. Things like this forum, and seminars where lots of others gather to share ideas, are GREAT places to find and get feedback from those guys, and to broadly expand your social and intellectual base in the business.
6. Remember rule #1.
7. No matter how small your operation, treat it like it HAS to make a profitable cash flow, all on its own. Better to make money on 10 head, than to lose money on 100.
8. Remember rule #1
9. Be innovative, and don't be afraid to think outside the box. When experimenting, make your mistakes "small ones", before implementing on a broad scale. Bounce your innovative ideas off of more experienced individuals for advice, flaws they may see but you don't, and recommendations for alternative solutions. Seek the opinions of others, and respect them, even if you don't agree with them. Even if your talking to a complete idiot, you can at least take from the experience how not to be an idiot.
10. Remember rule #1!
