Even though we disagree, please don't make me wrong.

Hello there!

Let's take a short break from tree talk.

I have been getting a lot of great feedback about the idea of planting a million trees. I'm excited by how many people want to participate.

Right now, I'd like to take a step back and make an observation about communication.

Have you ever noticed how a lot of discussions end with each side more entrenched in their views than when they started?

Is this inevitable or is it because we're not communicating well?

I think it's at least partially poor communication.

One of the most important demographics to reach in this mission is farmers.

Farmers are not being reached in the numbers they need to be. To say that many are skeptical of regenerative agriculture is an understatement.

One option is to sit back and blame them for being closed minded. There is a lot of finger pointing and labeling going on.

There is a lot of outright ridicule going on.

If you take this route, good luck reaching them.

This is the fastest way to shut down communication lines.

One of the concepts my dad has pointed me to over and over throughout my life is "Even though we disagree, please don't make me wrong."

This concept comes from a book called Managing From the Heart.

Even when you disagree with someone, it is important to understand where they are coming from. You have to understand their context. Your context is not their context. Their context is not your context.

These are people doing the best they can, just like we are.

If you want to reach them, try buying a dozen eggs or a pound of beef off them.

I have opened far more dialogues about trees with farmers by showing up to their farm, talking with them with the intent to learn, and buying whatever they are proud to sell than I have by walking around and talking about how much I can't stand Round Up.

That doesn't change the fact that I don't like Round Up.

I don't hide this fact. I am open that I think corn and soy is a model that we need to move acreage away from.

But if you want to have this conversation, make sure you understand their context first. Understand who they are and what they value.

Seek first to understand, then to be understood.

If you take the time to understand someone's context, you have just opened up a level of communication that was previously unavailable.

Try it before you dive into an argument next time!

I am often guilty of doing the opposite, but I am working on it. I think this is important.

We should be back to tree talk tomorrow. Big things are happening.

We are having an impromptu meeting about the organization this evening between 5 and 7.

Sorry for the late notice. Things started picking up steam, and there are matters to discuss.

Anyone is welcome.

Thanks for reading and all the support.

Life is good!