farmdoc's blog post number 391

Reading a corporate mission statement never fails to bring a wry smile to my face. Because usually the jargon’s impenetrable. And often there’s a big gap between what’s aimed for and what’s done. Especially in the realm of customer service. But in general, the smaller the enterprise, the narrower the gap. Many years ago, Sweetheart Vivienne and I worked out a mission statement for us as spouses and parents. And each year we’d set aside time to discuss how we were going, and what we’d do to improve in future. But we haven’t done it for the last 3-4 years because we thought we were doing it continuously. I now see that’s a mistake. Because it’s all too easy to live our day-to-day lives whilst ignoring the big picture. To not look at the road behind and the road ahead. To be sidetracked by routine and minutiae. That’s my experience, anyway. But others are more focussed than I am. And I envy them that. In our family there are two, at least, wonderful recent examples: Sweetheart Vivienne’s book contract. And then last Monday night, darling Kate and Brendon’s triumph at the 2009 Vogue Entertaining +Travel Produce Awards. The best carrots, beetroot etc in the nation. What an achievement. I’m so happy. Over the moon, even. My mission? To bake the perfect loaf of bread. I expect to spend the rest of my life trying to achieve it.