Hire Slow, Fire Fast: Why Farmers Must Let Acres Lead Equipment
- Grant Wiese
- Sep 1, 2025
- 3 min read
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Hire Slow, Fire Fast:
Why Farmers Must Let Acres Lead Equipment
The phrase “hire slow, fire fast” is one of those business lessons that shows up again and again because it is true in almost every industry. At its core, it is a simple rule of decision-making. Take your time when bringing something new into your business, and do not hesitate when it is time to let something go.
On the hiring side, the logic is obvious. Adding a new person to your team is one of the most important decisions you can make. A rushed hire is expensive. It costs time, wages, and training, but it also costs something bigger: momentum. A person who is not the right fit can drag down morale, cause conflict, or slow projects that should be moving forward. That is why business leaders preach patience when it comes to hiring. Run a thorough process. Ask the extra questions. Make sure the role is needed and the candidate is right before you commit.
On the firing side, the message is about decisiveness. Once you know something is not working, hanging on only makes the problem worse. The temptation is always to wait and see if things improve, but the reality is that things rarely do. When you act quickly, you stop the bleeding and protect the rest of the business. It is not just about saving wages or overhead. It is about preventing the distraction and wasted energy that comes from keeping something or someone that does not belong.
The financial reasoning is clear. A bad hire costs more the longer you keep them. A bad decision left uncorrected multiplies losses. Protecting cash flow requires patience on the front end and discipline on the back end. That is the heart of “hire slow, fire fast.”
This principle does not stop with people. It applies just as much to agriculture and the way farmers manage equipment. Many farmers are tempted to think about upgrades as the starting point. The new planter, sprayer, or combine looks attractive. The dealer has a promotion. Neighbors are running the latest models. The problem is when the upgrade comes before the acres. If the ground you farm does not yet demand the larger or newer machine, then the upgrade is a mistake. It adds cost without adding income. It ties up cash, increases debt payments, and stretches working capital thin. In other words, it becomes the farming version of a rushed hire.
The patient approach is the better one. Let the acres lead the equipment, not the other way around. Run your existing machinery until you are confident you have outgrown it. Make sure the work is there before you commit to more iron. Upgrading too soon is like hiring someone before you know the job exists. It feels good at the moment, but financially it puts you in a vulnerable position.
The other half of the lesson, fire fast, matters just as much. If there is a piece of equipment sitting in the shed year after year without being used, it is no longer an asset. It is a liability. It may not feel like it because it is paid for, but it is still costing you in storage, maintenance, insurance, and opportunity cost. That capital could be working for you somewhere else. The longer you hang on, the more money it quietly drains from the farm. Letting go quickly, even if it feels uncomfortable, strengthens your position. It is the same as firing an employee you already know is not the right fit.
The farms that thrive over the long term are the ones that get this balance right. They are patient on the front end, waiting until the acres demand an upgrade. And they are decisive on the back end, selling or trading equipment the moment it no longer earns its keep. That combination protects cash flow, keeps debt in check, and ensures every dollar of capital is pulling its weight.
Hire slow, fire fast. The same principle that makes sense in the boardroom makes just as much sense in the machine shed.
Have a great week!
Grant
