I have said before that there is so much we can learn from business leaders and entrepreneurs outside of our industry.    In this episode, I interview Jim Gall, now CEO of RB Sellars.    There is no doubt that RB Sellars has been established as an iconic brand across our landscape. Jim reminds us that success in business doesn’t happen overnight and that the strong position they have developed in the market has come from a leadership team with a clear focus. Focusing on a sustainable commitment to a consistent and high-quality product range with outstanding service has led the brand to where they are today.    Jim also reminds us of the importance of creating a culture of trust, creativity and innovation to inspire our teams to be actively in pursuit of continuous improvement.    He emphasises the importance of encouraging a culture of radical candour, where teams feel safe and empowered to speak their truth and contribute fully and openly at every opportunity.    Have you created a culture and focus like this in your business?    Besides Jim’s current contribution at RB Sellars, his entrepreneurial backstory is just as impressive.    Raised on a family farm near Euroa in Victoria, Jim’s enthusiasm to share his family’s farming story led him to establish Redhanded Creative, a national marketing, communication & advertising agency for Australia’s regional and agri-businesses. 12 years on, Redhanded Creative was acquired by global marketing agency, Clemenger. In the ensuing years, Jim established himself as a natural leader in the company, taking over the CEO role at Clemenger Australia & New Zealand.    On his journey through Australia’s Corporate landscape, serving and growing many of the major agribusiness brands we now interact with, Jim has always retained his humility, authenticity and connection to his farming routes.    It was wonderful to connect with Jim again after so many years and to have the opportunity to share his insights into our industry, our people and all things leadership.    I feel the iconic RB Sellars business and brand are in good hands.    Thank you, Jim.    Jeremy Hutchings & the Farm Owners Academy Team    The Authentic Farming Entrepreneur: Insights from Jim Gall   Here are the show notes for the podcast episode:   This episode features insights from Jim Gall, an entrepreneur and CEO of the iconic rural brand RB Sellers, as well as Jeremy from Faithful's Creek Lamb and the new RB Sellers CEO Ben. Key topics discussed include:   - The importance of storytelling and authenticity in marketing for farming/rural businesses to connect with modern consumers - Jim's diverse career path from growing up on a farm to founding companies and leading RB Sellers, providing a unique perspective on business strategy - Challenges and opportunities for small-scale, paddock-to-plate farming operations like Faithful's Creek Lamb in building a distinctive brand story - RB Sellers' history and success driven by its founder's deep understanding of the farmer customer base and developing durable, affordable products like the iconic Burton work shirt - The value of strategic planning, a clear vision, and aligning the team at RB Sellers to continue growing - Fostering a culture of radical candor - providing direct, honest feedback to drive growth while maintaining trust and psychological safety - Jim's leadership approach focused on shared success, inclusivity, and addressing issues head-on to stay true to the core business - RB Sellers' future plans to increase accessibility through more regional stores and a stronger online presence to reach the next generation of customers         Key Lessons   The importance of storytelling and authenticity in marketing for a farming business, rather than just focusing on the product itself.   The value of diversifying enterprises and connecting with customers through genuine brand narratives, rather than relying on a single product or service.   The potential for small-scale, paddock-to-plate farming operations to contribute to the national and global economy, despite the challenges they face.   Chapters: 00:00:00 - From Farm to CEO: Jim Gall's Journey00:02:54 - Farming Entrepreneurship: Diversifying and Telling Your Story00:08:16 - Building an Iconic Australian Clothing Brand00:13:41 - Aligning Team and Strategic Planning at RB Sellers00:17:54 - Navigating Feedback and Conflict in Family Businesses00:21:13 - Shared Success and Customer Focus: Turning Around Businesses00:27:37 - Growing Our Online Presence for the Next Generation00:31:45 - Transforming Rural Marketing: Respecting Farmers as Entrepreneurs00:35:52 - Transitioning from Entrepreneur to Corporate Leader00:42:16 - Sustainability and the Evolution of Australian Agriculture00:44:43 - Optimism in Farming: A Sustainable Career Choice00:49:05 - Embrace Innovation, Trust Instincts for Growth00:56:04 - Embracing Short-Term Wins for Long-Term Success                    Summary:   Jim Gall, an old school friend and successful entrepreneur, shares his insights on running a farming business and the importance of storytelling and authenticity in marketing. Growing up on a farm, Jim learned the value of diversifying enterprises and the need to sell what you produce. He believes farmers are in a strong position to share the authentic stories behind their products, which is increasingly important for consumers today. Jim's diverse career, including founding and selling a creative agency and leading a major marketing firm, has given him a unique perspective on effective leadership and business strategy that he now brings to his role as CEO of the iconic rural brand RB Sellers. The speakers discuss the challenges and opportunities of running a small-scale, paddock-to-plate farming operation in regional Australia. The farmer, Jeremy, shares how his business, Faithful's Creek Lamb, sells prime lambs to local butchers and directly to consumers in Melbourne. He emphasizes the importance of having a distinctive brand story that resonates with customers. The new CEO of RB Sellers, Ben, highlights the potential of rural-based businesses to contribute to the national and global economy, and how the clothing brand aims to serve its customer base with quality, durable products that connect to the country. Both speakers provide valuable insights on building successful regional businesses. RB Sellers, an iconic Australian rural apparel brand, has built a strong foundation with 22 stores across the country, its own distribution center, and a thriving e-commerce business. The brand's success can be attributed to its founder, Richard Sellers Jones, who had a deep understanding of the Australian farmer customer base and developed products that fit their needs in terms of durability, style, and affordability. The Burton work shirt, named after an adventurous friend who passed away, has become an iconic product, with the company selling over 200,000 units annually. RB Sellers aligns its team through a strategic planning process involving the board of directors and the executive team, ensuring a clear vision and direction for the business to continue growing its customer base and product offerings. Jim and the speaker discuss the importance of culture and radical candor in business, particularly in the context of a large retail company like RB Sellers. The speaker emphasizes the value of direct, honest feedback, even if it can be challenging, as it fosters psychological safety and drives growth. They also explore how this approach can be applied in a family business or farming context, where conflict avoidance may be more common. The key is to focus on clarity and constructive feedback, rather than taking it personally, in order to facilitate open communication and continuous improvement. The speakers discuss the importance of radical candor - being direct and specific with feedback, while maintaining trust and focusing on strengths rather than weaknesses. Jim, an experienced CEO, emphasizes the value of shared success and building a team culture where people feel they are growing together. He describes his leadership approach as direct, purposeful, and inclusive, aiming to align people around the company's core vision and values. The key is establishing trust and having the courage to address issues head-on, rather than ignoring problems that don't make sense for the business. Tomer, the speaker, emphasizes the importance of staying focused on the core customer and business model. He advocates a back-to-basics approach, ensuring the product meets customer demands, the pricing is right, and the company doesn't stray into unfamiliar territory. Jim, the other speaker, is excited about RB Sellers' future, with plans to grow the brand's accessibility through more physical stores in regional areas and by strengthening their online presence. They also aim to connect with the next generation of customers through initiatives like sponsoring events and partnering with a dating app for young farmers. Jane and Jim discuss the success and growth of RB Sellers, a dependable brand that has occasionally taken risks and made mistakes, but remained focused on continuous improvement and expansion. Jim then reflects on his earlier entrepreneurial venture, Red Handed Creative, which he co-founded to provide respectful and positive communication for rural Australian businesses. Despite the challenges of running a creative agency, Jim is proud of building a successful business over 12 years before ultimately selling it, as that was always part of the plan. Jim and his creative partner Paul built a successful business, Red Handed, that was acquired by Clemenger BBDO in 2012. The business helped clients, including large companies and government agencies, drive behavioral change and effectively market their products, whether it was fertilizers, chemicals, or tractors. Transitioning from being an entrepreneur running his own company to becoming part of a larger organization was a significant adjustment for Jim, as he had to adapt to a more structured and corporate environment, rather than the hands-on, daily grind of running his own business. However, the acquisition allowed Jim to take on senior executive roles at Clemenger BBDO, where he eventually became the company's leader, showcasing the successful outcome of the acquisition for both parties. The speaker shares his experience transitioning from a hands-on, customer-facing role to a more corporate environment, which he initially found challenging. However, he emphasizes the importance of staying connected to the core business by getting involved in day-to-day operations, like working in the warehouse. He advises others making a similar transition to focus on developing new skills, being open to advice from mentors, and embracing the discomfort of trying new things, rather than reverting to familiar tasks. Overall, the speaker emphasizes the need for leaders in the agricultural industry to maintain a well-rounded understanding of their business. The speakers discuss the growing interest and optimism in the agriculture and agribusiness industries, particularly among the younger generation. They highlight how farmers today can confidently encourage their children to return to the family farm, knowing it can provide a sustainable and viable career. The speakers also emphasize the diverse opportunities within the broader agricultural supply chain, from trading to secondary and tertiary industries. One speaker reflects on the pride and connection he feels in buying back his family's farm, and the joy of his children growing up in a rural community, learning valuable life lessons. Overall, the conversation celebrates the positive trajectory of the agriculture sector and the meaningful legacies that can be passed down through generations. Jim, the speaker, shares his pride in finding a "center of gravity" in his life by balancing his professional roles with the joy of returning home to his farm and tending to his sheep. He credits a mentor named Rod Bennett for providing invaluable wisdom and advice, particularly on dealing with competitors and staying focused on innovation rather than looking back. Jim emphasizes the importance of trusting one's instincts and abilities to navigate challenges and pursue the next big idea. When it comes to building professional farm businesses, Jim advises developing strong personal leadership skills to clearly articulate one's vision and inspire others to follow. The speakers discuss the importance of clarity, vision, and momentum in leadership and business growth. They emphasize the need for leaders to have a clear understanding of their market, product, and competitive differentiation, and to effectively communicate this vision to their team. The speakers also advise breaking down long-term goals into achievable short-term objectives, celebrating small wins, and building momentum through job satisfaction and a growth mindset. They caution against getting distracted by the distance to the final destination, and instead focus on the incremental progress that can compound over time. In this podcast discussion, Jeremy, a part-time farmer, shares his struggles with the financial realities of farming, despite his passion for it. He emphasizes the importance of having a job off the farm to fund the farming activities. The speakers, including Jim, a successful entrepreneur, discuss the value of celebrating short-term wins with the farming team and family to build momentum and motivation. They also highlight the importance of learning from success stories outside of farming and recognizing one's own achievements, even when it may feel uncomfortable. The conversation underscores the challenges and rewards of being a farmer and the importance of maintaining a balanced and supportive approach.