Tree Change

This place is heaven on a stick.

I’m two hours from Sydney and about two metres from Kangaroo (Valley) River.

There’s not a soul in sight except a little black bull calf looking for his mum. His gorgeous face and perfectly round ears poke just above the rye grass and red clover.

But his dark brown eyes are trained straight on me, so I introduce myself and he immediately “moo’s” back.

My heart melts. And now the old farm feels like heaven to the power of ten.

And then there’s the river.

Watching the water wash across the rocks while the breeze whistles through the Casuarina’s along the riverbank brings back the most beautiful memories.

As a boy, we used to come here for family BBQs. Swimming in waterholes and skimming rocks across the river while Mum or Dad cooked hotplates full of steaks, bangers, and the world’s nicest marinated kebabs on skewers!

Gees it was good. Five-star dining in the bush, all over an open fire.

Back then, t-shirts and shoes were as scarce as Wi-Fi.

But could I operate the business from here if we still owned either of the farms, ‘Glenview’ or ‘Oakleigh’?

My heart screams ‘yes’, but my head says ‘no’.

Working from home is a good idea until you need to get something done…especially for those with dependents.

And I still think the best business is done belly to belly, at least for Suncow.

Yet the whole world is convinced the ‘Zoom economy’ and working remotely is the new norm.

But I’m not convinced.

I’ve seen endless ‘happiness’ surveys suggesting employees are happier working from home, but I know a stack of employers who are increasingly worried about productivity.

But, if a tree or sea change is pulling at your heart strings, here are four things I reckon you need to consider:

1. Rent before you buy. Only 40% of changes last.

Kangaroo Valley is a great example. Scores of people come here but most can’t hack the winters so they leave. They call it the ‘two winter turnover’. Two winters and they’re gone.

2. The travel trap. Travelling from the country to the city every week is like buying a new lounge. The excitement wears off sooner than you expect.

3. Employees must find a way to add value. And that doesn’t mean working like a dog ten hours a day and getting paid for eight. It means finding a way to make yourself more valuable than ever before.

And here’s why. Now that employers have realised how easy it is to work remotely, they’ll start looking for cheaper options.

Hello, India and the Philippines!

But don’t get bitter, get better.

4. Don’t make tech your ‘besty’. (Human) connection is one of our deepest emotional needs, yet, it’s the puzzle piece most people overlook when making change decisions.

Take Millennials for example. They’re the most digitally connected generation of our time thanks to social media. Yet, they’re also the loneliest because too many have zero personal engagement.

Sure, you can Zoom your mates, but it’s not the same. There’s no way I’d sit and have a beer with an iPad, I’d rather play naughts and crosses with myself.

By all means, find your little piece of heaven on Earth. Just don’t assume the grass is always greener, it’s seasonal.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Adam

p.s. speaking of mother’s, my little four legged mate found his mum (with some help). Gees he was hungry and happy to see her! Worlds longest milkshake I reckon. So cute.