ONE to remember

As Alltech president and CEO Mark Lyons closed the 2022 Alltech ONE Conference following powerful presentations led by Alltech Humanitarian Award winners Mick Ebeling and Erik Weihenmayer, he invited the audience to consider a great deal about all that had been discussed. 

“We’ve been talking a little bit about some of the problems threatening global stability,” he said. “High inflation, the energy crisis, food poverty and the climate crisis [are all top of mind]. [And as Alltech ruminant research director Dr. Vaughn Holder reminded us], we have not just one now, but [rather] two very important jobs: nourishing people and preserving our planet. 

“We have the science that is showing us the way, but we also know [what to do] intrinsically,” Lyons continued. “It’s something that’s within us. Let’s not let negativity [and perceived barriers] suppress our inner truths.” 

A good thing 

Lyons went on to point out that we should take heart in Mick Ebeling’s message of doing at least a little bit of good for others each day.  

“[Doing good is good.] It’s good for our business. It’s good for our brand. It’s good for recruiting, and it’s good for retention,” he said. “[Think about it]. What is the number-one challenge in your business? People. It was before the pandemic, and it is even more so today.”  

Lyons has a point. According to a recent survey conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the so-called “great resignation” isn’t over: “Higher pay, more job fulfillment and wanting to be ‘truly themselves’ at work are the [key] factors pushing workers to change jobs.”

It would appear that the answer to this modern-day dilemma might be simpler than we may have originally thought. 

A transformative opportunity 

Lyons went on to note, “This is an opportunity for transformation. What a gift [we’ve been given: the ability] to work together to create a planet the way we want to see it. 

“We can have profitable businesses while solving the world’s biggest problems,” he continued. “There is so much more agriculture can do.”  

He’s not wrong. As studies have shown, we capture more carbon in the soil with animals on the land than we would without them. That’s information that the average person is likely unaware of, and “that’s the power that you [in agriculture] have. Tell the story,” Lyons urged the audience. 

“As my father [the late Dr. Pearse Lyons] liked to say, ‘Don’t get it right. Get it going’ — much to the remiss of many perfectionists, including [my mother],” Lyons continued. “But he was right! It’s not about perfectionism, it’s about progress. If we change the lens and the way we look at things, we can change the way we think.” 

The power of anti-goals 

Before you enlist Google’s help in discovering what anti-goals are, I’ll save you the trouble: Anti-goals are a concept developed by Tiny Capital co-founder Andrew Wilkinson. They’re about things you don't want to happen or the person you don’t want to be a year from now. So, essentially, instead of envisioning positive outcomes surrounding potentially hard-to-attain goals, you think about all the things you don’t want to happen and what actions you can take to avoid these potential challenges.  

So, consider: What things do you not want to happen? What outcome would make achieving your goal hardly worth it? How do you avoid that? This is an example of inverted thinking. It’s much easier to solve a problem backwards than it is forward, and anti-goals are designed to help you assess potential barriers before you encounter them. 

Camp or climb? 

In closing, Lyons remarked, “Every great ascent begins with a vision. Are we okay here? Are we going to be complacent? Shall we camp? Or will we climb?” 

He encouraged the audience to give those around them the courage to achieve great things and to work toward a Planet of Plenty™. 

“[Before we part, I’d like to ask] you to do a [few] things,” Lyons said. “[The first is to] think of that one person you can help, as Mick [Ebeling] challenged us to do. [The second is to] think of one collaboration [you can set into motion] — someone you can work with who can help you achieve your ambitions. And [finally, I would encourage you to] think of someone you could bring [to the Alltech ONE Conference] next year.”  

You never know. These few simple tasks could transform your life, that of another — or both. See you on the ascent.