As this issue heads to the printer, we just finished our virtual conference, “Farrier Business Success Academy.” This free event gave attendees 3 days to watch eight sessions by farriers and equine industry professionals delivering advice that could immediately impact businesses. The advice covered many hot topics affecting practice operation, including costs, managing clients and preparing for financially-stable retirement.

I think our presenters all did terrific jobs in delivering incredible insight throughout their sessions. Some were ideas every farrier should implement, while others served as food for thought concerning different ways to approach familiar business practices.

Through these sessions, many statements made an impact with me. I’m highlighting two that I found have required honest appraisals to transform and energize your business.

Really a Limiting Factor?

I have to admit, for a long time I couldn’t buy into Lee Olsen’s belief that one’s area won’t limit growth. Of course, if you want to only shoe racehorses in the middle of nowhere or charge high end sport horse prices for feedyard horses, you’re going to be disappointed by the limitations of scenarios like these. But I struggled with looking past limitations as shackles. The Brock, Texas, farrier reminds his colleagues they can’t let their area limit their ability to raise prices.

If your prices have stagnated for years and you hold resistance in changing that, it is time to look in the mirror.

“If you aren’t charging what you think you can, you need to take a look at yourself and…