#239: Why Smart Farmers Stay Broke

Free Master Class this Spring: 5 Crucial Mistakes Farmers Make That's Costing Thousands Emilie’s husband was frustrated with her farm’s chaos - disorganized, unprofitable, and causing tension in her marriage. 😱 He wanted her to quit. "I'm not shutting down until I sell what I grew." 💪 That was Emily Harris' determined response when her husband suggested she quit farming completely. As a mom of three little ones (ages 5, 3, and 1!), and a flower farmer, something had to give. Emilie found my Farm Marketing Boot Camp just in the nick of time. Everything dramatically changed after she joined and focused on the step-by-step marketing and mindset process that gets you profitable. ✨ In our latest Profitable Mindset podcast episode, Emily reveals her incredible transformation from nearly closing her farm to making SIX TIMES more revenue with just ONE focused product launch! Emily shares: ✅ How her husband went from skeptical to supportive when she implemented my Time Management program FIRST 📚 ✅ The counterintuitive marketing strategy that generated SIX TIMES more revenue by focusing on just ONE product (Sweet Pea Seeds) instead of selling everything at once 💯 ✅ How she overcame her fear of sending multiple sales emails (and discovered her customers actually WANTED to hear from her!) 📧 ✅ Why pretending to be a "big corporation" was hurting her sales, and how embracing her authentic story transformed her business 🌟 The most powerful part? This wasn't just about business success. Emily's entire family life improved: "We started planning out the whole year just like you teach... Fun stuff first, then the work. My marriage is better, I'm more present with my kids, and my business is thriving." 💖 If you're trying to juggle family life with building a successful farm business, this episode is a MUST-LISTEN. Emily's journey proves you don't need to sacrifice your family to create a profitable farm. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Listen now and discover exactly how Emily went from "shut it down" to selling out her Sweet Pea Seeds with record-breaking sales! 🌱💰 🎉 Ready to transform YOUR farm business? 🔄 To your farming success,  🌻 Charlotte P.S. Emily proved everyone wrong and you can too! Listen to her full transformation in this episode! 🎧 🙌 Farm Marketing Boot Camp opens up in April - plan on joining and transforming your farm profits and your home life! I have a free training coming up April 7th (same day boot camp opens)  Sign up HERE to Learn “5 Mistakes Costing you Thousands”

Free Master Class this Spring: 5 Crucial Mistakes Farmers Make That's Costing Thousands Just a couple miles from me, a farmer with wonderful pastured chickens, eggs and dairy products has announced they’re quitting farming at the end of the month.   With just 30 days notice, they’ve left our community hanging - scrambling to find the milk that our kids love and the pastured chickens and eggs that we rely on for our own health. This happens far too often - For 25 years, I’ve watched farmer after farmer across the country, start up their farm, give it their all (physically, financially, emotionally) and then shut down. Losing all. 👉"Why Smart Farmers Stay Broke" - Profitable Mindset Podcast Episode #239 🎙️ I share insight about why this happens - and it has nothing to do with your farming skills or product quality. I work with hundreds of farmers a year for over a decade and I've noticed a clear pattern that separates those who thrive and make a healthy living on their farm, from those who go under. There's a big knowledge gap that most farmers never bridge, and today I share how to close that gap so you can be around for the long run. In this episode, I reveal: The TWO types of knowledge every farmer needs (most only focus on one) 🧠 The dangerous "knowing what to do" trap The one strategy my clients use to sell out or generate $100,000+ of products with a single email 📧 To your success, Charlotte P.S. If you've been working hard but not seeing the profits you deserve, this episode might be the breakthrough you've been waiting for. 🌟 Be sure to tune in.

Free Master Class this Spring: 5 Crucial Mistakes Farmers Make That’s Costing Thousands I'm sitting here at my desk, still thinking about yesterday's conversation that broke my heart. A farmer jumped on a call with me in tears. She's done everything she thought possible to become profitable: Spent $15,000 on a gorgeous website Creates perfect Instagram reels that get tons of shares and comments Drives an hour each way to premium farmers markets every weekend Has professional photos of every product  And guess what? She STILL barely covers her farm's costs. Her family questions why she keeps going.  She's thinking about quitting the farm she's poured her heart into for five years with no $$ to show.❤️‍🩹 This may sound familiar, because it’s a story I hear often when a farmer first seeks my help. But here's the wild part – right after that call, I spoke with another farmer who’s in my coaching program who just sells out her entire stock of $75 alpaca wool beanies (yes, $75 EACH!) in TWO HOURS with just ONE email. Same industry. Similar products. Completely different results. The difference isn't what you'd expect. It's not about working harder. It's not about fancier marketing tactics. It's not even about having better products. ​Mindset always drives profits​. Strategy won't work if your mindset is not useful. I was so fired up after these calls. Helping farmers learn to make money is my calling, my joy in life. I had to immediately record this episode #238 of the Profitable Mindset Podcast to break down the exact mindset barrier that's keeping good farmers (like maybe you?) from building the customer base you deserve. Tune in and listen. This isn't fluff, I promise. Shifting your mindset is how you build a profitable farm.  In this episode, I share: The 80/20 rule of farm profitability that completely flips how you should spend your time 🤯 The REAL reason why customers choose YOUR farm (hint: it has almost nothing to do with your beautiful products or the fancy reels!) Why focusing on "getting new customers" is actually keeping you broke 🤦‍♀️ I'm not exaggerating when I say this mindset shift changes EVERYTHING. Just last week, Lisa (a flower farmer in my program) tried what I teach and added 50 subscribers in two hours – all previous customers who'd abandoned her farm until she made this one change. Anna completely sold out her farm dinner with a single email – something that used to take weeks of stressful back-and-forth messaging. Listen, I know you're working your tail off. I used to as well! I figured it out, and now I share the mindset shifts with other farmers. The long days, the physical exhaustion, the constant worry about sales... I've been there. But what if the solution isn't working harder? What if it's just thinking differently?​ I can't wait to hear what shifts for you after listening! Cheering you on, Charlotte

Free Master Class this Spring: 5 Crucial Mistakes Farmers Make That's Costing Thousands You gotta hear this!🔥 We're barely halfway through Farm Marketing Boot Camp and farmers are SELLING OUT. Not all 53 farmers are selling out, of course, but it IS possible to learn how to brand your farm and see immediate success.✨ 🤔 How are the farmers in Boot Camp doing this? The powerful branding exercise we do in the first week of class jump-starts their marketing. 🎙️ Today on the podcast, I'm sharing one of the key exercises from our branding workshop. It's just three simple questions to ask your favorite customers - but the results are transformative. 💰 The answers they give are absolute GOLD, and in the episode I reveal exactly how to transform them into your unique farm brand. When you learn to brand this way, selling becomes effortless. This approach means you can raise your prices to where they should be - covering expenses + profit - and no one will hesitate to pay them. 💵 Branding is the missing piece in building a profitable farm that most farmers overlook. Tune in to Episode 237 The Profitable Mindset Podcast Today  👉 Then - join us in Farm Marketing Boot Camp this April and experience the same success our current farmers are celebrating: ✉️ "I sold out my farm-to-table dinner with ONE email!" - after implementing what you teach in just the first few weeks. Previously it took WEEKS of back-and-forth emails to fill seats. So much time saved and money made! 🥚 Farmers who were terrified to raise prices are now selling out eggs at $8, $10 and even $12/dozen. With clear branding, customers happily pay premium prices. 🐄 "I sold 7 quarters of beef with one email when I used to sell 1 or 2 if I was lucky." This branding approach makes selling effortless for you and buying a no-brainer for them. Is this you? 👇 🌐 Your website gets traffic but few actual sales 📧 Your emails aren't converting to purchases 📋 Farm stand visitors don't sign up for your list 💲 Customers consistently balk at your prices ...then you need to hear this perspective that's transforming farms across the country! 🎧 Listen to Episode 237 Now! Happy Branding! 💕 Charlotte

Free Master Class this Spring: 5 Crucial Mistakes Farmers Make That's Costing Thousands What if I told you the most successful farmers I work with are doing the OPPOSITE of what seems logical? 🤔 In fact, they're turning DOWN opportunities left and right... and making more money than ever. Sounds crazy, right?  I mean, isn’t the right opportunity actually a gold mine?? Here's the thing: In today's world of infinite possibilities - new/different products, new ways to show up on social, invites to collaborate or co-op, even new website platforms that promise to make more sales  - there's a hidden trap that's costing you serious money. 💸 And chasing the "next big opportunity" isn't the solution. It's actually the problem. Yes. Opportunities are costing you so much money. How to know if it’s right for you? I just released a podcast episode that reveals: The surprising "gateway drug" to staying broke and struggling  What profitable farmers are saying NO to and doing instead The not-so-obvious marker that predicts farm success A simple exercise my most profitable clients use to stay focused Warning: This might challenge everything you think you know about building a profitable farm.  But if you're tired of working harder but not making enough money, you need to hear this. Ready to learn what the most profitable farmers do differently? Farmers like Valerie who 10x’d her farm stand sales in a few months, Vanessa who 4x’d her sales this past year, and Elaine who sells out in an hour instead of what used to be all year of advertising. They’re all on the podcast. They did what I addressed in today’s episode, and it’s paid off big-time. With tough love and truth, Charlotte💚 P.S. The solution is simpler than you might think - but it's probably not what you're doing right now. Listen to the episode to find out why. 🎧

Free Master Class this Spring: 5 Crucial Mistakes Farmers Make That's Costing Thousands Did you know… our bodies are built to handle stress?  (it's in our DNA!). Yes, it should be a normal part of our lives.🤯   The problem arises because we’ve never been taught how to manage it properly.    When we don't know how to process everyday farm stress in the moment, it snowballs into anxiety and overwhelm, ultimately leading to burnout.   Here's the truth: I've learned from both my own farming journey and watching countless farmers in our community: you won’t make money on your farm when you're facing burnout. The most surprising thing I discovered?  👉 Burnout has nothing to do with those long days in the field or your mountain of tasks. It's all about what's happening up here, taps head. 🤔 And that's actually fantastic news because we can work with that! I'm sharing my secret weapon on the Profitable Mindset podcast today. It's a simple morning exercise that literally rewires your brain to default to calm and confidence instead of burnout from stress and overwhelm.  Think of it as mental crop rotation for your mind! In this episode, you'll learn: How to flip the script on stress that causes burnout in seconds flat Why your brain loves telling dramatic stories resulting in stress (and how to change the narrative) A step-by-step morning routine that transforms overwhelm into empowerment The best part? These tools work even when you can't change your workload.  Because let's face it - sometimes the work just has to get done. But how you feel while doing it? That's where the magic happens. 🪄 Ready to turn burnout into breakthrough? Give it a listen and let me know what you think! Happy farming,  Charlotte P.S. Remember: You weren't built to break - you were built to thrive. Let's get you back to feeling content, motivated, and in control of your farm and life. Tune in today.

Free Master Class this Spring: 5 Crucial Mistakes Farmers Make Yes, you read that right –-   Valerie 10x’d her farm stand sales in 4 months.💪⚡   No exaggeration.   Listen to Valerie’s 10X Story on the Profitable Mindset Podcast   After hearing me mention how you make far more money hosting your farm stand for just a few hours a week INSTEAD of being open 24/7 - she was intrigued.   She was also scared because it seemed counterintuitive.   But she joined Farm Marketing Boot Camp last summer, trusted the process I teach, implemented it, and increased her sales every month since.   You can do the same.   You might not believe it. That’s okay.   Valerie doubted it could work - but she tried anyway.   She doubted it would work for their farm because: 1️⃣ She’s way too busy as a homeschooling mom of 5 AND a wife 2️⃣ You can’t even see the farmstand from the road, so why would people stop? 3️⃣ There’s not much traffic on their road 4️⃣ AND there’s so much competition: 5 other farm stands and six farmers markets each day of the week   You may have also thought these same things would prevent you from making many times more money at your farm stand.   But I promise you, you can learn the skills I teach and make so much more money - and profit - on your farm than you think you can.   Even if you’re a busy, homeschooling mom and you live far from the nearest town and are surrounded by lots of competition.   Listen to Valerie’s story on the Profitable Mindset Podcast today.   Then, plan on joining us for Boot Camp in April when it opens up again and watch your profits soar.   See you inside!   Charlotte

Free Master Class this Spring: 5 Crucial Mistakes Farmers Make that Cost Thousands If you’ve ever wondered, “Why is there no money left even though my sales keep going up?” You are so not alone!   We’ve all been there! Making more and more in sales, but we never get ahead financially.🤦‍♀️   I’ve accidentally broken the code on how to learn to pay ourselves on our farms, and I’m sharing the exact steps with you today.   In today’s episode of the Profitable Mindset Podcast, I explain that farmers will often make more sales each year but never have any money left (and no, it’s not because there’s something wrong with you or your farm).   Once you know why it happens, you’ll feel motivated to take the simple steps I offer.   I outline two crucial skills in today’s episode that the farmers in my program learn to do, which finally puts money in their own pockets. It’s so exciting to get emails, like the one from Gina, a lavender farmer, who increased her sales by 400% in the four months since joining my program last August.   For the first time, she and her husband finally get a paycheck from the farm.   Take a listen and give this strategy a try.   Here’s to a profitable 2025!   ~Charlotte

Sign up and Attend Farm Marketing Week HERE - Free Marketing Coaching January, 2025 Vanessa, a mom of 3, had no farming experience when she quit her teaching job to start their pastured meat farm in Michigan. Like many of us, she plowed her way through learning to farm - making mistakes, recovering from mistakes, and trying again. Yet she was still stressed and overwhelmed and lacked confidence in herself and her farm. This inspired her to join my coaching program and turn it all around - to the tune of four times the farm sales this past year - -AND- 10X'ing her email list in just a few months - from 80 people to 800 customers and potential customers. The icing on the cake? Vanessa's husband now works only 3 days a week so he can be home farming with the family, too, due to the profit Vanessa’s learned to make. Please know - mindset coaching combined with modern online marketing training is the key to building a profitable farm. I hope this episode inspires you to recognize that you can learn the same skills and be successful, too. Farm success is not just reserved for the select few. It's available to you if you’re willing to invest time, money, and energy into learning the necessary skills I teach in Farm Marketing Boot Camp (opens up next week). The skills I teach and the mindset coaching in the Boot Camp is how Vanessa learned to go from $45,000 in sales last year to $175,000 in sales this year and keep enough profit to afford her husband to be home. Vanessa’s highlights: Making more money than ever - From $45k to $175k in sales in one year. Four times more than last year. Could then afford for her husband to work part-time and be home on the farm. Grew her email list by ten times over the last year due to increased confidence gained in the first few lessons. Her new-found confidence has allowed her to go after grants that require presentations she couldn’t do before. She just received her first walk-in freezer with this skill! Vanessa’s life and business is growing. She’s profitable. She’s fulfilled. She’s 'Farmer of the Year' for her County.  Her success was not by chance or magic. She created her farm and family’s success by intentionally learning marketing and implementing mindset coaching.  Let’s do this for your farm, too!!  Two things - ➡️ ​listen to Vanessa’s story on the link above.​ ➡️​Sign up for Farm Marketing Week - free - HERE​ Let’s make 2025 your most successful, most profitable, and most fulfilling year ever! Big hugs, Charlotte

Sign up and Attend Farm Marketing Week HERE - Free Marketing Coaching January, 2025 I’ve got a very special farmer for you to meet today on the Profitable Mindset podcast.   Brandy Keller has a law degree, is raising kids, and has now embarked on her dream of building a farm to help others connect and ground themselves.   YES, you heard right - she uses her farmland and animals to improve the world.   To give people enriching experiences, something that’s missing from so many of our lives in today’s busy world.   Her guests develop confidence and leadership skills during their time with the animals and the land.   Brandy’s a delight, and you’ll fall in love with her on the podcast!   Before she met me, this was all just an idea and a dream.   She realized if she never took the time to join my class and learn to actually focus on bringing her ideas to fruition, she’d never be able to help people in the way she desired.   So she joined my coaching program to gain the skills to make her dreams reality.   I love that I get to introduce you to all sorts of different kinds of farms on this podcast.    The one thing they have in common?    At some point, they realized that to make their dreams come true, they had to learn how to market and sell so they could be in business for the long haul, giving back to their communities just like Brandy.   If you have an idea or dream for your farm, then it’s meant to be! Let’s help you sprout the seed and grow it in 2025!   Two things you can do now -   ➡️Click the link above to listen to Brandy’s Interview. ➡️Click HERE to sign up for FREE Marketing Help in Farm Marketing Week   Let’s get YOU inspired to make your farm dreams come true this year.   Cheers to 2025!   Charlotte