Integrity in Action: The True Cost of Overcommitting [episode 5]
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The conversation around showing up in business often gets overshadowed by discussions of strategy, marketing, and sales. While everyone acknowledges its importance, few entrepreneurs recognize that reliability is quite possibly the single biggest factor in building a sustainable rural business. It's not just about keeping appointments - it's about creating a foundation of trust that will define your reputation from day one.
As I shared in this episode of The Workhorse Podcast with Kendall, "It's quite possibly the single biggest indicator or marker of what you look for when you're in a community. And that to me is showing up when you say you're going to show up." Your reliability bleeds into every part of your business - your partnerships, customer relationships, and community standing. When you consistently show up when you say you will, you're making a powerful statement about your values that no amount of marketing can replicate.
In our conversation, I explained how I have very little patience for no-shows. "I would drag myself through broken glass and open flame to fulfill an obligation that I made," I admitted. This might sound extreme, but in rural communities where everyone knows everyone, your reputation for showing up consistently becomes your most valuable business asset.
Even when things go sideways (and they will), honest communication makes all the difference. When I hosted a Gather event disrupted by a monsoon, I openly shared my disappointment rather than pretending everything was fine. The result? The community rallied, turning phone flashlights on to illuminate the darkness and helping push water out of tents. What could have been a disaster became one of our most powerful community moments.
This brings me to a crucial point: showing up isn't just about you - it's about building sustainable community.
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In this episode, "Integrity in Action: The True Cost of Overcommitting," you'll get both perspectives:
Jessica's Point: "It's quite possibly the single biggest indicator or marker of what you look for when you're in a community. And that to me is showing up when you say you're going to show up. This is one of the first things that people will notice. It's one of the things that will stick with you the longest and impact your reputation, your partnerships."
Kendall's Point: "Having other women in your circle who are doing similar things to you, building businesses, farming, living rurally, whatever it is, is so important... because that support system and that understanding is unmatched. And if you burn those bridges, it's real hard to get that relationship back or that community back."
Resources & Links:
Connect with Kendall:
Follow on Instagram @marketingforfarmers and @centralparkfarms
Check out her website
Connect with Jessica:
Follow on Instagram @moosevalleyranch
Check out her website
Related Episodes:
Episode 3: Lessons In Failing
Episode 4: The Stepmom, The Sibling, And The Succession Plan
More about The Workhorse Podcast:
Welcome to The Workhorse Podcast, where we dig deep into the grit, passion, and strategy behind building a successful rural business. Hosted by Kendall Ballantine of Central Park Farms and Jessica Garza of Moose Valley Ranch, this podcast is for hardworking female farmers and rural entrepreneurs who are ready to turn their dreams into thriving businesses.
From marketing your business online and direct-to-consumer strategies to balancing farm family life and business growth, we’re here to give you practical tools, candid insights, and a healthy dose of community support. This is for the doers, the women who scale their business during the long trips to town, the workhorses.
If you’re looking to dive even deeper into our community, check out The Workhorse Collective, a growing group of rural women entrepreneurs.
Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!