About This Episode
Chris and Alissa Barron recorded this on the beach in Jamaica with Captain Patrick, the boat driver who took them out the day before. Patrick has worked for the same company for 23 years, driving the boat for 17 of them, after starting out picking straw off the beach and working as a lifeguard. He is 44, married 27 years to the girl he met in high school, with two sons and two grandchildren. His parents' line was to reach for the top because the bottom is crowded.
Asked how farms keep good employees, Patrick answers with love, respect, honesty, and teaching. Show people the right thing, be upfront with them, and thank them for even small tasks. He tells Chris about a young man who refused to train anyone because he feared the boss would replace him, and calls that thinking backward: sharing what you know is how your name gets carried on. He also notes the company he works for keeps investing in training rather than dropping its guard.
The pacing advice is the memorable part. Eat slow and long, because eating fast means choking; take the little you get, work with it, and the better will come. Farmers who expect employees to already know what they know need to slow down and teach instead. Do not worry about what you cannot fix, and deal plainly with what you can. And take the vacation, because a rested mind handles employees and family better than one that never leaves the operation.
“Always try to reach the top because the bottom is crowded. But that don't mean that you will push somebody down to reach the top.”
— Captain Patrick
Key Takeaways
Patrick worked 23 years for one company, 17 of them driving the boat, after starting by picking straw off the beach and lifeguarding.
His retention formula is love, respect, honesty, and teaching people the right thing, plus saying thank you for small tasks.
He rejects hoarding knowledge: a coworker who refused to train replacements was limiting his own advancement, not protecting it.
For family businesses he separates roles from relationships: run it professionally, lay out the rules and restrictions, and communicate on the same level.
If you cannot fix it, do not worry about it; if a tractor is beyond repair, replace it and keep the staff working rather than stalling.
Vacation is not optional. Married 27 years, he ties time away and a rested mind directly to how you treat employees and family when you return.
Full Transcript
Narrator: Hey everybody, before we get rolling with the excellent conversation with Captain Patrick, do want to just kind of let you know some of the things we're going to be talking about, which is pretty awesome, is business, some business tips from Patrick, family, love, uh, the importance of employee retention, rest and relaxation, and just the drive to the top. How do we get there in a, in a slow and deliberate process? So it's a phenomenal conversation. So Make sure you listen to it all the way to the end. It's similar to some of the Dad's Wisdom podcasts we've done, but, uh, just a phenomenal guy with amazing wisdom, uh, from Jamaica. And with that said, the other thing I want to mention to everybody before we get rolling with the podcast is we will have a link to 19 Minutes, which is our new premium subscriber podcast. Again, that's called 19 Minutes.
It's a podcast that's got real information in it that we really can't cover on a typical podcast, just things that we're gonna discuss in terms of, of just detailed information. We'll dial in some real numbers and, and some real situations, probably have some guests on, some different farmers and some other guests on just specific topics with a little bit more proprietary information, but things that we feel that some of you that are on the elite side of things and really focused on the executive part of your business are really going to get a lot out of that. So Check that out. The link is connected here and that's basically, it's $30 a month. We'll have 3 episodes every month. We're going to have them out on the 9th, the 19th, and the 29th. We'll have some separate episodes that will be sprinkled in along the way as well.
So anyway, with that said, check out 19 Minutes and I'm positive you will enjoy this conversation with Captain Patrick in Jamaica. Thanks, and we'll see you soon.
Chris
Barron: Welcome everybody to another episode of the Ag View Pitch. We are in Jamaica on vacation, and so what, uh, Lisa and I wanted to do a little bit is talk about the importance of getting away, spending some time just relaxing and getting your brain back in order, uh, with all the hard work we do. And all the things we have to think about in our jobs, it's important. And one of the things we did on our getaway here is we met Captain Patrick, who was one of our phenomenal boat drivers, and had a great conversation. And we thought, hey, what better conversation to have on the Ag View Pitch than to talk with Captain Patrick from Jamaica to get some bits of wisdom. Patrick was telling us all kinds of things about wisdom and things that he had learned from his mom and different people. And so we thought this would be a great conversation. So let's start out introducing you, Patrick.
Tell us a little bit about yourself as we stand here on the beach in Jamaica.
Captain
Patrick: Well, first of all, it was nice, you know, meeting you guys. You guys are great people, and meeting great people is all, you know, it's all that matters all the time, you know. Yeah, man. Not that when the bad one come, we don't give them love just the same, you know. We treat everybody with respect and love, you know. 'Cause that's what it's all about. This world is all about love, you know? As my parents always said, always try to reach the top because the bottom is crowded. But that don't mean that you will push somebody down to reach the top. You have to work very hard and be successful and go for what you want, you know? Yeah, man. So I work for, you know, 23 years for this company, driving the boat for 17 years. First starting out picking up straw off the beach, you know? So I work my way up, you know, as a boat captain, you know?
Starting off from the beach, being a lifeguard, and work my way up, you know, be nice to people, and it paid off, you know. Yeah, man, I'm 44 years old, going 45, and I'm still strong, and I give God thanks for that, you know.
Chris
Barron: Yeah, man, that's awesome. Tell us a little bit about your family. Um, you know, you obviously lived here, you've been to America several times, and tell us a little bit about yourself and your family.
Captain
Patrick: Yes, man. Well, um, I have a wife. I've been married for 27 years, you know, the first girl from out of high school, you know. So I put an anchor on her and I throw away the key, didn't look back, you know. I didn't intend to look back anyway. She's a beautiful young lady, you know. And I got 2 boys, 2 grandkids. I wanted more kids and I want to make a soccer team, but she cut me off, you know. So, but that's okay.
Chris
Barron: She told you got enough.
Captain
Patrick: Yeah, she said that's it. So I, I obey and it works out. I got 2 grandkids now, so I have to play the ball with them, you know. And I've been to state a few times. I met a few people from here, you know, on my tours, and they invite me to the state and they really show me a good time, you know. They say, you know, hey Patrick, you're a good guy, come work for me, you know. So I went to New York and then I went to up into Maine. Yeah, I end up doing about 9 or 10 states, you know. It's a great experience, very different from here, you know. Yeah, man. Here we go like really slow, relaxed. Over there is a little bit fast.
Chris
Barron: Yeah, yeah.
Captain
Patrick: So, you know, but it paid you know, and it's a great experience, you know, overall, you know.
Chris
Barron: Yeah, man. So one of the things you told us yesterday I thought was pretty interesting because the listeners, the people who listen to this, and our clients in our consulting business are very business-focused. They, like you just said, you know, I think you said, how did you say that about getting to the top? Say that again.
Captain
Patrick: Well, reaching to the top Right? You always try to get to the top because the bottom is crowded. But it doesn't mean that you're gonna push somebody down to reach the top. You gotta work hard, you gotta advance yourself and make yourself, you know, up there, you know? Yeah, man, because the bottom is very crowded. You gotta work very hard, you know?
Chris
Barron: Yeah, and it's a lot about the people. One of the things that we see a lot too is trying to—
Captain
Patrick: Yeah, so the greatest thing in life, I must say, you eat slow and long, eat fast, you'll choke. I mean, the little you get, you work with it, and the better will come, you know?
Chris
Barron: Yeah, man, that's really good advice. Yeah, I think you said that yesterday and it caught our attention.
Captain
Patrick: Yeah, so it is, it is, this is a way to do it, you know? You know, there are many companies that, you know, you work for and, um, they will give you a lot more, but you stick to the one you have, you're patient, and it will come eventually, you know? Yeah, man, but if you run and try to get it, you know you know, too fast, and guess what? That's what I mean by you'll choke, you know. I mean, you don't normally work out, you know. Yeah, man. But if you take your time, you'll make it, you know.
Chris
Barron: So what advice would you give the listeners? You know, a lot of the listeners on our podcast are farmers that have been very successful. A lot of them have employees. Some of them bring employees in like yourself, H2A employees and that type of thing. What is your advice for retention to not only get a good employee but to keep a good employee?
Captain
Patrick: Well, all you have to do is love them, you know, treat them right and now teach them the right thing, you know. And once you do that, you'll be, you'll be, you'll be, you'll be right there with, with them, you know. You have to work together, you got to show them the right thing, you know, and it will pay it off, you know. Yeah, man. So that's what it's all about. You have to give them love, you have to show them respect, because respect goes where respect come from. And if you don't respect them, they're not going to respect you, you know. Yeah, man. But you show love and everything, you work hard together All about teamwork, you know. Yeah, man, it's all about love and respect.
Chris
Barron: That's awesome. What other advice would you give? You know, that is one of the things that we see. Is there any additional things? Because we do see, you know, some people that, you know, they'll go into a job for a couple years and then they're looking for the grass is maybe greener on the other side of the fence, you know. And they— how do you prevent that? Just is there any additional things that you can think of?
Captain
Patrick: Yes, the key is that be honest with them. You know, and honesty is the key for everything. And once you're honest and you show them love again, that's all that matters. You got to be honest. You got to be upfront with them. Let them know the right thing, you know, and show them love. That's all about one love.
Chris
Barron: Yeah, man.
Alissa: That's awesome. Tell us, last night you talked about the training here at the company you work for and how much time and money they put into training and how important that is.
Captain
Patrick: Well, you know, it's always room for improvement. And in every business, you have to, you have to be going forward at all times. You have to have room for improvement because you can't drop your guard, because once you drop your guard, that's when everything will fall short. So what you have to do is keep pushing your people, keep showing them the right thing, give them good advice, and as I said, be honest to them. That's the key.
Chris
Barron: Yeah, we see that as a difficulty, a lot of us as farmers in the in the US, we're not very good teachers. We, we, we think you should just know what we know. Why don't you know what we know? I mean, is something that goes on in our mind. How do we get around that?
Captain
Patrick: First, first of all, you have to slow down and be patient. So what you have to do is adjust yourself a little bit. So a lot of people on the fast going, but the more you adjust yourself and slow down is the more people understand you. But every day you wake up and you keep going, keep going, keep going. No, it doesn't work that way. You got to slow down. You got to teach the people the right thing, show them what to do, and as I said, be honest to them. So the key to everything is be honest and show them love and respect, and you will keep your employee.
Chris
Barron: So you talk about love and family and the importance of all of that. What's some of the best advice you ever got from your family that you've been able to carry on in your work and in your business?
Captain
Patrick: Well, the key to— for my family overall, especially for my wife and kids, is communication. So we communicate and we on the same level. So once we communicate on the same level, then everything will go perfect. But once you start to fall short, as I said again, it won't work. So you got to be on the same page. You got to extend yourself. You got to show them love again. And show them respect, and that will work. It's a simple thing that works. Yeah, see, not the major thing.
Chris
Barron: Yeah, communication is one of the number one things that we see as a challenge for a lot of the people that we work with, just within families. A lot of the, the clients that we work with, and a lot of the people listening, have family businesses. And so when you work with family, it is different. It's, it's difficult because you have to sometimes say things or put yourself in a hierarchical position where one person has to call the shots and somebody else has to respect that. It might not be the same as the age. Do you understand? So how would you, from your wisdom and what you see at this company and with family, any thoughts on that?
Captain
Patrick: Well, as you can see, it is what it is, my friend. Business is business. And when you have a business and running a business, you have to run it in a professional way. And, um, as a professional, you have to lay out your rules, you got to lay out the restrictions, you have to lay out all the, um, amendments where the company will follow so that you can be successful. As I said, if you want to reach the top, you have to push for it because the bottom is crowded.
Chris
Barron: Exactly. Any questions from you? Is there any, any, uh, other advice that you would give? You were loaded with When we were on the boat yesterday, you were loaded with lots of wisdom and lots of advice. And we do another podcast called Dad's Wisdom occasionally where we bring in the elders, you know, the older people in the operation and just ask them for wisdom, just those bits and pieces of wisdom that they've gotten over the years. Is there any other pieces of wisdom you can throw out there?
Captain
Patrick: Well, you have to focus and, you know, it makes no sense in Ghana heard that you're going to worry about something that you can't fix. So if you can't fix it, don't worry about it. If you can fix it, that's when you're gonna bust it. You're gonna go for it, right? I'm saying, so, right, if, if they— if the tractor break down on the farm and you can't fix it, hey, get a new one. Make the staff happy, you know. Don't just— don't fall short. Yeah, you see what I'm saying?
Chris
Barron: So that's what I'm talking about. Or at least fix it, right?
Captain
Patrick: All right, let's fix it. But if you can't fix it If you can't fix, don't worry about it. Yeah, yeah, because you can't fix it. Yeah, it's the same thing if you have a staff that, you know, having a problem and you say, you know, you try very hard, you know, you try to meet all these needs and you can't fix it, then you have to, you know, get to the point, you know. It's either you're going to stay on or you stay off, you know. Yeah, yeah, you got to be straight, you got to be honest, you know. That's right. So that's the key.
Chris
Barron: So, so what I'm catching from you here is, is eat slow Eat fast and choke, or eat slow and long. Yeah, and that applies to everything in life, right? Everything in life, and especially in business as well.
Captain
Patrick: Yeah, you know, it's so funny that I met a guy 10 years ago. He's a younger guy, and he told me that, you know, Patrick, if I at my job and somebody new comes in, I won't tell them nothing. I said, are you so selfish? He said, no, No, I'm not. He said, well, I am very good at what I do, and the minute I teach someone, they're gonna learn, and then the boss gonna send me home and gonna hire them. So in order to say that you can't be like that, you have to teach people, you have to show the people around you all what you learn so that you can be move on, so that you can be successful. And if you have your name, your name can be carry on just like Captain Patrick. Yeah, exactly. So it's all about love, teaching, training, and that's how you're going to be successful. That's why— that's my advice.
Chris
Barron: Yeah, that's great, great advice because I think a lot of us struggle with that sometimes. Um, if you give away information, you feel like you're giving away power. And if you give away information, it's actually the opposite, isn't it? I mean, if you give away information, if you can share, you can—
Captain
Patrick: the the information you give away is the one that you want to share, is the one that you want to show somebody, is the love that you have. It comes back to love. So it's the love that you have for your job, the love you have for your company, the love that you have for your family, you know, that you're gonna share. You're gonna share your love with other family. You're gonna share, share, um, all the knowledge you have with other workers, you know, so that they can be, you know, can update the company.
Chris
Barron: And I think that's great advice too, because a lot of times we're so busy and we're so focused on the here and now and what we got to get done that we forget the human element.
Captain
Patrick: Exactly, my friend. And that's what I'm all about. It's all about love and respect and understanding. Because number one, if you don't understand your job and you, you'll get, um, you know, dysfunction, then that's where the problem comes in. But once you have somebody around you that push you, somebody really love you, somebody say thank you for making it today work, you know, thank you for coming in, thank you for doing this. That's a simple thing that will make it work. There's a simple thing that make the staff for you, um, love you and appreciate you because it's a simple thing that you said to them. Thank you for doing this, thank you for putting— you ask them to pick up a simple thing, you say thank you. You know, that's respect and love. And once you do that, my friend, you won't have no problem.
Alissa: I would say one last question is, how important do you think vacation is for people who work very, very hard?
Captain
Patrick: Well, they say work hard, play hard. So that's the whole thing. So vacation, especially for family, is very important. We get to relax it relax your mind, your body, and also you get to show the other half how much you care about them and what you can do for them. And that is— it's not what you can do for them, also is the love that you show them. That's important. So vacation is very important. You can't work all the days of your life, my friend. You gotta take a break.
Chris
Barron: I think that's good advice. And, and I think for a lot of us, we almost feel guilty when we're not working, right? And so we have to— because I know for me it takes the first day or of to get relaxed from, you know, from what we're— from my mind being so still involved in the business. And I think that's where, you know, the importance of getting away, like you say, opening your mind up and relaxing. And when you go back, then you have a new view, you see everything differently. What's your perspective on that?
Captain
Patrick: Well, in case of that, what we do here is for the people that comes here. We, we know how you work to get here, so we always make it a priority to make sure that you enjoy yourself. It's very important, my friend, that you relax your mind, because what happened is that when you don't do that, when you go back to work, it is a thing that you will— that function well, you don't talk to your employee well, and the wife will get at you, and then it's all malfunctioning. So what you have to do, you have to relax your mind, you have to slow down and make yourself happy.
Chris
Barron: Pretty good advice, I would say. Any final thoughts? Anything we didn't ask that you're like, you know, I need to tell you this before we wrap up here?
Captain
Patrick: Well, um, For this program, first of all, I thank you. I've never done this before.
Chris
Barron: Thank you. You're doing good.
Captain
Patrick: But it's, um, my advice is that never ever drop your guard. Always up with the world because you're competing with the world. It may sound crazy, but if you relax against the world, you're gonna fall short. So what you have to do now, you have to push on, keep going, because sky is the limit.
Chris
Barron: That's right. Awesome. Well, Captain Patrick, this has been a great interview. We sincerely appreciate you being on, and we're gonna definitely have you back again.
Captain
Patrick: So, hey, you're welcome, my friend.
Chris
Barron: We might have to get you to come from Jamaica to Iowa and drive a tractor.
Captain
Patrick: That's no problem, man. I'm open. I'm open for experience. I'm hoping to learn something new. As I said, you're never too old to learn anything, right? Yeah, so as they say, sky is the limit, my friend, you know. Awesome.
Chris
Barron: Well, thank you very much. We sincerely appreciate it. Uh, that was Captain Patrick in Jamaica, and, uh, Alyssa and I will be heading back to the States here real soon, but we wanted to get this out to you guys and hope, uh, hope you all can get away and rest your brain, uh, before we get rolling in the spring. So with that said, Thanks everybody. Thanks again, Patrick. Really appreciate it.
Captain
Patrick: One love, one love, one love, one love. All right, one love Jamaica, man.
Chris
Barron: All right, thanks everybody for listening, and we will catch you again next time on the Ag View Pitch.