From Farm Chaos to Business Systems: How I Saved My Sanity and My Business
When Everything Was On Fire, All The Time
Picture this: A woman standing in a field, covered in mud, holding a screaming toddler with one hand while trying to answer a client call with the other, as escaped sheep parade victoriously past her. That woman was me, about four years ago.
I had what looked like a dream setup on paper. A budding coaching business that I could run from anywhere. A picturesque small farm where my family could live close to nature. A beautiful child who would grow up learning where food comes from and develop a strong work ethic.
What I actually had was chaos incarnate.
My business lurched from feast to famine, with inconsistent income that made financial planning nearly impossible. Our farm, which we purchased with precisely zero farming experience, presented a new catastrophe daily—fences breaking, animals escaping, equipment failing, and endless physical labor that left me exhausted and sore. Meanwhile, my toddler was toddlering as hard as she could, constantly finding creative new ways to test the limits of my sanity every single day.
Every morning felt like waking up to play a high-stakes game of Whack-A-Mole, except the moles were faster, smarter, and multiplying faster than I could swing.
The Breaking Point
There wasn't one dramatic moment when everything changed—it was more like death by a thousand cuts. We endured a particularly brutal three-month stretch where it felt like the universe was testing just how much we could handle before breaking.
The farm seemed determined to fall apart around us. The automatic waterer failed during a heatwave. Two fence sections collapsed in the same week, leading to an epic livestock jailbreak. We lost our first animal unexpectedly. Our barn flooded during the rainiest month on record, spoiling feed and creating electrical problems. Each repair came with a jaw-dropping price tag that my inconsistent income couldn't offer to help with.
Every night, I'd collapse into bed physically and emotionally drained, only to lie awake wondering how much longer we could continue like this. The farm dream and business ambitions that had once energized me were now sucking the life out of me.
During one intensely difficult week, I found myself browsing job listings through the blur of tears. I didn’t even have a copy of a resume on my computer. The thought of giving up on my business was painful, but the stability of a regular paycheck was super tempting. Yet as I scrolled through job listings, a deep resistance welled up inside me. I realized that going back to traditional employment would mean giving up not just my business, but our entire farm lifestyle. The farm was functionally dependent on my ability to work flexibly and be present for its daily needs.
That's when clarity emerged, not in a lightning-bolt moment, but as a quiet, stubborn determination: The farm life was non-negotiable. My business was non-negotiable. And continuing in chaos was no longer an option. Something had to change, but it wasn't going to be my dreams.
The Life Raft I Didn't Know I Needed
As a Systems Business Coach, I'd been teaching clients how to bring order to their chaotic operations. The irony wasn't lost on me—I'd become the classic case of "the cobbler's children have no shoes."
I decided to take my own medicine and approach both my farm and business as interconnected systems that needed structure, not separate problems competing for my attention.
First, I defined clear goals for both the farm and my business. What were we actually trying to accomplish? What was essential versus nice-to-have? This clarity alone eliminated dozens of unnecessary tasks that had been cluttering my days.
Next, I created systems with built-in feedback loops that would let me know when something needed attention before it became a crisis. On the farm, this meant daily, weekly, and seasonal checklists that prevented emergencies. In my business, it meant consistent client onboarding, follow-ups, and financial tracking that stabilized my income.
Most importantly, I built "minimum standards" protocols for when inevitably, despite best efforts, shit did hit the fan. Because on a farm, it always will—sometimes literally.
Two Dreams, One Functional Life
The change didn't happen overnight, but it was remarkable how quickly things improved once the right systems were in place.
The farm transformed from a source of constant anxiety to a well-oiled operation where we could actually anticipate needs rather than just react to disasters. Yes, we still had emergencies (the oven literally exploded two days ago), but they became exceptions rather than the rule.
With the farm running more smoothly, I could finally focus on strategically building my business. I implemented systems for consistent marketing, client management, and service delivery. My income stabilized, my client roster filled, and for the first time, I felt in control rather than constantly catching up.
The impact extended far beyond practical operations. My anxiety levels dropped dramatically. My family enjoyed quality time together without one of us constantly jumping up to handle a crisis. My child got to see parents who were tired but fulfilled, not perpetually stressed and overwhelmed.
Why This Matters For Your Business
You might not be juggling turkeys and client calls simultaneously (though if you are, we should definitely talk), but every small business owner faces their own version of this chaos. Whether you're in the early years of your business journey or navigating a growth phase, transition or succession plan, the principle remains the same: Business problems can be solved with systems.
When you know where you're going, building a strategic plan becomes infinitely easier. Systems help you work that plan consistently, even when motivation wanes or challenges arise. And feedback loops ensure your systems evolve and improve over time, creating an upward spiral of efficiency.
This isn't just about creating checklists or documenting procedures. It's about designing a business that works for you instead of draining you—one that supports your life instead of consuming it.
Through my 3-Month Systems Overhaul Sprint, I help small business owners achieve this same transformation. We identify the broken systems costing you time and sanity, implement strategic improvements, and create a sustainable operation that continues improving long after our work together ends.
Learning from Beverlee Rasmussen at Systems Business Coach has been transformational for both my business and how I serve my clients. Her approach—that any business can be successful with the right support, knowledge, and systems—resonated deeply with me, especially during those chaotic early years. The training I received helped me develop a framework that makes complex business challenges manageable, even when they initially seem overwhelming.
The beauty of systems thinking is that it's accessible to everyone. You don't need fancy software or an MBA—you just need a willingness to step back, look at your business holistically, and make strategic improvements.
Ready to Tame Your Business Chaos?
If your business feels like my farm four years ago—chaotic, draining, and consuming more of your life than it should—know that transformation is possible. You can build a business that's both successful and sustainable, one system at a time.
Visit Michelle MacNeil Coaching to learn more about how systems can transform your business from chaos to clarity. Your sanity will thank you—and so will your bottom line.