NEW REPORT PUBLISHED: Small Success by Aaron de Long, Nuffield USA Scholar
19/02/2026
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Success is not a final destination, but a constant process. Large, successful organizations do not happen spontaneously. They are the product and process of long term growth, of many small successes layered atop one another, from the first seed planted to the first fruit picked, to the first sale made to the opening of a new market to the construction of a new production facility. From this perspective, successful farms of all scales are, at their heart, small scale successes.
Understanding this, we can come to understand that focusing on small successes within the context of a larger vision will naturally help to create a more powerful, resilient, and joyful business than one which embraces economies of scale, alone. Ultimately, the view towards the accumulation of small successes leading to a larger overall good, encourages one to nurture and care for their world and community, in addition to their bottom line. Such success actually increases social and ecological worth in multiple aspects, while sustaining positive economic growth.
During my Nuffield research I had the privilege of visiting and speaking to many different farmers, academics, artisans, and policymakers. This paper details many of the key observations my contacts made and demonstrated to me regarding the success of their businesses and livelihoods, both large and small. Perhaps the principal insight gleaned is the notion that adaptability and diversity is compulsory for a business' survival, and a farm is no different. It is often not the strongest or luckiest, but the most versatile, that survive over the long term. These businesses are the ones who adapt to change in their surrounding culture and environment, often by finding their own change within. Such adaptability is especially crucial at smaller scales, where the margin for error is often thinner.
Perhaps arising from the notion of diversity in approach, creating team leadership models, as opposed to sole chief executives, was also observed to be an effective strategy towards success at multiple scales. Alongside the notion of sharing power within the business, the practice of creating social networks connecting a farm and business to a community was observed to be a strategy of both social and economic value. This idea is closely linked to business practices that honor the culture and tradition of a place and practice, such that they are helping to build and reinforce cultural ideals. Such practices begin to transcend conventional measures of success, and can indicate a success within one's heart, a fulfillment which is difficult to realize in any way other than doing good. Balancing land ownership with strategic leasing arrangements, and a shift towards regenerative agricultural practices, as well, were also observed strategies adopted by many of the farms and businesses encountered and described herein. A big vision with a long term view is a powerful tool for success, particularly within a small business, where many variables are beyond your control. In such instances, a sense of balance, closely linked to understanding your place within your community, ecosystem, and market, is often as important as taking any particular action.
Nothing lasts forever. Just as a person is born and dies, so do farms and nations. The essential question I believe we should ask ourselves is what kind of world are we creating moment by moment, recognizing that the vision we hope to achieve is realized in this way, as a matter of course. Big or small, there is the potential to succeed as well as to fail, and success might not just be measured in profits or longevity, but also by the more basic question: is the world a better place for what you have given, given what you have taken?
