From loosening tight bolts to removing tough stains or repelling pests, most are familiar with the product WD-40 in its iconic blue, yellow, and red can. The ingredients that make this lubricant so effective are unknown to the public, and apparently, to most people who work for the company, too.
I was intrigued by a story in The Wall Street Journal that explained how the formula for WD-40 is literally kept under lock and key. The piece of paper containing the handwritten formula is housed in a locked box in a bank vault somewhere in San Diego, Calif. It has only left the vault three times in the past three decades and has remained a secret to most employees during WD-40’s 70-year history. The company’s current chief executive finally got to see what makes WD-40 so special after working with the company for more than 30 years.
It makes sense that the WD-40 Company wants to keep a tight grip on their unique formula. We all have information in our personal and business lives that must remain confidential. However, there is also great value in sharing certain “secrets” when the situation is right. David Trimner of Miltrim Farms, the farm featured on page 14, talks about the tremendous value he finds in sharing ideas with other farmers. He eagerly participates in their local watershed group to learn from others and jumps at opportunities to attend conferences and contribute to panel discussions to share what has worked on their farm.
Many farmers tend to be independent thinkers and workers by nature. That’s one of the perks of the job. So, sharing what is done on your farm may not be comfortable for everyone. Maybe you feel that what works on your farm would not work for others. But one thought can spur another, and there is great value in bringing ideas to the table for others to learn from. That’s why I love sharing farm stories in this magazine. I learn a lot from listening to farmers from around the country, and I know our readers do as well.
There are some secrets we keep unintentionally. When I think about my own life, there are tasks I do, bills I pay, and certain things I just “know” that no one else in my household does. For those of you who own a farm or other business, that list of jobs you do or things you know is exponentially longer. There’s certainly value in dividing and conquering on tasks, but when our day-to-day responsibilities are basically a secret from the rest of our family or team, there is a high risk of disorder if something disrupts the normal routine. Consider some cross-training, establish a back-up plan, or at least prepare some instructions so someone can step up in your absence.
Looking at the bigger picture, business succession plans can also feel like a black hole filled with secrets. Our Lagoonside Reflections column has focused on business and transition planning the past few issues. These topics can be difficult to think about and even harder to discuss with others, but they are critical if you want to leave your family and business in a good place. I have relatives working through farm ownership and dividing up their parents’ estate right now. With both parents no longer here on Earth, their children are trying to make decisions that support the farm and the family. But without their parents’ vision in writing, there is a lot of gray area to work through, and it is not easy.
Don’t get me wrong. There are some things in life that are best kept a secret. But don’t keep the information that makes your operation tick sealed away as securely as the formula for WD-40. And if there are some secrets you want to keep locked up tight, just be sure someone has a spare key.
Until next time,
Abby
