You’re a Failure!

Ouch. That probably stung a little, right?

Whether you’ve tried farming and failed… or you’ve avoided farming because you’re afraid to fail… you’re not alone.

I’ve talked to hundreds of agents who felt the same way.
They wanted to build a geographic farm, but they got stuck — either by past disappointment or by fear of what might happen if they try and fall flat.

Here’s the truth:
If you’ve felt like a failure (or worried you’ll become one), you’re in the majority.

Now for the good news:
Most farming failures are entirely preventable — if you understand the root causes.
There are 7 major ways agents fail at farming — and if you avoid these, you’ll set yourself up for long-term success.

Let’s break them down:

1. Budget (Or Lack Thereof)

Most agents jump into farming with excitement… and no real plan.

They throw out a few mailers, run a Facebook ad or two, and hope it sticks. But when the money dries up — so does the momentum.

Farming requires three types of budget:

• 💰 Money – What can you consistently invest over the long haul?

• 🕒 Time – How much time can you commit weekly to work your farm?

• ⚡ Energy – Are you choosing strategies that fuel you, or drain you?

Without all three aligned, your farm will fizzle fast.

2. Commitment

“I tried farming once.”
“I sent out postcards for three months.”
Sound familiar?

That’s like planting seeds, watering them for two weeks, and getting mad when they don’t sprout a mango tree.

Farming takes time.
Real time.
If you’re not willing to commit for at least 12 months, you’re not farming — you’re just experimenting.

Consistency creates recognition. Recognition creates trust. Trust creates leads. That takes time.

3. Expectations

The reason commitment often collapses? Unrealistic expectations.

If you think farming is a quick-win strategy, you’re going to be disappointed.

Farming isn’t a slot machine. It’s a long game. You won’t send one postcard and have your phone ring off the hook. But if you manage your expectations and stick with it, the results will come — and they’ll compound.

Set realistic goals.
Track small wins.
Celebrate progress, not perfection.

4. Mindset

Mindset is the engine behind it all.

If you treat farming as just another lead gen trick, it’ll feel like a grind. But if you shift your perspective and approach your farm like a true community ambassador, everything changes.

In my training, I talk about the C.P.R. Framework:
Community. Positioning. Relationships.
That’s the mindset of a modern farmer. Not “How do I get leads?” but “How do I serve and show up as the go-to expert in this community?”

5. Scale (Too Big, Too Soon)

This one’s a killer: agents go way too big, way too fast.

They try to hit 2,000 homes on Day One, thinking they’re playing it smart. But they burn through their budget, can’t keep up with follow-up, and end up scaling back instead of scaling up.

Start smaller.
Nail the systems.
Then expand strategically.

The mantra?
“It’s better to scale up than to scale back.”

6. Planning (Or the Lack of It)

You can’t wing your way to a six-figure farm.

You need to know:

• What area you’re targeting

• Why you chose it

• What strategies you’ll use

• What your monthly budget is

• How you’ll track ROI

• What your timeline for success looks like

Without a roadmap, you’re guessing. And guessing leads to failure.

7. No Strategy or Training

Most agents fail at farming because no one ever taught them how to do it properly.

They don’t have the tools, the systems, or the training — and they try to reinvent the wheel on their own.

Look — whether you get help from me or someone else, get help.
Study what works. Use proven systems. Learn from agents who’ve done it.

You don’t need to figure it out by yourself — and you definitely shouldn’t be gambling your time, money, and reputation in the process.

Final Thoughts: Failure Isn’t the Problem — Quitting Is

The truth? Most successful agents failed at farming at some point.

What made the difference is they learned from it, made the right changes, and tried again — better.

So if you’ve failed before — good.
You’ve got data.
You’ve got drive.
Now you need a plan.

You don’t have to become another statistic. You can build a thriving farm — one that gives you consistent leads, repeat business, and a meaningful presence in your community.

But only if you start — and only if you stick with it.

– Ryan "The Harvest Coach" Smith
Founder of Launch Your Farm & Creator of the Local Expert Academy

➡️ Want to go deeper on the most common farming mistakes and how to fix them?
Check out my 7 Deadly Mistakes of Farming video series inside the Launch Your Farm Facebook group. It breaks down each failure and how to avoid them — step by step.

👉 Watch the first video here