They said they fixed the problem in IT. They said they couldn’t duplicate the issue. They sent the computer back again, when a sane person would have given it exactly what it deserved – a one-way trip to the burn pile. For each problem solved by the technological wonder, three more are created to torment hapless cube residents.

Here are five reasons to trade that computer in and get a tractor instead:

Reason #1: Breakdowns are logical.

If something breaks on a tractor, the part that caused the issue can be identified and replaced without a specialized degree. When on the phone or visiting a mechanic, he will never say to just shut it down and start it up again to see if the problem goes away.

Reason #2: The engine runs without electrical power or an internet connection.

Power blips and internet hiccups are realities of the business world. These troubles happen without warning, leaving employees to scramble to catch up when the connections are restored. It also pushes deadlines out when information cannot be exchanged. This leads to unnecessary stress and is easily removed from life when operating a tractor instead of a computer.

Reason #3: Tractors do not cause eye strain.

There are no special glasses to cut the glare from the hood of a tractor, because sunglasses and a hat are all that is needed. With GPS developments, in a few years a driver may not even need to see to operate the tractor. Even owning a tractor older than the operator will not cause damage to the eyes. However, manual levers may increase other muscles.

Reason #4: Work completed from the seat of a tractor can be explained.

There is nothing quite like the feeling of pointing toward growing crops, harvested fields, or another work of the land and knowing that something has been accomplished. It is also easy to describe to family and friends. Say good-bye to the blank stares of loved ones after explaining a seemingly useless job.

Reason #5: When the tractor spreads manure, a shower is all it takes to get clean again.

Well, a power washer may help to clean the tractor, too. However, days of kissing up to the boss are over. No more orders that aren’t even phrased politely like “Get this done yesterday.” This may not apply to married people. The wife is still an irrational force, whether married to a businessman or a farmer.

Computers cause stress and impacts many areas of life. Life from the seat of a tractor allows the operator much more satisfaction as an occupation. Don’t be afraid to leave the digital life behind.

Whether you’re crammed into a tiny cubicle or are able to kick back and stretch out in a roomy corner office, space is one thing that’s bound to be on your mind when you work in an office. Nobody wants to have to rub shoulders with their colleagues, but limited workspace is a reality for the vast majority of us. The next time you’re feeling downright claustrophobic, try bringing one of these spacious workspaces to mind – or, better yet, try getting a job in one of them!

1. Casa Poporului, Bucharest, Romania

   Most people don’t think of Romania when they think of massive office buildings and sprawling workspaces, but the Casa Poporului – or Palace of the Parliament – actually ranks as one of the largest office buildings in the world. With more than 3.8 million square feet of space, it is truly imposing. Throw in the fact that it’s won Guinness World Records for being the heaviest building in the world, and it’s easy to see why it merits a mention on this list.

2. The Equitable Building, New York City, USA

   
   In a city that is teeming with massive workspaces, it’s impressive that the Equitable Building is its largest office building. With more than 1.236 million square feet of office space, there’s bound to be plenty of room for everybody. The question is: Is every square foot accounted for, or is space currently available?

3. Aalsmeer Flower Market, Netherlands

   Also known as Bloemenveiling Aalsmeer,  Aalsmeer Flower market takes place inside  the world’s largest commercial building, located 10 miles from Amsterdam. This flower market has the largest footprint of any commercial building in the world and is equal to about nine football pitches or 990,000 square metres. Everyday in Aalsmeer Flower Market, over 6,000 traders sell up to 20 million flowers and plantsthrough its auction house onsite. On Valentines day alone, it has been known to sell over 50 million roses and 22 million cut flowers and plants.

4. Dubai International Airport, Terminal 3, Dubai, UAE

   Although its primary purpose is an airport terminal, Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 3 has to be included on this list for its impossible size. With more than 16.1 million square feet of floor space, it’s safe to say that there is room to spare. The airport workers who call Terminal 3 “home” certainly don’t have to worry about bumping into one another as they perform their duties.

5. The Pentagon, Washington DC, USA

   If you’ve ever flown into Dulles or Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC, then you’ve certainly enjoyed a bird’s eye view of this country’s most important defense administration building: The Pentagon. With more than 3.7 million square feet, the Pentagon is breathtakingly massive. One can assume that a quick “run across the building” is a lot more of an undertaking than it is at most other workplaces.

   One thing’s for sure: You don’t want to misplace your car keys or other belongings in any of these enormous buildings.

If you are in the market for a new job and are lucky enough to get invited to an interview then remember to research the business and the market it operates within before you go. Whilst no potential employer is looking for candidates to have an encyclopaedic knowledge of their business it will look like you are not interested if you don’t know anything at all. Visit the company’s website, download and read any annual reports and visit their competitor’s websites to get a better understanding of the marketplace. If possible, try to think of some relevant questions about the business that you can ask during the interview. Just a short time preparing can be hugely beneficial when you are in the hot seat and might just be enough to get you the job!

If you want to recruit and retain good staff, people must want to work for you in the first place and enjoy it once they are on the team. But how do you become an ‘employer of choice’? This is not something that happens overnight but rather is a reflection of your branding and the way you treat and motivate staff. Does your organisation have a clearly articulated strategy? Is communication with staff open and transparent? Are employees encouraged to engage with the business and valued? Are your terms and conditions competitive amongst your peers and do you offer training and development opportunities?

Ultimately your success as a business is based on the performance of your employees – they are your most precious asset and your most important audience so take time to involve them and understand their motivations and it will pay off as you will attract and retain higher calibre employers.

You may have heard about recent proposals to build a new 8,000 cow dairy unit on land in Lincolnshire. This high profile project by Nocton Dairies Ltd will see a new herd of 8,100 cows established on a greenfield site, with cows housed apart from during the dry period and fed with forage and by-products from the surrounding area.

A bold proposal for sure but is this kind of intensive development good for the industry or will it simply draw negative attention that will ultimately harm the reputation of the whole sector?

Undoubtedly Nocton Dairies are not proposing anything wrong. There are plenty of herds where milking cows are continuously housed and there are many in the industry that would advocate this as a high welfare system because cows can be closely monitored and cared for. But this kind of approach does not necessarily chime well with consumers, who like to think of dairy farming as a pastoral enterprise with cows happily grazing. Already, emotive media coverage has spoken of ‘large scale factory farming’ in the same breath as ‘Nocton Dairies’.

But in fact their proposals are commercially sound and cow welfare should be exemplary, particularly when a full time vet will be on site – something that not many dairy units can lay claim to. The proposed development also has the potential to be a flagship for the dairy industry, something that other dairy farmers can learn from and be proud to be associated with.

Ultimately, one thing is for certain – this kind of enterprise will have a high profile and will attract attention towards dairy farming in a more direct way than we have perhaps ever seen before. The development therefore carries a huge reputational responsibility unlike that ever seen before on a UK farm. If Nocton Dairies is a successful business, with good welfare and performance standards then it will represent the very best of our dairy industry. But, should things go wrong, the problems will be hugely visible and this could have implications for every single farmer in the country. The public’s ignorance about farming may also be a threat and Nocton will have to be open and communicative to the public to garner support.

It will be interesting to see these exciting proposals develop in the coming months – for it is perhaps the first farming enterprise in this country where every farmer has a vested interest in it being successful.