ABDI - Agri-Business Development Institute

06/05/2026

One of the things I admire most in business is seeing teams handle pressure well together.

Not perfectly.
But calmly.
Practically.
Collectively.

People stepping up.
Communicating properly.
Supporting each other.
Making sensible decisions without panic.

Those moments usually don’t happen by accident.

They’re often the result of years spent building:
> trust
> clear expectations
> good leadership
> and strong operational habits

I think good businesses sometimes underestimate how important that is.

Because when pressure arrives, culture becomes very visible very quickly.
The strongest businesses I see are rarely just operationally strong.
They’re strong because people know how to work well together when things become difficult.

That’s something worth recognising and celebrating more often in agriculture and business generally.

26/09/2025

You can’t park an advisor in the shed at the end of the day.

And you can’t always see their value on a spreadsheet.

But that doesn’t mean it isn’t there.

When we worked with MLA on the Value of Advisors project, we asked producers a simple question:

👉 What’s the real value of an advisor?

Yes—productivity, profit, and lower mortality rates mattered.

But what mattered just as much?

👉 Read the full article on LinkedIn here:

One of the biggest questions in agriculture is simple: “What is the real value of an advisor?” Advisors aren’t cheap. And their value doesn’t always show up on the balance sheet.

18/09/2025

Every producer has advisors around them.
But only a few ever become the Trusted Advisor.

That’s the one who gets the call when things get tough.
The one who gives confidence, clarity, and peace of mind, as well as results.

If you want to lift your game as an advisor, or if you’re a client who wants to get the most out of your advisors, these sessions are for you:

📌 How to Maximise Your Value as a Trusted Advisor Masterclass – for advisors
📌 How to Maximise the Value of Your Trusted Advisor Masterclass – for clients

Starting Wednesday 1 October 2025

11/09/2025

Are you ready to lift your role from just an advisor to The Trusted Advisor?

That’s the focus of my upcoming Advisor Masterclass: Maximise the Value of the Trusted Advisor.

In this live 60–75 minute session, we’ll cover:
✅ Insights from the MLA Value of Advisors Project — including why producers credit advisors with 80% of their decision-making improvements
✅ How to define your Point of Difference so you stand out
✅ The balance of tangible results (production, profit) and intangibles (confidence, peace of mind)
✅ A practical Advisor Assessment Tool to measure your strengths and gaps
✅ A 1–3 step action plan you can apply immediately
📅 Wednesday 1st October, 12:30pm

11/09/2025

Are you ready to lift your role from just an advisor to The Trusted Advisor?

That’s the focus of my upcoming Advisor Masterclass: Maximise the Value of the Trusted Advisor.
In this live 60–75 minute session, we’ll
cover:
✅ Insights from the MLA Value of Advisors Project — including why producers credit advisors with 80% of their decision-making improvements
✅ How to define your Point of Difference so you stand out
✅ The balance of tangible results (production, profit) and intangibles (confidence, peace of mind)
✅ A practical Advisor Assessment Tool to measure your strengths and gaps
✅ A 1–3 step action plan you can apply immediately
📅 Wednesday 1st October, 12:30pm

01/09/2025

In agriculture (and in business) it’s easy to get caught in the cycle of doing more, faster, for longer.

But the real breakthroughs often come when you pause, step back, and make a few strategic changes.

The question isn’t how much you’re doing, it’s whether what you’re doing is moving you in the right direction.

27/08/2025

Sometimes, the difference between hitting your target and missing it completely comes down to a 1% adjustment.

In aviation, being just 1% off-course at take-off can put you hundreds of kilometres off-target by the time you land.

In business, it’s the same.

A small shift in focus, a slightly better process, or a clearer conversation can change your trajectory entirely.

What’s one small adjustment you could make this week that might have a big payoff?

21/08/2025

When you’re deep in the day-to-day of running a business, it’s easy to get caught in “reaction mode.”

But the best results often come from taking a step back, asking the right questions, testing assumptions, and making a small shift that changes the whole game.

That’s one of the reasons I share weekly emails with our ABDI community: short, focused updates to help you pause, reflect, and move forward with purpose.

If you’d like to get them, you can sign up here → https://www.abdi.com.au/weeklies-sign-up

18/08/2025

Last week, Gordon Stone (Business Strategist and ABDI Founder/Director) was in Dubbo as part of a panel at the Livestock Advisor Updates, joining a room full of sharp minds from across the industry.

The discussions covered everything from AI in agriculture to market trends and the evolving role of advisors.

One standout takeaway from Gordon’s perspective?
👉 While tools and technology are valuable, clarity, certainty, and confidence still come from trusted relationships.

A big thanks to the organisers and to everyone who came up for a chat. It’s always valuable to hear what’s on people’s minds and where they see opportunities.

14/08/2025

We were proud to be part of MLA’s recent BeefUp and Livestock Advisor Updates in Rockhampton – two days packed with insights, conversations and opportunities for the northern red meat industry.

Gordon joined a great line-up of speakers, connecting with producers and advisors on the big issues and opportunities ahead for our sector.