Inspired by See Things as They Can Be, Not as They Are by Dave Westphal
Behind each international success stands a cornerstone laid at home. For Dave Westphal, writer of See Things as They Can Be, Not as They Are, learning on a farm operated by his family in Illinois served as the foundation for a career that bridged the globe and various industries. His own experience teaches how profoundly family values shape not just personal integrity but also business success in the broader world.
Westphal’s early life on the farm was a blur of daily chores, endless hours, and a collective sense of responsibility. There was a job for every family member, from calving to field work. Those chores were not just assignments; they were lessons in character. Hard work, grit, and accountability became second nature.
His father’s farming philosophy centered on prudent planning, record-keeping, and optimizing resources. That discipline and sense of stewardship would later carry over into business management, where success is sometimes a function of optimizing limited resources and making difficult choices under duress.
One of the dominant themes in the book is that family is the first team you ever belong to. For Westphal, teamwork was not something that was learned only on football fields or in business suites; it was embedded in the day-to-day rhythm of farm life. If a person was not up to par, everyone suffered. That sense of interdependence would eventually influence the way that he constructed and managed global teams.
The importance of loyalty also shone through. In the family, loyalty is not an option; it is a fact. Transposing this principle into the workplace, Westphal made dependability and trust the pillars of his leadership. These attributes fostered trust among colleagues and enabled him to establish teams that delivered reliably across borders and cultures.
As Westphal moved from farm living into agribusiness leadership, he brought those family-instilled values with him. Entering foreign markets and establishing businesses overseas took toughness, humility, and an ability to listen, qualities instilled in him through his upbringing.
Where he was the outsider, people opened up to him because of his respect for individuals and his trust in collective responsibility. Just as his family gave each child significant responsibilities, he gave local teams actual ownership. That decision not only empowered individuals but also built businesses that could stand on their own.
The influence of family values permeates beyond success in the workplace; it dictates how leaders perceive legacy. Westphal explains that the greatest indicator of success is not individual achievement, but the development of those around you. This mentality is the same one he learned from his parents: invest in others, and the reward will be tenfold.
In a world that is globalized and where leadership is increasingly understood in terms of speed and profits, the rootedness in family values provides an alternative, empathy, stability, and long-term vision. Leaders grounded in these roots have a better chance to survive difficulties, to establish enduring trust, and to lead teams toward enduring success. Global success is not created in boardrooms; it is cultivated in barns, kitchens, and family fields. The discipline, loyalty, and shared responsibility learned there extend to all areas of life. As Westphal’s story illustrates, the power of roots is long-lasting, and when leaders allow family values to drive their vision, their legacy reaches far beyond their own lifetime.