It’s a familiar trajectory in our industry: A young person buys a cheap lawnmower and starts cutting grass in the neighborhood to make some money. Then he buys a truck to reach new customers farther afield. In time and with grit and determination and a whole lot of hard work, he builds a full-fledged landscaping.

Tomorrow is January 1 and with it comes all the usual talk of New Year’s resolutions. We promise ourselves we’ll eat better and work out more. We tell ourselves this is the year we’ll improve our companies’ efficiency. We resolve to create better systems and this time stick religiously to them. But the problem is.

Ready or not, the holidays are here this week. If you’re like me, you look forward to spending time with your friends and family, but you find it difficult to leave work behind. You feel the need to always be reachable by your team and clients, and you find yourself compulsively checking your phone to make sure you.

We’ve all seen the difference having a strong team spirit can make to the success of a company. Employees see themselves as part of something bigger than themselves. They work together to solve problems and get the job done. They actually like the people they work with, which can make even the most taxing or tedious.

Lawn & Landscape December 2017 By Marty Grunder We’re busy right now at Marty Grunder! Inc., gearing up for our annual GROW! conference for landscape pros who are serious about growing their businesses. Scheduled for February in Tampa, Florida, the 2018 conference will be my 23rd straight year of putting on this.

The first step is hiring right. At one time or another, we’ve all encountered team members who seem to be phoning it in. They don’t do what we ask them to do, or they do it without energy or enthusiasm. They don’t follow through, or they procrastinate. They miss meetings, or they show up in person while mentally they.

There are lots of factors that go into succeeding in the landscaping business. You’ve got to deliver quality products and services. You’ve got to generate leads and close sales. You’ve got to keep your eye finely trained on the bottom line. But just as crucial as all these factors is your company culture—the beliefs.

It’s hard to believe it’s already Thanksgiving this week, but then the days and weeks have a way of flying by when you’re working hard. I hope you all have plans to spend some time away from the office this week and celebrate the holiday with family and friends. Before you do that though, take a few minutes to think.

Lawn & Landscape November 2017 By Marty Grunder If you’re like me, you’re glad to see November roll around every year. For those of us not in the south, the landscaping season is at last winding down and we finally get to catch our breath. In Ohio, where I live, the weather is usually mild enough to still enjoy some.

With the end of the year fast approaching, most of us are setting up our budgets for 2018 and weighing what to invest in and what to cut back on. At my landscaping company, one area we’re taking a good hard look at is where we’re spending our philanthropic dollars. Not because we plan on cutting back but because we.