Around the Horn

Tweet at @lawnlandscape, visit us at our Linkedin page at linkd.in/lawnland or Facebook  at www.facebook.com/lawnandlandscape and give us your feedback!

Here’s this month’s question.
What do you love about working in the green/snow industry?

From Facebook:

Working in the green industry I have always loved that feeling of kindredness with plants. For example, I love the moments right before a rain, when the wind gets up a tad, during summer or winter, when the leaves of any green plant look even more green. It’s like then you can actually see the vibration of the plants – & they are actually smiling — sending a message- that they are excited for rain. :) – Melissa Patrick Allman

I used to work for a Fortune 500 Co. for 15 years and I got so tired of hearing the corporate lies that I left and am now doing something that was a weekend thing I did at home and enjoyed it. Now it’s a career and I LOVE! I am outside everyday and not stuck inside 4 walls for 9 hours a day. – Kevin Moriarty

From Linkedin:

I love the smell of freshly cut grass! I love to be outside and to watch landscapes I have helped install and maintain become places that other people enjoy and appreciate – Justin Carver, Grounds Maintenance Manager at Maxwell Landscape Service

I love the challenge, pure and simple. Especially when people have doubts about what can be accomplished. – Philip Sissick, Director, landscaping and maintenance services at Yale University

I haven’t been in the business that long and a challenge that takes me out of my comfort zone can make me nervous. But, I have found that staying in that nervous mode keeps me focused on the project at hand and has given me the opportunity to give my customers quality service, every time. – Barry Lewis, owner at Lewis Lawn & Landscape

I have to agree with Phil & Justin — Love the challenge and who the hell doesn’t like the smell of freshly cut grass? – Bryan Ring, Ring Lawn Care

It’s not grass. I am thirsty for technical knowledge; pruning especially. There is always more to learn. Seeing a clean, crisp site after a new install is rewarding. – Vas Sladek, certified landscape technician and ISA certified arborist

I loved the flexibility, I was always “my own boss.” If I wanted to work 14 hours a day, I could. But if I wanted to go on vacation for two weeks, I did. The people are just the best. They love the earth and what it can produce. Very little gossip or back biting that you find in corporate America. Lastly, the potential in this industry is incredible. If you are smart at what you do, know the work and the business, the potential is there to make a lot of money. – Ed Laflamme, partner at The Harvest Group

Twitter: The family-like atmosphere of everyone in the industry. They’re always willing to lend a hand to help out another!  – @iTweetTurf

Truly a 7 month job working hard unless you do snow. Big challenge is to make payments and keep good help off season. – @LAWNFENCE14

The color of the grass. How every blade of grass is manicured and (to) see what you just did and know you did it for someone else – to see the smile on your customers face when they pull up as you finish. – @burkhartlawn

 

Next month’s question:
What do you do differently from other companies in the industry to prepare for the season?

Email Associate Editor Brian Horn at bhorn@gie.net.