Take a chance

I’m going to take these next few hundred words to send out some acknowledgements.

First, kudos to the hard work of the Lawn & Landscape team. We are coming off our Top 100 Awards Summit and our Technology Conference, which took place in early August. It’s a long — but fun — week away from home (this time in Vegas). Although everyone works long hours, it also creates many opportunities for the industry.

Speaking of those opportunities, I want to acknowledge the attendees of our events. They took the time and money to be away from their businesses and families, and hopefully learned a few things they can use to improve their companies.

Maybe they stepped outside their comfort zone, shook the hand of someone they would have never crossed paths with and struck up a conversation. Where’d that conversation lead? Maybe nowhere, but who says the next one won’t? At least you were there and tried to make something happen.

Too many times, myself included, we get stuck in the day-to-day rut of checking off daily tasks that we forget there is a bigger opportunity to be had.

Do you attend either national or local events to meet industry peers? Do you participate in general business or leadership events to work on your own personal development outside the green industry?

Maybe you should try that, or look into joining an industry association like the National Association of Landscape Professionals or a local or state organization.

You are entrepreneurs, so most likely, you are taking chances and are getting out of that comfort zone. If you aren’t, give it a try. Or try revisiting an old practice that you’ve gotten away from.

So, like everyone who joined us in Vegas, think about ways to get more involved with the industry or your community.

And of course, I will see all of you at the next Lawn & Landscape Technology Conference, July 23-25, 2024, at the Signa Hotel in Atlanta.