My American Dream after my American Sacrifice.

[JeffK26]

I dunno if this fits in this thread or not, but it was my best shot.

How many of you do this because you actually love it?

I'm only starting out, i don't even have one account...my introduction explains my situation and my plan...

I remember the quote, "Do what you love and you will never work a day in your life." and never put 2 and 2 together for me to start a lawn care company until now.

Two things i can say i truly love ( besides my wife and dog which is a given )...My time spent in the Army...even in Iraq, no one, i do not care who you are, no one can understand friendship or freedom, until you are 2 seconds from death defending both. You just can't....the second, cutting grass.....I know, i know, a lot of people can be a lawn care guy, but it takes a special someone to take care of a lawn...I have always loved cutting grass...the smell, the being outside...i was always let down when i mowed the last strip of lawn when i was a kid because putting things in order was over, everything is straight...i love the order, the scraggly uneven lawn, steadily becoming level...one row is unkempt and uneven, the next even, flat...organized like it has a purpose. It's clean, it's in order. I may not know a lot, i can only tell you a few types of grass...and a couple of those i would feel doubtful in the answer. I can tell you the 7 fundamentals of recon, but i cannot tell you 7 types of weeds...but i loved recon, and i love mowing.

I know i'll have my gripes, just like i did in the Army, but i cannot fathom the day i'll hate mowing lawns. It's too good of a dream come true. After a fall of setup, and a winter of snow removal, i'll have people paying me to do one of the two things i love...i mean seriously, someone handing me hundreds to thousands of dollars a year to make a yard worthy of being called a lawn, kind of like being paid to make a boy worthy of being called a man.....

Maybe this was too deep, but you know, i see a lot of complaints on this thread...being a newbie maybe i do not have all the experience to understand the gripes....but doing something i love...that's all i can ask for, and it makes me proud to venture out to grab the American Dream and be in charge of my success or accept my failure.

[JeffK26]

BTW, i have had a few beers...I mean c'mon, i had to BBQ while listening to the Cardinals game. The Cards were 8 games out of the WC a month ago and after spending all day at work, i had to have a few...then they won when the Braves lost so i had to have a few more to celebrate!....Drinking the hunter orange Busch while listening to Card's games on the radio....BBQing thick cut Pork Steaks while laughing with the wife,...well.......i got feely with what i love...Gotta love internet, it's a voice for the times ya want to speak.

[Growing Green]

Good stuff Sabre! I love working on lawn as well and if I didn't love this job there would be no way I would stick with it. I started my lawn business early this year not knowing that we would have the hottest and dryest year ever here in TX. We have had 93 days over 100 degrees and only 12 inches of rain all year so far when we average 42. Crazy! It has been great though. Made me get out of my comfort zone and try other things other than mowing lawns and I had no idea that I would love gardening even more than mowing.

One thing I do need to clarify though is you said making hundreds of thousands of dollars and that doesn't come quick. It will take many years before you hit that and by the time you do you will not be working you will actually be managing employees instead. No idea if I'm going to enjoy that if I get to that point. Not sure if I want to as I enjoy getting my hands dirty. Anyway, the best to you and if you have any questions on how to get started let me know. It is still fresh in my mind.

Take care,

Matt

[Hedgemaster]

I started down this road to keep from losing everything. I was out of work and couldn't find anything that paid a decent wage. I began doing all sorts of odd jobs for neighbors/friends and received many compliments on my work, and a lot of encouragement to start my own business. I realized I enjoyed the outdoor/yard work the most and decided that if I was going to take money from people, I was going to do it the right way. I did the research, paid the fees, and became a legitimate business owner.

This first full season has been pretty good to me. I'm not wiping my butt with twenties, but I'm keeping things afloat, and have been able to purchase equipment as I go. I thought it would be at least two years before I considered moving up from a 21" push mower, but I'm doing well enough now that I'm planning on having something "bigger" to start off with next season. I can't afford to hire someone to help speed things up, so I need to increase my productivity with better equipment.

Do I "love" it? Overall, I'm happy. It's a lot of work, but I am really liking the freedom that comes with being the boss.

[Jack Rabbit]

Thank you for serving in the Army!

I started this business because I couldn't find a job. It is hard to get a job here even in good times. I couldn't find one so I made one.

I like being my own boss and that is the best thing for me in lawn care. Working outside instead of a in a cubicle is good too: http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=12635

[Steve]

Great post!

I can tell you the 7 fundamentals of recon, but i cannot tell you 7 types of weeds...but i loved recon, and i love mowing.

Have you found that you have been able to take your recon skills and utilize them to scout out potential customers?

Have any of the skills you learned in the army translate to help you in the business world?

If so, what stands out?

[JeffK26]

Thanks for the responses, i wanted to hide behind a rock after re reading this the next day....some things ya do when drinking but sometimes the beer goes down way too easy.

I didn't say "hundreds of thousands" haha... I said hundreds to thousands! LOL...

Really, all i want to do is enjoy my day, my job and make enough money to pay the bills and have a good winter....

Well, this is where i stand with my business. I'm only starting it up right now, i'm not up and running yet, so i'm here as a learning experience and hopefully jump in with my own advice someday...I work full time in Heating and AC...go to school full time...I'm getting ready to purchase my first blower...using a friend's trailer for leaf cleanup...this winter i will do snow removal, as i have done the past couple of winters. Next spring i'm going to hit it full tilt and once i have enough contracts signed to make 20% more than what i bring home from my current job...the two weeks are in and i'm dedicating my attention full time to my first business....

So far my scouting abilities have not been tested Steve. haha...but the work ethic, and attention to detail and pride the Army instills in someone has...when i have done snow removal i usually get an extra 10 to 20 bucks because of the attention to detail and the job well done...i'm expecting to take that same mindset to lawns. I know my work ethic, i know my determination, and with my wife throwing her attitude into all that, i'm lookin at a successful business in the lawn care industry! I just can't wait until next spring when i can really start this thing.....

[Growing Green]

Oh haha...Too funny! Thought you said "hundreds of thousands". You will make thousands though. Definitely!

Matt