Greetings from across the pond!

[carbunkle]

Hello from soggy but very green Scotland!

My name is Richard - i've been a landscaper for about 9 years now and on my own for the last 4.

I was made redundant by a company of crooks who went under - money safely stashed away.
For 5 yrs I watched and learnt and afterwards I thought - they were idiots AND made money - i'm not or a crook and i'm better so why not go for it.

I couldn't even drive - but - I had a bike.
So - I tied a brush and a shovel to the frame and went round my old business's clients and knocked on their doors and asked if they were willing to take me on whilst I begged and borrowed to get on my feet.

Several agreed and a year after that - Birch Landscapes was born!
3 years later and a lot of hard work - I now have a van, 2 employees, work coming out my ears, and I still have those original clients who gave me a chance. From little acorns :)

I came across this site whilst surfing drunk one night and signed up.
Things were very fuzzy the next day. Took weeks to figure it out!

The flyer templates interested me 1st off but then I thought it would be nice to hear from other people in the same line of work who aren't thieves or 2 faced. It can be quite cutthroat out here despite there being more than enuff business for all.

Looking forward to learning and swopping stuff.

[Steve]

Welcome to our forum!

I think you bring up a lot of great points!

I was made redundant by a company of crooks who went under - money safely stashed away.
For 5 yrs I watched and learnt and afterwards I thought - they were idiots AND made money - i'm not or a crook and i'm better so why not go for it.

This is a situation I feel a lot of people can find themselves in. What is your view on why those who play by the rules tend to not be the business owners but the employees? Why do you feel you hadn't started your business earlier? Are you happier now being a business owner or would you like to be an employee at a better run lawn care business?

[carbunkle]

Not sure exactly but I have a few ideas.

In order to break or bend the rules - you need to know them but that's where responsibility comes in.
Employee's learn what you teach them.

I think there are two types of people - those who get a kick out of achieving something themselves and those who'd sell their Grandmother!

As for starting earlier.
I left the business 3 times - twice back to catering - in a previous life I was a chef and once to travel. I spent a year and a half in a kitchen with no windows - nearly went mad!

But my eyes had been opened and eventually I listened to my inner gardener. I was so happy the day I quit. I vowed I would never work for anyone ever again. Even if I fall flat on my face at least I will have tried.
My worst fear would be to regret something I didn't do.

I have the respect of my clients and my two boys.
Life is good!

[Steve]

Being through all that you have been through, can you shed light on what it is that stops people from making the jump to being a business owner?

Do you have any advice to those considering it? How can they build up the energy to say YES I CAN!

[carbunkle]

Without being conceited - there are followers and there are leaders.
There just has to be. Someone has to carry the can!

And some people just like pushing wheelbarrows.
But nobody ever got rich digging holes.
You may make a living but you'll definitely have a sore back!

Good bosses make their staff feel important. Delegating tasks, listening.
Responsibility breeds confidence and happy workers make happy clients.

You alone are responsible for your own actions.
Being your own boss is the ultimate expression of that.

My advice for anyone thinking about starting their own business is to stop thinking - do it. Or at the very least ask questions all the time.
If you want to learn - good employers notice that.

Having good support helps enormously as well.
My partner and family have been immense in giving me confidence.
That's the lucky bit.

The rest is just good old fashioned hard work!