tell the truth or tell you what you want to here.

[LawnBoy0311]

I'll be the first to admit, and most of you know, I'm only a part timer. I work for a large company during the day, and then work for myself mid afternoon. I don't do snow removal...we hardly get any...and I can take the winters off. Last year was the first year by myself. I did well, but expect to double this year. I work very long hours, but keep telling myself "it all stops in mid November!!". I like what I do, for now, but will be changing soon. Would I want to be a bigger company? Of course....but it takes time, experience, and research.

Without this forum I wouldn't know a lot about what I do. While I have the experience, I'll never know it all. I like to read the posts, learn what others do, and plan for the future.

5 years ago, I left the Marine Corps in my white ford explorer packed with clothes and 2 guitars (which I later sold to pay my car bill...). I had gotten back from Iraq the month prior, and was out on my own with no job. I lived in my inlaws house and then rented an apartment. I'm 28 now, married, 2 pieces of property, and gearing up for my future goals. Most importantly, I'm happy what I do.

Like anything else, RESEARCH before you try!! There is a lot of advice on here that comes from dreamers. By that I mean the guy who "ran his lawn care company for a month, but is telling you to take a loan out and buy all brand new top of the line equipment". Let's face it, not everything on the internet is true, but theres a lot of dman good advice. Just weed out the BS.

[LawnBoy0311]

Dont forget to hire him to do all of your hauling, you know since hes getting a 3500 dully and "trading up" for a 24 ' enclosed trailer.


I bet you guys will do awesome! hahaha

I forgot about him!!!

I'll send him a PM and see if he wants in on this busniess venture. Thanks Cashin!

[rockymtnnut]

What lessons do you remember others trying to teach you that you just didn't want to hear? How do you feel that by listening earlier to them, it would have effected you today?

Be organized, be revenue driven not numbers driven you cant spend "accounts "but you do spend revenue. the most expensive tooll you will ever own is a cheap one. Home owner brand will fail you. Know your cost, lowballing is a sin, profit is not a dirty word, quality is king, Above all keep your integrity and trust in Christ.
By listening to them I would have bought into technology sooner and not have been behind the learning curve I am now. I could have tracked my cost and droped low profit or no profit business. It makes no sense to make 25$ /hr when it keeps you from earning 75/hr. Marketing is so much more than flyers and a cheesy business card . I did not see this when i was younger . It is possible to be very good and very fast. To do this you have to be willing tospend money on the best equipment within reason. And I looked at employee s as a liability and not as a asset oh what a mistake this was. That truly kept me from growing.

I hope this helps.

[rockymtnnut]

Dont forget to hire him to do all of your hauling, you know since hes getting a 3500 dully and "trading up" for a 24 ' enclosed trailer.


I bet you guys will do awesome! hahaha

Be easy on him, he is a young man trying to get started he may be a little unorthodox but i think his heart is in the right place. We were all young once ourselves.

[Steve]

Marketing is so much more than flyers and a cheesy business card . I did not see this when i was younger ......... And I looked at employee s as a liability and not as a asset oh what a mistake this was. That truly kept me from growing.

This is very interesting!

When you say marketing is so much more than flyers and business cards, what is your view now on it? What more does it consist of?

Also as far as employees go, what do you attribute your initial view of employees as liabilities and then what changed your mind on them?

[JLM]

With your attitude im glad you are done here.[/QUOTE]

Sorry if I got under your grass buddy....But everything I stated is true.
If it were not for my attitude, I would have never made it this far. In this business you gotta have thick skin and make no excuses for who you are or what you do.

I wish you well and I am sorry.....Truth hurts.

[JLM]

I see it the other way when I was solo. I didnt have time for nothing. Now with 3 trucks and 2 crews I can take a step back and enjoy myself. In a few years Ill be sitting in a office the majority of time and just doing QC checks.[/QUOTE]


I feel ya man!
When it all comes together it's kinda easy to get caught with your pants down.

We currently run 2 trucks and 4 men, complete with a daycare LOL!

I am happy to know you have seen it from both sides...I feel you understand what I was trying to say.

You make no excuses... I bet guys can learn something from your post...I can
I will just say.. we are cut from the same cloth along with many others who post on here.

Hey do you know any good babysitters? I am running out of time for that too.

[JLM]

[QUOTE=dpld;123753]well, i find it odd that people with ZERO experience with absolutely no clue as to what they are doing are starting a business doing what they have no clue in doing.

if you don't ask you will not learn.

the sword of your argument cuts both ways my friend and it is good that you are done because your talking points are very thin.

You can ask all the questions you want....BUT if you have not worked in this field asking is simply not enough.......BOTTOM LINE!

My talking points are thin??? I guess if that is your take.
Truth cuts deep I understant that...If I got under your skin I am sorry.
One day you might see it my way.

[SECTLANDSCAPING]

When it all comes together it's kinda easy to get caught with your pants down.

We currently run 2 trucks and 4 men, complete with a daycare LOL!

I am happy to know you have seen it from both sides...I feel you understand what I was trying to say.

You make no excuses... I bet guys can learn something from your post...I can
I will just say.. we are cut from the same cloth along with many others who post on here.

Hey do you know any good babysitters? I am running out of time for that too..

I'm in luck this year. My mom moved back from florida so I have two grandmas now. Babysitters at 4 am with no notice is at a premium these days. It was the babysitting that started making me hire more guys. I rather pay someone to work then to babysit. Plus I wont let anyone but family watch my princess. To me I rather make a few dollars less and spend all the time in the world with my daughter.

[dpld]

With your attitude im glad you are done here.

Sorry if I got under your grass buddy....But everything I stated is true.
If it were not for my attitude, I would have never made it this far. In this business you gotta have thick skin and make no excuses for who you are or what you do.

I wish you well and I am sorry.....Truth hurts.

no hurt feelings here pal, just felt compelled to let you know what a @zz you sounded like.
nice logo, where did you get that from ? it looks like some of the generic logos found on here.

[dpld]

I see it the other way when I was solo. I didnt have time for nothing. Now with 3 trucks and 2 crews I can take a step back and enjoy myself. In a few years Ill be sitting in a office the majority of time and just doing QC checks.

I feel ya man!
When it all comes together it's kinda easy to get caught with your pants down.

We currently run 2 trucks and 4 men, complete with a daycare LOL!

I am happy to know you have seen it from both sides...I feel you understand what I was trying to say.

You make no excuses... I bet guys can learn something from your post...I can
I will just say.. we are cut from the same cloth along with many others who post on here.

Hey do you know any good babysitters? I am running out of time for that too.
[/QUOTE]



could not help you with the babysitter, never needed one.
when you make real money your wife can stay home and deal with that herself.

[rockymtnnut]

Steve i will get back to your question . I what to comment on a post by lawnboy i never suggested to go deeply in debt but after 3 years and a guy is still using a push mower its time to re think your business plan. Common sense dont you think.
People tend to be rude because its easier then thinking it through you know its kinda easy to be an *** to somebody when they're on a form they're not in front of you. forms like this are for people who want to help 1 another. business is a lot of common sense. when you don't use common sense expect people to point that out.

[rockymtnnut]

This is very interesting!

When you say marketing is so much more than flyers and business cards, what is your view now on it? What more does it consist of?

Also as far as employees go, what do you attribute your initial view of employees as liabilities and then what changed your mind on them?

Marketing Marketing used to be business cards flyers and the supermarket billboard. now for the first time in my life I'm having a web page designed. Once that is done I'm purchasing client list with very specific demographics. no 1 owns the Yellow Pages anymore. mailings is another 1 the thought never crossed my mind years ago but if you want to grow in today's age that's another 1 you gotta approach.
with regards to an employee I always took the approach that why should I hire anybody? with wages workmans comp I kept thinking I can do it cheaper I can do it cheaper. until 1 day I realized my business was not growing, my cost we're low but so was my revenue. I could.n't spend any time with my children, and put it bluntly my customers were dying off. so I hired somebody part tme. my revenue jump about 110 percent there was very little down time to speak of now i was getting done in quicker than half the time. Now i have time to fill. Now i realized i needed to be runnig the business not souch working in the field. Supervision is very important no one will give your business the attention you do and dont expect them to either. I would say emoyees are the very most important investment you can make.

[Steve]

I find it odd that the busy companys who post on Gopher daily...Would even have the time to do so....Just sayin....Most are dreamers others are full of it.

If you want to know... learn don't ask.

I have my way you have yours....Others just make it up as they go along.

This will be my last post... When this thread is done so am I......We are growing at a rapid rate and I just don't have time....
Good luck in your venture!

Having the time to do other things, like talk shop on here, could be a sign of good management processes within your company. Anyone can immerse themselves into their business and never come up for air, but if you are looking to do this or anything for the long haul, you have to pace yourself or you will burn yourself out.

[LawnBoy0311]

Steve i will get back to your question . I what to comment on a post by lawnboy i never suggested to go deeply in debt but after 3 years and a guy is still using a push mower its time to re think your business plan. Common sense dont you think.
People tend to be rude because its easier then thinking it through you know its kinda easy to be an *** to somebody when they're on a form they're not in front of you. forms like this are for people who want to help 1 another. business is a lot of common sense. when you don't use common sense expect people to point that out.

Um.....what the he!! Are you talking about. I never made any refence to you saying go into debt.

In reference to my previous post since you clearly missed the mark, do some research and you'll see what I was talking about.