The New Old Man

[ringahding1]

Thanks Gil for the inspiring thread. If the grass cutting doesn't work out, clearly you have skills artistically that you could get paid for. The one thing I do a lot is read, especially in the winter months, so I read many stories that just make you either want to PUKE or make you WORK even harder. Stories like yours keeps the passion and drive alive! Good luck brother!

__________________
08 F250 Ext Cab/05 F350/04 Chevy 3500
2 60 Toro Zmaster/Lesco 60, 54, 48
2 8'2" Boss V-Plows
20' Enclosed trailer/16' Open trailer
18' Skid Loader Trailer
S185 Bobcat 2-Speed



ringlawncare.com

[Ducke]

Lawn care business tips

Thank goodness I am not the old timer on here any more. I look forward to watching your posts Good luck with the company. Graham AKA: Ducke

[gil500]

Originally Posted by TiedemanLLC

Thats great to hear. Has he helped you build up the business, or is he more of an off hands approach by letting you learn on your own?

He is willing to do anything to help me build up the business. I feel very lucky to have someone like him with his experience as a mentor. I have never worked with anyone at any age who can keep up with this 85 year old man.

[TiedemanLLC]

Originally Posted by gil500

He is willing to do anything to help me build up the business. I feel very lucky to have someone like him with his experience as a mentor. I have never worked with anyone at any age who can keep up with this 85 year old man.

Thats great to have a mentor. I think so many of us could learn a great deal from someone that has been in the business. I remember when I was first starting out in the business there was a local company here that had been in the business 15 years previous. I listened to her and what she said to watch out for. It's funny, because at the time I kind of blew her off, but soon I realized that she was totally right.

[Steve]

Hi Gil,

Welcome to our forum!

What kinds of things have you been doing to market your business and attract new customers?

[ringahding1]

Originally Posted by gil500

He is willing to do anything to help me build up the business. I feel very lucky to have someone like him with his experience as a mentor. I have never worked with anyone at any age who can keep up with this 85 year old man.

I know what you mean, my first year I was introduced to this man (WWII VET) who repaired lawn mowers out of his farmland home. Funny it was a customer that introduced us, but long story short my JOHN DEERE mower would break down every week and every time he would say "$20". Of course we know the costs of repairs, so I would always look at him funny..and he would say "You helped"..that's ol school! Moral of the story is where have all the good one's gone?

I would always flip em an extra 5 or 10, he got me through my first two years, plus he taught me some small engine techniques along the way.

[gil500]

Originally Posted by ringahding1

I know what you mean, my first year I was introduced to this man (WWII VET) who repaired lawn mowers out of his farmland home. Funny it was a customer that introduced us, but long story short my JOHN DEERE mower would break down every week and every time he would say "$20". Of course we know the costs of repairs, so I would always look at him funny..and he would say "You helped"..that's ol school! Moral of the story is where have all the good one's gone?

I would always flip em an extra 5 or 10, he got me through my first two years, plus he taught me some small engine techniques along the way.

I know where you come from. I have an old John Deere 175 riding lawn tractor that I purchased from a garage sale and I spend a lot of time every week working on it just to keep it going. I feel fortunate because I have a nice push mower that is dependable and has never failed to start and go.

I wish that WWII VET was close enough that I could get him to work on this John Deere. Like you I would not mind flipping an extra dime or two to have someone as good hearted and caring as he must be help someone by under charging for his service. You don't find people like that everyday.

[gil500]

Originally Posted by Steve

Hi Gil,

Welcome to our forum!

What kinds of things have you been doing to market your business and attract new customers?

Currently I am getting almost all my new customers from CraigsList. I plan to start advertising in the local Chisholm Trail Shopper Classifieds in April which is normally the beginning of our Mowing season. I have created an advertisement on Thumbtack.com and I am also in the process of creating a Facebook business page. I have been staying pretty busy although every new customer this winter has been one time only. Seems they don't mind mowing but they don't like cleaning up all the leaves and trimming the bushes.

[gil500]

Originally Posted by Ducke

Thank goodness
I am not the old timer on here any more.
I look forward to watching your posts
Good luck with the company.

Graham
AKA: Ducke

Thank you, Yesterday after trimming 3 trees and hauling off all the limbs I felt like an old timer but this morning I woke up feeling like doing it all again.

[gil500]

Originally Posted by ringahding1

Thanks Gil for the inspiring thread. If the grass cutting doesn't work out, clearly you have skills artistically that you could get paid for.

The one thing I do a lot is read, especially in the winter months, so I read many stories that just make you either want to PUKE or make you WORK even harder.
Stories like yours keeps the passion and drive alive!

Good luck brother!

THANK YOU

You sound a little like me, In the winter when it is too cold (Below Freezing) to work outside I spend almost all my time reading. It doesn't matter how much you know, how skilled, or talented you are when you reach a certain age and begin to show your age people start treating you as though your helpless and mentally challenged. I know that I look old but I do not feel old. I think of the 85 year old man that I work for as old, although I have to hustle to keep up with him. He is my role model and the one who motivates me.