5 year plan

[George777]

They say when you come to a fork in the road to take the path less traveled. Looking 5 years into the future where do you see yourself in your business? I know that nobody can read the future, but what are some of your business goals? I know nobody wants to be like a stagnate pound and so we are all in motion to improve our abilities to continue the education process in this industry.

Maybe someone out here would like to become very wealthy in the business, or maybe you want to stay where you're at. I would like to continue to learn all the different facets of this business and do more than just cut grass. I need to stay in motion and move forward. I realize that we were all taught wrong in school. I was taught that making mistakes is bad. Well since being in this business I have learned a lot from my mistakes. We might have been taught to get a good education and then get a good job, really is there such a thing as a good job? What working for a boss that drives a nice car and lives in a big nice house?

Does anyone feel like they are in a rut? (Stagnating), and if so why? Many of you have many years of expertise in this field and offer a great deal of info to someone like me who is working it day after day, mistake after mistake.

How many have written goals that lay out a timetable of where you will be in 5 years? I was once told that if you can see it you can achieve it. Maybe this may sound crazy to some, but very few people have a clue where they want to be in 5 years. If you keep doing what you have done in the past then you will know what is ahead of you in the future.

[lawnman_scott]

I dont have anything written down, but have it in my head where i want to be. For example, in 2 years i dont want to be phisically mowing anymore, just running the business, and I think thats very attainable as of right now.

[lawnboy82]

i know that in 5 years i wanna be out of school with my degree. after that i have no clue. i do know that i dont want to be busting my butt every day of the week for the rest of my life. that i do know. so if i can build my business up large enough where i only have to do physical work every once in a while, or where i go and supervise a golf course and just check up on everything and do other b.s that doesnt require a lot of muscle i would be happy. i just dont want to be scraping by. i know that i want to be successful, and making money off of my mind, not off my back.

[George777]

lawnboy82, you brought up an awesome point. How can we work smarter instead of harder? If hard work was the key to sucess then every ditch digger and brick layer would be millionares.

[joshua]

5 years from now, i will have 3 crews to cut, i will be a name that every person in my area knows of, i will have every cert. and lic. that i can get to make my company better than the rest, i will improve the quality work that i already do. and i will start to build a dynasty in my area.

everything i have every said and was serious about, i have done it. and i will do these things.

[George777]

5 years from now, i will have 3 crews to cut, i will be a name that every person in my area knows of, i will have every cert. and lic. that i can get to make my company better than the rest, i will improve the quality work that i already do. and i will start to build a dynasty in my area.

Joshua, it sounds like you know what you want. I can tell by the determination that you will accomplish your goals. Many will hope and wish they will accomplish things, but few will believe they can. You keep up that bulldog attitude. Did you know the noise of a bulldog is slanted back so that when he bites he won't let go?

[SummitFarmer]

George777 it sounds like you have been reading your Rich Dad, Poor Dad? Great books with good insight and motivation. I also like Jim Rohn for these things. Best of luck.

[David Gretzmier]

I stagnated for the past three years until this year. I was stuck at 100-120k in sales and didn't really want to grow my headaches. I joined up with two partners that had lawn business' a little smaller than mine, and things have been rough, but taking off indeed. I think we'll do over 600k this year, and prob hit the million mark in 3. In 5 we are shooting for the 1.5 mill mark. the growth will probably continue to kill our paycheck, as fast growth maxes out credit, cash flow, comfort levels, equipment usage, and employee turnover. It also makes winter an even scarier scenario. how about 10000+ per month in overhead on payments and insurance? The payoff is hopefully something that is financially successful and fun to run. Dave g

[joshua]

george, thanks for replying to my post, and for the good words of incouragment. my goals for this year are 3/4 filled, and i set them at unreal levels, so i'm on great pace right now, just hope my body can take everything i try to do.

[Esby]

Currently I am in my 5th season and maintain 55 residential and 6 commercial properties. In 3 years I want to finish up my last season of lawn care with 110 residential and about 30 commercial. I want to have another crew and have picked up 3 more Lazers, two for the new crew and a new one for mine. I also want a new truck for myself and hand my current to the next crew. After that year I am looking to sell out. I know after all this work, I am giving it all up, but it will deffinatly be time for me to move on to bigger and better things.(I hope:)) At that time I will be done with my Chemical Engineering graduate work and have my Graduate Degree. I see no place for me in lawn care after that. Its been a great experience and unbelievable earnings, but it will be time to go. I've thought of keeping it all going and just not doing the physical work, but I don't want to have all the hassels of a side business. I want to start a family then, and be working in the field that I enjoy the most. Although lawn care is a close second, Chemical Engineering and working in the laboratory is the place for me. Who knows, perhaps someday you will hear of a new "Miracle Fertilizer", stop in to pick some up and "Esbjornsson" will be plastered all over the package. You can think of me:) Good luck to all and keep your goals set high!

[Toroguy]

Good plans gentleman!

My plan is to reduce my customer base to only two days of work. Plus spend my winters somewhere warm, my current projection is Galveston TX. Its affordable and its on the Gulf.

I will have my home payed off in a year, an inexpensive townhouse or mobile home in TX payed off in three, and a nice reserve of dineros in five.

Semi-retirement at 40 years old, then maybe I can get a 21 year old girlfriend:)

I always thought I could make the largest lawn care company in my area, then I thought why? My reason was it would be impressive. When I was younger impressing people was what it was all about. I decided then I would impress myself and do what I desire...relax and enjoy the things people take for granted.

Life will throw me a curveball or two, but this is my plan.

[P&J Lawncare]

In five years I want my buisiness to be the same as it is now. In the twelve years that I have had this buisiness I have seen both sides of the coin. Three years ago I was running three crews and I had over $100,000.00 worth the equipment to maintain. I can honestly say it was not worth it. The stress of keeping up with it all almost ruined me. I was constantly trying to find workers and teach them. my overhead was incredible I can't tell you how many times I waited by the mailbox praying that a check would come in so that everybody could get paid that day. Now I have downsized I kept the best accounts the best workers and the best equipment I have half the stress (wich is still alot) I make a little less money but the my reputation is great I work on every account I have and if there is ever a problem I am there to take care of it. its nice to reach for the stars but it can be difficult to hold on to it once you catch it.

[dmk395]

Well I cant say much, but 8 years from now I would love to be retired, at the young age of 30. Sounds tough but with the right investments anything is possible.

[George777]

SummitFarmer, I have read those books and I would recommend then to anybody. A classic is a book titled "How to win friends & influence People". Some of you would say, why would I need to read a book like that? Well we are in the people business and if we can't communicate to our customers what good are we?


David, that is awesome, you go for it. 600k is a nice size business. I bet you're excited about that. I think you got this thing figured out. You merged, how many big fortune 500 companies have you seen merge in the last few years? It has happened time and time again.


Esby , You sound like you know what you want. Best wishes with your chemical engineering. Who knows you just may very well invent a "Miracle Fertilizer", and stub your toe and become a multi millionaire


Toroguy, Semi-retirement sounds great. I found out that too many people try to impress people they don't even know. I think they call this status. Even worse is people spending money they don't have to impress people they don't even know. I call this stupidity.


P&J Lawncare, Sounds like you made a good business decision to downsize and keep your best crew. Stress is a bid killer in this country. Glad to hear things are panning out for ya

[trimmer]

In five years I will be landscaping. Doing landscape managment instead of just maintaining. Have a house built and a nice shop. Get a new enclosed trailer and truck. Making just enough money to be happy and enjoying life.:blob3:

[NateinAtl]

Five years from now.....hmmmm. I have a plan that may seem strange to many, but believe me, it is perfect for my wife and me. Right now I am about 50 % of the way there. Bare with me, because Atlanta lawns are different than they are in most areas. In the Spring/early summer of 2006 I want to aerate 1000 warm season lawns at an average of $60 each. In Sept/Oct. 2006 I want to aerate/seed 700 fescue lawns at an average of $120 each. I also want to have a crew of day laborers sod at least 1 lawn a week from Mid March through June (drop them off early and pick them up when I am done with my aeration route).

The best part of my goal, however, will be that we plan on spending January's each year in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and July's each year on the Kenai River in Alaska. What can I say, I am hooked on Marlin fishing and my wife, who is originally from Alaska, is hooked on Salmon fishing.

Sure it sounds strange, just ask my family, but I honestly think it can be done. It just takes a good marketing strategy. I have these goals written down, and do number crunching every night to make sure I am well on my way.

Writing down goals is very important. As well as sharing them with your spouse and family.

I just pray and keep my fingers crossed that Atlanta suberbs continue to grow.

[CSRA Landscaping]

Nate, good luck, I understand that he EPA is preventing Atlanta from building new roads. I'm sure that won't last though.

5 years from now I plan on having a business that I MANAGE, making the money by jaw-jacking and then send the guys with the brawn to back up what I've said. ;) I'm only 23 but already I'm beginning to feel the work. I want to enjoy the life that's been given to me with my family. And when I'm not jaw-jacking or actively managing, I plan to be somewhere in the mission field. Best of luck to you all!