Crash Course

[SWEET LEAF]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

o.k. i need a lot of information and fast. i know with enough time spent reading here i could gather it.... don't have the time .
my options
1) sites that offer " make $$$ money in lawncare blah blah" they all seem to be based on business, marketing etc... i got all of that covered, i need detailed information on the actual nuts and bolts of doing this... proper ways to prune, techniques of mowing grass etc.
anybody buy into these sites? were they any good?

2) professional associations.

http://www.landcarenetwork.org/cms/home.html

http://www.nclandscape.org/

they really don't go into detail on what your going to learn if you join? phishh i guess a phone call might answer some questions ... but i would like to hear from those who belong to these organizations. how much will it help me to join?


thanks

[Frosty03]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

o.k. i need a lot of information and fast.



Ok, I'll be the stooge...

Look up at the top of the forum, click on the Search This Forum link.

Enter the subject you are looking for.

Click on Go.

There is a lot of information and if you have DSL, it's really fast.

[1MajorTom]

I guess my first question to you is, why don't you have time??
You expect to start a business, but want to gather all the info in the least amount of time and with very little effort??
I am NOT trying to be an idiot here, I'm serious.
The only real way to learn the business is thru trial and error. HANDS ON experience is the only real way you are going to learn the ins and outs of this business.
It takes MISTAKES to learn how to bid properly. It takes PRACTICE running a big mower.
It takes TIME to gain the self confidence to sell to customers.

If you want to be successful, you can't say you don't have time.

[Vikings]

... and if you have DSL, it's really fast.
Ha haha:laugh:

[TNT LawnCare Inc.]

You will learn by trial and error,were all human. No such thing as a crash course .You will need to know how to run your equipment properly and that does take time,some do learn faster. But you'll still need to take the time. Personally i would'nt spend my money on any profesional sites. just my .02 cents.

[SWEET LEAF]

I guess my first question to you is, why don't you have time?? running aother business
You expect to start a business, but want to gather all the info in the least amount of time and with very little effort?? not all the info. spending 1- 2 hours nightly reading forums. after working12- 16 hours daily.
I am NOT trying to be an idiot here, I'm serious.
no thank you for spending the time to respond. hope you will spend the time when you uderstand what i need to accomplish.
The only real way to learn the business is thru trial and error. HANDS ON experience is the only real way you are going to learn the ins and outs of this business.
It takes MISTAKES to learn how to bid properly. It takes PRACTICE running a big mower.
It takes TIME to gain the self confidence to sell to customers.

If you want to be successful, you can't say you don't have time.


good advive. do you belong to any of these associations?

[General Landscaping]

business, marketing etc... i got all of that covered

Then you just need an experienced foreman, crew and equipment. You don't need us... you need a headhunter.

[SWEET LEAF]

Then you just need an experienced foreman, crew and equipment. You don't need us... you need a headhunter.

yea your right. the only problem is i have only secured one contract so far. so until i have enough work for foreman ,crew etc. i will be doing it myself. iknow that the bulk of my experience will come from the school of hard knoks..all i'm asking is where can i find some definitive answers....

like i said the answers are on this and other boards, it just takes too much time to decipher the BS and the info you need. take this thread for example lotsa responses but not one person posting about they're experience's with any association's?

[SWEET LEAF]

You will learn by trial and error,were all human. No such thing as a crash course .You will need to know how to run your equipment properly and that does take time,some do learn faster. But you'll still need to take the time. Personally i would'nt spend my money on any profesional sites. just my .02 cents.

Thanks TNT.
like i said they dont really seam to be what i need . have you tried them?
if what i'm looking for does not exist... it will in about 2-3 years, that is the time it will take for me to learn enough techniques to master this trade.

[Roger]

..... it just takes too much time to decipher the BS and the info you need. ...

How much time is "too much time?"

Your posts are confusing. In one case, you say that you have several areas "covered." I am not sure what you mean by this statement. Included in that list is marketing. However, another post tells us you have only one account. Do you understand the dichotomy here?

Your vision of entrepreneurship is contrary to what most of us understand. You apparently discount experience as a teacher of ideas. Rather, you are attempting to short-cut the path that most successful business ventures follow. Maybe I am reading your posts wrong. If so, please share your differing ideas.

Microwave ovens have had a much larger impact on our culture than merely cooking food faster than convection ovens.

[SWEET LEAF]

yes you are reading it wrong. i have another business, right now i am integrating lawn care into it. this is what i'm talking about with these forums.i ask some simple questions, and have spent my time responding to post that dont even come close to answering them..... to much time wasted...

Q.
i would like to hear from those who belong to these organizations. how much will it help me to join?

Q.
anybody buy into these sites? were they any good?

we dont need to get philosophical here fellas..simple questions

[jcantrell]

I don't know of any national associations or if they are beneficial. New York State has a Nusery and Landscape association. You may want to check to see if your state has one.

Here are a couple links that have a wealth of knowledge:

http://www.agry.purdue.edu - many topics just check out some of their links

http://www.solutions.psu.edu/Horticulture_Gardening_Landscaping.htm - another college website

Maybe check some colleges in your area to see if they have more info/resources pertaining to landscape management in your climate.

[ericlemson]

Good point Rodger...however, I am still confused to whether a microwave really cooks food or merely heats is up.

[Roger]

Good point Rodger...however, I am still confused to whether a microwave really cooks food or merely heats is up.

I don't know the answer to your question. Perhaps in some cases the microwave oven is merely heating food, and, if given enough energy, the food is cooked. What I do know, microwaving food has created a mentality of getting something done fast, if not sooner.

[NELawnCare]

Lots of great lawn care books too!

[SWEET LEAF]

How much time is "too much time?"

Your posts are confusing. In one case, you say that you have several areas "covered." I am not sure what you mean by this statement. Included in that list is marketing. However, another post tells us you have only one account. Do you understand the dichotomy here?

Your vision of entrepreneurship is contrary to what most of us understand. You apparently discount experience as a teacher of ideas. Rather, you are attempting to short-cut the path that most successful business ventures follow. Maybe I am reading your posts wrong. If so, please share your differing ideas.

Microwave ovens have had a much larger impact on our culture than merely cooking food faster than convection ovens.

so thats all you got??? some B.s. about microwaves what a waste of time
Thanks

[Tim Wright]

Personally I think that it all depends on what it is your goals are, what you are planning on doing with lawns, how long you are willing to take to reach those goals, and so on.

For instance, if you are planning on incorporating mowing and general lawn maintenance into your existing business, then joining organizations is a waste of money. Your best bet is to tell everyone that you are looking for referals and get more lawns.

If you are looking to get into planting and such, then books the internet might be your best bet.

If you are going to get into fert and squirt, then you will need to be certified, and you will most likely have to work under someone else for a couple of years, and joining one of these organizations just might be something that will jump start your endevours.

So here is what I have done. Started mowing, and then got into final grading, seeding and general installation, and on my own research and learning, and like Jodi has said, just getting out here doing it and using my head.

Now I would like to get into pavestone design and installation. After studying materials both on line and books, I think that joining organizations such as MAHTS and ICPI will indeed be beneficial.

So the more specialized you get, perhaps the more beneficial the organizations will be to you.

Also knowing what you want to spend and can spend to get up and running is a critical factor. The more specialized areas of interest, I think the quicker the pay off.

But only you know your business, and where you want to go.

If this response is not what you are looking for I apologize for wasting your time. I respond not being a member or organizations yet in this field but in ohter fields. I think the principles or dynamics are very much the same.

Actually going back through the thread, I think that I may have picked up something other than your question here and responded to the wrong thing.

You might want to go and check out books sold at Lowes, etc, and perhaps save moeny, if techniques is all you are looking for.

Tim

[Roger]

[QUOTE=Tim Wright;1763582]

If this response is not what you are looking for I apologize for wasting your time. looking for./QUOTE]

Tim, I think we all wasted time on this thread. The original poster certainly things we wasted his time. Your post said what some of the rest of us were trying to say, he needs to understand the business. If he is serious, he has a business plan, and the plan would be clear about what to expect on startup. The "instant success" idea seems to override any advice any of us have shared, hence the microwave picture. We would all like to find the one resource that would make us winners, and quickly, if not before. Perhaps that resource is a professional organization, and, if so, many of us have spent far too much time in asking questions and exchanging ideas on LS over the years.

[Duekster]

:rolleyes: sorry I don't have time.

[tdkx]

Sweet Leaf, there are a great many people on this site who very much love what they do and have taken their whole lives to learn the nuances of the art of growing a fine plant specimen, the skills of repairing the machines they use as well as the sales and bidding arts. No quick study course will prepare you for this type of business.

[DaughtryLC]

:confused: Are WE taking about Microwaves or Lawn Care;)

[topsites]

Oh boy...

like i said the answers are on this and other boards, it just takes too much time to decipher the BS and the info you need. take this thread for example lotsa responses but not one person posting about they're experience's with any association's?

Time is the price you pay for free information because nobody is going to hand over a working business on a silver platter and then pay you to sit around while everyone else works for you, and there's at least one good rant about an association on here, I know that for a fact lmao. The information unfortunately also isn't tailored and catered to suit, but that's not just LS, the entire Internet works like that. But anything you want is at your fingertips, you just have to swallow the pride and learn to gather and gain from what is provided... You don't even need to weed through all of the BS, just use the BS to know what not to do would be one example of using information constructively regardless of presentation.

The other thing is, in this business and in life, there is always the bs. Don't feel bad, I used to complain about it regularly, now I find it mostly amusing, so I guess it's all in how we learn to selectively deal with bs, but again there will always be bs and lots of it.

Now you can do it one of several ways, but either way it's going to cost you, and the less time you think you have the more it costs.
Worse still, the price rises exponentially with impatience, so please consider sitting down and taking a good ole' 200+ lap test drive of this here lawn site and I think after a few hours you'll be a lot better off than when you started.

Good luck.

/////////////////////
btw I lol'd at the DSL recommendation

[Sandgropher]

I think microwaves ovens are great :) sorry what was the question again , i have not got time to reread ;)

[topsites]

Thanks TNT.
like i said they dont really seam to be what i need . have you tried them?
if what i'm looking for does not exist... it will in about 2-3 years, that is the time it will take for me to learn enough techniques to master this trade.

No sir, 2-3 years is the time it will take for you to make enough mistakes that the results will either put you out of business or the frustration pushes your mind to the extremes required to begin comprehending the basics involved. Likely it won't be until at least your 3rd year before you can breathe a half a sigh of relief (ok you can take one sigh after the 1st and another after the second year) but not until the end of the 4th or even 5th year is the learning curve nearing completion of (are you ready) the first whole lap at top speed, so all that was just practice and I think about the 6th year you should be finished qualifying and are finally ready to go. There's never no telling for sure, but most Lco's on here aren't stupid and if they had to go through it, then it stands to reason even the most brilliant fellers have to, also.

I speak from my own experience but I do find it interesting that historical data backs this up, what I find even more interesting is I didn't realize this about said data until hindsight allowed me to see it. However, I do look forward to reading some more as I take a look back on my own years, I'll try and refrain from saying too much if for no other reason than the stored data of my own posts a few years back might reveal that I'm no better than anyone else, probably not even close.

[SWEET LEAF]

Personally I think that it all depends on what it is your goals are, what you are planning on doing with lawns, how long you are willing to take to reach those goals, and so on.Thanks Tim.3-5 years

For instance, if you are planning on incorporating mowing and general lawn maintenance into your existing business, then joining organizations is a waste of money. Your best bet is to tell everyone that you are looking for referals and get more lawns.[COLOR="SandyBrown"]no it is not for marketing purposes. i truely want to provide the best service i possibly can.

If you are looking to get into planting and such, then books the internet might be your best bet.any suggestions ?

If you are going to get into fert and squirt, then you will need to be certified, and you will most likely have to work under someone else for a couple of years, and joining one of these organizations just might be something that will jump start your endevours.
already sent off for training manual.and will scedual test asap
So here is what I have done. Started mowing, and then got into final grading, seeding and general installation, and on my own research and learning, and like Jodi has said, just getting out here doing it and using my head.ive got a huge jobto bid. i will have to probably have to till and sod or hydro seed. maybe you can give me some advice?

Now I would like to get into pavestone design and installation. After studying materials both on line and books, I think that joining organizations such as MAHTS and ICPI will indeed be beneficial.i an looking forward to learning this as well

So the more specialized you get, perhaps the more beneficial the organizations will be to you.

Also knowing what you want to spend and can spend to get up and running is a critical factor. The more specialized areas of interest, I think the quicker the pay off.

But only you know your business, and where you want to go.

If this response is not what you are looking for I apologize for wasting your time. I respond not being a member or organizations yet in this field but in ohter fields. I think the principles or dynamics are very much the same.no it is a insightfull post and i appreciate your time

Actually going back through the thread, I think that I may have picked up something other than your question here and responded to the wrong thing.
please explain??

You might want to go and check out books sold at Lowes, etc, and perhaps save moeny, if techniques is all you are looking for. are you serious?

Tim

Thanks Tim

[SWEET LEAF]

Personally I think that it all depends on what it is your goals are, what you are planning on doing with lawns, how long you are willing to take to reach those goals, and so on.

For instance, if you are planning on incorporating mowing and general lawn maintenance into your existing business, then joining organizations is a waste of money. Your best bet is to tell everyone that you are looking for referals and get more lawns.

If you are looking to get into planting and such, then books the internet might be your best bet.

If you are going to get into fert and squirt, then you will need to be certified, and you will most likely have to work under someone else for a couple of years, and joining one of these organizations just might be something that will jump start your endevours.

So here is what I have done. Started mowing, and then got into final grading, seeding and general installation, and on my own research and learning, and like Jodi has said, just getting out here doing it and using my head.

Now I would like to get into pavestone design and installation. After studying materials both on line and books, I think that joining organizations such as MAHTS and ICPI will indeed be beneficial.

So the more specialized you get, perhaps the more beneficial the organizations will be to you.

Also knowing what you want to spend and can spend to get up and running is a critical factor. The more specialized areas of interest, I think the quicker the pay off.

But only you know your business, and where you want to go.

If this response is not what you are looking for I apologize for wasting your time. I respond not being a member or organizations yet in this field but in ohter fields. I think the principles or dynamics are very much the same.

Actually going back through the thread, I think that I may have picked up something other than your question here and responded to the wrong thing.

You might want to go and check out books sold at Lowes, etc, and perhaps save moeny, if techniques is all you are looking for.

Tim

THANKSTIM

[QUOTE=Tim Wright;1763582]

If this response is not what you are looking for I apologize for wasting your time. looking for./QUOTE]

Tim, I think we all wasted time on this thread. The original poster certainly things we wasted his time. Your post said what some of the rest of us were trying to say, he needs to understand the business. If he is serious, he has a business plan, and the plan would be clear about what to expect on startup. The "instant success" idea seems to override any advice any of us have shared, hence the microwave picture. We would all like to find the one resource that would make us winners, and quickly, if not before. Perhaps that resource is a professional organization, and, if so, many of us have spent far too much time in asking questions and exchanging ideas on LS over the years.
why do you think im an overnighter? because i want as much information as possible?? would you rather someone representing your trade who doesn't care? again do you have any constructive input about the original question?

[SWEET LEAF]

:rolleyes: sorry I don't have time.
Thanks for responding?

[SWEET LEAF]

Sweet Leaf, there are a great many people on this site who very much love what they do and have taken their whole lives to learn the nuances of the art of growing a fine plant specimen, the skills of repairing the machines they use as well as the sales and bidding arts. No quick study course will prepare you for this type of business.
That an honest responce . Thanks
i know it will not be easy.

[SWEET LEAF]

I don't know of any national associations or if they are beneficial. New York State has a Nusery and Landscape association. You may want to check to see if your state has one.

Here are a couple links that have a wealth of knowledge:

http://www.agry.purdue.edu - many topics just check out some of their links

http://www.solutions.psu.edu/Horticulture_Gardening_Landscaping.htm - another college website

Maybe check some colleges in your area to see if they have more info/resources pertaining to landscape management in your climate.
Thanks Cantrell. yea been reading a lott of purdue and lsu. will check out psu

[SWEET LEAF]

:confused: Are WE taking about Microwaves or Lawn Care;)

AAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!:hammerhead:

[SWEET LEAF]

I think microwaves ovens are great :) sorry what was the question again , i have not got time to reread ;)
*trucewhiteflag*

GOTTA GO