C'mon, people!

[Tyler7692]

I am continually disappointed.

Evertime I get on Lawnsite, I am saddened by the inactivity in this portion of the forum. People should start being more concerned about the management and progression of their businesses and the systems they incorporate.

I am tired of "What brand of string trimmer should I buy?" and like posts. Completely useless and limiting.

There is a bigger picture people. C'mon.

[Az Gardener]

Yes you can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink. I always check the business section first then move on to "New Posts" many post quasi business questions in the other various forums.

I was on the board of our state L/S association. I remember being at a board meeting and pounding the table saying we need to provide more education for our members. A older member then asked me is anyone asking for education? No I replied but we all know that the industry needs to be better educated in business and horticulture, irrigation, lighting Etc. The director spoke up and said the feedback she got was that most just wanted to come to a dinner once a month and have a beer with others in the trade to socialize.

I think this is primarily a social site with the excuse of education as a basis. Don't get me wrong I think there is much to learn but as a focus business education certainly takes a back seat. Whats that saying... "I know so little that I don't even know what I don't know". I think that is the majority of users here in regards to business. They are solo's that own their job not a company. The only way they will increase their income is to increase field production or say costs through minimizing repair costs or efficiency. No computer programs, employee training or management technique's will save them a dime. Hence the doldrums in the business section, it is what it is.

[Tyler7692]

I agree, AZ.

The best bit of business advice I ever received was "You will never get rich from your own labor."

Maybe others have a different goal in mind. Mine is to make as much money as possible. In this business (just as any other business), this requires much more than the skills to perform the tasks for which you are getting paid. It requires the knowledge of business systems and how to better incorporate them into your company, which is something most never even think of. Maybe its not their destiny, I don't know?

[richallseasons]

You are absolutely correct, and as a matter of fact I make it a point to come to this section just to jump start my brain and see what other guys are talking about, and yes most of the time it falls way short of the mark. I am a first time business owner coming up on 5 years now and I will admit it has been a hard road to travel but I am still here, this past year for me has been extremely difficult and I have made as many mistakes as good moves. In the last six months I have made choices to downsize and stream line operations just to give myself a fighting chance so that I can implement winning strategies in the next four months and beyond that will breath a new fire and drive into me and the business, the problem is that I am unclear as to what would really work for me and in my area there are no resources or veterans of the business that are willing to share information, as a matter of fact the only people that I can talk to in my area are guys with the same small companies and issues that I deal with, so in that respect it is frustrating because I seem to spin my wheels allot trying to be a success. I would like to see some of the more experienced guys here maybe break off into a specialized forum where we could all bounce ideas off each other without the egos and the I am not telling my secrets cause you six states away crap, call me crazy but if we all help one another to be better business operators, don't you think that it might lead to more unified industry standards and stop some of the cut throat behavior from more desperate players.

[lifetree]

... call me crazy but if we all help one another to be better business operators, don't you think that it might lead to more unified industry standards and stop some of the cut throat behavior from more desperate players.

No, I don't think it will help because there will always be those low ballers just getting into the business as a result of just being laid off from their job !!

[kyfireman2004]

A couple of months ago I asked if anyone wanted to start having Round table events. I received little feed back . To me putting on round tables would be great. If you go to an expo for one you pay 100's of dollars to hear someone speak for an hour. If we as lawnsite members put them on it would be alot cheaper. Networking is key...
I personally am not one to put on such an event, but I am sure there is plenty on here that would.
I bet the guy that sells the super lawn truck would......big time speaker, bring in guys to a local hotel, give them landscape advice and hopefully they buy a truck .
Maybe Toro could,,,or exmark, bobcat,,,,,,,,,,,ect.

[cgll1135]

I am continually disappointed.

Evertime I get on Lawnsite, I am saddened by the inactivity in this portion of the forum. People should start being more concerned about the management and progression of their businesses and the systems they incorporate.

I am tired of "What brand of string trimmer should I buy?" and like posts. Completely useless and limiting.

There is a bigger picture people. C'mon.

Yes sir I agree but what topic is it that you would ike to discuss.
Quik books
Payroll
Insurance
Advertising
P&L's
Taxes
S-corp VS. Partnership VS. solo ops.
Forms ie: i-9, applications,1099 VS w-2
immigration laws
You start it off and I for one would be more than happy to discuss 100% of what our partnership is doing in the Raleigh, NC market. We have over 200 accounts in two years.
Doug

[HOOLIE]

I'd go out on a limb and guess that most guys that know something about the business side of things, get tired of being accused of lying or exaggerating things. A buddy of mine was on LS a few years ago. He pays well above the going rate for labor, runs frequent 'incentive' campaigns for his employees, and in general is very successful. He mentioned some of these things in threads but got tired of being called a 'noob' and being told he was full of sh**, so he decided there was no point in being on here.

[Tim03]

Hmmm... I am surprised to see no one mention that maybe you don't want to share successful business secrets with potential competitors.

[HOOLIE]

Hmmm... I am surprised to see no one mention that maybe you don't want to share successful business secrets with potential competitors.

Certainly that can be true sometimes. I'm actually working on an internet marketing idea where, if I went into details, some other local guys could take my idea and render it useless to me. But still there are plenty of good business discussions that COULD take place, but they never seem to.

I guess I'm not help :laugh: I'm drawing a blank right now on good discussion topics.

[cgll1135]

Hmmm... I am surprised to see no one mention that maybe you don't want to share successful business secrets with potential competitors.
Tyler with all due respect what is so secret about the business we are all in. You are in Indy and I'm in NC what I do here or in CT has no bearing on anyone at all. Again with all due respect, to me it's boils down to good old fashion customer service to your customers. I'm 49 years old and have been in the corporate world for 30 years and there are no "secrets" unless you are dealing with a patent for a certain product or service. Let's talk ideas about controlling and building not stealing ideas.
Great customer service + Great employees + Great leadership = Great Money.
It has always worked for me.

[nosparkplugs]

I am continually disappointed.

Evertime I get on Lawnsite, I am saddened by the inactivity in this portion of the forum. People should start being more concerned about the management and progression of their businesses and the systems they incorporate.

I am tired of "What brand of string trimmer should I buy?" and like posts. Completely useless and limiting.

There is a bigger picture people. C'mon.



Speak for yourself? I guess most have their business's running right on here, and have time to talk about what the majority like? equipment:clapping: I got my business together, do you?, We come on Lawnsite only to get Pm'ed for free business contracts & templates:laugh: anyone can start a business. Go to E-bay and purchase the, "Buy it now" version of how to manage your lawn business & contract template's. After a long day the bigger picture is resting, and spending more time with family.

[kyfireman2004]

Hmmm... I am surprised to see no one mention that maybe you don't want to share successful business secrets with potential competitors.

Its funny you say that.........I bought a pressure washer off a local guy here in Lexington this past summer. So I show up and buy this used commercial belt drive pressure washer and see his rig. Being me I started asking Questions about Pw's and stuff. Since then we talk about once a week on how to make money in the power washing field.
Pw's guys are really open to their field. The reason for it is, they want it done right. They don't want some jake lake (landscaper) giving their field a bad name. Thats something we as landscapers should be more like. Help the new guy, show him the way.......There is so much work out there its crazy!!!!!!!
Thanks Michael K
First choice power washing

[nosparkplugs]

Its funny you say that.........I bought a pressure washer off a local guy here in Lexington this past summer. So I show up and buy this used commercial belt drive pressure washer and see his rig. Being me I started asking Questions about Pw's and stuff. Since then we talk about once a week on how to make money in the power washing field.
Pw's guys are really open to their field. The reason for it is, they want it done right. They don't want some jake lake (landscaper) giving their field a bad name. Thats something we as landscapers should be more like. Help the new guy, show him the way.......There is so much work out there its crazy!!!!!!!
Thanks Michael K
First choice power washing


Lawnsite is great as is period:clapping::usflag:, their should be some stress & suffering in any new business, or you would not survive, We have become a point & click society, instant gratification. Why help every single business that asks for it, I never asked for help, I already give more than I got when I started.

Look at the "bigger" picture of helping, all should have home ownership:laugh: or everyone should be able to get a loan:hammerhead:
Some folks get what they need from Lawnsite & leave already. whats the point of joining when you can just read the forums & start a business:laugh:

Make Lawnsite a Pay for membership site then it might work better.