What would make you HAPPY in this Biz???

[MOW ED]

Yep I am asking you.

Have you ever just sat and tried to think what would make you happy in this business? Seriously think about what you would like to wake up to every morning assuming that you stay in the lawn and landscape business. Is it the obvious new truck or 31hp ZTR and enclosed lettered trailer? Mayby its running 3 crews that actually are profitable? Mayby its something smaller like learning to account for your money or learning the business end of this. I am sure it is more than one thing.

Sit down and make a list from the obscure and seemingly unattainable to the goals that are possible if you just work a little at reaching them, you may be surprised. When it is busy in the spring and summer it is easy to lose focus on what makes you enjoy your work so this is the perfect time to sit and put it on paper.
Do it. Then prioritize it and go after some of the stuff that you want.

I know there are members here that are TRULY happy with what they are doing and excited about what is to come. There are some very successful people in this community of 5000+ members. What makes you happy?

If you are just working to get by you may be happy with that but ask yourself What if...???

[turfman59]

100 % customer satisfaction
I sent a bill the other day to client and he sent back the full amount plus 15%...

When I drove away from a large upscale property that I had just done a leaf clean-up on, the property owner called me on my cell and thanked me again for a great job.

I provided a list of references to a future prospect when he awarded me the contract, he said that one of the references that I provided was a colleague of his and that he put a lot of stock in what he said, and if I could work for him and keep him as satisfied as he said he was I definately could work for him.:D

[2 man crew]

For a long time it seemed I was always wishing or hoping for more than what I had. I'm finally to a point in my business where I feel comfortable with almost every thing that has been accomplished through my previous short and long term goals.

It seems I'm at a point where getting larger and running more crews is not that important to me. Rather molding by company to draw in more customers that need, want and are willing to pay for the highest quality service.

What makes me happy is driving by one of our customer’s properties and saying to myself, this place looks great.

[Mowin4cash]

Hmmmm, let's see.

1) no dew early in the mornings
2) no wind when doing leaves
3) all invoices paid on or before time
4) no scrubs
5) no temps about 90 degrees
6) no flat tires on the front of my choppers!!!!!!!!!!!
7) low humidity in the summer
8) .99 gallon gas
9) a computer that would not "lock up"
10) a printer that never runs out of ink while printing invoices

Not too much to ask is it?


Mike

[GroundKprs]

Ahh, yes........... happiness

Happiness is not a destination.

Happiness is a means of traveling.

Real happiness comes from within, can't be attained from possessions, locations, or other outside influences. Forrest Gump was happy, wherever he was and whatever he had.

[lawnranger44]

i have some things that would make me happy with my business, but it's just not worth the $$$ it would take, since i'm just leaving for college in 2 years anyway.

[MacLawnCo]

Originally posted by GroundKprs
Ahh, yes........... happiness

Happiness is not a destination.

Happiness is a means of traveling.

Real happiness comes from within, can't be attained from possessions, locations, or other outside influences. Forrest Gump was happy, wherever he was and whatever he had.

Jim, that is exactly what i was thinking. Im glad you brought that up. It is so true. Enjoy everything that you are doing, you can only have that moment once.

[bubble boy]

forrest gump:laugh:

it would be pretty hard for me to not be happy, as long as i could provide for myself (and one day a family).

but from a strict business sense myself and my biz partner want to build a company large enough for us to never have to don the steel toes. work on, not in the biz.

thats the goal, but i wouldn't say i won't be happy unless i achieve that.

of course a Stanley Cup would also make me quite happy...

[crazygator]

Originally posted by GroundKprs
Forrest Gump was happy, wherever he was and whatever he had.

I think I can be happy without running across the whole country.......:D


Seriously, for me to be happy, knowing my buisiness provides for me, my wife and most importanty my little girl.

Seeing her grow up not needing food or water or clothes or housing and being the most happy child ever is enough for me.

[bobbygedd]

amen brother. hey, i thought it didnt get cold in tenn? i watched the titans the other day, it looked cold there

[kutnkru]

To be able to educate your clients about their programs/services and ACTUALLY see the light come on so you know they're on the same page (-LOL!!!) and its not just a decision based on $$$.

That would make me very very happy. :D

[GreenQuest Lawn]

Some insnely rich person offering to pay me 5 million dollars to mow there lawn for one year cause they just have "too much money laying around" and I look like a good person.

[Strawbridge Lawn]

I would like EM's to build quality mower line that are designed to do more than just mow. First off, I am talking about a 34"-36" machine rider or stander that can tow products and bag efficiently. Why? I bought a 34" Simplicity residential machine that does most of this OK, but there in NOTHING commercially that is this size that has built in quality and efficiency save an Encore Z-34 or Wright Stander 36 after some back yard modifications.
For example, I want to be able to take this machine to a yard to be cut and bagged. Then when done, easily mount a front dethatcher and a tow aerator for the yard next door. Do the whole front yard and the whole back yard which is separated by a 37" wide gate.
For the big yards? A machine just like it with a 53" deck

This would make me HAAAAAPPPPPPPPPPYYYYYY for it would make me BIIIGGG Money with little fatigue

[tiedeman]

1. Never have a mower get a flat in the field
2. Never have my safety shut off somehow not work and almost sending a mower into a lake
3. Customers pay on time
4. not having a guy complain that I got one, yes one leaf on his suv during the fall
5. not a dry and hot summer like that are predicting
6. More snow for the drought won't start earlier this year

[Gravely_Man]

A much bigger shop area and a lot more tools for the shop would be a great start. While I am dreaming I would throw in an enclosed trailer. That would make life easier for me not quite sure if it would make me happier though.


Gravely_Man

[nelbuts]

Anna Kournikova

[rodfather]

Having all our customers pay within 30 days of receipt of their statement...period.

[MikeLT1Z28]

everybody knows he was happy because he got to use the snapper rear engine to cut grass! :blob3:

[greens]

I want to be large enough to afford a trustworthy foreman to run all my lawn maintenance crews.
So I can concentrate on the landscaping end of the business. Landscaping is where I get all my satisfaction. I love sitting back and looking at the finished product and saying I created that. Then I snap a few pics and add them to my portfolio. :D

[f350]

i would love to finally be satisfied with my work.

my family would be happy if my brain shut off at 5:00; but no being a perfectionist, i wake up at 2 or 3 and start thinking up new marketing approaches.

my #1 goal, be able to network daily over a 3 vodka martini lunch!


anyone remember the hank jr. song, hamburger steaks and holiday inn's..?

if your gonna make it, you cant fake it, you gotta live it...

[greenngrow]

Continued good health.

NO more break downs of any kind.

fair pricing by everyone in the business (Good LUCK)

To provide for my family (with the help from the Misses)

NO complaining customers.... I forgot these are opportunities not problems....

[Wesley's Lawn]

Less customer bi***in an more complementing and they would pay on time.

[eslawns]

Basically, I am happy in this biz. I have bad days, but I think everybody has those. I've learned to take it easy. I am almost completely out of debt and plan to spend a lot more time fishing than fussing this coming season.

[Lawn Tek]

I'm really happy now , I work for myself .If you have good health how colud you not be happy ?

[lawncare3]

Customers wouldn't complain and they would pay on time.:p :dizzy: (never gonna happen):(

[Turtle II]

Originally posted by GroundKprs
Ahh, yes........... happiness

Happiness is not a destination.

Happiness is a means of traveling.

Real happiness comes from within, can't be attained from possessions, locations, or other outside influences. Forrest Gump was happy, wherever he was and whatever he had.


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GROUNDKPRS----

That is so true.
I try to live this each and everyday.......Its hard sometimes & takes effort, but my life has been much better since I've tried to adopt this "type / mind-set" of thinking.

ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING

Hope everyone is doing well,

Turtle II
Eastern, NC

[David Gretzmier]

Happiness in business-

1. To purchase a $10000 mower that does not break when,properly maintained, you can use it commercially 40 hours a week, 36 weeks a year, for 3 years. no flats, fuel efficient.
2. Being able to charge, and get paid in a timely manner enough to pay crew foremen a wage competitive with college grad's ( 30000 ?), and pay laborers a living wage- 400 per week ? and be able to purchase and maintain equipment, trucks, shop, and have something fair left over for the owner and to pay everyone throgh winter.
3. normal hours for me to allow time and energy for God, family, home repair /maintenance and selfish ME time. Barnes and Noble, anyone?
4. clients that are respectful, courteous
5. employees that are trustworthy,smart, self motivated, hard working, and take minimal sick days, take vacations primarily in the winter, respectful to me and clients.
6. Banks that go out of thier way to help you grow your business.
7. Marketing that targets the customer base you want and pays for itself over and over.
8. either computer hardware/software that works, or free technical support to get it working.
9. Shop and land that are located well, fair of cost, and suited for growth
10. a brain that shuts business stuff off at 6 pm and turns back on at 7 am, except on vactation and weekends.
11. internet that is as fast as i can read and click, and affordable.
12. color laser printer that is fast, and somehow economical per page on color and black and white.
13 reasonable weather, but still seasonal, 90 degrees top, 10 degrees bottom. snows ok if I don't have to work, no rain on thursday, friday and saturday in a row.

I have some or most of these, just not all at the same time !

[SDlawndawg]

I would be happy if I could control the one factor I can't control. THE WEATHER. Everything else is up to me and how hard I work.

Mother nature is one one tough mother...

[Shuter]

Customer satisfaction. Not all customers are always happy, but most are. It is nice to drive by a landscaped yard and know that I did the design, install, and up keep.