Understanding your limitations

In the early days of Enviroscapes, Todd Pugh managed the crews (above doing spring cleanup) and the business. As the company grew, he quickly found out he had time and leadership limitations.

Todd Pugh, the CEO of Todd’s Enviroscapes in Louisville, Ohio, spends between $20,000 and $40,000 in consultant fees every year. Although he says that the investment is worth it, he acknowledges that implementing their advice is not always easy.

“Things are always traveling 100 miles an hour, so you really have to be a mechanic and fix the bus while it’s moving,” he says.

Pugh hires consultants whose strengths balance out his weaknesses. Examples of areas that he’s focused on with his outside consultants include implementing financial controls within his company, tracking estimated versus actual hours, understanding how to train employees and communicating information to employees in the field. 

Pugh hasn’t always taken his consultants’ advice. In fact, when he first began hiring outside experts, he had trouble finding time to follow their recommendations. 

“After the third or fourth year of having lots of information, but not being able to execute the changes that were recommended, we pinpointed areas and really focused on them,” he says. “If you hire consultants, you really need to make a commitment.”

Pugh cautions business owners not to treat consultants as a panacea that will fix their problems. “People hire consultants as if they’re the end all and be all, but they’re really just a source of information,” he says. “It’s up to the owner to implement change.”

This story is one of three that appeared in Lawn & Landscape’s Growing Green e-newsletter. To continue reading about Todd Pugh and Todd's Enviroscapes:

Leaner and greener: How Enviroscapes boosted profitability by shedding 70 percent of its clients.

Creating a new image: Enviroscapes rebranded to highlight the company's commitment to the environment.