This column was originally published in 2009.
I don’t know about you, but I’m going to be just fine no matter what is thrown at me this year. How do I know this? I started Grunder Landscaping in 1984 with a $25 lawn mower I bought at a garage sale. The first jobs I did were atrocious to say the least. We did the kind of work I see a lot of other young, inexperienced startups doing. But, hey we all start someplace right? Today, my company has won numerous awards for the landscapes we install, so my message to you is: You can do it too! Here are four things you need to do, no matter what size company you run or are a part of.
1. Talk to your clients. And I don’t mean on the phone or via e-mail, I mean face to face. Relationships are started by face-to-face conversations. When you talk to clients, only good things can happen. You might be able to sell them more work, state the value you bring to the table thereby reinforcing what you bring to the relationship, or you might even get a referral (if you ask for one)!
2. Invest in yourself. Go to a seminar, train your people in the areas they are deficient in, go to a trade show or even take a class. It’s important that you use this time to get smarter in the area of sales and marketing, finance, communication, leadership and even horticulture. Those who get smarter and work hard to improve will spring right past those who don’t.
3. Share your future with your people. Talk to them and tell them what you are trying to do. They can’t help you if you don’t tell them where you’re trying to go. Now would be a good time to start communicating what a win looks like at your company. You create an incredible environment of teamwork and unity when you get everyone on the same page.
4. Pay your bills on time and if you can’t, tell your vendors what’s going on. It is amazing to me how many small businesses don’t grasp this concept. If you owe someone money, talk to them about it. You can’t run and hide. Word travels fast when you don’t pay your bills. The way you treat your vendors says a lot about your business. You’d be amazed at what kind of attention, and even better pricing, you get from vendors because of the way you treat them. Smart business owners pay their bills on time and if they can’t, they communicate why. If you don’t want your reputation in town to be hurt, treat your vendors well. At your company, who gets the best service, the clients who pay like clockwork and treat you like you’re a valued member of their team or the ones you have to call and beg to pay you? Case closed!