Runing your business or letting it run you?

[tulsa lawn guy]

Just a simply question for all of you folks that have decided to start running your business instead of letting it run you…

How long did it take you to get to the point where you "let go" and started putting more trust into your foreman to run a crew?

I'm trying to establish a realistic time frame on being able to let go of the daily mowing and start focusing my attention on all the often neglected facets of running a business and drumming up new clients.

What are your thoughts?

[Phil Nilsson]

You might think on is whether you run a biz .. or have you simply bought a "job". If you bought a job ... work the job if you have a business then manage people. Who's better off ... who knows. It all depends ... if you have the money I'd say delegate ASAP ... if you can finance the operation ... have a good market ... get the people ... put them to work ... trade a sore back for headaches

Cash flow will answer the other part as to when.

Phil

[Scaper-S2k]

That's a tough call. Even the largest company presidents that truly run their biz occasionally have the biz run them. Rarely will you find ANY business president any where that sits on a beach 365 days a year. They have to work too.


It's ALWAYS gonna be a job, just which type of job? Out in the field, or behind a desk.

I do both, because I like both. Sure, I have reached the point where I never need to go out in the field. I have reached that point where I run the biz, and can sit behind a desk all day.

But I like going out in the field as well. That does NOT mean the biz runs me!

I go out with a crew almost every day, almost. I don't need to, but I enjoy it. I really do. I change crews when I want, and go out with a different set of guys, to different properties.

Granted I don't work too hard out there anymore, but I really enjoy going out in the field.


But, I can take off whenever I want, I can stay in the office everyday if I wanted.

I run the biz, but I still like working outside too. I may never stop doing that, regardless of how big we get. Even if it is just 1 or 2 days a week for a few hours. I love it.

[tulsa lawn guy]

It's ALWAYS gonna be a job, just which type of job? Out in the field, or behind a desk.

That's really what I'm getting at. It's not that I have a problem working out in the field... I really don't mind it.

However, I think my time would be more productively spent running the other aspects of the biz. i.e. perfecting the way my company does business and drumming up new jobs.

Just out of curiosity Erich, how long did it take you to get to the point where you could "let go" to a certain extent of the daily operational tasks? In other words, when did you get to the point were you could leave town for a few days if necessary and not return to find your company in shambles?

Thanks for the input.

[Phil Nilsson]

However, I think my time would be more productively spent running the other aspects of the biz. i.e. perfecting the way my company does business and drumming up new jobs.

I have dealt with companies in this biz ranging from under $100,000 in sales to over 15 (million) in sales as a hired consultant and from this experience would say this ... (if it's money you're after) use your energy selling other peoples time. It's a simple as that. Find the ways and means and it will happen as fast as you want it to happen.

Phil

[Scaper-S2k]

Tulsa, I've been able to do that for some time. But not all because I tried to get to that point. When we first started out, I made sure I had 'some' free time. Then, as the years went by, I happened to find a couple really good employees. So, even then, I was able to let them go and not worry too much. But I know you are asking more than that. I would say it was around 3-4 years after I decided to really get this company rolling. I've been doing this for quite some time, but not "full force". Even today, I know and realize I am not by any means working at full capacity. But that's the way I like it. We still make great $$$, all employees are happy and paid good. I run things different than most green industry companies I have seen. Very laid back, plenty of time (after spring rush) to have fun. My employees love working for the company, we have a LOT of fun. That's how I set up the company from day one. It's not unusual for a few guys to stay after work and play softball, football, horseshoes, darts, etc. at the shop. It's the way you set up your company from the very beginning that will make the difference.


I don't think there will ever come a time when you can leave and not have some worry, even if it is small. Know what I mean? Not really a worry, but concerned about things going smooth. That is normal. If you don't have that feeling, then you probably aren't living up to your potential. If your potential is a 1 million $$$ company, and you are at $150,000, then sure, you might have zero worries. Know what I mean?


Set yourself up right now to allow for office work, field work, and even some fun. Just build off of that and put more time in the category you like the best. Make sure you go out in the trenches at least a little bit so you don't become unattached to what's really going on.


It's funny (well, maybe not!), but when I bought my new shop, I of course first looked for the storage area for the crews and equipment, THEN looked to make sure there was enough room for after work fun like mentioned above. Then looked for where the office space would be. We don't have the grass field for softball so I am specifically setting up an area for a recreational room for the employees.


Yes, I realize I went a bit off topic, but I wanted to show how I set up the biz so that there is office work, field work, and even time for fun with the employees or for the employees.


Many other industries work along those lines, the green industry should be no different, it shouldn't be all about hustling to get to the next job.


Good luck.

[Seascape]

I built mine just the opposite of scaper. His method surely sounds more healthy. I lost every friend i had for the most part in my first 2 yrs. by the end of my 3rd year i was isolating when not at work. In my head i was always at work. still am really. But i slipped into a very lonely place. Money was good but thats about all. My hair began thinning and i developed an stomach disorder that i still medicate everyday. I also dropped to 140 lbs.

I remember visiting a cousin @ red arsenal army base in alabama. How my wife talked me into that im not sure. I remember having my breifcase by my side in the car. i remember sweating and chewing a hole in my lip on the drive down there. Than i remember waking up on our first night in the hotel room at 3 am and i couldnt breath, felt like really bad cramps of some sort. Thought i was dying. So last resort i shook my wife ,, she woke up kinda crabby and unsympethic but suddenly huge beads of sweat starting popping up on my chest and back and i started seeing silver dots. She called 911 and thats the last thing i remember. I woke up feeling much much much better. In the hospital on some very nice valium.

Since they couldnt find evidence of a heart attack in my blood work they suggested i had a panic attack and discharged me w/ narcotic prescriptions. Actually they didnt have a choice because they wouldnt allow me to phone home and i wasnt having it.

So i get home and everything is fine but my outlook didnt get any better. I pushed everyone away. My company was breaking 100gs but it wasnt enough.

The last 5 years have blessed me w/ better cash flow and experience to move forward w/ little friction. Finding some of the guys i have now was a godsent and 1 in particular really stepped up for me and allowed me to let go of my mowing crew. Thats when things started to get much better. I was than able to bring more labor and focus on my scapes. Thats what i was waiting for. Now i run 2-3 guys mowing, me and 1 or 2 guys on a installation, or ill run 2 mowing 2 install and 2 or more w/ the help of some part timers that have been coming around here for years on a brush or tree job. Ive had 13 guys on the clock at once. Bottom line ,, i dont touch mowing. I dont even talk about it unless asked or i sell a new cut.

A few guys along the way couldnt hang with me and quit. I have to admit ,, i am not plaeasant at times. But all who know me seem to respect me dearly. Ive had many many tell me this. Its been a long ride and those who knew me back in the day never would have predicted it. Ive got men 10 years older than me that look up to me. I have alot of people depending on me actually and the pressure mounts at times.

I suspect it will never be easy. I dont think ill ever allow that. Its just my nature but things are good right now. Things always seem to fall in place.

My mentality getting this off the ground was detail detail detail. Ignore nothing,and attack every aspect of the business w/ aggression and fire. NO REST FOR THE WICKED !!

My guys still understand today some important things though,, 1) if you dont like it ,leave. 2) if i say no i mean no. 3) dont play me 4) dont ask me a question if you dont think youll be able to accept the answer. These and a few other guidlines and we all make for a really nice show.

All and all im a much more pleasant individual than i once was. And some of them still w/ me know that. They earned my respect and i certainly earned they're.

Mike

[tulsa lawn guy]

Great info guys...

Just what I was looking for!


GrassMaster...

If I remember correctly, I think I read a story that you wrote around these lines... Didn't you suffer a heat stroke or something? I can't recall the details...

[Elwood]

Granted I don't work too hard out there anymore, but I really enjoy going out in the field.

Trust me folks, I have seen him work in the field. Picture a guy who works, but does NOT sweat!! :p


Seriously, Erich has one of the best run operations I have had the pleasure to see. First of all, he is sharp as a tack when it comes to running a business. It would be tough to find someone better or wiser. Second. He has excellent employees. People who are willing to go the extra mile for his company. I recall him telling me a couple times this past spring that they drug him out on Sunday to do some mulching on a commercial site because bad weather was moving in next week and they wanted to get the job done before hand. The backside of the cycle is that Erich treats his employees like GOLD in every way.


In short, I feel that you should ALWAYS run your business, but when you start out, you are always trying to please new clients that you feel like they are running you. You need to set up a plan. Business hours so to speak as well. Always be there to sell more work and even if you have to take a temporary cut in "pay" so to speak to hire that extra guy, do it. The added time you spend in sales will quickly put you ahead of where you were when you hired that person.

Business is what you make it. Just be sure to not leave your family behind when you go after that golden ring. Business may come and go, but your family is there for the long haul. Keep your priorities straight!

[Phil Nilsson]

Nobody gets out of here alive ...

Work hard ... play hard .. make money ... whatever it takes, there are enough on the "poor peoples roles" in the U.S. ... don't add to the problem.

Phil

P.S. Rest when you're dead!

[tulsa lawn guy]

Great contributions all.

How about you Elwood... what's your story?

[lawnrangeralaska]

hey guys this is my 5th year in this business but ive moved 3 times so i have had to start it up everytime! and now were going to stay her and i was just wondering what you guys think about this! ok im in 10th grade an i am going to mow lawns till i goto college and im going to get all the lawns i can now and then when i go off to college im going to have a manager keep this business going an have my dad make sure the equipment is back everynight an do some decision making an yeah ... and im going to trust these ppl to run an operate the business when im in college an im going to just collect the checks. ? ? ?

[anderson_lawns]

You cant Trust anybody. not you manager, crew forman or crew. let your dad operate the business for you.

[Phil Nilsson]

How long did it take you to get to the point where you "let go" and started putting more trust into your foreman to run a crew?

tulsa ... I'm under the impression you're out to build a biz ... life is hard doing everything by yourself ... you get there faster by partnering ... getting help ... if you don't believe that try lifting a 300 pound rock by your "lonesome" ...

Train some employees to take your place in the field ... you can NOT make serious money in this biz doing the work yourself ... you'll exhaust yourself in the process ... you must make money in a service biz using others labor ... find it, train it, sell it.

Trust the employees ... but set up a way to do quality control visits ... better yet ... have the crew leader spend 2 minutes taking an electronic photo of each site BEFORE they go to the next site. This can be your "eyes" on the ground.

Phil

[RRS]

Just a quick note on the photos because you mentioned it. The contractor I used to work for made the crew leaders take photos of every job. Every cell cabinet we installed had a full set of photos taken. They had a checklist you had to work from. If you forgot to take them you had to go back and get them. It was good for several reasons. One for quality control as you mentioned, but also if one of those cabinets, or some other expensive piece of equipment we installed ever burned up or blew up we could go back and look at the photos of the wiring.