What do you want from your lawn service business

[BCLS]

I clearly understand when you mentioned the vacation deal Phil. I was just in that position a few months ago and was almost denied my vacation simply so my boss could meet his numbers and get his bonus at the end of the quarter. However, I was given the permission to go ahead and take vacation after butting heads. Believe me it has crossed my mind a few times to just get up and leave and shoot of on my own. I would have not option but to make it work!

Eduardo

[Phil Nilsson]

It's not entirely safe working in Corporate America - if and when they decide to dump people it can happen in a New York minute. Kind of jobs I had the rule of thumb was to always have at least one year's pay in a savings account - just in case. At that time the "average life" of a Controller's Job in the U.S. was no more than 3 years then they cleaned house again.

Phil

[Ben Wilton]

Those are all great reasons for wanting to get into the business. For me, I have wanted to have my own business for a long time, but have always been too scared to try it. I am at a point in my life now where I have faith in God and in myself! It's time!! I am 33 years old, have two kids and a wonderful wife who is really supportive of my decisions. I currently work for a major aerospace company and make decent money. However, the job security is not there. Every day I go to work I worry if this will be the day that I get my pink slip! Not that I do poor work, but it's just the nature of the business now. We are due to have another major layoff in March of 2005 or sooner, so it is my plan to be full time in the green industry before then!

My ultimate goal for starting the business is to one day say to my wife, "you don't have to go to work anymore, stay home with the kids!" When I have reached that point, I will know that I have achieved success!

[Elwood]

One of the best things about being in business is having more control over your future.

How many think past the next couple years? Small business owners don't have a "retirement package" as part of your hourly wage or salary. We don't have a few bucks a week taken out of our "paychecks" like most do.

What do we have though??

The ability to save, invest and build our own future. With many jobs these days, it is tough to live check to check, but being a business owner, if you are smart with your money, you can invest not only in your business along the way, but other things that will grow and get you closer to retirement. NOT retirement at 63, but retirement at 55?? or even 50??

While you love the business today, will you later in life? Don't strap yourself to this business later in life, when times are good, put money away for the future. Invest in other areas that are more stable and possibly more profitable than the green industry and forget about them. Let them grow and mature.

There will be nothing better than to quit working after my youngest kid graduates from college and do exactly what I want to do, when I want to do it, where I want to do it and not have to check in with employees or clients!

[glassjoe]

i like the adventure of of being your boss. i grew up in a house where one parent worked for the man from the age of 18 to to 62 and the other parent (mom) worked at a salon, which she later purchased. i looked at what my mom was doing and thought to myself, "she always has her business on her mind ( at least most of the time) but she also is making great money"
money is what is comes down for to me. being your own boss is great. a big headache at times, but the rewards as well as the downfalls are much greater. thats great to me. when i get 5 new accounts in a day, it makes me feel great. a lot better than when i was working for someone and they told me good job. i know im doing something right when i can hold on to accounts and customers like me. when i loose an account (so far i have only lost them to customers moving, or deciding to cut their own lawn) it just drives me to go get more. i'm really enjoying this and in the end if i can live the way i want to thats great. ive done good for myslef.

[VALLEYWIDE]

What do you want? What do you expect from your business?

Some thoughts ...

1. Better than average earnings
2. Your spouse to quit working
3. More time off for yourself
4. A secure source of income - no layoffs
5. A sense of accomplishment
6. In charge of your own destiny

Why do you work, what do you want?

Any ideas - I'm curious how people would answer this.

Phil

i like number 2 but want her to work 3 to 11 so i dont have to deal with her nagging about the business so by the time she gets home from work at midnite im already sleeping

[Gary Burns]

Phil's right

I have never before seen a forum with the kind of help and support for one another that I have seen here. I currently work full time as a paramedic on and ambulance with a very successful EMS provider. We are the only EMS service in this county, and stay fairly busy. I have over 8 years field experience, and decided to get into this business the other day when my boss told me that I would work "when he said, with who he said, and that I could be replaced in about 10 minutes.

I am so excited to be starting out in this business because of all the people in it like yourselves; those who are willing to share their knowledge and help people who are new instead of running them into the ground. I think all of the things Phil listed are right for me. :p :p

My wife and I talked it over, and we decided to do this, and we have never felt better about anything we have ever tried.

Thanks for all your help everyone. And I think Zig Zigler said it best when he said, "If you want to change some things in your life, you first have to change some things in your life"; and "The height of insanity is to continue to perform the same actions, but expecting a different result."

Thanks again everybody.
Gary D Burns
Burns Service Co.
'Nuff said.

[Jbyrd485]

Paramedic

Burns, What service do you work for? I work part time with Acadian Ambulance in Mississippi. Great Company, hours just are not there for part time medics like me. So I work for the fire dept. full time cut grass part time and work as a medic part time.

Jbyrd

[Greenscapes]

The reason I am doing this would include several of the suggestions made thus far. I think that most of us are not content with the mundane 9-5 (or longer) lifestyle that leaves so much out.

For me, it's not about big trucks, toys, and pricey menus. It's about spirituality. It's about taking my son fishing on a sunny day. Having a scrabble tournament with my wife. Just the simple, and most important parts of life and keeping things balanced so there is TIME for these sorts of things.

I hope that everyone here can find a way to live the GOOD LIFE... which, in my opinion, doesn't depend upon wealth or posessions. If you can work independantly to produce enough money while keeping enough time, all this while keeping free from anxiety of a huge business, then you are really getting there.

[seven-up]

Greenscapes, you have it figured out.

John

[Phil Nilsson]

Anybody who can put a business together, make it work, stay with it, gain satisfaction, feed a family and have a little freedom ... if they never make a million bucks or live in a castle ... can answer the question when asked ... "what do you have to show for it"? ... freedom ... freedom of choice and just a wee bit of time to call your own shots ... no matter what happens. But to keep a job "working for the man" requires just as much effort and worry so in the long run you probably have a lot more job security.

[VALLEYWIDE]

I currently work full time as a paramedic on and ambulance with a very successful EMS provider. We are the only EMS service in this city, and stay fairly busy. .

of course your the only one in your city and your busy whats your point

[MGO]

#6 For me without a doubt!

[Ground Works]

My Business

MMM Well I am a very materiallistic person myabe I am an MTV junkie makes me this way LOL

but I want the freedom to do what I want when I want and yes in charge of my own destiny. I workd all my life for soemone else military (infantry) 11yrs
7 years railroad no freedom worked 24/7.... quit the railroad cuase just tired of being away from home all the time.... then took the service manager job recently and hated it no one wanted to listen to u so I decided I can't work for other ppl anymore. so back to why I like it sense of accomplishment. Plus I luv my toys I like cars boats travel and being able to if I want to go soemwhere when I want to and not have to worry about my boss saying no or whatever .Also a chance to see if I can grow this business into some real money.... But again I am getting to old to try and work for someoen else when I have kinda been so used to being in charge. Railraod U are not in charge but u do not really answer to anyone unless u do soemthign wrong LOL

SO thats my deal

[The landscaper]

I personally just hate working for other people. I wanna control what im doing. My lawncare business is just something to give me some cash to throw around through college, I do take it very serious however. I am not sure if i will do it for the rest of my life however. I just got involved in a new e-commerce business with i plan to live off of very well. So for now, my lawnservice business is just getting me by.

The more i think about it, i think when i am making tons of money from the e-commerce business i will still mow lawns to keep me busy, i enjoy getting out there and being in the fresh air