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Are you using assessments, surveys or indexes to figure out which people on your team would be the best fit to be promoted, and into which positions? It is springtime and if you want to learn how to manage your landscape team with Kolbe Assessments check out today’s interview with Kolbe Certified Growth Consultant and Green Industry veteran Jason Cupp, including: What is the Kolbe assessment How Instinct is different from personality and Instinct Commonalities Within Entrepreneurs How the Kolbe Index differs from tools like DISC, Myers-Briggs, and other personality assessments.  See full transcript at:  http://landscapersguide.com/how-to-manage-your-landscape-team-with-kolbe-assessments/ More episodes, videos, show transcripts at https://landscapersguide.com/podcast/ Get the toolbook: https://landscapersguide.com/toolbox/

If you work in snow and ice management check out today's interview with Martin Tirado, the CEO of SIMA, the Snow & Ice Management Association, including: What to expect at the 25th Annual Snow and Ice Symposium coming up in June in Milwaukee How you can push back against insurance claims by having the right documentation How to leverage SIMA to increase training resources for staff See full transcript at: https://landscapersguide.com/make-the-most-of-your-sima-membership-25th-snow-symposiu-preview/ More episodes, videos, show transcripts at https://landscapersguide.com/podcast/ Check out https://landscapersguide.com/sima/ for upcoming webinars and events for snow and ice.  Learn more about SIMA https://www.sima.org/

People buy residential landscape services because they want to have a beautiful space for experiences with their friends and family. What’s the best way to share experiences with people before they even buy them?  In today’s episode, Landscape Architecture owner Joe Haneur shares how he uses photos to sell experiences, including: Technology behind the sales process Joe Heneur created over the last twenty-five years The ups and downs of growing a bigger team How a small adjustment in your sales process can not only massively increase your sales, but also significantly improve your personal lifestyle by giving hours and hours each week back to you by spending LESS time with unqualified leads.  See full transcript at:  http://landscapersguide.com/be-grateful-for-what-you-have-and-charge-what-youre-worth/ More episodes, videos, and transcripts at https://landscapersguide.com/podcast/ Register for my upcoming sales workshops at: https://landscapersguide.com/events/

If you own a lawn and landscape company in the United States, you've got to join the National Association of Landscape Professionals or the NALP. What is the NALP? Find out in this interview with NALP’s CEO Britt Wood, including: Why NALP has branched away from the GIE Expo to start their own show called Elevate NALP's take on sustainability and how they’re working with federal and state leaders to support the landscape industry How you can use the collegiate landscape competition for recruiting and more See full transcript at: https://landscapersguide.com/the-evolution-of-nalp-a-preview-of-the-elevate-conference/ More episodes, videos, show transcripts at https://landscapersguide.com/podcast/ Learn more about NALP at landscapeprofessionals.org

If you want to attract great landscaping clients and great employees to work on your team, you've got to show them excellent photographs on your website.  If you're wondering which photos have the biggest impact on potential customers and potential employees, check out today's episode where I share the visual identity chapter from my book, The Tree Of Good Fortune, including: How to take pictures of your staff How best to reflect completed landscape projects in your portfolio Real-life examples of ‘’Hell Yes’’ photography See full transcript at: https://landscapersguide.com/essential-landscaping-photos-to-take-this-spring/ More episodes, videos, show transcripts at https://landscapersguide.com/ If you enjoyed this sample chapter from my book, I invite you to get the whole thing. We have a video book and audiobook, available exclusively at https://treeofgoodfortune.com/ See Craig’s Podcast interview How To Get Your Team To Take GREAT Landscaping Portfolio Photos at: https://landscapersguide.com/how-to-get-your-team-to-take-great-landscaping-portfolio-photos/

Do you share a big vision with your company?  In today’s interview, Elkhorn Lawn Care CEO and green industry consultant, James Manske shares why sharing the Vision is key to growing your team, including: Which part of business to automate first  How to grow with strategic partners  How he created a Scholarship with his local high schools to give back to the community See the full transcript at:  https://landscapersguide.com/how-a-bigger-vision-helps-guide-decisions-in-your-landscape-company/ More episodes, videos, show transcripts at: https://landscapersguide.com/podcast/

If you sell commercial landscaping, what do you do when you get a cancellation notice from a top client? Do you just let it go away… and cry?  In today's episode, we hear from Wade Martin, the president of Martin Landscape Inc. a multimillion dollar landscaping company, who shares his top three sales mistakes, including: A stealthy and brilliant one-year-later follow up tactic to renew lost accounts How to identify and say NO to possible clients Commercial sales process vs residential sales process See the full transcript at:  http://landscapersguide.com/multi-million-dollar-commercial-landscaper-shares-his-top-three-sales-mistakes/ If  your company offers commercial landscaping services -- I invite you to join me at my live virtual event on April 21 The Landscaper’s Guide to Commercial Sales and Marketing  https://landscapersguide.com/the-landscapers-guide-to-commercial-sales-marketing/

You’ve probably heard the old adage “The Customer is Always Right”, but are customers always right? In today's episode, we hear from Scott Callenius the president of Forever Green Landscaping Services, who has been in business for thirty years, and shares why the customers are not always right, what his perspective on it is, along with insight on leadership, growth, and personal development including: How Core Values have strengthened the company while weeding out employees who weren’t a fit. How Scott grew from a micromanager to a visionary leader the company needs him to be. Why he closed the residential division of his company and now focuses exclusively on HOAs. See the full transcript at: http://landscapersguide.com/growing-from-micromanager-to-company-visionary/ More episodes, videos, show transcripts are at https://landscapersguide.com/podcast/ If you run a commercial landscape company and you’re marketing yourself like a residential company, bring your sales and marketing team to my paid virtual event: The Landscaper's Guide to Commercial Sales and Marketing on April 21st. Register at: https://landscapersguide.com/the-landscapers-guide-to-commercial-sales-marketing/

Are your job advertisements boring? If you are not getting a reply they probably are… In today's episode learn a proven and simple copywriting formula that will help you get a better response to your open positions, including: How to write killer job ads to make them look like opportunities, not wanted ads How to tap into the emotions of your potential employees based on the inverted pyramid Job ad examples that actually work  See the full transcript at:  http://landscapersguide.com/how-to-write-killer-landscaping-job-advertisements/ More episodes, videos, show transcripts at https://landscapersguide.com/podcast/ If you’re looking for even more resources on how to level up your recruiting check out the Landscaper’s Ultimate Guide to Recruiting at https://landscapersguide.com/courses  Learn the latest recruiting strategies to attract top talent in this private webinar exclusively for Ramblin Jackson clients. https://landscapersguide.com/ramblin-jackson-client-advisory-panel-the-landscapers-ultimate-guide-to-recruiting/

You’ve probably heard of IQ and maybe EQ… but what about BQ… Body Intelligence? In today’s episode learn valuable takeaways for improving your landscape company’s culture, recruiting, and retention including: How to stand out in your interview with job applicants -- so they feel a connection to your company and want to join YOUR team How hiring and managing around self-awareness creates more candor Hear from Lola Wright from Nathan Wright Landscape Design in Chicago and how her Zero Gossip Policy helps team members resolve conflicts quickly, and also, leadership lessons about what has NOT worked in leading and growing her team. See the full transcript at: https://landscapersguide.com/landscape-leadership-lessons-from-lola-wright/ More episodes, videos, show transcripts at https://landscapersguide.com/podcast/ If you’re looking for even more resources on how to level up your recruiting check out my new course the Landscaper’s Ultimate Guide to Recruiting at https://landscapersguide.com/courses

Are you struggling to fill some key positions? As you gear up for the spring season, there’s no doubt that hiring is on your mind…  In today’s episode learn about 7 landscaper leaders' best recruiting and retention secrets, including: How to offer paid internships to people from outside the green industry  How to create a “safe space” for your employees + train them really well The NEW way of recruiting + online job applications More episodes, videos, show transcripts at https://landscapersguide.com/podcast/ Register now for the Landscaper’s Ultimate Guide to Recruiting Webinar: https://landscapersguide.com/landscapers-ultimate-recruiting-guide/ https://landscapersguide.com/landscapers-share-best-recruiting-tips/

Are you a landscaper? Do you eat beef jerky? Do you like learning and growing your business with inspiration from other people succeeding in the green industry? In today's episode learn about the NEW LandscapersGuide.Com, plus what is inside the landscapers marketing tool box, including: Education + Inspiration Exclusively For The Landscape Industry Streamlined + Organized For Landscapers On The Go - Listen in your truck! The ONLY Website That Feeds Landscapers Free Beef Jerky More episodes, videos, show transcripts at https://landscapersguide.com/podcast/ Claim your tool box at: https://landscapersguide.com/ https://landscapersguide.com/three-reasons-to-visit-landscapers-guide-com-at-once/

Do you ever find yourself losing on price?  Are you having a hard time differentiating yourself from the competition? AND do your potential employees know why they should work for you and not someone else? In today's episode learn about the importance of your Unique Selling Position from Jack’s Tree of Good Fortune presentation, including: How to stand out from the competition by creating a risk reversal The ONE thing that is missing from your website that can cost you a lot of sales How to solve the frustrations of your clients to make it a win-win relationship More episodes, videos, show transcripts at http://www.ramblinjackson.com/podcast/Learn more about the iLandscape presentation at:  https://ramblinjackson.com/ilandscape/https://ramblinjackson.com/what-is-your-unique-selling-position/

It’s been a time of massive shortages. Labor, trucks, materials. Getting what you need is harder than ever.  Imagine if you could make one part of your business easier, by having a partner source, price, quality check, and deliver your plant material for you? In today's episode learn how you can save time by outsourcing your plant materials, including: How GoMaterials can make it easier and faster to get the plant material you need without the headache of calling to check availability How outsourcing can save your team time and money, while keeping your work quality high Hear from GoMaterials CEO on how they’ve handled labor, trucker, and plant shortages while still being able to serve their landscape customers and grow a massive network of suppliers More episodes, videos, show transcripts at http://www.ramblinjackson.com/podcast/ https://ramblinjackson.com/how-to-outsource-your-plant-sourcing/ 

Does your team avoid accountability? Are they missing the mark in getting done what they say they’re going to do? Learn how one simple exercise helped our team Raise the Stakes and take our accountability to the next level in this quick tip video including: What we learned from Patrick Lencioni’s book, Five Dysfunctions of a Team, and how the Team Effectiveness exercise works  How the exercise went with our team and what it ultimately lead to Being decisive as a leader while balancing being receptive to feedback More episodes, videos, show transcripts at http://www.ramblinjackson.com/podcast/ https://ramblinjackson.com/embracing-accountability-with-your-team/ 

Are you an accidental employer, or an intentional leader? The difference could be a key reason employees choose whether or not to join your team. In today’s podcast episode, I talk with one of my top employees who has worked with me for nearly four years about:  How I was at one time an accidental employer, and how I grew to be an intentional leader  How I handle the stress of negative business experiences, while being grateful for what is good AND on how to create a better future  Video footage from a Ramblin Jackson client interview with the employees of a top Chicagoland landscape company  How to transition from the owner of the company to the CEO Read the full transcript at https://ramblinjackson.com/accidental-employer-vs-intentional-leader/  More episodes, videos, show transcripts at http://www.ramblinjackson.com/podcast/

Has your company gone stagnant? Maybe you’re not seeing the growth you want too? In today’s interview with Scott Lesak of Kasel Rocks Landscape Company we talk about how he broke through the plateau and started to really grow by: Investing in personal growth for the benefit of the company Understanding the functions of the company and individual roles Knowing the numbers by investing in technology to help collect the right data See the full episode transcript at https://ramblinjackson.com/scale-first-grow-second/ More episodes, videos, show transcripts at http://www.ramblinjackson.com/podcast/

What if you could serve fewer clients, better, for more profit, with your current staff? Learn how Tory from Better View Landscapes is doing just that with his snow department.  How cutting the bottom 30% of clients led to happier staff, better services and more profit! How the 80/20 rule can help you to better serve your best customers, your staff and your bottom line.  How to use data from your CRM to help make sound business decisions and take the leap, whether into new pricing structures or new services.  See the full transcript at: https://ramblinjackson.com/80-20-snow-business/  More episodes, videos, show transcripts at http://www.ramblinjackson.com/podcast/

Do you ever need to tell a customer “no”, but you’re afraid to ruin the relationship… … so you say “yes” to something that in your gut you know isn’t going to go well…  …and then it doesn’t go well?  Check out today’s episode to learn:  Why we all want to serve customers AND,  why saying “no” is sometimes what will serve them best A simple sales script I learned back in the day when I was a milkman that I still use today How to tell clients 'no' without blowing the deal How to train your employees how to do this too See the full transcript at: https://ramblinjackson.com/how-to-say-no-to-clients/ More episodes, videos, show transcripts at http://www.ramblinjackson.com/podcast/

Do your portfolio photos attract your Hell Yes Customers, or scare them away?  And what do potential employees think when they're checking out your photos? Check out the rest of today's episode to see  The three simple steps to the Landscaper’s Hell Yes Photo Test to put your best images forward Which websites, outside of your own, should you update & prune Stories of landscapers whose out-of-date photos attracted low quality leads  How bad photos almost cost one multimillion dollar landscaper a qualified job applicant for a manager position  See the full episode transcript: https://ramblinjackson.com/hell-yes-photo-test/ More episodes, videos, show transcripts at http://www.ramblinjackson.com/podcast/