“Leadership maturity is the growth constraint. If the business needs to change, you have to change.” — Nathan Helder

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

TEC Canada – Executive peer groups helping business owners level up leadership and strategy (called Vistage in the U.S.).

Southbrook Accounting – Nathan’s accounting firm providing financial clarity, bookkeeping, and strategic CFO support for landscape contractors.

Who: The A Method for Hiring by Geoff Smart – A practical guide to hiring based on defining success outcomes, not just filling seats.

ITR Economics Podcast – Weekly economic insights to help you forecast smarter and make better business decisions.

Life Renewal Course – A 28-week Christian self-discovery and emotional health course that helped Nathan reconnect with purpose and balance.

Topics Discussed:

[00:41] Meet Nathan Helder
How he acquired a 50-year-old landscape business with no money down—and grew it to $16M in sales.

[02:31] Knowing When to Exit
Why Nathan chose to step away instead of pushing for $30M—and what came next.

[04:25] Losing (and Finding) Your Mojo
How burnout led Nathan to personal development, clarity, and a life with more intention.

[07:20] The Real Growth Constraint
Why leadership maturity—not sales—is what caps most landscaping businesses.

[11:35] The Power of Peer Groups
What Nathan learned from 10+ years in TEC—and why he’s still a member today.

[14:49] The Self-Awareness Litmus Test
Ask yourself: What gives you energy? What drains it? Then align your role accordingly.

[21:04] Delegate and Empower the Right Way
If you don’t define success, you’re setting your team (and yourself) up to fail.

[27:31] Why Most Financials Are Broken
Two common gaps in landscape accounting—and how they sabotage business decisions.

[33:26] Take Cash Out of Your Business
How Nathan used debt strategically to invest outside the business and protect his future.

[36:55] Debt as a Discipline Tool
Why having a line of credit forced better habits—and why too much cash can make you soft.

[39:22] Final Thought: Leadership Is the Lid
If your business isn’t growing, the first thing to level up is usually you.

Actionable Key Takeaways:

You are the lid. Your leadership capacity defines your company’s growth ceiling—face it, fix it, or step aside.

Use energy as a compass. Get brutally honest about what fuels you and what drains you—then build a team around your gaps.

Define success clearly. A vague job description isn’t enough. Outline exactly what success looks like for each role.

Don’t trust your numbers blindly. Most QuickBooks setups are wrong for landscaping—get expert help to clean it up.

Profit = power. You can’t reinvest or de-risk your life if you don’t make margin. Growth without profit is just busywork.

Get your money out. Don’t let your business be your only asset—invest outside of it to protect your family and future.