“You already know what to do. You're just afraid to do it.” — Heather Jerrard

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Hops and Hedges – Heather’s podcast where landscaping pros crack open a beer and share real business insights (Spotify, Apple, etc.).

My Landscape Artist – Heather’s design and consulting studio offering residential landscape design and B2B support.

Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers – A powerful read on making bold decisions even when fear is present.

The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone – A book that challenges you to set bigger goals and think differently to reach them.

The Shift Collective – Coaching organization where Heather learned the difference between time and energy management.

Landscape Ontario Peer to Peer Network – A welcoming community for senior managers and owners in the green industry.

Topics Discussed:

[00:00] Meet Heather Jerrard
From 30 jobs by age 26 to owning her lane in landscape design, Heather shares how entrepreneurship found her.

[04:10] Who Heather Works With
DIY homeowners, full-service design clients, and B2B support for landscapers without in-house designers.

[06:30] Starting a Podcast on a Dare
The unexpected lunch at Landscape Ontario Congress that led to 60+ episodes of Hops and Hedges.

[11:20] The Real Growth Constraint: Yourself
Heather’s take? It’s not the market. It’s fear—and your own resistance to doing the thing you already know you should.

[17:25] Progress, Not Perfection
The mindset shift that saved her business (and maybe her life): action matters more than getting it right the first time.

[20:00] Energy Management Over Time Management
How understanding her energy cycles unlocked better productivity and lowered stress.

[24:45] Managing Team Efficiency
The ROI of knowing your team’s peak energy periods—and when they’re just killing time in a truck.

[28:00] AI in Design
Why AI can’t replace real-world buildability (yet), but can help speed up early-stage concepting.

[34:15] Designing for Mental Health
Heather’s advocacy for mental health and LGBTQ+ inclusion, and how it weaves into her podcast and design work.

Actionable Key Takeaways:

Manage your energy, not just your time. Book high-output tasks during your natural peak hours.

Stop waiting for perfect—just start. You’ll learn more doing the thing than researching it to death.

Fear is the biggest growth killer. Most of us already know what to do—we’re just afraid to do it.

Use AI for inspiration, not execution. It can help uncover client tastes, but it can’t create buildable plans.

Your team doesn’t run on autopilot. Observe when they’re actually productive and adjust workflows accordingly.

Mental health isn’t a bonus topic. It’s essential to entrepreneurship and your team’s long-term performance.

10X goals unlock creative thinking. Even if you fall short, you’ll land further than playing it safe.