"Just like you wouldn’t expect to change the culture with just one person, the same goes for landscaping—true transformation comes when we embrace diverse perspectives at the leadership table." – Scott Grams

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Landscape Illinois: https://landscapeillinois.org – the main association for the Illinois landscape industry.

Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara: Amazon link to the book – A book focused on going above and beyond in customer service, offering insights for the landscaping industry.

Malcolm Gladwell's books and podcasts: Malcolm Gladwell's website – Known for his books and the podcast Revisionist History, where he explores social behavior and culture.

Perplexity AI: https://www.perplexity.ai – An AI tool recommended by Scott for conducting deep dives into regulations and laws.

Topics Discussed:

• (00:02) - Introduction to Scott Grams and Landscape Illinois
• (02:06) - Scott’s background and current focus as Executive Director
• (04:23) - Scott discusses the primary growth constraint in the landscape industry today
• (06:05) - The impact of private equity and the rise of middle management demand
• (09:42) - How companies are retaining middle management through flexibility and benefits
• (13:33) - The landscape industry’s openness to sharing and collaboration
• (16:19) - The value of association engagement and niche demographic groups
• (19:57) - The importance of networking and mentoring in landscape growth
• (21:58) - Insights into legislative efforts and lobbying within the landscape industry
• (29:21) - AI and its growing role in landscape industry operations
• (33:49) - Educating the landscape community on AI adoption and its potential benefits

Actionable Key Takeaways:

1. Middle management is the most crucial but hardest-to-find tier in the landscaping industry today.
2. Flexibility, better benefits, and team-building efforts can significantly improve retention of middle managers.
3. Engagement with industry associations like Landscape Illinois provides a direct path to professional growth and knowledge sharing.
4. Cultivating a strong professional network early in your career can be a game changer for long-term success.
5. Industry growth often hinges on the collaboration and shared knowledge between competitors in the landscape design-build sector.
6. Adopting AI tools in everyday operations, from communication to research, can save time and boost efficiency.
7. Lobbying and legislative engagement are critical to protecting the landscape industry from restrictive regulations.