The GROW! Show

By Marty Grunder

The GROW! Show is a show that highlights Marty Grunder's annual conference, GROW!. The GROW! show will showcase how anyone in the green industry can grow themselves, their team, and their business.... more

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How many episodes does The GROW! Show have?

The podcast currently has 118 episodes available.

The GROW! Show episodes:

July 30, 2025Sales: Turning Damages into Opportunities
Lights in the turf, grass running all the way up against a building or fence, low-laying branches, and more. Sometimes the landscape design sets up maintenance crews to fail by making it way too easy to damage properties. In this episode, Marty shares how landscape designers can be mindful of these things when creating plans and how account managers can use these damages as opportunities to sell enhancements. Looking for more work with your existing clients is a great way to drum up more sales!
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00:00 - Intro
01:18 - Appreciation and Team Morale
02:26 - Finding Opportunities in Client Properties
03:04 - Deep Relationships and Client Focus
04:23 - Sales Strategies and Client Engagement
06:23 - Route Density and Business Growth
08:43 - Practical Examples for Your Advantage
14:02 - Please Like & Share This Episode!

Show Notes
Focus on deep relationships over quantity: Build 40 thousand-foot deep wells rather than a thousand 40-foot deep wells. Concentrate on developing meaningful, long-term client relationships that generate significant ongoing business. "80% of that business came from 55 people. We could put 'em on a bus... about 70% of the $18 million worth of business that we will do this year is gonna come from about 30% of our clients."
Sell more to existing clients first: Before chasing new prospects, exhaust opportunities with current clients. Send handwritten notes, conduct property audits, and proactively identify additional services they need. "The best two opportunities are, number one, selling more to existing clients. We don't look at that enough."
Be a proactive professional consultant: Act like a doctor who identifies every possible issue. Point out problems before clients discover them to maintain credibility and avoid having to fix issues for free. "When you are a professional folks, that's what you should be doing... You're a consultant, you're there to tell them what you can do to help make their property look better."
Protect your property managers' reputation: Help property managers look good in front of their bosses by identifying issues before they become visible problems during site visits. "We would never want one of our property managers to look bad in front of their boss because we didn't tell them there was a dead tree or a drainage problem."
Identify maintenance hazards and design flaws: Look for low branches that could injure crew members, lighting without proper protection, or fencing that will get damaged during routine maintenance. Quote solutions proactively. "How is our team going to mow that and not damage those lights?... You need to cover your rear end."
Route density drives profitability: Actively pursue work near existing clients to maximize efficiency and minimize travel time between jobs. "Route density is picking up jobs that are by the ones that you already have... there is literally half a million dollars worth of maintenance work that we don't even need a truck for."
Every landscape needs improvement: Adopt the mindset that every property has potential enhancement opportunities waiting to be identified and quoted. "Every landscape in America could use a flat of pachysandra, metaphorically speaking... every landscape could use something."
Control the narrative on problems: If you identify and quote issues first, you can charge for solutions. If clients point out problems first, you may have to fix them for free. "If we point out to the client something's wrong on their property... we can probably get them to pay us to fix it. But if they have to point it out to us, we may be in a bad spot."
Think creatively about maintenance solutions: Look for innovative approaches like prairie areas or modified mowing patterns that can reduce costs while providing unique value. "We're gonna let about eight or nine acres of the area just kind of not be mowed and kind of look like a prairie... We ended up being able to give the client a much lower price."
Show appreciation for your team: Small gestures like carrying candy and recognizing good work create positive team culture and boost morale. "What can you do to let your team know you appreciate them and how can you make them smile?"

Resources:

Virtual Sales Bootcamp
Grunder Landscaping Field Trips

The Grow Group
Grunder Landscaping
Marty Grunder LinkedIn
Stihl
...more
15min
July 23, 2025Interview Series: Dan Hoard, The Voice of the Cincinnati Bengals
In this episode, Marty Grunder interviews Dan Hoard, the voice of the Cincinnati Bengals, on his career as a sportscaster, what it's like finding creativity in tough situations, and what it's like working in the pro-football world.
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Dan's Podcast: Bengals Booth
Marty's Studio
00:00 - Introduction & Welcome
01:25 - Meet Dan Hoard: Voice of the Cincinnati Bengals
03:33 - Marty’s Personal Connection to Sports Broadcasting
04:24 - Balancing Family and Career
07:29 - Organizational Tactics and Time Management
08:11 - The Importance of Preparation
16:38 - Handling Tough Conversations
20:32 - Conducting Yourself Daily to Build Respect
21:49 - The Art of Not Talking Too Much
23:02 - The Importance of Short, Direct Questions
24:51 - Leadership Qualities and Communication
26:43 - Joe Burrow: A Case Study in Leadership
32:14 - The Mental Side of Success
39:18 - Prediction for the Bengals’ Season
40:51 - Please Share & Subscribe!

Show Notes
Preparation builds confidence: Extensive preparation is the foundation of calm, confident performance. Hoard spends entire days creating detailed spotting boards for each opponent, knowing only 5% will be used but never knowing which 5%. "I find that I'm calm and confident when I'm prepared... When you put in the work, didn't you feel confident when you sat down to take the test?"
Follow strict routines during high-pressure periods: Establish and stick to weekly routines that ensure thorough preparation. Monday and Tuesday are Hoard's heavy prep days, leaving the rest of the week for additional details and other responsibilities. "I have a very strict routine that I follow during the football season... if I follow that routine, then I get to the weekend confident."
Build relationships before tough conversations: Develop trust and respect with people during good times so difficult conversations are easier when they're needed. Show genuine respect for what others do. "I try to build relationships with all of these players and coaches... when you're in that position, they know where you're coming from."
Be tactful, not confrontational: Approach difficult situations with honesty but avoid confrontational language. Think about what your audience needs to know and ask direct questions respectfully. "I try to do it in a tactful way, not a confrontational way... You've gotta be honest, the players know what you're there to do."
Make others the star: Great leaders and communicators focus on helping others shine rather than dominating conversations. Ask short, direct questions and let others speak. "I'm trying to help my partner shine... I'm bringing these guests on to hear from them... I want to allow them to speak their mind."
Communicate clearly and consistently: Good leaders articulate expectations clearly and maintain consistent standards. They don't change their message from day to day. "Good leaders communicate clearly and consistently, they're not wishy-washy. They don't say one thing on Monday and something completely different on Tuesday."
Take accountability first: Point the thumb at yourself before pointing fingers at others. Great leaders accept responsibility for problems before addressing others' roles. "I think taking accountability is absolutely critical. I think you point the thumb at yourself before you point a finger at somebody else."
Connect with everyone on your team: Make an effort to know everyone's name and something about them. Reach out to new team members proactively and sit with different people regularly. "Joe not only connects with these guys, but he makes a point of developing relationships with these guys... knowing somebody's name is so important."
Lead by example through work ethic: The best leaders work harder than anyone else and demonstrate complete investment in excellence. Others will follow when they see genuine commitment. "Those guys know there's nobody in the building that works harder than he does 12 months out of the year."
Control anxiety through preparation: Stress and nervousness are normal, especially when doing something new. Combat anxiety by being disciplined about preparation and following proven routines. "There's stress in every job... do what's necessary to put yourself in the proper mental space to do a good job."

Resources:

Virtual Sales Bootcamp
Grunder Landscaping Field Trips

The Grow Group
Grunder Landscaping
Marty Grunder LinkedIn
Stihl
...more
43min
July 16, 2025Financial Transparency to Build A Strong, Educated Team with Vince Torchia
In this episode, we dive into why financial transparency isn't just good leadership—it's essential for building a strong, educated team. From using scoreboards and company-wide “State of the Union” meetings to walking through the Penny Exercise, Vince breaks down exactly where every dollar goes in your business. Tune in to learn how sharing the numbers empowers your team and drives smarter decisions across the board.
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00:00 - Start
00:31 - The Importance of Financial Transparency and Literacy
01:32 - Tools for Financial Transparency
04:39 - Monthly Team Communication
06:31 - The Penny Exercise
16:13 - Key Takeaways

Show Notes
Public dashboards drive transparency: Display real-time performance metrics on monitors visible to all team members. When everyone can see job performance, hours, and revenue data, they naturally connect dots and improve performance. "The scoreboard is just out there. The teams can see the numbers, they can interact with them... Whether they know English, whether they know Spanish... they can look at numbers and tie dots together freely."
Monthly state of the union meetings: Gather the entire organization monthly to discuss company performance, goals, and future direction. Make it bilingual and inclusive so everyone gets the same message. "Think of it as our monthly state of the Union. We update the organization in totality... Are we ahead on goals? Are we behind on goals?"
The penny exercise teaches financial literacy: Use a $1 job (100 pennies) to visually demonstrate how revenue flows through direct costs, overhead, and profit. This makes complex financials accessible to everyone. "We sold a $1 job. We got a hundred pennies for it... How many pennies are we taking off the table right away just to cover the expenses of that job specifically?"
Financial transparency is cultural, not financial: Don't avoid sharing numbers because you're worried about the data - fix the culture or improve the systems that create better data. "These are not financial conversations. These are cultural conversations... we don't have a finance problem, we have a culture problem."
Direct costs vs. overhead education: Help teams understand that some costs are tied directly to jobs (labor, materials) while others exist regardless of sales volume (rent, insurance, salaries). "We have what overhead... those expenses that we have at the organization are going to be there whether we sell a job or not."
Visual learning works across barriers: Numbers and visual displays communicate effectively regardless of education level or language barriers. "Whether they didn't graduate high school or they have a PhD, they can look at numbers and tie dots together freely."
Margin compression awareness: When teams understand how small increases in costs or overhead dramatically impact profits, they become more cost-conscious and efficiency-focused. "What happens if all of a sudden it takes us 52 cents to do a job? Uh oh. Now our margins got squeezed from 10 to eight pennies."
Profit allocation reality: The remaining profit after direct costs and overhead must cover taxes, reinvestment, debt service, and owner distributions - not just go to the owner's pocket. "We don't just put the 10 cents in our pocket and go home. What if we have some other debt that we want to pay down?"
Team rallying around shared understanding: When everyone understands the financial reality, the whole organization can work together toward improvement rather than operating in silos. "The whole team can rally around how we either keep making 12 or how we go from two to four to six to eight... over the next four years."
Systematic approach to financial education: Combine daily visibility (dashboards), monthly communication (meetings), and periodic deep-dives (penny exercise) for comprehensive financial literacy. "Get your scoreboards out... Take time every month at a State of the Union... take time to do the penny exercise with your team."

Resources:

Virtual Sales Bootcamp
Grunder Landscaping Field Trips

The Grow Group
Grunder Landscaping
Marty Grunder LinkedIn
Stihl
...more
18min
July 09, 2025Interview Series: Keith Bowman of McHale Landscape Design
In this episode, Marty is joined by Keith Bowman of McHale Landscape Design who shares what the McHale team does to find new clients, build strong client relationships, find and retain team members, install and maintain award-winning properties, and keep their business running as smoothly as possible.
Field Trips with NALP
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00:00 - Introduction & Welcome
01:27 - Meet Keith Bowman from McHale Landscaping
01:53 - History & Growth of McHale Landscaping
03:12 - McHale’s Unique Operations and Facilities
05:42 - Customer Service and Competitive Advantage
08:40 - Marketing and Networking Strategies
14:30 - Employee Retention and Career Development
20:12 - Family Dynamics in Business
22:53 - Balancing Family and Business
24:22 - Leveraging Subcontractors for Success
26:52 - Protecting Pricing in Landscape Design
30:50 - Efficient Morning Rollouts
36:04 - Equipment Used & Theft Prevention
41:10 - Award Winning Work & Company Culture
43:37 - Challenges at McHale and Authenticity
44:49 - Conclusion & Field Trip Invitation

Show Notes:
People are the competitive advantage: Empower employees with entrepreneurial opportunities within the company. Create "little businesses stacked on top of each other" where team members take ownership. "I believe our competitive advantages are people. And just empowering people... the McHales have given people the ability to kind of go out and make mistakes."
Customer service isn't overhead: Exceptional service doesn't require additional equipment costs but drives referrals and long-term relationships. "Customer service doesn't add overhead. If you wanna build up your team's customer service, you're not adding a truck payment."
Protect your pricing: Understand true costs and maintain appropriate margins. Compete on value, not price alone. "The number one thing... is protect your pricing... There's a lot of work that goes into landscape design building."
Family business done right: Having 37 families with multiple employees creates stability. Treat family members as employees first while leveraging family commitment. "We have 37 families that have two or more employees at the company... it shows what the McHale family has done to support our employees."
Define career paths: Help employees understand if they're "front of house" or "back of house" people and create clear advancement opportunities. "Another thing that's important to retain employees is doing your best to have a defined career path for them."
Integrate design-build and maintenance: Design-build clients make better maintenance clients because they already understand your value. "Our account managers like to get design build clients for their maintenance portfolio better... because they already know the value they're gonna get."
Strategic subcontracting: Maintain core capabilities in-house while using trusted subs for specialized work. "We do rely on subs. We have preferred subs... they're like an extension of our company."
Morning rollout is critical: The first hour sets the tone for efficiency, culture, and operational success. "Morning rollout, that first hour of the day is the most important time of the day."
Awards drive culture: Competing for industry recognition motivates teams and helps retain employees. "That also helps keep employees too, because that motivates people."
Authentic leadership: Be transparent about challenges while celebrating wins to create trust and realistic expectations. "We're not a perfect company, but we strive for the best every day."

Resources:

Virtual Sales Bootcamp
Grunder Landscaping Field Trips

The Grow Group
Grunder Landscaping
Marty Grunder LinkedIn
Stihl
...more
47min
July 02, 2025Leadership :The Summer Vacation Test with Marty Grunder
Have a vacation planned for this summer? In this episode, Marty Grunder shares how he uses his out-of-office time as an opportunity for new leaders to learn and develop their skills.

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00:00 - Introduction & Welcome
02:02 - The Origin of “The Summer Vacation Test”
04:27 - Strategic Planning & Leadership with Time Off
07:33 - Three Philosophies with Vacation & Workplace Dynamics
08:18 - Don’t Overstate Your Value
08:48 - Would You Want to Work for Yourself?
13:02 - Vacation is a Chance to Sharpen Your Saw
15:18 - Two Things Before You Leave for Vacation
17:57 - Recap & Final Thoughts

Show Notes & Key Takeaways
The Notebook Strategy - In 1993, Marty gave his right-hand man a notebook to document everything that went wrong while he was on vacation. "Write down all the things that you wish I would've shown you how to do, or things that didn't get done because I didn't train or we didn't have a system in place."
Vacations as Productivity Drivers - "Your most productive time in your business career are the couple days before vacations." Use vacation deadlines to motivate completion of important tasks and proper preparation.
Leadership Identification Tool - Vacations reveal who your real leaders are: "This is an opportunity for you to see who your leaders are. Who's gonna step up when you go away? And who isn't interested in stepping up?"
The Secret Test Method - Give team members specific responsibilities without telling them it's a test: "Give them a couple tests, see what they do. Chances are they won't realize it's a test and you'll see their true self."
Three Leadership Philosophy Foundations:
You're Overstating Your Value - "Most of the time, your team is capable of doing way more than you think they are, and often way more than even they think they are able to do."
Other People Have Goals Too - "Be empathetic... they want the ball, they want a chance, and we don't realize that we get too self-absorbed and focused on only what we wanna do."
Sharpen Your Saw - Use vacation time for strategic thinking and recharging batteries
Three Types of Workplaces:
Raging River - Chaotic, no systems, unsustainable
Stagnant Pond - No movement, no growth opportunities
Lazy River - Perfect balance of systems and movement, like Disney's lazy river
The Lumberjack Lesson - The lumberjack who stopped every 20 minutes to sharpen his ax produced 5 wagon loads vs. 2 wagon loads from the one who never stopped chopping. Strategic breaks and preparation outperform constant grinding.
Two Essential Pre-Vacation Lists:
"I wish to have the following things done before I leave on vacation"
"When I come back, I will have done this" (strategic work while away)
The Ultimate Business Goal - "Your business will realize its utmost potential when you have figured out a way that it can run without you." After 41 years, both of Marty's companies run without him.
Going Away in Good Order - "You don't go away and leave bombs for everybody to uncover that you've buried around the office." Proper preparation shows leadership and respect for your team.
Trust and Empowerment - "Would you wanna work for you?" Consider how you'd want your own family members to be treated at work - with opportunities for growth and advancement.
The Growth Mindset - Stop assuming people can't handle more responsibility. Marty's son example: waited until age 13 to let him use the mower when he could have done it much earlier due to neurotic control issues.

Resources:

Virtual Sales Bootcamp
Grunder Landscaping Field Trips

The Grow Group
Grunder Landscaping
Marty Grunder LinkedIn
Stihl
...more
20min
June 25, 2025Interview Series: Bret Achtenhagen of Seasonal Services on Growing a Family Business
In this episode, Marty sits down with Seasonal Service's Bret Achtenhagen to talk about his family business, the roundabout way he ended up in the green industry, and how the business evolved over time. They talk about the company's focus on residential work, how they keep the whole team focused on quality work, how they market for more work and more during this episode.
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00:00 - Introduction & Welcome
01:32 - Meet Bret Achtenhagen
02:12 - Bret’s Early Life and Family Business
05:27 - Starting Seasonal Services
11:05 - Defining Success and Core Values
17:30 - Navigating Challenges and Growth
20:19 - The Power of Radio Marketing
26:18 - Building Relationships with High-End Builders
27:40 - Using LinkedIn and Fleet Management
30:42 - Useful Marketing Tactics and Awards
33:06 - The Importance of Peer Groups for Growth
37:59 - The Dynamics of Building a Family Business
43:39 - Final Thoughts & Please Share This Episode!

Show Notes
Define Your Niche and Stick to It - "Define who they are and what they want to be. And then stick to that... most of our competitors that never seem to really rise above three, four, 5 million, they're trying to be everything to everybody."
Core Values Based on Philosophy - Built their foundation on Aristotle's ethos, pathos, and logos (ethics, passion, and logic): "Our core values are founded on ethos, pathos, and logos... it's a three-legged stool."
Target Market Clarity - Focus on million-dollar homes with clients who "admire, enjoy, and respect creativity, quality, craftsmanship, expertise and extraordinary customer experiences."
Growth Challenges Are Predictable - "When we hit 5 million, it seemed like the wheels got wobbly... when we hit 10 million, the wheels got wobbly and at 15 million, now our wheels are a little wobbly." Each growth stage requires new systems and approaches.
The 2008 Reality Check - Bank called demanding $300K when farm property value dropped from $1.6M to $650K: "I felt naked, I felt vulnerable. And at that point... we really started to get serious about systems."
Radio Show Marketing Strategy - 16+ years hosting weekly gardening show builds brand authority and recognition: "I go to restaurants... every weekend in church, people call up and say, I really loved your show."
Builder Partnership Strategy - Exclusive relationships with high-end builders who include their landscaping in home sales: "Our goal is to establish one relationship with one high end builder every year... they sell the home with our package included."
Equipment as Marketing Tool - Fleet of 40 vehicles under 5 years old, always clean with on-site truck wash: "If they get a dent, they go to the body shop... we will spend $5,000 to repair all that aluminum."
Faith-Based Marketing - Advertising in Catholic school folders and church bulletins reaches target demographic: "In our target market, which is probably about 30 Catholic churches... those sit on kitchen counters."
Family Business Success Factors - Three generations working together with external coaching and advisors: "Get a team around him... includes a lawyer and an accountant... without them, I don't think that the business keeps going."
Peer Groups Drive Growth - "A peer group is significant investment of money and time... you're not alone type of a thing." Regular facility visits and financial transparency accelerate learning.
Brand Standards Are Non-Negotiable - From uniforms to fleet appearance to facility cleanliness, every detail reinforces their premium positioning and teaches excellence to the team.

Resources:

Virtual Sales Bootcamp
Grunder Landscaping Field Trips

The Grow Group
Grunder Landscaping
Marty Grunder LinkedIn
Stihl
...more
47min
June 18, 2025Marketing: Let's Talk Emails with Emily Lindley
Emails to our existing and past clients have been a surprising source of work for us this spring at Grunder Landscaping. This low-effort outreach is working better than we expected it to, and in this episode Emily Lindley shares what we're sending emails on and what we're doing to make them work for us.
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00:00 - Start
00:35 - The Importance of Email Marketing
01:18 - The Challenges and Strategies of Email Marketing
03:57 - Marketing Pro: How to Implement
05:26 - Evaluating Email Marketing Success
08:08 - Effective Email Campaigns and Tactics
12:28 - Specific Email Content Examples
19:04 - Conclusion and Upcoming Grow 2026

Show Notes
1. Prioritize Value Over Frequency
Discontinued monthly newsletters that were company-focused rather than client-focused
Switched to strategic, seasonal emails that solve specific client problems
Quality content beats consistent publishing when it lacks relevance
2. Strategic Email Selection Based on Business Needs
Low-cost upsells work best for email: Mosquito fogging, aeration, overseeding
Seasonal timing is crucial: Send drainage solutions emails after heavy rains
Capacity-driven campaigns: Only promote services you can actually deliver
3. Measurement Strategy
Open rates: Standard metric but don't panic if low with smaller lists
Click rates: Must have clear, actionable calls-to-action to measure effectively
Unsubscribe rates: Expect initial spike when resuming email contact, then should normalize
Revenue attribution: Track clients who reference emails in sales conversations
4. Technical Implementation Best Practices
Use integrated CRM platforms: Aspire's Marketing Pro keeps client lists updated automatically
Standardize templates: Build brand recognition and reduce production time
Cost-effectiveness: Email marketing has lower variable costs than direct mail
5. Content Strategy Framework
Small upsells: Services that are easy to quote and quick to implement
Timely suggestions: Address immediate problems clients are experiencing
Visual storytelling: Use before/after photos for complex projects like patios and outdoor living
Problem-solution focus: Help clients understand you can solve issues they might not associate with landscaping
6. ROI Considerations
Email marketing works better for lower-margin services than expensive direct mail
Allow time for campaigns to prove effectiveness before abandoning
Focus on services that match current capacity and seasonal demand
Success often shows up in client conversations rather than direct click-through metrics

Subscribe and share the Grow Show to help more landscape pros discover it. Thank you for being part of our community.
The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.
Resources:

Virtual Sales Bootcamp
Grunder Landscaping Field Trips

The Grow Group
Grunder Landscaping
Marty Grunder LinkedIn
Stihl
...more
21min
June 11, 2025Strategic Partnerships and Industry Insights: A Conversation with Phil Harwood
Marty Grunder talks with Phil Harwood from Snow Fighters about leadership lessons from 40 years in landscaping and snow removal. Phil reveals why his previous company made 80% of profits from snow despite it being only 50% of revenue, and shares insights on leading by example and building profitable snow operations.
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00:00 - Start
00:30 - Introduction and Welcome
01:24 - Meet Phil Harwood: New Strategic Partner
02:56 - Phil’s Personal Background
04:19 - The Importance of Having a ‘Why’
06:27 - Phil’s Career Journey
09:50 - Funny Stories and Lessons Learned
13:22 - Phil’s Transition to Consulting
15:07 - The Value of External Perspectives
16:27 - Core Leadership Lessons from Phil
17:34 - The Importance of Preparation
19:49 - The Power of Continuous Learning
22:33 - Technological Trends in Snow Removal
26:29 - Phil’s Thoughts on the Future of the Industry
28:09 - Final Thoughts and Advice

Show Notes & Key Takeaways
Leadership by Example Sets the Tone - Phil would arrive at the shop 2 hours early before midnight crews, plow the lot, make coffee, and clean trucks. "They walked in like, wow, this guy's ready... that sets the tone."
The Outsider's Advantage - Phil learned from working with EOS founder Gino Wickman that the same advice he'd been giving internally was finally heard when delivered by an external consultant. "That's where the value is, being the objective outsider."
Unintended Consequences of Company Mottos - Marty's "Where Service is Always in Season" led to inefficient routing, while Phil's "Yes, I Can" culture resulted in applying outdoor-only chemicals inside a building, sterilizing it permanently.
Snow Removal as Emergency Service Mindset - "People always relate snow and ice management services to firefighting because it is an emergency service... you're doing something super valuable in an emergency environment."
The Basics Still Matter Most - Core leadership lessons: "Do the right thing. Do what you say you're gonna do. Answer your phone. Be respectful, care about people." Simple to understand, hard to execute consistently.
Continuous Learning Requires Personal Drive - Phil memorized every tree in Detroit metro by carrying a field guide and studying at every stop sign during winter. "You learn those trees because you wanted to... you have to be motivated."
Snow Operations Can Drive Profitability - Phil's previous company was 50% landscape, 50% snow in revenue, but "80% of our profits came from snow" when executed properly.
Build Your Business to Be Sellable - Whether you plan to sell or not, structure your company so someone could easily step in and see value in systems, key people, and processes that don't depend entirely on the owner.
Technology is Revolutionizing Snow Operations - From real-time coaching built into Caterpillar equipment to software integration with business management systems, the industry is becoming increasingly data-driven and efficient.

Resources:

Virtual Sales Bootcamp
Grunder Landscaping Field Trips

The Grow Group
Grunder Landscaping
Marty Grunder LinkedIn
Stihl
...more
31min
June 04, 2025Operations: Getting a Branch Up and Running
Marty shares the real story behind opening Grunder Landscaping's first branch location in Cincinnati. From overcoming team resistance and zoning battles to building systems that scale, discover the leadership lessons, market entry strategies, and mindset shifts required to successfully expand your business into new markets.
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00:00 - Introduction & Welcome
01:31 - Opening a New Branch: Early Challenges
03:11 - Meeting Seth Pflum & The Growth of Grunder Landscaping
04:30 - The New Cincinnati Branch: Opportunities and Challenges
06:30 - Remodeling the New Facility
08:53 - Operational Strategies and Team Growth
12:42 - Using Your Mission Statement for Growth
16:16 - The Challenge to Grow
18:46 - Please Like, Share and Subscribe!

Show Notes & Key Takeaways
Strategic Planning & Vision
Mission-driven expansion - The branch serves their mission: "to create opportunities for our team to grow and succeed"
Market sizing matters - Cincinnati offers 3-5x the opportunities of Dayton, making it worth the investment and risk
Leadership & Team Development
Avoid consensus paralysis - Running a company by consensus with conservative thinkers can kill growth opportunities
Find growth-minded partners - Seth’s arrival changed everything because he shared Marty's vision for expansion
Create advancement opportunities - "The main reason you grow a business is you have so many good people, they're pushing you, and if you don't create opportunities for them, they're gonna move on"
Promote from within success stories - Bill went from crew worker to leadership team; Brian went from watering plants to leadership team
Operational Excellence
Systems enable scalability - Strong systems allow any team member to maintain standards at either location
Communication requirements multiply - "When you have one location, you better communicate well. But when you have two, your communication better be 10 times better"
Market Entry Strategy
Expect to be unknown - 41 years of reputation in Dayton means nothing in Cincinnati
Invest heavily in marketing for new markets - Earmark larger percentage of marketing budget for the new location
Warm calling over cold calling - Always research prospects before contacting them
Mindset & Culture
Proof of concept exists - "If someone else has done what you're trying to do, that's the only proof you need to believe that you can do it too"
Stay humble in new markets - Being asked "Are you a brand new business?" was humbling but necessary
Strong culture transcends location - The team maintained standards even during leadership transitions
Focus on fundamentals - "People call you, you call 'em back if they're unhappy, you make 'em happy. Do a good job, communicate well with them. Those work in any marketplace"
Success Metrics
Branch success isn't about ego - Don't expand just to brag about multiple locations - focus on profitability and team opportunities
Organic growth focus - 90% of their growth from $4.2M to projected $18M came organically, not acquisitions

Subscribe and share the Grow Show to help more landscape pros discover it. Thank you for being part of our community.
The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.
Resources:

Virtual Sales Bootcamp
Grunder Landscaping Field Trips

The Grow Group
Grunder Landscaping
Marty Grunder LinkedIn
Stihl
...more
20min
May 28, 2025 Interview Series: Jason Cromley on a 90-Day Follow Up from GROW 2025
In this episode, Marty sits down with GROW 2025 tour host Jason Cromley to discuss what they both learned from the event, what the Hidden Creek team has been up to since February, and how they expect the year to go for their companies and the industry.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Leave a Review for the Grow Show!
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00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:32 Random Acts of Kindness
01:51 Interview with Jason Cromley
02:30 Reflections on Hosting Grow
09:23 Sales and Growth Updates
14:52 Operations and Hiring Challenges
18:15 Feedback and Future Plans
20:37 Sales Challenges and Solutions
21:46 Operational Insights and Peer Feedback
26:51 Personal Focus and Family Priorities
28:14 Future Goals and Team Dynamics
30:35 Takeaways and Final Thoughts
38:24 Conclusion and Closing Remarks

Show Notes:
Focus on improving efficiency rather than increasing headcount. Jason Cromley's company aims to boost revenue by $6 million without hiring additional staff. This underscores the importance of optimizing current resources and processes to achieve growth.
Utilize CRM and data analytics to drive sales and improve pipelines. Jason mentions that relying on data rather than emotions helps better understand sales figures and probabilities. This approach enables targeted efforts to close deals and meet financial goals more effectively.
Ensuring every team member is in the right role and performing efficiently is crucial. Jason aspires to have a team where each person understands their responsibilities and has the capacity to perform them well. This leads to a more productive and motivated workforce.
Building and maintaining trust with customers is essential. Prompt communication and reliability in service help foster strong client relationships. Jason emphasizes the importance of not giving customers a reason to doubt your business, which in turn secures repeat business and new referrals.
Strategic planning and forecasting are vital for sustainable growth. Jason highlights the importance of looking ahead and planning for future growth, ensuring that the business can handle increases in workload and demand. This long-term vision helps in setting realistic goals and preparing the team and resources accordingly.

Subscribe and share the Grow Show to help more landscape pros discover it. Thank you for being part of our community.
The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business..
Resources:

Virtual Sales Bootcamp
Grunder Landscaping Field Trips

The Grow Group
Grunder Landscaping
Marty Grunder LinkedIn
Stihl

...more
41min

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How many episodes does The GROW! Show have?

The podcast currently has 118 episodes available.

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