The GROW! Show

By Marty GrunderBusiness Entrepreneurship Leisure Management Home & Garden

The GROW! Show episodes

April 24, 2024Sales: Running an Effective Sales Meeting
Running effective sales meetings helps your entire team maximize their day and their time together, and is one of the hallmarks of a well-run sales team. In this episode, Marty Grunder speaks with Grunder’s Director of Sales Operations Chris Maloney, on how he approaches sales. Chris also shares details about a typical day on his sales team, including the Tuesday sales meeting structure, fun team activities, and sales techniques for different customer types.
In This Episode:
Chris’ career path before joining Grunder Landscaping
Different products, but sales methods remain similar
Transferable skills from retail
“A day in the life” on Chris’ sales team
Tuesday sales meeting - how is it structured?
Fun and social activities that build camaraderie
Sales techniques, different types of customers
Words of wisdom from Chris - keep it simple, be consistent
Share this episode with someone who might benefit!
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:
Chris Maloney LinkedIn
GROW! 2025 Feb 25-27, Columbus OH
The Grow Group
Grunder Landscaping
Marty Grunder LinkedIn
Stihl
24 min
April 17, 2024Leadership: Keep Your Cool
As schedules get busier, it's easy to get frustrated. With your team, with your clients, or just with the general public. In a continuation of "Nice People Don't Finish Last", Marty Grunder shares how leaders at every level of the organization can be part of the solution and not part of the problem. Marty urges people to stay calm and collected under pressure, especially leaders. The challenges of managing stress and avoiding outbursts, using techniques like "Notice, pause, allow" are explored to help control reactions and improve communication. By taking responsibility for their emotions and remaining composed, leaders can gain respect and contribute to a more positive work environment.
In This Episode:
The book, Winning With Accountability
Stress and losing your cool
The wrong way to handle issues
Seeing a therapist to improve your reactions
Reacting without escalating to anger
Using “Notice, pause, allow”
Controlling your reactions if you want to succeed in your organization
Clarifying intentions
Keeping your cool increases respect
Taking responsibility
Share this episode with someone who might benefit!
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:
Book: Winning With Accountability
Book: You Don’t Need a Title to Be a Leader
GROW! 2025 Feb 25-27, Columbus OH
The Grow Group
Grunder Landscaping
Marty Grunder LinkedIn
Stihl
18 min
April 10, 2024GROW 2024 Replay: Nice People Don't Finish Last
Marty Grunder kicked off GROW! 2024 in Des Moines, IA with a talk entitled "Nice People Don't Finish Last: How Kindness Fuels Success," This week's episode is a replay of that session. It's April and as we're in the thick of busy season kick-off, let's remember the little things we do make an impact on the people around us.
In This Episode:
Kicking it off with a little AC/DC “Grunder Struck”
Des Moines vs. Dayton, dining out, and touring RJ Lawn & Landscaping
An unusual experience with United Airlines
Being kind, Marty’s loss of his mom and dad
Giving the benefit of the doubt, asking questions
Notice, pause, allow
If you’re angry, people won’t get your message
Admitting you’re wrong, apologizing, being grateful
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:
GROW! 2025 Feb 25-27, Columbus OH
The Grow Group
Grunder Landscaping
Marty Grunder LinkedIn
Stihl
27 min
April 03, 2024Leadership: Get in the Run
Do you know where you should be in your annual planning right now?

Spring is in full force, and there are things that every landscape pro should be doing and have in place at this time of the year. Tune in to hear Marty Grunder share three things he does to keep control of his life and his roles at The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co. even when it gets a little hectic. From staying on track with your annual plan and prioritizing ruthlessly Marty highlights the importance of weekly calendar reviews and strong leadership qualities like empathy and recognition. Remember, as a leader, you're held to a higher standard.
Discussion Points:
A traffic stop and a cop’s kindness
Where you should be in your annual plan
Becoming laser-focused and letting go of certain business aspects
Setting time for calendar review each week
Leaders are held to a higher standard
Finding positives to compliment, rewarding with praise and recognition
Empathy- is your team stressed out?
Review and key takeaways
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 landscaping companies in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.
Resources:
The Grow Group
Grunder Landscaping
Marty Grunder LinkedIn Stihl
15 min
March 27, 2024Interview Series: What We Learn When We Connect With Others with Ryan Hawk
Fellow Daytonian, family man and podcaster Ryan Hawk, host of The Learning Leader Show, joins Marty to talk about the interviews he's done on his podcast and what he's learned from talking with some of the brightest business minds. Ryan muses on the value of capturing your parents’ life stories and wisdom, dives into leadership advice, and lets us in on how he was inspired to write his first book, "Welcome to Management". You’ll hear practical tips for immediate improvement and long-term strategies for building leaders. Marty and Ryan reminisce about Clay Mathile’s appearance on Ryan’s podcast, and remind listeners to check out his new book, "The Score That Matters," on March 24th.
Discussion Points:
Ryan’s path to podcast greatness
A little about Ryan, his kids, and his high-profile family
Have you ever recorded a conversation of your parent(s) talking about their lives?
Wisdom from the book “Welcome to Management”
Practical takeaways to put into practice as a manager
Long-term strategies - Creating a culture of building leaders
“The Pursuit of Excellence” - showcasing how other leaders lead - a way of life
What you can do right now, today to improve
What can you do to “win your morning”?
Ryan highlights some of his most interesting guests
Marty’s favorite Learning Leader episode - Clay Mathile
The new book, “The Score That Matters” drops March 24th
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:
The Learning Leader
Book - The Score That Matters
Ryan Hawk LinkedIn
The Grow Group
Grunder Landscaping
Marty Grunder LinkedIn
Stihl
39 min
March 20, 2024Dream No Little Dream
In 2023, the Dayton community said goodbye to a business legend and selfless leader. Clay Mathile is best known as the businessman who took over running The Iams Company and then sold the business to P&G in 1999 for $2.3B. In the years since that sale, Clay invested his time and money in other entrepreneurs, and Marty counts himself fortunate to have been the beneficiary of so much of Clay's advice and guidance. In this episode, Marty shares what he learned from Clay and the impact it had on Grunder Landscaping Co.'s trajectory.
Discussion Points:
GROW! 2024 and the city of Des Moines
Meeting Clay, the book Clay gave him, and a new trajectory
A friend in Clay’s son, memories through the years - baseball and more
16 things Marty learned from Clay
Listening, structure, strategy
Don’t let your business run you
Get the book free by sharing this episode
Staying focused, mission and vision statements
Dreams vs. strategic plans
Paying for ‘good help’
Get a board of advisors
Home life and business life
Dressing well, but not flashy
Being a good person and helping others
Next time you buy IAMs for your pet, think of Clay
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:
Book: Focus
Aileron School
Book: Run Your Business
Book: Dream No Little Dream
The Grow Group
Grunder Landscaping
Marty Grunder LinkedIn
Stihl
21 min
March 13, 2024Ready, Set, GROW!
Do you take time to notice and compliment your team members when they are doing great things? Is your business mission and vision clear and communicated often to all? As we kick off another spring season full of opportunities for landscape pros, Marty Grunder shares some thoughts for landscape pros and entrepreneurs, to help motivate you to hit the ground running and make hay while the sun shines.
Discussion Points:
Do you have clarity of purpose in your business?
Accountability - do your actions line up with your words?
Planning, controlling your emotions, being consistent
Boss your calendar, don’t let it boss you
Review your calendar and plan out as far as possible
Prospect, nurture, close
Notice, pause, allow
Marty regrets past overreactions
Most importantly - use the power of positive reinforcement
Vince and his puppy Charlie
Key takeaways
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:

The Grow Group https://www.growgroupinc.com/

Grunder Landscaping https://grunderlandscaping.com/

Marty Grunder LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/martygrunder/

Stihl https://www.stihlusa.com/
17 min
March 05, 2024Sales: Are You Ready to Tackle Spring?
GROW! 2024 in Des Moines was a smashing success, and we’re excited to see you next year in Columbus OH.
The weather outside may still be cold, but it's go time for landscaping sales! Are you ready to hit the ground running this spring so that you can crush your sales goals? In this episode, Marty shares the three things sales pros can do now to make sure they have a successful year ahead.
Discussion Points:
Recapping some GROW highlights, Columbus OH next year
Non-negotiables for Grunder employees
The three keys to success
Use your energy for things you can control
Boss your calendar
Plan your time
Keeping active, exercising, and eating right
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:
The Grow Group
Grunder Landscaping
Marty Grunder LinkedIn
Stihl
13 min
February 28, 2024Interview Series: Making Battery-Powered Equipment Work for You
Battery-powered equipment is a fan favorite for clients because of the reduced noise, but many pros struggle with how to switch their crews over. In this episode, Marty Grunder is joined by a panel of experts who share their advice on setting crews up for success with battery-powered equipment and share best practices if you're interested in trying it out yourself.
Marty discusses the transition to battery-powered landscaping equipment with Clint Deboer from Pro Tool Reviews, Brandon Haley from SSC Service Solutions, and Dan Mabe from the American Green Zone Alliance. Clint offers expertise in tool reviews, Brandon shares economic insights from his company's switch to electric equipment, and Dan, with his extensive experience in eco-friendly landscaping practices, delves into the industry's challenges and opportunities. Together, they cover the financial and environmental benefits, practical applications, and strategies for managing a battery-powered fleet, addressing the shift from traditional gas-powered tools to sustainable, electric alternatives.
Discussion Points:
Revolution in landscaping with a shift to battery-powered tools
Environmental and financial benefits of electric equipment
Addressing battery-powered fleet management and crew adaptation
Importance of solar power and noise reduction
Overcoming resistance to change in landscaping practices
Environmental impact of batteries throughout their life cycle
Cost savings and efficiency of electric landscaping tools
Practicalities of using battery-powered chainsaws and trimmers
Logistical challenges of maintaining power for battery tools
Navigating change management for a smooth transition to electric equipment
Real-world examples of successful switches to battery power in landscaping
Encouraging informed decisions and support for battery tool platforms
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:
Daniel Mabe LinkedIn
Clint Deboer LinkedIn
Brandon Haley LinkedIn
SSC Services
American Green Zone Alliance
Pro Tools Review
The Grow Group
Grunder Landscaping
Marty Grunder LinkedIn
Stihl
43 min
February 21, 2024Team: It's Me, I'm the Problem
This episode is a rerun because we think the message is just so important to teams as we get ready to ramp up for Spring. Having a growth mindset is a key determiner of success that we see in the leaders that we work with at The Grow Group. In this episode Marty Grunder and Vince Torchia share how leaders can embrace a growth mindset and accept accountability for the role they play in their team's success and failure. When they do this, their companies GROW.

Have you ever heard someone say, “I feel like I’m surrounded by idiots!”? That person does not have a growth mindset. Having a growth mindset is a key determiner of success that we see in the leaders that we work with at The Grow Group. In this episode, Marty Grunder and Vince Torchia share how leaders can embrace a growth mindset and accept accountability for the role they play in their team's success and failure. When they do this, their companies GROW.
Discussion Points:
Growth mindset, looking internally
A case study with an anonymous colleague
Seeing the growth mindset in action
Examples and accountability
Identifying those who lack the growth mindset
Training, capacity, and attitude
Questions to ask yourself as a leader
Incremental success and the growth mindset
Seeing mistakes as opportunities for improvement
The GROW conference
Ryan and Annette McCarthy, GROW hosts
Recap - questions to ask
More details on Des Moines and GROW conference
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:
GROW! Conference Feb 2024
The Grow Group
Grunder Landscaping
Marty Grunder LinkedIn
Vince Torchia LinkedIn
Stihl
25 min

About The GROW! Show

From the publisher's feed

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.