The Landscape Business Pro Podcast: Expert Advice for Landscaping & Excavating Contractors

The Man, The Myth, The Legend: John Lee Dumas. After growing up in Maine, John went to college on an Army ROTC scholarship, eventually becoming an officer in the Army and doing a 13 month tour in Iraq. For the next 6 years, John tried law school, real estate, and corporate finance, but nothing felt right. Then, John decided to try something different: podcasting. Following his flare for business and his passion for learning from the best, John decided to create the exact podcast that he felt was missing – a seven day a week podcast where listeners could learn from established, accomplished entrepreneurs. That podcast is Entrepreneur on Fire. At first, John wasn’t comfortable behind the mic, and had no experience producing a podcast, but he understood the only way to get better was to learn from someone that had already done it. By investing in himself and seeking expert mentors that were enjoying the success he was after, John knew he was giving himself the absolute best shot at success. In this episode you’ll learn how to leverage a mentor to get your landscaping business off the ground, or take your existing company to the next level.

Links from this episode

Entrepreneur on Fire

Podcasters’ Paradise

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Head Honcho of View from the Top Consulting, Aaron Walker has a storied and impressive background. Aaron started in the pawn shop business, and after 27 years, he retired from that and got into construction industry. He bought into ABC Building, a company focused on high-end homes – but more importantly – Aaron helped it become a company completely dedicated to customer service. It was that focus that propelled his company to be the #1 builder in middle Tennessee for 3 consecutive years. In today’s episode, Aaron and Stan discuss the importance of continuing to improve. But not just learning; learning from and expert that truly knows what they’re doing. You can practice and struggle and practice some more, but if you don’t know what you’re doing wrong, than you’re simply wasting your time.

Links from this episode

www.viewfromthetop.com

On Twitter: @vftcoach

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Your employees — at least the good ones — have a desire for mastery. If they’re doing what they enjoy doing, what they’re passionate about, then they will have an inherent desire to become better and better at it. That’s all well and good…the question is…how, as managers, do we use that to our advantage? How do we use our employees’ desire for mastery to mutually benefit both the business and the employee? In this episode, Susan Weinschenk, also know as The Brain Lady, teaches us how. Some of the principals we’ll learn about are completely counter-intuitive. You think a reward will tell your employee how well they’re doing? Make them try harder next time in hopes of earning that same reward? As we’ll find out, that mindset is all wrong. This is a great episode. It has tons of good information and actionable advice that you can take to the job site right away.

Links from this episode

Susan’s Website: www.theteamw.com

On YouTube: Susan’s YouTube Page

On Amazon: Susan’s Books

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Our guest today is Brian Shain, owner of Top Notch Lawn Care and the Top Notch Lawns YouTube channel. In this episode of the LBP Podcast, Stan and Brian remind us – it’s not what you know, it’s who you know – and a huge part of success is trust and likability. Like it or not, those two words can make or break your business. Relationships and connections can be the difference between a ringing phone, and the sound of crickets in your office. This episode also covers the ever important questions, “How much lawn mowing equipment should I buy when I’m starting out?” And, “how much should I buy when I start to get busier?” Stan and Brian do a great job of laying out a strategy based on their own successes AND failures. Remember, you’re already doing more than 99% of the population by simply taking the first step.

Links from this episode

YouTube: Top Notch Lawns

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Call it whatever you want – an ‘ah-ha’ moment, a ‘game-changer’ – just don’t ignore it! Jordan Harbinger didn’t ignore his, and now he’s the host of one of the most popular podcasts on iTunes, The Art of Charm. Jordan and Stan discuss the importance of people in business, and how you can leverage simple, effective strategies to help you get ahead, land more jobs, and leave your clients eager to give you a referral.

Links from this episode

The Art of Charm Podcast

The Art of Charm website

Best of The Art of Charm

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How many times have you spent half the day meeting with a potential client only to realize their project is completely unrealistic for their budget? How much time have you wasted trying to figure out the scope of a project when the customer really has no idea what they want? Remember, YOU are in control of your business. Tom Reber is a contractor, business owner, podcaster, and business coach. He knows what it takes to make your business work for you, rather than the other way around. By prequalifying potential clients based on scope and budget, your jobs will be easier to land, easier to bid, and ultimately easier to GET PAID on. Period. It really is that simple to minimize the time spent on the project and maximize your margins. Simply put: Find the right clients, take on the right projects, and build the business you want to own.

Links from this episode

www.motorhard.com

Contractor Sales Academy

The Strongpreneur Podcast

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Are you an introvert, extrovert, or somewhere in the middle? Knowing where you fall and how to handle yourself based on personality strengths will put you ahead of 80% of the contractors out there. People think that introverts can’t make successful sales people, when in fact, they excel at certain skills which extroverts have a very difficult time mastering. Jennifer teaches us how important it is to leverage the great things that you do already, and most of all, LISTEN. If a client knows you’re listening and understands that you truly have their ideas and best wishes in mind, then you’re positioning yourself and your company way ahead of the competition.

Links from this episode

www.jenniferkahnweiler.com

The Introverted Leader

Quiet Influence

The Genius of Opposites

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Landscape Business Pro Podcast

You’ll find Johnny Mow on YouTube talking about business side of the lawn mowing industry, and much more. Chasing your dream does not mean burdening yourself with too much work, too much stress and looming deadlines. Your perspective and your outlook influence every aspect of your life, your business, and your family. Johnny approaches his business in a unique and sometimes counter-intuitive way. His idea is simple—take the finances out of the equation and focus on the reason you started your business in the first place—freedom. Ask yourself, what makes up my priority list in life? Johnny believes that if you focus your priority list, or “code” as he calls it, then your business decisions will become much easier, and your direction more clear. Johnny has a fascinating story that started with humble beginnings. Throughout his life and business, Johnny has learned that a streamlined and efficient business will not only provide for your family, but will also give you the freedom and flexibility to enjoy more time AWAY from your business.

Links from this episode

Johnny Mow on YouTube

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You can have a phenomenal website and great brochures, but at the end of the day, people buy from people.

Networking is an annoying, pretentious, and even disgusting word to most contractors. When we hear the word “networking” we imagine an awkward conversation with someone we don’t know and have nothing in common with. This couldn’t be more false. When you get down to it, networking is about people. In this episode, Catherine Byers Breet does an amazing job of scrubbing the concept clean, demystifying it, and teaching us how simple and painless it really is. Networking is not confined to stuffy events and boring get-togethers…it’s all around us. Catherine teaches us to sniff out connections and opportunities that exist everywhere we go. Take Stan for example; Stan networks at Subway, at the gas station, anywhere — and it’s payed-off on numerous occasions, in the form of both clients and employees. So ask yourself, where will your next monster job come from? The hardware store? Grocery shopping with the kids? You never know…until you ask.

Links from this episode

Arbez.com

LinkedIn

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Landscape Business Pro Podcast