I get to discuss the learning process and motivations in purchasing a business and jumping into the landscape industry with Rodrigo Frias the new owner of Classic Nursery in Woodinville, WA. We discuss how to assess existing systems and when to implement changes and new processes. We even delve into the navigation of managing designers and creatives. Learn more about Classic Nursery at www.classicnursery.com They are also on Pinterest, Houzz, Instagram, Angies List, and Facebook.

This conversation proves that even those outside of our industry that do their research do not know the industry's complexities, it is a common misconception that landscape is easy but as we all know it is not.

Connected episodes:

29: Switching Careers and Finding Transferable Skills with

20: Building Brand

16: Collaboration Between Installer and Designer with Kevin

13: Delivering on Expectations

10: Navigating Sexism with Confidence and the Role of Mentorship

9: Defining your Ideal Client

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No matter how big or small your business is, teamwork is a vital ingredient to your success. Even for those of you that are solopreneurs, you may not have a team of employees, but you still have a team of collaborators that make your business run smoothly. There is a lot of business advice out there from seasoned business people wisely advising us to hire out the skills we lack or the tasks we don’t enjoy doing. For most entrepreneurs that can be a difficult thing to pinpoint because most of us think we can do everything and anything. I could do likely do a lot and do well by myself but I would be limited and I know that

28: The Value of Networking

16: Collaboration Between Installer and Designer with Kevin

11: Taking the leap into business ownership with Sarah Van

7: Collaborating with a Remote Team

6: Work-life Balance

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Join me in talking with Courtney Olander of Olander Garden Design. We discuss everything from shifting careers and how to find transferable skills to making connections and networking. Courtney discusses the importance of composition and imagery in the design industry and how she used those skills from her previous career to kickstart her business. 

Here are some of the designers she is inspired by that were mentioned in the episode

Claire Kennedy Design

Botanica Design

Considered Design

Orca Living

Connected episodes:

26: Living Seasonally and Designing a Business Seasonally

23: Credentials and Licenses- What They Mean and are They Worth

11: Taking the leap into business ownership with Sarah Van

6: Work-life Balance

4: Building a Business Through Referrals

3: Inspiration and Passion- the Design Process

2: Communication of Design

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They say your potential is influenced by the 5 people you spend the most time with. I won't dispute that there is truth in that, but I also think the net of influence spans more than 5 people. It is often said that entrepreneurship is lonely. It can be but it doesn’t have to be. The kicker is you have to be vulnerable and put yourself out there. 

Connected episodes:

11: Taking the leap into business ownership with Sarah Van Sanden

4: Building a Business Through Referrals

1: The Process Driven Designer

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Confidence is an important part of your brand and is a key ingredient to success and happiness. Confidence is a state of feeling certain or a feeling of self-assurance arising from one’s appreciation of one’s own abilities or qualities. Confidence is built over time through experience. Each time you do that you grow, and it builds your skills and the inner knowing that you not only can do that thing but that you can step out of your comfort zone and learn new things. I position myself as the leader of the design process by stating the process and leading a client through that process. To be the leader of the process you have to have the confidence to do so. Especially with contractors. Remember, If it is clear that you know the way they will be more inclined to follow you.

Connected episodes:

23: Credentials and Licenses- What They Mean and are They Worth it

20: Building Brand

19: Deliberate not Perfect-Calming the Voice of Perfectionism

12: Design Presentation

2: Communication of Design

Please be sure to subscribe and follow @kismetdesignco. Please also sign up for my newsletter to be notified of upcoming webinars, courses, and other offerings https://kismetdesignco.com/classes/

I think I am most drawn to this idea of living seasonally because I find so much beauty in the natural changes of the seasons and it always brings a sense of anticipation. We are part of the system naturally, we have contrived our own system that runs very separate from the natural seasonal shifts but it's always there in the background and occasionally eeks its way up and through our artificial system. The most significant benefit I see to incorporating the idea of living more seasonally and embracing the fluctuations and flow better is that I see it helping me to be more present and to allow myself better time to rest and rejuvenate to refuel for the next season of production and growth.

Connected episodes:

25: The Creation of a Show Garden

19: Deliberate not Perfect-Calming the Voice of Perfectionism

14: Year-End Planning

8: Workflow- how to stay on track

6: Work-life Balance

3: Inspiration and Passion- the Design Process

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For those of you in the pacific northwest, you know that the annual northwest flower and garden show is coming up. Yes, the gardens and many of the vendor booths are stunning but not many people know what goes into their creation. For those of you who have been part of the creation of a show garden you know what goes into it. the months of planning, the countless late nights, and crossed fingers. It is a lot of work and that experience helps you to admire and appreciate the gardens so much more. Listen to get a glimpse of what it takes to design, construct, and deconstruct a garden at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show

Relevant Links:

Northwest Flower and Garden Show

Terra Sculpture- Kismet Sculpture

Steve Farris Art

Robert Fairfax Art

Diamond Spas

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Join me for a great conversation with Sara Meier owner of GreenThumb SAM. We discuss everything from the markers she uses and the processes she has in place to create her stunning drawings to balancing life as a mom and business owner. She shares her tips for organization and workflow to maximize efficiency as well as some self-care tips and rules she has in place to keep her on task and loving what she does. Her drawings are truly works of art- if you don't already her Instagram is a must-follow!

Find out more about Sara and see her work at www.greenthumbsam.com or on social media @greenthumbsam

Connected episodes:

23: Credentials and Licenses

22: Incorporating Color into your Deliverables

21: Site Measurement Process

11: Taking the leap into business ownership

8: Workflow- how to stay on track

3: Inspiration and Passion- the Design Process

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In the very broad field of landscape design, there are multiple credentials you will come across. At the end of someone's signature line on their email you will see many different acronyms- Some of them are assigned as being part of an association like APLD or ASLA, and others are for the various credentials, licenses, or certifications they hold. Anyone can call themselves a landscape designer. There is no requirement of experience, education, or aptitude to call yourself a designer or to deliver those services in the residential sector. But boy is there a difference in the range of experience and knowledge amongst landscape designers. I think that the primary reason any of us seek out certification is to distinguish ourselves from the crowd and be able to put a name to the level of experience and skill that we have.

Connected episodes:

20: Building Brand

13: Delivering on Expectations

Relevant Links:

CLARB: Landscape Architects Registration Exam

APLD: Association of Professional Landscape Designers

WSNLA: Washington State Nursery and Landscape Association

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Each design you deliver is a work of art. In my opinion, color is what brings a plan to life. it doesn’t matter if you hand draft or use a cad program. Color is what really makes your drawings have a wow factor. Color can be incorporated in a few different ways. Let's discuss the options for process, deliverables, and the cost associated with your time and the cost of printing.

Connected episodes:

2: Communication of Design

3: Inspiration and Passion- the Design Process

5: Efficiency and Profitability

12: Design Presentation

Please be sure to subscribe and follow @kismetdesignco. Please sign up for my newsletter to be notified of upcoming webinars, courses, and other offerings https://kismetdesignco.com/classes/.