How often do you tell your colleagues what they do well? This is probably one of their unique qualities that makes the relationship valuable. When you recognize their unique contributions to your business relationship, you validate, reinforce, and most importantly, value what they bring to the relationship. I recently had a client thank me for […]
Green Industry Selling the Right Way
February 28, 2008 by Leave a Comment
Today I gave a presentation to a group of down-to-earth green industry professionals at the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association Winter Seminar. It’s always fun to help people grow their business, but it was an especially enjoyable day for me because it was an ILCA event just like this one nearly 20 years ago where my […]
Selling The Right Way is Transparent
October 27, 2007 by Leave a Comment
Yesterday I gave my Selling the Right Way! presentation at the annual Green Industry Conference sponsored by the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET). The audience was more than receptive – they get it! We really had a great time. We learned that selling today has to be very transparent. Why? Because we are living in a […]
Customer Service – It's the Heart of Your Business
August 28, 2007 by Leave a Comment
After speaking this past weekend at the Summer Symposium of The Professional Landcare Network (PLANET), I’ve been contemplating the fact that great customer service is nothing more than consistently performing to the expectations of your clients. Too often we stop doing what works to try the latest idea. Companies need new ideas to grow, but […]
The Green Thread – It Works!
June 27, 2007 by Leave a Comment
Everybody seems to be talking about green these days. What does it really mean to be green? Well, start by just looking around. Green is the most predominant color in the universe- and therefore, it is an overriding energy that connects all of us. From basis physics we all learned colors vibrate at different frequencies […]
When Something's Not Right its Wrong
June 6, 2007 by Leave a Comment
It occurred to me today that when you work on fixing what is not rightfully your responsibility, you are doing the wrong thing. Why? Because your time and talent and energy should be focused on doing the right thing. It reminded me of the verse from Bob Dylan’s You’re Gonna Make Lonesome When You Go […]
Grow Your Business The Right Way
May 28, 2007 by 2 Comments
A few nights ago I was sitting in my screened porch enjoying the scents and sounds of the evening rain storm. When I wandered inside to the pantry for a snack, I was struck with how many products today are labeled ‘organic’ – from chips to raisins to even wine and more! I wondered if […]
Be Ready for the Opportunity to Make a Difference for Your Customer
February 3, 2007 by 24 Comments
Does your staff know how far they can go to help your customer? I had an experience yesterday that raised this question for me. I was returning to the airport from a speaking engagement to fellow green industry professionals. Here’s what happened. Just as the shuttle dropped me off at the Louisville, Kentucky airport, I […]
Focus on Your Existing Customer
January 30, 2007 by Leave a Comment
Are you planning for inevitable changes in your business? What might those changes be? Too often we accept the status quo without strategically planning for what’s next, despite the rapid changes in our society. I own and operate a snow and Ice management company, a sister company to my green industry business, and we recently […]
