Last month I posted about my decision to go back to school and pursue a new direction in life as I work towards my Pennsylvania teacher’s certificate.  Since writing that piece I have officially started classes at West Chester University, and I have to say, I’m enjoying every minute of it.  I love the philosophical discussions in class, and love challenging my mind.

I’ve barely scraped the surface as far as classwork goes, but there are a significant amount of reading assignments already, with papers, quizzes, tests, and field observations on the horizon.

I have also continued my research into the fastest way to actually get paid for being in a classroom.  Every state has different requirements and regulations into allowing one to captain the classroom ship, and wouldn’t you know it, Pennsylvania has one of the strictest set of requirements in the country.  Figures.

I won’t get into the pro’s and con’s of needing to be fully certified to teach.  Certainly as a parent with two school-age children, I want to know that the caretakers I entrust my children to every day are fully qualified at what they do.

But from a teaching perspective, and someone who pays the bills, I’d like to be getting paid for my time in the class, not merely observing.

Pennsylvania won’t even allow you to substitute teach until you are 100 percent fully certified.  No real argument here.  Just disappointment in that I’d like to be getting paid.

Fortunately, we live only a short 15-minute drive to New Jersey, and New Jersey does offer a substitute certificate.  An undergraduate degree, background clearances, and of course the pre-requisite fees are all that’s required to obtain a NJ substitute credential.

Satisfying the necessary requirements, I am now a certified substitute teacher in New Jersey.  Cool.  And I’ve already had a handful of substitute assignments in the Garden State.  I even get one of those cool necklace thingies with my ID badge attached. 

Make no mistake, substitute teaching certainly isn’t the goal here.  The substitute teacher’s life is full of uncertainty from day to day – where will I be tomorrow, what time does school start?  Where the heck is Woodbury anyway?  Not being a native Jersey son, I find myself glued to my GPS and maps just about anywhere I go over there.

But I am getting paid (a little), which of course is better than not getting paid at all in PA.  Certainly a step in the right direction.

So to recap, I am now taking two graduate-level college courses, substitute teaching on a day-to-day basis, and still trying to line-up some hardscaping projects for the spring/summer.  Implicit in the hardscaping side of things is the fact that I really don’t want to find myself in a position of chasing down projects fruitlessly, or that will interfere with what is now my top professional priority – school, and eventually trying to secure a full time teaching job.  All while managing family responsibilities, shuttling the kids to karate and acting and soccer and gymnastics and scouts and … well, you get the idea.

Soooooo, what this means is that my already hectic schedule is becoming even more crazy with a new set of responsibilities.  Something’s got to give.  And unfortunately, I’m afraid, this means that this blog needs to get shelved for a bit.  At least as far as the weekly posts go.

It certainly isn’t a shutting down of the blog.  I do plan on posting some project updates in the spring and summer once the projects start happening.  And most likely a few other miscellaneous posts here and there.  But for now, I do need to back off a bit, if for no other reason than to maintain some sanity while I get accustomed to the new schedule.

Perhaps the focus of the blog may change a bit too.  Instead of relevant hardscaping and construction information, there may be a focus on my studies, teaching info, the trials of getting certified, etc.  “The trials of a mid-life 40-something career change.”  Or something like that.  We’ll see how it plays out.

In the mean time, though, I need to take a break for a bit.  I most likely will continue with a few biz-related Facebook posts, and I’ll be checking in on others’ blogs and posts on various forums and platforms.  To all of you have been regular readers and commenters on my posts, thank you.  It’s always nice to know that my musings are being read by somebody – anybody – and hopefully of some value to you the reader.  The blog has re-kindled my love of writing, and I’ve certainly enjoyed the process.

So for now, farewell, see you soon, and keep on keepin’ on.

For the past several years, I've spent my February hiring my staff for the year.  With my recent decision to downsize the business and go back to school, this will be my first year in a few not spent weeding through resumes and interviewing prospective laborers.

And I have to say, it's not something that will be missed.  I've gained a fair amount of insight into what the labor force looks like out there, and while I won't go as far as to say I've seen it all, I will say I've seen enough to offer a few tips to anybody looking to join a crew for the year.

And I'd like to offer a few tips for anybody who thinks that a career, or even just a job, in the landscaping industry is for them.

1.  You're not special.  OK, maybe you are, but your prospective employer won't know that until you demonstrate what makes you special.  Expect to work.  Hard.  You will be lifting stones and heavy wheelbarrows and 80-lb bags of mortar and concrete.  You'll be digging.  And sledge-hammering.  And moving materials.  That's what we're paying you to do.  If you want the job, then don't think you're above the work.

2.  A few basics -- fix your alarm clock.  Make sure your car runs.  And has gas.  Make sure you don't have to drop your sister off at work unexpectedly.  Call your boss if something comes up, but don't make a habit of it.  You're not in high school or college anymore.  You're in the real world.  Skills to pay the bills is good, but it takes more than just skills.  It takes maturity and responsibility.

3.  Be respectful.  And own it.  When you show up to your interview, or get ready to go to work, give the impression that you can be trusted and that you respect yourself and the ones around you.  Those teardrop tattoos on your face won't put the homeowner with young children at ease.  If you smoke, don't expect to smoke on the site, in proximity to neighbors and young children.  The neighbors really don't want to hear your R-rated rap lyrics at full blast.  Or hear you continuously dropping f-bombs.  Do what you want at home on your own time, but when you're at the job, you're representing me and the company. 

4.  Remember this -- labor expense is one of, if not THE, biggest expense a company incurs.  For every hard-earned dollar you receive, it's far more out of your employer's pocket once you factor in unemployment insurance, workers compensation, etc.  If I'm shelling out that kind of cash, you'd better be earning it.  Because if/when I need to cut expenses, it's the slackers on the crew who are the first to go.

5.  Play the game.  I'm not one for busy work just for busy work sake, but I'm REALLY not one to pay you for doing nothing.  If you don't have something to do on a site, then find something.  I've always been big on telling my crews there's always something to do on a site.  You finished moving the bricks I asked you to move?  Great.  You better not just be sitting around waiting for me to tell you something else to do.  Find something to do.  Pick up a broom.  Organize the tools.  Empty the trash.  I may re-assign you to another task once I see you're done, but I'd rather ask you to put down the broom than find you sitting around playing on your phone.  If nothing else, pick up a tool so at least you look like you might be busy.  Nothing looks worse to the public than a crew of guys sitting around blatantly doing nothing.

6.  Learn.  Ask questions.  Show an interest or commitment.  One of the first things out of my mouth at any interview is the fact that I'm not looking for guys who know how to do everything, but rather for guys (or girls) who are responsible, trustworthy, dependable.  I can teach the skills, but the responsibility and interest can only come from one place -- you.

7.  Think.  It is quite rare that any project or task goes exactly as you plan.  Yes, the planning process is important to help eliminate surprises, but they will still happen.  And when they do, the workers who can effectively solve the problem will be the ones that get recognized.  Figure out what the best way to conserve materials is.  Think about how the job you're doing could be done better with a more appropriate tool.  Think about the impact any task may have on tools, supplies, the surrounding area of the yard.  If one cut creates a tremendous amount of debris that needs to be cleaned up and uses up material that could have been used more efficiently for other projects, then it probably wasn't a good use of time or materials.  As the boss, I'm thinking two or three steps ahead on just about anything I'm doing.  If you do too, it will certainly leave a favorable impression.

Truth be told, these tips go a lot farther than just looking for a job in the landscaping industry.  It's a good blueprint for getting (and keeping) a job period.

The new year always serves as a convenient opportunity to assess the past year, reflect on successes and failures, and prepare for what lies ahead.  It’s a time of optimism, a time for fresh starts, and a starting point for moving forward.

Amidst all the leftover Holiday treats, football games, and catching up with old friends, I personally have spent a fair amount of time this week reflecting on the past year.  A few years’ back I made the resolution never to make another new year’s resolution – my thoughts being that most resolutions are too narrow, too short-sighted, and often reflect an effect of larger problems, not the cause.

So my thoughts this past week have focused on what some of the underlying trouble-spots are with me as a person.  Thankfully, nothing major, but certainly there are areas where I, like nearly everybody, can improve as a person.

And as I’ve assessed my areas for improvement, I’ve discovered one underlying theme – fear.  More specifically, overcoming fear to be a success. Being brave to be happy.

Which in turn led me to another thought process – if courage is the ability to overcome fear, then what is the difference between courage and recklessness?  Between strength and being self-destructive?

Mark Twain once said that “Courage is the resistance to fear, the mastery of it, not the absence of it.”  And I think in that quote lies the answer.  Recklessness has more to do with a lack or inability to understand the negative effects of an action, whereas courage is understanding and accepting it.  It’s a fine line indeed, but it shifts the concept to one that is much more cognitive, to one which can be rationally evaluated.

My personal fears most likely aren’t that different from many others’ fears.  Fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of being judged, fear of change, to name a few.

And to analyze those fears, I need to evaluate the negative consequences in order to conquer them.  And in doing so, I’ve come to realize that the negative consequences I’ve been fearing are much more manageable than I’ve been making them out to be.

So in perhaps my first cathartic actions of the new year, I’m taking this opportunity to announce a few changes in my personal and professional life. 

I’ve begun taking classes for my Pennsylvania Teacher Certification.  This is a decision I’ve been mulling over for some time, but one which I believe will serve to increase my own happiness and the well-being of my family in the years ahead.

Not to say it will be an easy road.  The good things in life generally aren’t.  But it is a decision that I honestly believe will serve me best in the years ahead.

In addition to a post-baccalaureate courseload, I will also have student teaching assignments and perhaps even some substitute teaching assignments to gain experience and get my foot in the door towards my eventual new career.  All while continuing to juggle family responsibilities.

So what does this mean for Clark Kent Creations?  What does it mean for my hardscaping career?  Well, probably not too much for the immediate future.  At least on the surface.

But changes do lay ahead.  My website will remain the same, my weekly blogs will continue with no noticeable changes for the foreseeable future.

And to clients who already have quotes and signed contracts for spring projects, I’ll still be providing the same level of professional service you’ve come to expect.

I’ll still be taking on new projects, still be providing new estimates, still be just as responsive as ever to past clients and still take just as much pride in my projects as always.

But in continuing with my conquering fear theme of the new year, new clients and prospects may find that I’m not afraid to say “no thanks” to projects that aren’t in my sweet spot of services. 

Hopefully I can still secure a few large patio projects for the summer months, but during the school year I’ll be focusing on smaller to medium size projects – ones that I can complete without a full staff, quickly, leanly, and efficiently.

I may pass on some larger projects, or at least ask that they can be scheduled once we complete the school year.

I may ask for a bit more time to complete projects, as I balance studenting, teaching, and parenting in conjunction with work.

And while I realize there may be some lost business with this approach, this goes hand-in-hand with my confronting of fear, of accepting the consequences of an action in an act of courage.  I think it’s for the best.

I’m on my way to becoming a teacher.  And that is certainly nothing to be afraid of.  It’s a change I’m embracing.  And while fear certainly isn’t absent from this change, it’s a fear that I’m proud to confront.

And so the new year begins.  Happy New Year everybody!

And just like that, we close the door on the 2013 season.  Like it or not, winter has showed up and moved in – time to put the tools away until next spring, and spend some quality Holiday time with family and friends.

Hard to believe, but it was less than two weeks ago that we were drysetting a flagstone walkway in nearly 60-degree weather.  But these past two weeks have served as a vivid reminder as to why we don’t schedule hardscaping projects during the winter months.  As I write this it is flurrying lightly outside – the fourth snowstorm in just over 10 days.  And while this one doesn’t appear to have quite the punch as a few of the other storms, there’s still a significant amount of snow on the ground thanks to the storms and a steady supply of sub-freezing temperatures.  Certainly not ideal hardscaping weather. (Editorial Note:  Warm weather has returned -- at least temporarily.  Volatility goes hand in hand with the season).

Thankfully, that dryset walkway project was the last of the hardscaping projects on the calendar for this year.  We still have a few smaller carpentry projects we’re trying to squeeze in between the snows, but for the most part we’re ready to close the door on the season.

And I’d like to personally take this opportunity to throw a few “thank you”s around.

First and foremost, I’d like to thank all of our loyal clients for their continued business over the years.  It sounds cliché, but without the clients none of what we do would be possible.  Your business is more than appreciated.

Secondly, I’d like to thank all of our loyal vendors.  Your inventory, service, pricing, research, special orders, and overall professionalism is a valued asset to our business. 

And of course, I need to thank my workers who have helped make it all possible over the course of the season.  Russ, Bryan, Bill, and Jason – thank you!  I know it’s not always easy work, but each of you have stepped up and contributed to the ultimate success of our projects.  Your hard work is appreciated.

This will be the final blog post for the year, as I take next week off from my blogging duties to celebrate the season.  But I will be back come January with more informative posts.

And I’d also like to take this opportunity to remind everybody that even though winter is here, it doesn’t mean we can’t start thinking about next spring.  In fact, with the way winter is looking already, it may be just what we need to get through the winter.  Start the planning process, and we’ll be ready to go with your project come the first of the spring thaw.

And don’t forget – we’re also available for light handyman work, hauling and clean-outs over the winter months.  And don’t be afraid to ask about those weird “not sure who to ask” projects.  You never know, we just may be the ones to take it on during the winter months.

And with that, I’ll offer one final thought for the 2013 season – “He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, and away they all flew like the down of a thistle.  But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,  "HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!"  (And Happy New Year’s too!)

If you’re thinking about a new patio, fencing project, or any other landscape construction project, there’s a lot of information to absorb and a lot of decisions that need to be made.  No doubt, it can all be a bit overwhelming as you begin the planning process.

One question that I get asked quite regularly during prospect phone calls and sales meetings is when the best time of year is to undertake a landscape construction project.

Are there advantages to doing it during certain times of year?  Are there times of year to avoid?  Does it matter at all?

Let’s start with the third part of those questions;  Yes, it does matter.  But how it matters really depends on your priorities, what’s important to you during the construction process, and when you want the project completed.

First, let’s take a quick look at the calendar.  Generally speaking, we’re working outside completing landscape construction projects beginning usually around the first of March, and typically ending about mid-December.  Those dates can be tweaked a bit depending on how the year’s weather is behaving, but those are pretty accurate average dates. 
 
No matter what, we won’t be out doing masonry or fence work during January or the first half of February.  Even the mildest of winters can turn nasty in a heartbeat, and the last thing anybody wants is a half-completed construction project sitting idly while a foot of snow melts, or the ground heaves, or it turns into a muddy mess.  Better off to wait until the winter threat has at least subsided.

So take away  the winter, and you’re left with nine, maybe ten months at the most to get your project completed.  Still a pretty broad range.

Rest assured, if we’re out doing a project it’s only because we’re confident enough in the weather, and are taking any seasonal precautions that need to be made.  So at this point the “when” of the project is entirely up to you.

But there are some things to consider:
 

• When do you want the project completed by?  If you want that new patio installed for your child’s graduation party, don’t call us on Memorial Day.  If there’s an end-goal in play, allow enough time for all the i’s to be dotted and t’s to be crossed, and the project to be completed in a thorough, detailed manner.
   
• Are there seasonal discounts?  We don’t offer seasonal discounts, but I have heard of some companies offering discounted prices to fill schedules during slower times of year.  It’s certainly worth asking anybody you’re soliciting bids from.
   
• Are there times of year when we’ll have to wait longer for availability?  Absolutely.  Once the really nice spring weather hits, a backlog queue of up to four months isn’t uncommon, although we certainly try to keep that time to a minimum.  Mid-to-late summer availability can often be pretty quick.  There’s  usually a bump in business around Labor Day, so fall availability can often be delayed but not as significantly as the spring.
   
• Can customers pick their construction dates?  To some extent, yes.  If you call us early enough and leave plenty of lead time, it certainly allows you some flexibility.  Keep in mind we are busy doing other projects while your project is in the queue, and there is always some  uncertainty in project length due to weather, unforeseen site conditions, etc.  Scheduling for “mid-August” is realistic.  Scheduling for “Aug 12th” is not.
   
• Do clients need to be home  during the construction process?  No, but it is advisable.  I’ve  had clients in the past want to schedule their projects for weeks when they’re away at the Shore or on vacation.  First, as mentioned above, picking the exact day we begin isn’t  always an option.  Secondly, there  are often day-to-day decisions that need to be made or approved during the construction process.  Sure, it’s  tempting to want to be “out of Dodge” while the yard is torn up and the driveway is full of equipment.  But as I always say, the most successful projects are the ones where there is open and frequent communication.  If  you’re available by phone, or are simply an hour’s drive away at the Shore we can probably make it work.  But if you’re going off the grid to some exotic locale, it’s probably best to wait until you return.
   
• Can I schedule a project for next spring?  Absolutely.  From a scheduling perspective, I always like to have one or two projects in the can ready to go once the winter weather breaks.  And a March start  date means you’ll be ready to enjoy and use the final product by the nice April weather.
   
• Entire process – sales cycle to final sweep.  How long will it take?  Wow, that’s a tough question, with a lot of factors to consider.  A lot depends on your level of responsiveness.  Are there multiple revisions and design changes? Are you first calling us in April or August?  Are we talking about a 600 square foot patio, or a simple front entry path?  There’s just too many factors to answer that question effectively, but hopefully the above points will help give you a sense of turn-around.

So, in summary, the best advice I can offer is to call us early, well in advance of the desired completion dates.  It will allow you to make sure you’re fully on board with any design layouts or material selections, allow you a bit of flexibility in scheduling projects, and allow us the necessary time to complete your project meticulously to the highest standards.

For additional questions or to begin the process for your upcoming project, give us a call.  We look forward to speaking with you!

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about careers.  Not my career necessarily, but just the state of the labor force and the difference between a job and a career.

As a business owner I rely heavily on the labor force.  I need strong and healthy workers who are willing and able to work.  And when I say “willing to work”, I mean actually working, not just being employed.  It sounds straight-forward enough, no doubt.  Show up on time, be reliable, provide a little muscle, break a sweat, learn a few things, and grow your career.

I think for most people of my generation, that’s the way we started our careers.  The stories and details may all be a little different, but the theme is the same – work hard, learn, grow.

But over the past few years, I’ve noticed that it has gotten harder and harder to sift through the pool of applicants and find workers who are willing to work hard and learn.

Don’t get me wrong – my current workers are great.  I get compliments all the time from clients who tell me how pleased they are with my crew, how respectful and courteous the guys are, what a pleasure it is not to be bombarded with loud music or disrespectful behavior.

Truth be told, I pride myself on that.  And I work hard at finding the right guys.  But it does seem to be getting harder and harder to weed out the wannabes, the “entitled”, the lazy, the “know-it-alls”, or just the dim bulbs.

I guess my thought process began a few weeks ago when I saw an interview with Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs.  For those of you who aren’t familiar with the show, he basically travels the country looking for the sewer rats, the hog farmers, the trash sorters, etc – all the jobs most people wouldn’t want to touch.

The workers are all hard-working Americans who clock in an honest day’s labor doing often unpleasant tasks, all while taking pride in their work and supporting their families.

His travels and encounters have given him a frontline look at the state of the American workforce, and the jobs that are needed, and oftentimes available.

His take was interesting, as he argued that even though we currently hear a lot about the high level of unemployment, we don’t hear a lot about the thousands and thousands of jobs available for those who are willing to take them.  And he didn’t blame the workforce necessarily.  The blame, he argued, is on the disconnect between the education system that is training young people for jobs that aren’t needed, while simultaneously creating a stigma against jobs where you may get a bit greasy, sweaty, dirty, etc.

So while thousands of decent-paying, reliable jobs are available, our education system is perpetuating an atmosphere where students borrow money that they won’t be able to pay back, to train for jobs that aren’t available.  

An interesting perspective, no doubt.

So what does this mean for me and you?  Well I can’t speak for you, but for me it’s an opportunity to provide a bit of insight as to what I look for in an employee, and perhaps how to break in to the hardscaping or landscaping trades, if you’re just getting started.

So here’s my tips for you young’uns out there looking for a job.

Be dependable.  Show up on time.  If your day starts at 8am, show up at 7:55 so you’re ready to work at 8am. If you’ve spent the past few years being a lazy college student sitting on your couch watching gameshows, then you’ll know that the Price is Right rules mean you can’t go over.  That means 8:02 is no good for an 8am start.  Fix your alarm clock.  Fill up with gas.  No excuses. It’s about the easiest thing that makes the biggest impression on your boss.  If I can count on you to be on time, then I can probably count on you for lots of other things too.

Listen.  When I’m telling you what to do, pay attention.  Boss talking is not check your weather app time.  If I’m not making sense (which happens), then let me know. I’ll say it another way so I do make sense.  Don’t sit there and nod and then not do things the right way because you didn’t listen. I don’t like wasting my breath. Most bosses don’t.  Listen to what I say, and then do it.  Another pretty easy one.

Learn.  The first two items are huge, but admittedly easy. This is where things start ratcheting up a bit.  When you listen to what I tell you and what I teach, hopefully you’re retaining a bit for the next time.  If you’re a worker looking
to impress your boss, there is no quicker way than to demonstrate that you remember and are applying what you were told the last time. The less I have to tell you as a worker, the more value you are to me.

Treat it like a career, not a job.  I get it.  A 22-year-old kid is looking for beer money and wants to spend his time with his friends.  Been there.  I know.  Remember the old intro to The Flintstones when the 5pm horn sounded and Fred threw down what he was doing mid-task to go home.  That doesn’t fly these days.  If you want to advance, you want a raise, you want more responsibilities, you want to be recognized, then a little extra effort is required.  My day doesn’t end at 5pm, far from it.  If a worker can demonstrate to me that they are more interested in getting a job done well, taking the extra time to stay organized, or getting a few extra tasks done than they are to leave at 5pm sharp, that goes along way. Plus you’ll earn a few extra bucks in the process.

Think.  I’ve read a number of articles on this lately, today’s youth is losing the ability to logically solve problems.  Blame it on cell phones, or video games, or today’s education – whatever.  But the ability to look at a situation, recognize or assess a problem, and come up with a solution is sadly becoming a lost skill.  Even though you may be able to follow instructions (ie paint-by-numbers) doesn’t mean you can create your own instructions, or adapt if something isn’t quite as planned (ie paint your own masterpiece) .  It’s important, and if you can demonstrate some problem-solving ability, you’ll go far, not just in one job, but in your career as a whole.

Are you looking for a job in the hardscaping industry with hands-on training?  Think you have what it takes?  We always keep interesting respectable resumes on file.  Make yourself known to us.  Always the first step.

My Star Wars geekiness maxes out at about a 6 out of ten.  I certainly know my way around the double trilogies, but I have yet to attend Comicon in full stormtrooper regalia.  Maybe someday, but doubtful.

But regardless of your sci-fi affections, I think there is one universal truth that we can agree on – Yoda is one cool dude, and one who can teach us all a thing or two.

I remember seeing “The Empire Strikes Back” in the theater when I was 10.  The anticipation mounted as our hero Luke Skywalker escaped the clutches of the evil Darth Vader and sought out the Jedi wisdom of the Jedi Master Yoda.  “Wow,” I remember thinking to myself, “this Yoda guy is going to be one all-American space hero!” 

The moment came when Yoda finally revealed himself to us and – wait a minute, Yoda is a little green muppet!!??  (With some serious subject/predicate sentence structure issues, I might add).

But as we got to know Yoda better through the remainder of the movie, and remaining sequels as well, we came to learn that indeed Yoda has a lot we all could learn from.  If he’s not the original zen-master, he certainly at least ranks near the top.

And that’s kind of the point.  Erase all preconceptions, erase what you think you know, observe and learn.

And when you think about it, isn’t that kind of what running a business is all about?  Lets take a look at some of Yoda’s more famous quotes, and see how they relate to running a business.

"Try not.  Do or do not.  There is no try."  This quote is perhaps my favorite.  In current language it probably translates in to something along the lines of “Get’er done.” When my five-year-old gets frustrated at something he can’t do he always reverts to “Well I tried.”  In business “tried” isn’t good enough.  It’s the results that matter.  Just because achieving sales goals may be difficult, or excavating into a stone hillside may seem a bit overwhelming doesn’t mean it can’t be done.  It just means the methods need to be re-evaluated.  Either it gets done, or it doesn’t.  In the end, the effort doesn’t matter.

"Size matters not, ... Look at me. Judge me by size, do you?"  As a small business owner I think we all can relate to this one.  In today’s world of big box store chains and large corporations we are constantly bombarded with advertising and marketing telling us why we need the services of these chains (even if we often don’t).  And as business owners I think sometimes we feel the need to grow to compete with the big boys.  Personally, I like to think smaller is better.  More responsive, more attention to detail, more levels of personal service.  As long as we’re doing what we set out to do, does it really matter what the size is?
 
"Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering."  Working backwards on this quote, as business owners we certainly don’t want to suffer.  We certainly don’t want to hate what we do.  And we certainly don’t want to get angry when things don’t go our way.  We can’t be afraid to offer new services or new products, and we can’t be afraid that things won’t turn out the way we want them to.  Be confident in what you do.  If you’re not, then prepare or train more until the confidence is there.

"Always in motion is the future."  I’m a big proponent of choices, in life and contracting.  And I always say that the choices we make today will affect what happens to you tomorrow.  The point of this quote is that we control the future through our actions, and what choices we make today.  You shouldn’t choose one material or product over another strictly based on price, you need to be prepared to enjoy those materials well into the future.  You shouldn’t increase your advertising budget if you’re not prepared for the additional business.  You shouldn’t increase staffing if you’re not prepared for the additional payroll burden.  Always in motion is the future, indeed.  The good news is we have a say in that motion.

“[Luke:] I can’t believe it. [Yoda:] That is why you fail.”  You never heard Steve Jobs say he couldn’t believe Apple was successful.  You never hear Steven Spielberg act surprised when one of his movies cleans up at the Oscars.  And you never hear Roy Halliday act surprised when he pitches a great game. Successful people and businesses expect to be successful.  They’ve trained for it, they’ve worked at it, and they’ve prepared for it.  Believe it.

For more Jedi wisdom, or simply to inquire about landscape construction services, please feel free to give us a call. 
And if you’re looking for a quality landscape contractor, I might add one final Yoda pearl of wisdom:  “Looking? Found someone you have…”

In our house we have two basic rules.  Be nice.  And be a good listener.

Sure, these rules can be expanded and built upon, but ultimately when you get down to it, all the basics of good, acceptable behavior fall into one of these two categories.

We start teaching these rules to our kids from as early as we can.  But the rules are applicable not just to infants or school-age kids, but to adults as well.  And I think they’re also cornerstones of good business practice.

But unfortunately not all business people adhere to these rules.  And I have a few recent encounters that illustrate this.

As a small business owner I get calls all the time from people trying to sell me things.  Advertising, processing services, staffing services, you name it.  A few months back, before the season really started kicking into gear, I got a call from an online listing agent trying to sell me on online advertising.  This was one of those calls where I pretty much knew from the get-go that I wasn’t interested, but the sales rep caught me at a slow time, so I figured it couldn’t hurt to take the call.

He went through his whole schtick, providing all sorts of stats as to why his service was the best. I had one question – how much?  Being a small business owner this is perhaps the most important question, working on a limited marketing budget.

But I didn’t get an answer.  He kept going on and on about the benefits of his service.  I told him I was aware of the service, I knew they had some name recognition, but if the cost didn’t fit into my budget then we were wasting each
others’ time.  I needed to know how much.

“Our listings are picked up by Google, and our clients continuously place near the top of online search results …” 
He kept going on and on.  “I understand,” I replied.  “I need to know how much.”  My patience was growing thin at this point.

I never really have the time to deal with people who don’t respect my time, but for some reason, mainly out of curiosity I suppose, I stuck with his call this time.  It wasn’t until a half-hour (Half-hour!!) into the call that he finally revealed the price.  And as expected the cost was outside my budget range.

I understand he might not have cared one ounce about my time.  But you would think he cared about his time, right?  A half-hour plus on the phone, no sale, and a potential customer who was left with a real sour taste in his mouth as far as his company is concerned. I’m pretty confident I won’t ever be utilizing their services.  All because he wasn’t a good listener.

Around the same time period I got another call from a different sales rep, this one trying to sign me up for a referral service.  I explained that I wasn’t really interested – thanks but no thanks.  He was persistent.

“Why wouldn’t you be interested in expanding your sales?”, he asked.  Again, normally my patience would have expired by now, but I thought let’s see where he goes with this.

“Well since you asked,” I replied, “I don’t really like the business model of referral services. They add costs to the projects, throw a lot of unqualified leads at you that don’t fit into my service umbrella or geographic service area, and they tend to find prospects who are more tire-kicking as opposed to be a serious prospect.”

As expected, he went on and on about how his service was different, yada yada yada.

“Not interested,” I reiterated.

“So I guess you’re not serious about growing your business?” he asked.

“Excuse me?”

At this point he proceeded to question my intelligence, started raising his voice towards me and called me short-sighted and ignorant.

I hung up.  I’m pretty sure that nobody in the history of marketing has ever recommended insulting your prospect as a good way to sell them something.  He failed in the “Be nice” category.
 
I now remember why I typically don’t take calls from telemarketers.

The point here is not to vent (although it is all I can do not to include the names of the service providers these guys were representing).  No the point here is to illustrate that good business practices, or specifically in this case good sales techniques, are really just good human practices.

Be nice.  Be a good listener.  Do what you say you’re going to do when you say you’re going to do it.  Respond to people’s calls.  Say thank you.  Heck, chew with your mouth closed for that matter.

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of books and articles out there on delivering good business practices.  And yes, they can get into a great bit more detail.  But ultimately it all boils down to the two basic rules.

Be nice.  Be a good listener.  Doesn’t get much simpler than that.

If you follow us on Facebook then you know that we kicked off our season a few weeks ago with our first install of the season.  If you don’t follow us on Facebook, A) You should.  And B) Now you know as well.

February 27 was our official start day, diving into the 2013 season with a nice hardscaping project involving a dryset flagstone walkway and bluestone steppers.

It’s always good to hit the ground running with a nice project, and even nicer to get some of those cobwebs out and work out the kinks after a few months of office work.  I have to be honest, as excited as I am at the end of each season looking forward to winter break, I’m nearly just as excited to be back at it after a layoff.

We’re fresh, we’re ready, and we’ve got a lot of pent-up enthusiasm for tackling new projects.  Day 1 of this project involved hand-digging out the location on the hillside for the five bluestone steppers, and the remainder of the 225 square-foot pathway.  After only two days the digging was complete, the dumpster was nearly full, and we were already moving gravel in to begin setting the steps. Nothing like being fresh!

Not that early spring work isn’t without its challenges.  Once the steps were set and the base prep was complete, the forecast began calling for snow.  Significant snow in the form of 6 to 10 inches.  We got to a good stopping point, buttoned up the site and prepared for the worst.  
 
Thankfully, the forecast was wrong, and the temperatures were just warm enough that the precipitation was all rain.  Nasty cold windy rain for sure, but at least we didn’t have to deal with 10 inches of snow!

We were back at it the next day, picking up right where we left off, and then another surprise storm hit, leaving us with about an inch or two of wet slushy snow.  By the weekend temperatures were nearly 60, and everything was all-systems-go.

Spring just wouldn’t be spring without a little bit of precipitation in just about any form, and a very moody attitude in general from the weather.  But it’s nothing we haven’t dealt with before.  We carry on.  And after just a few more days of work, the project was completed and the client thrilled to get their project finished in time for spring.

And the 1st project of the season is now under the belt.  We’re now off to start a composite deck construction, and then a fence, and then a patio, and then …well there’s a whole bunch more projects in the works.  Game on 2013!

A little bit of self-promotion this week …

As I’ve stated in the past, winter is the slow time for us landscape contractor types.  Well at least slow in terms of completing projects in the field.

However its anything but slow when it comes to office work.  Not counting the 2 weeks surrounding Christmas and New Year’s (total shut-down on all things work-related), I figure I have about 5 or 6 weeks to complete what seems like a year’s worth of pent-up office work.

There’s always planning and cleaning and organizing and securing and educating and researching and … you get the idea.  

And it seems every year there is one overriding project that I look to get completed. Last year that project was getting my blog off the ground.  The fact that you’re reading this (hopefully) tells me I was at least moderately successful in my endeavor.

This year my overriding project is introducing myself to social media.

Admittedly, I’m kind of a dinosaur when it comes to this stuff.  Being of the age that falls right into the heart of the “Gen X” generation, I’m just old enough that I missed the boat on a lot of this e-media stuff. Heck, we didn’t even have email when I was in college.  The kids just 3 or 4 years behind me couldn’t imagine going through college without email. And it seems like today’s kids have Facebook pages while they’re still in the womb.  (Seriously.  I’ve seen sonogram profile pics!)

Anyway, I’m jumping in. The Clark Kent Creations Facebook page is up and running!

Clark Kent Creations on Facebook

A quick disclaimer. The point of my foray into social media is most definitely not to replace my real time experiences with colleagues, friends, and clients.  As a colleague of mine put it, I still favor face time over facebook.

I plan on using my facebook page as a way of sharing project updates, posting progress photos, sharing company news, and sharing a few fun links to other pages which you might find of interest.

And as more and more people utilize facebook as their primary way of communicating, it’s yet another way that I can be more accessible to my clients and prospects.

I’ll still see everyone around town at the co-op, Henderson Field, the Crum Creek woods, the pool, the ballfields, and all the other places that make our town special.  And I’ll still be out there as we complete all of our hardscaping and landscaping projects.

And as I familiarize myself with Facebook etiquette, I’m slowly getting the hang of all this.  One thing I’ve learned so far, is that unlike real life where it would be rather presumptuous to show up at an event and tell people to start liking you, apparently it’s OK in the Facebook world.  So, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but … Like us on Facebook!