I've seen a lot of trendy "quick fixes" come and go. With every new technology, garden pest, or machinery release there's always either panic or excitement: will this make my life easier? Am I going to be able to figure out how to use it? What can we do next to stay ahead of our competition?
Here's the thing: many of these new developments will change our jobs permanently. Technology advances and AI will allow our team to work faster than before, new plant varieties or pests may change our go-to plants for designs, and new announcements at this week's Equip Expo (say hi to me there!) may make our crews more efficient.
But if there's one truth I'm sure of after 41 years in business it's that the more things change, the more they stay the same. We have a lot of resources today that we didn't have when I first started my business, but even still I see how the little things are really the big things. Little things, like:
Discipline
Nothing replaces discipline and commitment. I think sometimes we see technology advancements in particular as a bit of a "get rich quick" or maybe a "passive income" scheme. It's rarely either of those things because the truth is that running a landscaping business requires discipline. You need to have good daily habits, ideally with tech solutions built in to make them more efficient, in place to be successful. Three that are good habits for owners, sales managers, or sales people (for example) would be to:
- Track leads and conversions
- Practice objection handling
- Schedule time to follow-up
Relationships in Your Team
No matter your role in a company, having a good working relationship with your fellow teammates is critical to your company's and your success. If you're managing people, there are three good habits to get into:
- Weekly check-ins with larger teams (ex: a sales meeting or an operations meeting)
- Honest self-assessment: ask "What did I do or not do that got this result?"
- 1:1 conversations with your direct reports
These three habits help leaders to keep a pulse on the organization and show up for their teams with consistency. They're also great tools for building stronger relationships - which overall will improve team member retention and how everyone works together.
Chris Psencik and I will host a breakout session at GROW! 2026 where we'll detail more of our "little things" that are actually "big things" so that teams can keep their eye on the ball and be successful in 2026. It's one of many breakout sessions that my team is excited to offer at next year's event, where there will be 40+ session options for our attendees covering sales, finance & metrics, leadership, operations, and more.
If you register before November 1, you'll save $200 per person with our early bird pricing. That discount stacks with our team discounts: 15% off for groups of 3+ and 20% off for groups of 10+. GROW! 2026 is February 10-12 in Dallas. Consider this your "one little thing" to get done this week to improve your business or career and go get registered before the price goes up!
Marty Grunder
Founder & CEO
The Grow Group & Grunder Landscaping Co.