I always struggle to put into words exactly what our GROW! event is like to people who weren't there with us. But a friend of mine couldn't join us last-minute, and the text he sent me summed it up well. He said "Just being around 1,000 other motivated landscapers does something to you no matter who you are! I've been missing that."

That probably says it better than I could myself: being around this community each February is a highlight of my year, and I'm back home this weekend with renewed motivation and inspiration, too. 

As I said in my closing remarks though, what really matters is what our attendees do with what they've learned when no one's watching once they return home. There's a choice to make: Was this just another conference or will you stay disciplined on implementing what you learned?

The rubber will hit the road here soon, folks, if it hasn't already with all the snow the entire country has seen this year. Now is the time to buckle up, build strong habits, and commit to making the changes you know you need to. Here are two changes I'll be making myself based on what I learned at GROW!:

1. You need a very clear, actionable rally cry. For Complete Landsculpture that was simple - grow maintenance. The whole team knew this and understood how they contributed to the team's success. At GLC, ours is focus and while that's good I think we could make it less ambiguous and therefore more powerful if we defined it better. 

2. The Complete Landsculpture team is using tools to make their business better, but their focus is on their people and not on technology. Having a culture where your team knows they are trusted and valued sets this team up for success - and as a leader I was inspired by what I see from Gene Freeman and Chris Strempek. They're there daily making sure their team knows they care about them, respect them, and support them. I think that's something I can always do a better job at, especially as our company has grown I need to be intentional and block my calendar to make sure I'm making time to build genuine relationships within my team. 

If you're also getting back home from GROW! in Dallas this weekend or if you were following along on social media, I want you to take a moment today and write down 2 things you plan to do differently this year. They can be big or small, personal or professional, but we have the opportunity to be better in the year ahead and that starts with articulating our goals. 

Onsite we announced that GROW! 2027 will be held in Savannah, GA on February 17-19, 2027. Mark your calendars now, and stay tuned because we'll be launching registration to the public very soon! 

I'll talk to you next Sunday! 

Marty Grunder
Founder & CEO
The Grow Group & Grunder Landscaping Co.