“Embracing Employee Ownership: My Experience Of Selling to Employees.” After three decades of guiding my landscape business from a humble startup to what it has become today, I’ve come to appreciate the profound truth in the saying, “Getting Out Is Harder Than Getting In.” However, as I end my tenure and leave the business in […]
Category Archives: Leadership
Insights, Leadership, Open Book Management, The Great Game of Business
OWNERSHIP RULE #8 of 14: “You Build an Ownership Culture by Breaking Down Walls.”
14
Feb
Feb
Another Insight from 30 Years at Creative Roots Landscaping 2024 marks my 30th year since I started Creative Roots Landscaping. Through trial and plenty of error, I have come to appreciate Jack Stack’s Ownership Rule #8’s crucial role in shaping the sound organizational culture that exists in our small landscaping business. The journey has been […]
Insights, Leadership, Open Book Management, The Great Game of Business
OWNERSHIP RULE #7 of 14: “The BIG Benefits of Psychic and Actual Employee Ownership”
23
Dec
Dec
Selling equity to an employee can offer valuable learning experiences in ownership. Still, it won’t automatically turn them into entrepreneurs or have them fully grasp the responsibilities that come with it. Those bumps and bruises, the hard knocks, and all else you learned by trial and error are all part of the education that needs […]
Leadership, Open Book Management, The Great Game of Business
OWNERSHIP RULE #6 of 14: “Failures Are Fine As Long As They Strengthen The Company.”
31
Oct
Oct
Nelson Mandela once said, “I never lose. I either win, or I learn.” As a 29-year owner in the landscaping industry, I’ve witnessed my fair share of ups and downs. From botched projects, wrong hires, lack of systems, and poor culture to missed opportunities, my fault, their fault, our fault, the failures have been part […]
Leadership, Open Book Management, The Great Game of Business
OWNERSHIP RULE #5 of 14: “There is No “I” in “Team”
21
Oct
Oct
As the African proverb tells us, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” In the old-school way of doing business world, there’s an unfortunate belief that success is a one-person show, with the boss calling all the shots. But Ownership Rule #5 in The Great […]
Insights, Leadership, Open Book Management, People, The Great Game of Business
OWNERSHIP RULE #4 of 14: “Stock is NOT a Magic Pill” Employee Ownership in the Landscape Industry
08
Oct
Oct
In the world of business, there are rules, principles, and strategies that have been tested and proven over time. Among these rules, as described by Jack Stack in his book A Stake in The Outcome, rule #4 stands out as a critical lesson for businesses of all sizes and industries: “Stock Is Not a Magic […]
Insights, Leadership, Open Book Management, People, The Great Game of Business
OWNERSHIP RULE #3 of 14: The Bigger the Pie, the Bigger the Individual Slices.
19
Sep
Sep
Building a thriving landscaping company isn’t just about landscaping; it’s also about people. Our ownership team was recently working on the next level of our plan to continue to bring more employees into ownership when the time becomes right. The question is, “When is the time right, and what do we need to do to […]
Insights, Leadership, Open Book Management, People, The Great Game of Business
OWNERSHIP RULE #2 of 14: A Company isn’t worth anything if nobody wants to own it.
13
Sep
Sep
Alright, let’s talk business, but not the boring, run-of-the-mill stuff. We’re diving into the landscape industry—where beauty meets business. Here’s the deal: your company’s worth isn’t just dollars and cents. Nope, it’s about being the kind of company that everyone wants a piece of. That’s where the Great Game of Business (GGOB) swoops in with […]
Insights, Leadership, Open Book Management, People, The Great Game of Business
OWNERSHIP RULE #1 of 14: “The Company is the Product.”
26
Aug
Aug
In the ever-evolving landscape industry, success hinges not only on the beauty of the environments we create but also on the innovative strategies we employ to run our businesses. One such transformative concept that has been making waves across various industries, including ours, is “The Company is the Product.” At its core, this concept encapsulates […]
Insights, Leadership, Open Book Management, Strategic Planning
Begin with the Right Leadership: Stop Working IN Your Business and Start Working ON Your Business
10
Dec
Dec
The end of 2021 will mark my 27th year in the landscaping business. I’m not too sure if it is or isn’t funny how time flies! From the days of trying to keep the wolf away from the door while trying to figure out what I was going to do with my life, to the […]