In Episode 91 of The Grow Show, Marty Grunder from Grunder Landscaping and the Grow Group provides valuable insights into effective leadership. Marty emphasizes the importance of leading by example, maintaining integrity, showing enthusiasm, and communicating effectively. He shares personal anecdotes and actionable steps to become a better leader in 2025, including being proactive, taking risks, and embracing challenges with a positive mindset. Additionally, Marty underscores the importance of setting a clear vision and purpose, and constantly working on self-improvement. The episode concludes with an invitation to the Grow 2025 event in Columbus, Ohio, focusing on leadership, sales, and finance.

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In This Episode:

(00:00) - Introduction & Welcome

(02:28) - Leading By Example

(03:36) - Embracing Challenges

(06:17) - Bring the Juice!

(08:20) - Communicate Effectively

(13:08) - 4 Steps to Better Communication

(16:23) - Impact for the Better

(17:54) - Fix Problems With TNT

Looking forward to GROW! 2025 next month!

Subscribe and share the Grow Show to help more landscape pros discover it. Thank you for being part of our community.

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

Virtual Sales Bootcamp  

Grunder Landscaping Field Trips  

GROW! 2025 Feb 25-27, Columbus OH  

The Grow Group   

Grunder Landscaping   

Marty Grunder LinkedIn

How can you, as a team member who isn't in a leadership role, drive meaningful change within your organization in 2025? 

In this episode of The Grow Show, Vince Torchia, Vice President of The Grow Group, discusses the often overlooked but crucial skill of managing up. While much focus is placed on how managers can lead their teams, Vince emphasizes the importance of team members effectively managing their relationship with their manager to ensure smoother operations and success within the company. Vince shares practical tips on anticipating challenges, communicating clearly, embracing ownership, and adapting to decisions for the greater good—skills that can make a big difference in both team dynamics and overall company performance.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) Vince shares some ideas for team members in 2025, don’t overthink, ‘just do it!’
• (02:16) Learn to anticipate challenges and opportunities - especially outside your ‘silo’
• (03:00) Communicate
• (04:00) Understand, accept, move on!
• (05:00) Take ownership
• (06:00) Recap and closing thoughts
• Looking forward to GROW! 2025 next month!
• Subscribe and share the Grow Show to help more landscape pros discover it. Thank you for being part of our community.

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

Virtual Sales Bootcamp  

Grunder Landscaping Field Trips  

GROW! 2025 Feb 25-27, Columbus OH  

The Grow Group   

Grunder Landscaping   

Marty Grunder LinkedIn  

Stihl  

<...

In this panel held live at Equip Expo in the STIHL booth, Marty Grunder is joined by Stihl experts Brian Fullerton, Dan Mabe, and Paul Beblowski to discuss what landscape pros should consider when evaluating switching to electric equipment. They talk about what benefits teams are seeing as they're using battery-powered equipment and what solutions contractors have found to common challenges that come from making the switch.

Brian, Dan, and Paul cover key considerations for professionals contemplating this shift, including tool pricing, charging logistics, and potential insurance changes. Paul shares STIHL’s financing options, while Brian emphasizes the ROI through reduced maintenance costs and fewer fuel mishaps.

Your company can start small with battery-powered tools, achieving the benefits of quieter operation, reducing noise pollution, and enhancing workplace culture. Audience questions tackle government collaboration for air quality improvements and battery disposal guidelines, with insights on available incentives. Tune in for the benefits and challenges of transitioning to battery-powered tools from STIHL.

In This Episode:

• The episode opens at the Equip Expo with Marty Grunder and experts
• Marty introduces the panel & the shift to battery-operated landscaping tools
• Brian, Dan, and Paul introduce themselves and their work
• Dan discusses the price of tools, charging power, temperature control, and potential insurance coverage changes
• Paul covers what Stihl can do to help with financing
• Brian on the benefits of switching to battery
• ROI for transitioning to electric equipment
• Auditing your current costs vs. electric, reduced maintenance costs and fuel mishaps
• Paul on starting small - transitioning to battery-powered equipment 
• Expectations, honesty, safety measures, performance comparisons, and optimizing battery charging
• Noise pollution in residential landscaping, impact on health and benefits of transitioning to electric tools, including quieter operation and improved work culture
• Questions from the audience
• Government collaboration for air quality management, joining and speaking up through industry organizations
• Battery disposal parameters, Stihl’s prepaid recycling, government incentives
• Last words and key takeaways
• Looking forward to GROW! 2025 
• Share with someone in landscaping, su...

In this episode, Marty reveals how firsthand experiences at other leading landscaping companies inspired three key operational changes at Grunder Landscaping Co., enhancing efficiency and saving money. He highlights a recent team success, discusses improvements made by President Seth Pflum, and shares the significant benefits of Aspire software, including enhanced metrics, speed, and productivity. Additionally, Marty covers the impact of optimized truck setups, the value of their monthly GROW meetings, and maintaining transparency in financial data. Remember, teamwork is the most important ingredient in driving operational efficiency! Find out more in February at GROW! 2025.

In This Episode:

• A recent Grunder project that was a team success
• President Seth Pflum and his company improvements
• Three major Aspire software benefits at Grunder- metrics, speed, productivity/automation
• Improvements in truck setups
• The monthly company GROW meeting - 45 mins once a month
• Bonuses and their structure at Grunder- financial data is always shared
• Operational efficiency is a team effort
• Looking forward to GROW! 2025 - Early bird sign-up ends November 1!!
• Recapping key takeaways
• Share with someone in landscaping, subscribe, like, share, and send us your show ideas and comments!

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

Ace Discovery Nov 12-15 New Orleans 

Virtual Sales Bootcamp 

Grunder Landscaping Fall 2024 Field Trips  

Sign up by November 1! GROW! 2025 Feb 25-27, Columbus OH  
The Grow Group  

Grun...

In this episode, Vince Torchia, Vice President at The Grow Group, shares insights from RJ Lawn & Landscape and Hidden Creek Landscaping, hosts for GROW! 2024 and 2025 events. Vince highlights the operational strengths and unique approaches of both companies, focusing on their intentional strategies in team building, departmental organization, and cultivating a strong company culture. As we enter Q4 2024, he reflects on key takeaways from the Des Moines GROW! 2024 event and sets the stage for what to expect in February’s GROW! 2025. Tune in for valuable leadership lessons and a sneak peek at Hidden Creek’s innovative practices.

In This Episode:

• Welcome to Q4 2024, and looking forward to February’s GROW! 2025
• Reviewing Des Moines GROW! 2024
• The RJ team’s operational mindset
• Intentionality in the building, grouping departments and teams together, the basement training room
• Company and team culture
• Planning with intention
• Hidden Creek sneak peek
• Looking forward to GROW! 2025
• Recapping key takeaways
• Share with someone in landscaping, subscribe, like, share, and send us your show ideas and comments!

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

Ace Discovery Nov 12-15 New Orleans 

Virtual Sales Bootcamp

Grunder Landscaping Fall 2024 Field Trips  

GROW! 2025 Feb 25-27, Columbus OH  

The Grow Group  

Grunder Landscaping  

Marty Grunder LinkedIn

Jason Cromley of Hidden Creek Landscaping sits down with Marty Grunder to talk about his journey as a landscape professional - from starting his company in college to today. Consider this episode a preview of what we'll see when we're onsite touring their facility for GROW! 2025 in February!

After starting his company in college, Jason reflects on his challenges and triumphs in building a successful business today. From his family roots in Ohio and the influence of growing up in a family of entrepreneurs to highlighting how that shaped his motivation and drive, the conversation dives into various leadership styles, the delicate balance between “luck” and creating opportunities, and the importance of branding and organization in running a business. Jason also shares valuable tips for staying organized and how building the right infrastructure can eliminate unnecessary sales calls. As they look forward to the upcoming GROW! 2025 event in February, listeners will gain insights into both the landscape industry and the personal experiences that have defined Jason’s career. Don't miss this special sneak peek, and please join us for what may be the bigget and best GROW! ever, this February.

In This Episode:

• Property Intel from Aspire
• Jason’s family and living in Ohio
• A family of entrepreneurs
• Motivation and drive, Type A personalities, leadership styles
• “Luck” vs. creating opportunities
• Hidden Creek and its success, branding and spending 
• Challenges and lessons as a business owner
• Spouses and business ownership
• Building the right building to eliminate sales calls
• Tips and tricks for staying organized
• Looking forward to GROW! 2025
• Recapping key takeaways
• Share with someone in landscaping, subscribe, like, share, and send us your show ideas and comments!

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

Property Intel from Aspire  

Hidden Creek Landscaping  

Look ahead at your schedule: do you have enough winter work lined up to get you through the colder months ahead? For the time between snow storms, there are certain kinds of work that can keep crews working. In this episode, Marty Grunder shares the kinds of work they're looking for at Grunder Landscaping Co. and what they're doing to find more jobs for December - February.

With winter often viewed negatively, Marty explains how to shift that narrative, emphasizing the importance of proactive planning year-round. He discusses strategies for identifying viable services, setting achievable goals, and networking with top clients to uncover unsolicited project opportunities. Listeners will learn about a significant winter project involving a massive retainer wall at Grunder Landscaping Co. and how seeking winter work can not only maintain revenue but also attract and retain employees. Tune in to discover how to change perceptions and embrace winter work as a valuable opportunity!

In This Episode:

• Check out Ryan Hawk’s Learning Leader podcast to hear Kat Cole
• Winter work attracts employees, and maintains revenue, but has a lot of misinformation and negativity around it
• Should be a priority year-round
• Identify the services you can offer, set goals
• A Grunder winter project - massive retainer wall
• Network with your top clients, offer unsolicited projects
• Set a good leadership example by seeking winter work yourself
• Change the narrative around winter work - no negativity!
• Recapping key takeaways
• Sign up for GROW! 2025
• Share with someone in landscaping, subscribe, like, share, and send us your show ideas and comments!

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

Learning Leader Podcast #476 

Virtual Sales Bootcamp 

Grunder Landscaping Fall 2024 Field Trips

Tis the Season for Strategic Planning! In this episode, Vince Torchia shares what teams should consider and how they can structure their strategic planning to ensure they're well prepared for 2025. Vince discusses the need to revisit vision and mission statements, ensuring core values remain relevant. You’ll hear how Grunder Landscaping revamped their mission to foster teamwork and highlights the significance of recognizing team members who embody these values. The episode also delves into crucial aspects such as revenue targets, ideal client profiles, equipment needs, and the skills of team members, encouraging listeners to evaluate their company’s location and resources for optimal success.

In This Episode:

• Check your vision and mission statements, are your core values still valid?
• How Grunder changed their mission statement to be more team-oriented
• Recognizing team members for exhibiting your values
• Revenue targets - what does your mix look like?
• Hiring and training to support the revenue targets
• Finding or refining your ideal client mix
• Examining your equipment needs for 2025
• Do you have enough of the right team members with the right skills?
• Looking at your company location - do you need to change anything?
• Recapping key takeaways
• Sign up for GROW! 2025
• Share with someone in landscaping, subscribe, like, share, and send us your show ideas and comments!

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

Vince Torchia LinkedIn  

Virtual Sales Bootcamp 

Grunder Landscaping Fall 2024 Field Trips  

GROW! 2025 Feb 25-27, Columbus OH  

In this episode, our longtime friend Lee Buffington, Founder & CEO of Thrive Outdoor in Alabama, shares stories from his 29-year journey as a landscape pro. Starting his company at 19 years old, he shares the challenges that seemed big in the early years, how his team has overcome them, and what they're working on today.

Lee delves into the critical importance of mindset, emphasizing how attitude can elevate someone from a weed eater operator to a successful business leader. He discusses the evolution of his company over nearly three decades, examining current industry trends and the management of multiple locations. He highlights the use of data analysis through platforms like Aspire, which has streamlined operations and informed decision-making. Throughout the conversation, Lee underscores the significance of building strong relationships, both with clients and team members, and how ‘leading with love’ fosters a positive work environment. He also offers valuable advice for aspiring landscapers, including the importance of mentorship and the impact of hiring the best talent. Tune in for an inspiring and insightful discussion about perseverance, growth, and the power of community in business.

In This Episode:

• Intro of guest Lee Buffington, Alabama and family discussion
• From dreams of medical school to the landscaping industry
• Early challenges, being a young solopreneur, surviving winters
• 29 years in business, examining the business and industry today
• Physical locations of Thrive Outdoor in Alabama
• Mindset and attitude can take you all the way from weed eater operator to company head in the landscaping industry
• Realizing you are the bottleneck
• Collecting and analyzing data - Aspire
• Managing multiple locations and a changing industry, Grunder’s new branch
• Business success and relationships, leading with love
• Would you have done anything differently?
• Paying for the best people
• Learning from all levels of team members
• Advice for landscapers - mentors
• Sign up for GROW! 2025
• Share with someone in landscaping, subscribe, like, share, and send us your show ideas and comments!

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Gr...

In this episode of The Grow Show, Marty Grunder and Seth Jones, Editorial Director of Landscape Management Magazine, dive deep into the emerging trends, such as the growing influence of technology and innovative sales approaches that are reshaping the sector. Seth shares his professional journey and the current outlook for landscaping businesses, offering insights into overcoming the anticipated challenges of 2024 and 2025. The conversation also explores how peer groups have led to impressive results and examines valuable lessons gleaned from journalism and golf industry trends. Additionally, Marty and Seth discuss the importance of “consistent and constant low-risk experiments” for entrepreneurs. Tune in for a comprehensive analysis of how landscaping professionals can adapt to industry shifts and drive success.

In This Episode:

• Welcome to guest Seth Jones, Editorial Director of Landscape Managment Magazine
• Marty’s monthly column, Professor Dr. Frank Henniger
• Seth’s background and path to current success
• Looking at the industry - current and future outlook
• Unique approaches to increased sales seen in the industry
• Peer groups and great results
• Can we learn anything from trends in the journalism sector?
• Changing lives with content
• Trends to watch in the golf industry
• Embracing technology of all types - broaden your horizons
• “Consistent and constant low-risk experiments” are crucial for entrepreneurs
• Exciting elements of the landscaping industry in Seth’s world
• How to get in touch, submitting ideas
• Sign up for GROW! 2025
• Share with someone in landscaping, subscribe, like, share, and send us your show ideas and comments!

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

Seth Jones LinkedIn  

Landscape Management Magazine  

In this episode, Marty Grunder emphasizes the crucial role of having a clear vision for the future, particularly for 2025, to unite and inspire your team behind a common goal. Marty shares insights on defining your vision and why it should be developed now. The episode covers topics such as the importance of having a personal “superbowl” vision, drawing parallels between sports and business, and the significance of a well-defined vision for long-term success. Grunder also reflects on his early days, the value of visualizing success, and how a cohesive vision benefits the entire team.

Grunder Landscaping Vision and Mission

Our Vision: To be recognized as leaders and as a growing company that provides opportunities for our team.

Our Mission: Create opportunities for our team to grow and succeed by enhancing the beauty and value of every client’s property while exceeding their expectations every step of the way.

In This Episode:

• Have you seen the Pete Rose documentary?
• Your vision is your personal “superbowl” 
• Intensity and recovery - sports and business
• What is your vision for success? What does it look like in 1 year, 5 years?
• Marty’s daughter, soccer, and life preparation
• Visualizing a path for Grunder Landscaping in the early days
• When the team wins, everybody wins
• A vision takes time to get right
• Sign up for GROW! 2025
• Share with someone in landscaping, subscribe, like, share, and send us your show ideas and comments!

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

Book: The Power of Full Engagement   https://www.amazon.com/Power-Full-Engagement-Managing-Performance/dp/0743226755

Landscape Management Magazine 

In this episode, Marty Grunder goes through the tips and tricks he uses to get a sale over the finish line. He'll share ways that salespeople can politely ask for business and move the sale to "won" without having commission breath.

You’ll hear Marty unveil how to handle leads with precision and speed, and learn the essential steps to turn inquiries into sales. Marty dives into common pitfalls and excuses, highlighting the top qualities that make a successful salesperson—honesty, detail, and reliability. Tune in to master the art of being "professionally pushy" and transform your sales approach into a winning formula. Don't miss these game-changing insights!

In This Episode:

• Returning from a family vacation
• Sales are hard for everyone right now
• Handle incoming leads and inquiries quickly & correctly
• Seven step selling process steps, “speed kills” saying
• Excuses for not setting your process up correctly
• Top qualities - be honest, be detailed, do what you said you would do, etc.
• Stay “professionally pushy”
• Sign up for GROW! 2025
• Share with someone in landscaping, subscribe, like, share, and send us your show ideas and comments!

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

Virtual Sales Bootcamp 

Grunder Landscaping Fall 2024 Field Trips  

Ten Step Sales Document  https://martygrunder-my.sharepoint.com/:i:/g/personal/lindsey_growgroupinc_com/Eb-0p5KMrE5ElDHCgk_0AEcBdYMC2jTsX8KSddCbS_S9EA?e=bMxmx9

NALP Field Trip Sept 17-18, 2024 Chicago 

GROW! 2025 Feb 25-27, Columbus OH  

In this episode, Marty reveals how a simple $70 lunch turned into nearly $2M in business for Grunder Landscaping Co. in 2024!

Tune in to hear Marty share his networking strategies, from identifying the right clients to building meaningful relationships that lead to long-term success. Learn how to craft a targeted prospect list, leverage contact management tools like Aspire, and stand out in a crowded market. Discover the power of personal touches, like handwritten notes, phone calls, and face-to-face meetings, and hear how sports and shared interests can create lasting business connections. Whether you're starting from scratch or refining your approach, this episode is packed with actionable tips to help you grow your landscaping business through smart networking!

In This Episode:

• (00:00) Spending holiday time with family
• (03:16) The four key elements to attracting new sales - find more of your ideal clients
• (05:00) Targeting and contacting your client list, do you have your list in Aspire or other software? What are you doing to stand out to potential clients?
• (08:00) Reaching out to your prospects - key channels, contact etiquette
• (14:00) A success story around a new networking source - sports are a great common ground
• (19:00) Buying radio spots, closing thoughts
• Looking forward to GROW! 2025 
• Subscribe and share the Grow Show to help more landscape pros discover it. Thank you for being part of our community.

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

Good News in Dayton  

Virtual Sales Bootcamp

Grunder Landscaping Field Trips  

GROW! 2025 Feb 25-27, Columbus OH  

In this episode of The Grow Show, Emily Lindley, Content & Events Manager at The Grow Group and Marketing Manager at Grunder Landscaping Co., details three ways GLC communicates with clients to strengthen relationships and set up clients to have beautiful, well-cared-for properties.

In This Episode:

• Preparing teams and clients for success
• Three simple communication strategies
• Care instructions for clients - tips on watering, fertilizing, pruning
• Automated after-service notes for maintenance clients
• General reminders - watering tips for dry periods, box moth protocols
• Communications combine marketing, sales, and production
• Sign up for GROW! 2025
• Share with someone in landscaping, subscribe, like, share, and send us your show ideas and comments!

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

Emily Lindley LinkedIn  

NALP Field Trip Sept 17-18, 2024 Chicago 

GROW! 2025 Feb 25-27, Columbus OH  

The Grow Group  

Grunder Landscaping 

Marty Grunder LinkedIn  

Stihl  

In this episode of The Grow Show, acclaimed author and business consultant Joe Calloway joins Marty Grunder to talk about how companies can differentiate themselves. With 40 years of experience working with entrepreneurs and leaders, Calloway highlights the importance of immediate response to customers, prospects, and partners, strategic hiring, and the power of culture as a differentiator. Your company has a culture no matter if you're paying attention to it or not, and Joe shares his insights on the crucial role of intentional culture in businesses, navigating the changing landscape of customer expectations and technologies, and managing economic uncertainties. 

Discussion Points:

• Guest intro: Author Joe Calloway
• Insights on the role of intentional culture in businesses
• Adapting amidst changing customer expectations and technologies
• Case study: Evolution of delivery mechanisms in the restaurant industry
• Responding immediately to customers, prospects, and partners
• Staying consistent, adapting to new marketplace demands
• Navigating current economic uncertainties and hiring challenges
• Creating opportunities during challenging times
• Strategies for successful hiring and employee retention
• Creating a culture with intention
• Minimizing mistakes and avoiding distractions 
• Navigating the economy and addressing hiring challenges
• “No” is one of the greatest words in business

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

Joe Calloway LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/joecallowaycoach/

Book: Becoming a Category of One  https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Category-One-Extraordinary-Comparison/dp/0470496355

NALP Field Trip Sept 17-18, 2024 Chicago https://www.landscapeprofessionals.org/fieldtrip?utm_source=tgg&utm_medium=websit...

Marty is joined by Brent Grolnic, Grunder Landscaping's lead salesperson, (aka LandKeeping Consultant), to delve into the world of landscaping sales and service. Brent shares his journey from hands-on landscaping to a successful sales career, offering invaluable insights into securing lucrative contracts and repeat business. Listeners will discover practical tips for hitting sales goals, cultivating high-end clientele, and fostering a culture of positive feedback. Brent's firsthand experience in the field provides a unique perspective on identifying customer needs and delivering tailored solutions.

In This Episode:

• Incredible hydrangeas in Connecticut
• Brent’s background and career path from hands-on to sales
• Tips and strategies for achieving $3 Million in sales
• Navigating work with a detail-oriented high-end client
• Sharing great feedback in morning meetings
• Noticing customer needs and reaching out with solutions
• Brent’s time in the field informs his land keeping work
• Opportunities and looking forward
• Sign up for GROW! 2025
• Share with someone in landscaping, subscribe, like, share, and send us your show ideas and comments!

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

Brent Grolnic LinkedIn   

NALP Field Trip Sept 17-18, 2024 Chicago 

GROW! 2025 Feb 25-27, Columbus OH  

The Grow Group 

Grunder Landscaping  

Marty Grunder LinkedIn  

Stihl  

The Grunder Landscaping team has a powerful mantra they repeat when faced with a challenge: "whatever it takes," which is a guiding principle for everyone on the team. This philosophy embodies a commitment to problem-solving, going above and beyond, and achieving excellence. In this episode, Marty discusses the importance of drive and mindset for success, how leaders should model desired behaviors, and some strategies for managing team attitudes during challenging tasks like snow season. You’ll hear about the value of recognizing positive actions and delve into how mindset, rather than formal education, plays a crucial role in career advancement. 

In This Episode:

• Drive and mindset – the most important qualities
• Leaders need to be great at the things you want your team to do
• Snow, and managing the attitudes around tough work 
• Catch your team doing things right
• Vince’s puppy story (again)
• Three kinds of organizations
• Mindset and drive are what got Marty to where he is now… not college
• Sign up for GROW! 2025
• Send us your feedback, add your comments, like, share, and send us your show ideas

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

Eby Trucks  

Patrick Lencioni Books  

NALP Field Trip Sept 17-18, 2024 Chicago 

GROW! 2025 Feb 25-27, Columbus OH  

The Grow Group  

Grunder Landscaping 

Marty Grunder LinkedIn  

Stihl  

In this episode, Marty talks with Gage Roberts of Aspire Software about the impact technology has had on Grunder Landscaping Co., what smart landscaping companies are doing to make their daily tasks easier, and what the future holds with AI and other technology advancements coming.

Discover how the right tech tools can ease team tensions and drive growth, and how community support and intentional business decisions play a crucial role. You’ll get a sneak peek at the Ignite Conference in August 2024, set to inspire with its forward-thinking approach. Learn the value of “Stay Interviews” to improve company culture and the impact of aligning with core values. Plus, get actionable tips for sales professionals and explore how ServiceTitan can transform your operations. Don’t miss this episode packed with actionable insights to elevate your landscaping business.

In This Episode:

• Sales - Mike Weinberg’s “New Sales Simplified”
• Aspire’s Sr. Director of Strategic Accounts Gage Roberts intro and background
• Growth in tech and landscaping
• AI and its developing role in the industry
• Getting the right tech and tools to your teams, relieving tensions
• Efficiency and profitability - community is key
• The Ignite Conference, August 2024 in Orlando
• Ask your employees “What could make your life better?”
• “Stay Interviews” vs. Exit Interviews
• Company culture that appeals for different reasons
• Intentional business decisions matter, core values, the employee experience
• Living “in the middle” on the business “wave” or rollercoaster
• Tips for sales people, knowing your metrics
• Working with ServiceTitan
• Sign up for GROW! 2025
• Send us your feedback, add your comments, like, share, and send us your show ideas

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

Email Gage  

Gage Roberts LinkedIn

At Sebert Landscape, “Yellow is the new Green.” As a leader in the commercial landscape industry, Chicago-based Sebert keeps sustainability at the forefront. “The new green” means seeing environmental stewardship as a way to achieve business success – both for the company and its customers. 

In this episode, Marty Grunder is joined by Sebert Landscape founder and CEO Jeff Sebert to talk about the origins of the company, their commitment to sustainability, and what's important to the team at Sebert as they take care of clients.

In This Episode:

• Griddle cooking - got any recipes to share with Marty?
• Background and history of Sebert
• Sustainability and clients
• LEED-certified (green) building features
• Utilizing abandoned logs from the bottom of Lake Superior
• What does great customer service mean?
• Customer surveys and opinions
• Sebert’s yellow branding, core values, and sales impact
• What makes a great sales person?
• Selling enhancements
• Dressing well on the job
• Fall field trip to Sebert in September
• Sign up for GROW! 2025
• Send us your feedback, add your comments, like, share, and send us your show ideas

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

Jeff Sebert LinkedIn   https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-sebert-b48a1751/

Sebert Landscaping  https://sebert.com/  

NALP Field Trip Sept 17-18, 2024 Chicago https://www.landscapeprofessionals.org/fieldtrip?utm_source=tgg&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=field_trip_2024

GROW! 2025 Feb 25-27, Columbus OH

Seth Pflum, President of Grunder Landscaping Co., and has been instrumental in leading the team's growth alongside Marty in his 12+ years with the company. A huge part of that growth has come from investing in, and believing in, the leaders on their team. In this episode, Marty and Seth will discuss how the company culture has shifted at Grunder, what they're doing to constantly look for new opportunities for their team members, and how this renewed focus on the team has impacted all of them.

In This Episode:

• Spinning vinyl on a new record player
• Seth’s journey over the last few years
• Shifting the company culture, eschewing negativity
• Be a solution
• Monthly GROW meetings, what is shared with the teams
• Finding leadership material
• Using StrengthsFinder for team improvement
• Allowing your team members to learn and grow on their own, coaching and teaching
• Focus on sales
• Non-linear growth- how Grunder sees it
• Sign up for GROW! 2025
• Send us your feedback, add your comments, like, share, and send us your show ideas

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

Seth Pflum LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-pflum-01b460b4/

StrengthsFinder Test  

GROW! 2025 Feb 25-27, Columbus OH 

Grunder Fall Field Trips   

The Grow Group 

Grunder Landscaping  

Marty Grunder LinkedIn

At GROW! 2025, Vince Torchia will lead a workshop session where attendees can start to build out a Bonus Program plan. In this episode, Vince gives the cliff notes version of what you should consider if you're thinking about implementing a Bonus Program for your team!

In This Episode:

• Vince is out with one of the many ACE groups this week
• Two types of bonus programs - what’s the difference?
• Aligning team behaviors with goals for a bonus program
• Clarity in communications around the goals
• Using scoreboards or scorecards to track goals
• How each job relates to the goal
• Keep calculations simple
• How and when will you share progress with your team?
• Sign up for GROW! 2025
• Send us your feedback, add your comments, like, share, and send us your show ideas

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

GROW! 2025 Feb 25-27, Columbus OH  

Grunder Fall Field Trips   

The Grow Group  

Grunder Landscaping  

Marty Grunder LinkedIn  

Stihl  

In this insightful episode, Marty delves into the essential components of effective team leadership and training. The emphasis is on gratitude, how safety is paramount, and the power of engaging storytelling. From the intricacies of operational procedures to the strategic "why" behind training, each detail underscores the importance of clarity and repetition. Whether you're leading a crew or managing your own team, Marty's wisdom on patience, praise, and involving the whole team promises transformative insights for fostering excellence in landscaping and beyond.

In This Episode:

• Gratitude for the good things, including great son-in-laws
• Training - what not to do 
• Engaging your audience
• Weighing the importance of certain training topics
• Start with a “why” around the training
• Train your teachers that safety is #1
• Be patient, have patience
• Keep your eye on details, follow operating procedures
• The importance of clarity
• Repetition, repetition, repetition
• Looking at your company’s SWOT
• Involve the whole team
• The power of praise - for dogs…and people
• Recapping
• Have you signed up for GROW! 2025?
• Send us your feedback, add your comments, like, share, and send us your show ideas

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

GROW! 2025 Feb 25-27, Columbus OH  

The Grow Group 

Grunder Landscaping 

Marty Grunder LinkedIn  

Stihl  

Where do you find new business when you need it? Finding new clients is key to a company's growth but can be challenging for salespeople: this isn't something they teach in school. 

In this episode, Marty delves into his favorite strategies to elevate your landscaping business to new heights. From uncovering the fun in prospecting and discovering your team’s motivation, he explores how residential and commercial referrals—perhaps from your clients’ neighbors—can be goldmines. Whether it’s using golf outings and meals for prospecting or tapping into community meetings, our discussion revolves around the timeless advice: go where your clients are. Join us as we uncover the secrets to thriving in the landscaping industry by mastering these essential elements of business strategy.

In This Episode:

• Microsoft OneNote and it’s usefulness
• 2024 hits four decades of service
• Prospecting can be fun
• What’s your “why”? Do you know what motivates your team?
• Residential and commercial referrals- how about your clients’ neighbors?
• Prospecting with golf and meals
• Other community meetings and groups to prospect
• Go where your clients are
• Recapping
• Have you signed up for GROW! 2025?
• Send us your feedback, add your comments, like, share, and send us your show ideas

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

GROW! 2025 Feb 25-27, Columbus OH  

The Grow Group  

Grunder Landscaping  

Marty Grunder LinkedIn  

Stihl  

How can mentorship serve as a pivotal influence in career advancement, particularly for women in traditionally male-dominated fields such as finance and landscaping?

In this episode, Marty Grunder is joined by Landscape Workshop CFO Christianna Denelsbeck Rudder to talk about how they get their branch managers to think like owners, what's changed as the company has grown, the metrics they pay attention to, what it's like working with CEO J.T. Price, and the challenges and solutions she's found as the business faced challenges.

Christianna stresses that cultural integration is more than a buzzword—it's the backbone of successful mergers. With a dedicated PMI team, companies can align cultures and operations, ensuring smoother transitions. She also sheds light on why business owners might consider selling, highlighting that larger partnerships can alleviate labor challenges and administrative burdens, allowing businesses to thrive by focusing on core strengths. From mentorship to leadership, Christianna speaks candidly about the importance of direct feedback and open communication in career growth. Learn how she's been inspired by mentors with McKinsey backgrounds and how "honest, open, and transparent" conversations foster a performance-driven culture. You’ll hear some of the unique challenges women face in this industry, advocating for mentorship to break down barriers, whether it's navigating maternity leave or bridging gender gaps. Community involvement is key - Christianna recounts her engagement with initiatives like Rotaract, demonstrating the powerful impact of mentorship and community support.

Landscape Workshop is a full-service grounds management company that has been providing professional service and expert maintenance for outdoor commercial spaces since 1984. We bring out the best in each property we serve while delivering a first-class experience every time. With multiple locations throughout the Southeast, LW has the resources to consistently deliver superior landscaping services across our expansive footprint. Our regional clients have the unique benefit of hiring one landscape vendor for multiple locations.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) ACE group memories from New Orleans, intro of guest Christianna Denelsbeck Rudder, CFO of Landscape Workshop 
• (05:44) The path to finance and accounting, learning from challenges
• (12:07) Cultural integration in mergers and acquisitions, why business owners should consider selling for growth opportunities, role of CFO in small company operations  
• (24:00) JT Price - how is it to work for a demanding CEO? Tips and tricks on getting promoted, value of direct feedback and transparent communication  
• (32:55) Excelling in current roles as a pathway to promotions, mentorship in male-dominated industries, learning from younger/older colleagues and their perspectives, navigating unique situations with female mentorship
• (37:00) Recognizing you’re not the only one who can do the job, letting go of perfectionism, strategies for staying organized with technology and outsourcing

In this episode, Marty Grunder and James Cali discuss how they initially met, what they've learned from working togther on our ACE Peer Group Program, and what they love to see landscaping companies implement because of the results that come from it.

James Cali is a Grow Group executive coach, where he draws on his more than 25 years of executive leadership experience within the professional services industry to help business owners develop and execute strategy. Having helped lead a landscape firm from $3M to more than $28M in annual revenue, he is a master tactician whose focus on consistent planning, accountability, and finance drives green-industry companies forward. In addition to his work with The Grow Group, he co-leads McFarlin Stanford, a professional bookkeeping and recruiting firm, and is former chairman of NALP’s government affairs committee. A graduate of the University of New Orleans with an MBA from Southern Methodist University, Jim is based in Dallas, Texas.

In This Episode:

• Visiting job sites and Jimmy John sandwiches
• How James and Marty met at GROW 2016
• OHIO - a great business acronym
• Best practices - in any business
• Team building - corporate vs. landscaping businesses
• Spending a day with a team member- the irrigation story
• Relationships and growth
• Recognizing team members’ anniversaries
• One-on-one meetings - save your questions, the best use of your time
• Consistency - meetings, profit sharing, holiday parties
• Traditions 
• The ACE Program - revenue, membership, growth, community
• How Italy became an international destination for ACEs
• Accountability Creates Excellence (ACE) - how to join, how it works, ROI
• Send us your feedback, add your comments, like, share, and send us your show ideas

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

James Cali LinkedIn  

Email James Cali  

GROW! 2025 Feb 25-27, Columbus OH...

How can you exemplify exceptional customer service? Being courteous and thoughtful goes a long way in impressing clients, and usually that doesn't mean doing anything that hard. Smiling and saying hello when you see someone outside, pause your blower for a second as someone walks by, or pull up the trashcans for your client if you're there on trash day. Little things add up to delighting your clients, in this episode, Marty Grunder shares how crews can do just that.

When you focus on cultivating profitable, ideal, and sustainable client relationships, it’s the little things can make a significant impact. Marty shares how things like excellent communication, driving courteously, and sending clients visuals of completed work are easy to do, and are incredible ways to stand out “in a sea of sameness”. With smiles, patience, and thoughtful actions, your crew can set a high standard for customer service in the landscaping industry.

In This Episode:

• Throwing out the first pitch!
• Have you received poor customer service recently?
• Bob Rhodes and Marty’s house and yard
• Profitable clients, ideal clients, sustainable clients
• Little things that make an impact 
• Great communication
• Considerate practices - turn off your equipment when people are near
• Are you driving in a courteous manner? You’re a rolling billboard for the business
• Send your clients visuals of your work when complete
• Look for ways to stand out!
• Don’t park in “inconvenient” spots at your clients' locations
• Smell good, look good, be good, be considerate
• Smiling, patience, thoughtful actions
• Recapping 
• Send us your feedback, add your comments, like, share, and send us your show ideas

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

GROW! 2025 Feb 25-27, Columbus OH  

The Grow Group  

Grunder Landscaping  

In this episode of The Grow Show, Lisa Grunder, who has been married to Marty Grunder for over 30 years, shares insights into their journey together. From meeting in college to navigating the early years of Grunder Landscaping Co., Lisa delves into the challenges and triumphs of balancing work, family, and life. Marty and Lisa highlight the importance of dividing responsibilities and leveraging each other's skill sets, emphasizing the crucial role of family support. They also discuss the passion and intensity Marty has always had in their business, advocating for the mantra "notice, pause, allow." Touching on topics like going back to teaching after raising young children, communication in marriage, and financial planning, Lisa offers valuable advice and reflections on raising kids within the context of a family business.

In This Episode:

• Lisa and Marty - Meeting in college, early career days
• Entrepreneurial family history
• Work, family, and life balance 
• Dividing responsibilities, working within your skill set
• Family support is key
• Passion and intensity, ‘notice, pause, allow’
• Going back to teaching after raising young kids
• Grown children, communication in a marriage, financial planning
• Kids and the family business
• Advice and closing thoughts
• Send us your feedback, add your comments, like, share, and send us your show ideas

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

The Famous Cookie Recipe!

NALP Field Trip at Landscape Workshop June 11-12, Birmingham AL    

GROW! 2025 Feb 25-27, Columbus OH  

The Grow Group  

Grunder Landscaping  

Ever think Grunder Landscaping Co. has it all figured out? Think again! This week, Marty Grunder shares some mistakes we've made over the years, and how we bounced back. Because mistakes happen, but it's your reaction that determines if you and your team recover or get bogged down.

Marty unpacks common pitfalls like micromanaging, perfectionism, and failing to delegate. You'll hear about the importance of trusting your team and the dangers of "trusting but not verifying." The episode also tackles financial mistakes and the fear of asking for help. By learning from these missteps, you can become a more effective and well-rounded leader, embracing the message: “nobody's perfect, but we can all learn and GROW from our mistakes.”

In This Episode:

• Receiving a complimentary call about a team leader
• Lack of focus - is this an issue with you?
• Using subcontractors for non-core competency jobs
• Not letting go, impatience, perfectionism, not giving people a chance
• Trusting but not verifying, believing excuses, imposter syndrome
• Not knowing enough about finance, not sharing information
• Not asking for help
• Looking for someone to blame rather than looking for solutions
• Other mistakes - poor interviewing process, debt and cash flow issues, and other dumb stuff
• Nobody’s perfect, but learn from your mistakes 24/7, be humble
• Two pros that demonstrate humility
• Send us your feedback, add your comments, like, share, and send us your show ideas

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

Episode 48: Clay Mathile

Episode 45: Gene Freeman

NALP Field Trip at Landscape Workshop June 11-12, Birmingham AL    

GROW! 2025 Feb 25-27, Columbus OH  

The Grow Group  ...

Feeling overwhelmed and buried in never-ending to-do lists? It's Spring, and we know how busy it can get. In this episode, Vince Torchia shares questions you can ask yourself so you can make sure you're prioritizing correctly, planning appropriately, staying on top of your numbers, and also staying sane.

Vince will help you identify your biggest priority and cut through the noise.  Learn powerful strategies to shift from reactive firefighting to proactive planning. Unleash the power of daily metrics to track your progress and crush your goals. But wait, there's more! We'll also show you the importance of scheduling time with family and friends to avoid burnout and leave room for the things that truly matter outside of work. Stop feeling like you're constantly treading water. Tune in and discover a newfound sense of purpose and accomplishment.

In This Episode:

• How much time are you spending solving your number one problem?
• Identify your biggest priority, are you spending time on it each week?
• Offense or defense? Proactive or reactive?
• Take a pause if you find yourself being reactive
• Do you spend time looking at your numbers on a daily basis?
• Sales, bank balances, hours worked, A/R balances - check them daily
• Gather 3-5 numbers and look at balances every morning
• Are you scheduling non-work activities on the calendar each week?
• Don’t neglect time with family, friends, and things you enjoy
• Send us your feedback and show ideas

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

NALP Field Trip at Landscape Workshop June 11-12, Birmingham AL    

GROW! 2025 Feb 25-27, Columbus OH  

The Grow Group  

Grunder Landscaping  

Marty Grunder LinkedIn  

Stihl  

Skilled team members want a career, not just a job. Showing them the career path that's available to them, outlining what it will take for them to be promoted, and then following through on what's promised is essential for retention. In this episode, Vince Torchia shares how he sees successful teams doing this.

Vince unveils Grunder’s roadmap for their team members, illustrating clear paths to promotions and advancement using real-world examples to inspire and guide them. Vince recommends specific steps you can take to illuminate paths to advancement including essential training and certifications, publicizing organizational charts at various revenue milestones, and spotlighting a standout team member as a beacon of success. 

In This Episode:

• Updating the company mission statement
• Show the path to promotions and advancement to your team
• As your company grows, your org chart expands
• What and how do employees find their career path? Give them examples
• What training or certification is necessary to move up?
• Find a way to offer training every week
• What you can do today - publish your $1M, $3M, and $5M org charts
• Identify a team member to model their career path
• Send us your feedback and show ideas

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

NALP Field Trip at Landscape Workshop June 11-12, Birmingham AL    

GROW! 2025 Feb 25-27, Columbus OH  

The Grow Group  

Grunder Landscaping 

Marty Grunder LinkedIn  

Stihl  

In this excerpt from our Virtual Sales Bootcamp, Marty Grunder is joined by Chris Psencik to discuss qualities that successful salespeople have, and how you can work to develop these qualities and the skills they lead to yourself.

Happening today, May 8-9 2024: Recharge Your Selling Approach from the Ease of Your Office or Home Join us online to dive even deeper into sales best practices for landscaping teams. During this event, Grunder Landscaping Co. President & CEO Marty Grunder will share the strategies, tips, and tactics he's used to win at sales in his nearly 40 years of selling landscaping work. In this event, he's joined by Executive Coach and Facilitator, Chris Psencik from McFarlin Stanford, along with Emily Lindley of the Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co.You can access the recordings from Virtual Sales Bootcamp and Virtual Sales Bootcamp 2.0

Chris Psencik is head of a Landscape and Construction Management Coaching Practice, specializing in Sales Execution. With two decades of Green Industry expertise, he's excelled in business development roles at major firms, garnering consistent recognition for his accomplishments. With a keen eye for improvement, he guides companies in enhancing their sales and customer relationship management practices. Chris offers coaching and feedback on sales strategies, aiming to streamline processes and meet revenue goals. He firmly believes in sales professionals owning their role as brand ambassadors, emphasizing accountability and dedication.

In This Episode:

• Marty introduces the episode
• Are you a hunter or a zookeeper?
• Knowledge is key to your sales
• How do you answer when you don’t have the answer?
• Family friend CJ and football
• Practice and training…essential in any role
• Reading great books by sales experts (links below)
• Emotional intelligence, empathy, and active listening

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

Chris Psencik

Virtual Sales Bootcamp 2.0    

Virtual Sales Bootcamp 1...

Get to know JT Price, the CEO of Landscape Workshop. In this interview, JT shares stories with Marty from the early days of taking over the company, talks about what he's learned from acquisitions he's done, shares mistakes he's made along the way, and talks about why the company culture at Landscape Workshop is what it is. The conversation explores JT's path to scaling the business, the importance of internal culture shifts, and how to effectively track customer focus. 

JT also discusses valuable leadership tips, including his morning routines, handling low performers, and avoiding the pitfalls of unintentionally rewarding poor performance. He emphasizes the importance of granular data collection through strong systems and processes.  The episode concludes with a look towards the future of Landscape Workshop and a reminder to register for the NALP Field Trip in June!

In This Episode:

• Introduction to JT, the joys of family, dogs, and grandchildren
• Current status of Landscape Workshop and looking forward
• JT’s career journey to scaling Landscape Workshop
• Implementing culture changes internally
• Tracking customer attention
• Mistakes and corrections
• Morning rituals, leadership tips
• Morale and low performers
• ‘Accidentally’ incentivizing poor performance, getting granular
• Systems and processes to collect the right data
• Looking to the future of Landscape Workshop
• Register for the NALP Field Trip in June!

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

NALP Field Trip at Landscape Workshop

June 11-12, 2024

Birmingham, Alabama

JT Price LinkedIn   

Landscape Workshop

Running effective sales meetings helps your entire team maximize their day and their time together, and is one of the hallmarks of a well-run sales team. In this episode, Marty Grunder speaks with Grunder’s Director of Sales Operations Chris Maloney, on how he approaches sales. Chris also shares details about a typical day on his sales team, including the Tuesday sales meeting structure, fun team activities, and sales techniques for different customer types. 

In This Episode:

• Chris’ career path before joining Grunder Landscaping
• Different products, but sales methods remain similar
• Transferable skills from retail
• “A day in the life” on Chris’ sales team
• Tuesday sales meeting - how is it structured?
• Fun and social activities that build camaraderie
• Sales techniques, different types of customers
• Words of wisdom from Chris - keep it simple, be consistent 
• Share this episode with someone who might benefit!

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

Chris Maloney LinkedIn  

GROW! 2025 Feb 25-27, Columbus OH  

The Grow Group  

Grunder Landscaping  

Marty Grunder LinkedIn  

Stihl  

As schedules get busier, it's easy to get frustrated. With your team, with your clients, or just with the general public. In a continuation of "Nice People Don't Finish Last", Marty Grunder shares how leaders at every level of the organization can be part of the solution and not part of the problem. Marty urges people to stay calm and collected under pressure, especially leaders. The challenges of managing stress and avoiding outbursts, using techniques like "Notice, pause, allow" are explored to help control reactions and improve communication. By taking responsibility for their emotions and remaining composed, leaders can gain respect and contribute to a more positive work environment.

In This Episode:

• The book, Winning With Accountability
• Stress and losing your cool
• The wrong way to handle issues
• Seeing a therapist to improve your reactions
• Reacting without escalating to anger
• Using “Notice, pause, allow”
• Controlling your reactions if you want to succeed in your organization
• Clarifying intentions
• Keeping your cool increases respect
• Taking responsibility
• Share this episode with someone who might benefit!

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

Book: Winning With Accountability  

Book: You Don’t Need a Title to Be a Leader   

GROW! 2025 Feb 25-27, Columbus OH  

The Grow Group  

Grunder Landscaping  

Marty Grunder LinkedIn  

Stihl  

What are the challenges and opportunities facing the snow and ice control industry, and how are companies like VSI and Storm Equipment leading the way in setting new standards and educating contractors on best practices?

Marty Grunder is joined by Jordan Smith on this episode of The Grow Show powered by STIHL to discuss his journey in the landscaping and snow removal industry. They talk about the challenges Jordan has faced in his career and how he's overcome them, the changes the snow industry has faced, and what he believes is coming next for pros who offer snow and ice services.

In the evolving landscape of the snow industry, standardized practices are necessary. In their conversation, Marty and Jordan discuss how companies like VSI and Storm Equipment are pioneering efforts to educate contractors about proper pricing and asset recovery. You’ll hear about cutting-edge advancements in snow removal technology, from versatile Boss products to heavy equipment innovations that enhance productivity and employee morale. Find out how the value of a passionate team and treating snow as a critical service can transform challenges into opportunities.

Voigt Smith Innovation (VSI) was founded from a landscaping and snow removal company that began with a one-man crew and grew rapidly over the years. To differentiate from competitors, VSI started offering specialized services like hydroseeding and liquid de-icing, eventually designing and building their own equipment after being dissatisfied with the market options. After years of refinement, VSI realized their expertise could help other contractors, leading to the company's formation. With over 10 years of experience, VSI focuses on customer satisfaction, using high-quality components like Honda engines and Banjo pumps, and offering warranties for reliability and peace of mind.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) Weight loss and eating habits
• (02:15) Intro and background - Jordan Smith's journey from college landscaping to liquid de-icing under the VSI brand
• (05:52) Jordan’s health over the years, progress losing weight - 400 lbs down to 230
• (11:20) Setting standards in snow industry, consistency and dedication are key, snow and landscape industries need standardization and education
• (17:00) Proper pricing and asset recovery, how VSI and Storm Equipment are pioneering efforts to elevate industry standards, with a focus on innovations like liquid de-icing
• (21:41) Best practices and innovations in snow removal equipment, including Boss products and heavy equipment attachments, increase efficiency and employee morale
• (28:19) The snow removal and construction industries have shifted to larger sites, advanced techniques, and private equity involvement
• (39:39) Snow industry and management mindset shift, passionate team building, and strategic approach can turn deficits into profits
• (43:00) Final thoughts

Marty Grunder kicked off GROW! 2024 in Des Moines, IA with a talk entitled "Nice People Don't Finish Last: How Kindness Fuels Success," This week's episode is a replay of that session. It's April and as we're in the thick of busy season kick-off, let's remember the little things we do make an impact on the people around us.

In This Episode:

• Kicking it off with a little AC/DC “Grunder Struck”
• Des Moines vs. Dayton, dining out, and touring RJ Lawn & Landscaping
• An unusual experience with United Airlines
• Being kind, Marty’s loss of his mom and dad
• Giving the benefit of the doubt, asking questions
• Notice, pause, allow
• If you’re angry, people won’t get your message
• Admitting you’re wrong, apologizing, being grateful

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

GROW! 2025 Feb 25-27, Columbus OH  

The Grow Group  

Grunder Landscaping  

Marty Grunder LinkedIn 

Stihl  

Do you know where you should be in your annual planning right now?

Spring is in full force, and there are things that every landscape pro should be doing and have in place at this time of the year. Tune in to hear Marty Grunder share three things he does to keep control of his life and his roles at The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co. even when it gets a little hectic. From staying on track with your annual plan and prioritizing ruthlessly Marty highlights the importance of weekly calendar reviews and strong leadership qualities like empathy and recognition.  Remember, as a leader, you're held to a higher standard.

Discussion Points:

• A traffic stop and a cop’s kindness
• Where you should be in your annual plan
• Becoming laser-focused and letting go of certain business aspects
• Setting time for calendar review each week
• Leaders are held to a higher standard
• Finding positives to compliment, rewarding with praise and recognition
• Empathy- is your team stressed out?
• Review and key takeaways

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful landscaping companies in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

The Grow Group  

Grunder Landscaping  

Marty Grunder LinkedIn Stihl  

Fellow Daytonian, family man and podcaster Ryan Hawk, host of The Learning Leader Show, joins Marty to talk about the interviews he's done on his podcast and what he's learned from talking with some of the brightest business minds. Ryan muses on the value of capturing your parents’ life stories and wisdom, dives into leadership advice, and lets us in on how he was inspired to write his first book, "Welcome to Management". You’ll hear practical tips for immediate improvement and long-term strategies for building leaders. Marty and Ryan reminisce about Clay Mathile’s appearance on Ryan’s podcast, and remind listeners to check out his new book, "The Score That Matters," on March 24th.

Discussion Points:

• Ryan’s path to podcast greatness
• A little about Ryan, his kids, and his high-profile family
• Have you ever recorded a conversation of your parent(s) talking about their lives?
• Wisdom from the book “Welcome to Management”
• Practical takeaways to put into practice as a manager
• Long-term strategies - Creating a culture of building leaders
• “The Pursuit of Excellence” - showcasing how other leaders lead - a way of life
• What you can do right now, today to improve 
• What can you do to “win your morning”?
• Ryan highlights some of his most interesting guests
• Marty’s favorite Learning Leader episode - Clay Mathile
• The new book, “The Score That Matters” drops March 24th

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

The Learning Leader   

Book - The Score That Matters    

Ryan Hawk LinkedIn   

The Grow Group  

Grunder Landscaping 

Marty Grunder LinkedIn  

Stihl  

In 2023, the Dayton community said goodbye to a business legend and selfless leader. Clay Mathile is best known as the businessman who took over running The Iams Company and then sold the business to P&G in 1999 for $2.3B. In the years since that sale, Clay invested his time and money in other entrepreneurs, and Marty counts himself fortunate to have been the beneficiary of so much of Clay's advice and guidance. In this episode, Marty shares what he learned from Clay and the impact it had on Grunder Landscaping Co.'s trajectory.

Discussion Points:

• GROW! 2024 and the city of Des Moines
• Meeting Clay, the book Clay gave him, and a new trajectory
• A friend in Clay’s son, memories through the years - baseball and more
• 16 things Marty learned from Clay
• Listening, structure, strategy
• Don’t let your business run you
• Get the book free by sharing this episode
• Staying focused, mission and vision statements
• Dreams vs. strategic plans
• Paying for ‘good help’
• Get a board of advisors
• Home life and business life
• Dressing well, but not flashy
• Being a good person and helping others
• Next time you buy IAMs for your pet, think of Clay

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

Book: Focus  

Aileron School  

Book: Run Your Business  

Book: Dream No Little Dream  

The Grow Group  

Grunder Landscaping  

Do you take time to notice and compliment your team members when they are doing great things? Is your business mission and vision clear and communicated often to all? As we kick off another spring season full of opportunities for landscape pros, Marty Grunder shares some thoughts for landscape pros and entrepreneurs, to help motivate you to hit the ground running and make hay while the sun shines. 

Discussion Points:

• Do you have clarity of purpose in your business?
• Accountability - do your actions line up with your words?
• Planning, controlling your emotions, being consistent
• Boss your calendar, don’t let it boss you
• Review your calendar and plan out as far as possible
• Prospect, nurture, close
• Notice, pause, allow
• Marty regrets past overreactions 
• Most importantly - use the power of positive reinforcement
• Vince and his puppy Charlie
• Key takeaways

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

The Grow Group  https://www.growgroupinc.com/

Grunder Landscaping  https://grunderlandscaping.com/

Marty Grunder LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/martygrunder/

Stihl  https://www.stihlusa.com/

GROW! 2024 in Des Moines was a smashing success, and we’re excited to see you next year in Columbus OH.  

The weather outside may still be cold, but it's go time for landscaping sales! Are you ready to hit the ground running this spring so that you can crush your sales goals? In this episode, Marty shares the three things sales pros can do now to make sure they have a successful year ahead.

Discussion Points:

• Recapping some GROW highlights, Columbus OH next year
• Non-negotiables for Grunder employees
• The three keys to success 
• Use your energy for things you can control
• Boss your calendar
• Plan your time
• Keeping active, exercising, and eating right

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

The Grow Group  

Grunder Landscaping  

Marty Grunder LinkedIn  

Stihl  

Battery-powered equipment is a fan favorite for clients because of the reduced noise, but many pros struggle with how to switch their crews over. In this episode, Marty Grunder is joined by a panel of experts who share their advice on setting crews up for success with battery-powered equipment and share best practices if you're interested in trying it out yourself.

Marty discusses the transition to battery-powered landscaping equipment with Clint Deboer from Pro Tool Reviews, Brandon Haley from SSC Service Solutions, and Dan Mabe from the American Green Zone Alliance. Clint offers expertise in tool reviews, Brandon shares economic insights from his company's switch to electric equipment, and Dan, with his extensive experience in eco-friendly landscaping practices, delves into the industry's challenges and opportunities. Together, they cover the financial and environmental benefits, practical applications, and strategies for managing a battery-powered fleet, addressing the shift from traditional gas-powered tools to sustainable, electric alternatives.

Discussion Points:

• Revolution in landscaping with a shift to battery-powered tools
• Environmental and financial benefits of electric equipment
• Addressing battery-powered fleet management and crew adaptation
• Importance of solar power and noise reduction
• Overcoming resistance to change in landscaping practices
• Environmental impact of batteries throughout their life cycle
• Cost savings and efficiency of electric landscaping tools
• Practicalities of using battery-powered chainsaws and trimmers
• Logistical challenges of maintaining power for battery tools
• Navigating change management for a smooth transition to electric equipment
• Real-world examples of successful switches to battery power in landscaping
• Encouraging informed decisions and support for battery tool platforms

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

Daniel Mabe LinkedIn  

Clint Deboer LinkedIn   

Brandon Haley LinkedIn    

SSC Services  

This episode is a rerun because we think the message is just so important to teams as we get ready to ramp up for Spring. Having a growth mindset is a key determiner of success that we see in the leaders that we work with at The Grow Group. In this episode Marty Grunder and Vince Torchia share how leaders can embrace a growth mindset and accept accountability for the role they play in their team's success and failure. When they do this, their companies GROW.

Have you ever heard someone say, “I feel like I’m surrounded by idiots!”? That person does not have a growth mindset. Having a growth mindset is a key determiner of success that we see in the leaders that we work with at The Grow Group. In this episode, Marty Grunder and Vince Torchia share how leaders can embrace a growth mindset and accept accountability for the role they play in their team's success and failure. When they do this, their companies GROW.

Discussion Points:

• Growth mindset, looking internally
• A case study with an anonymous colleague
• Seeing the growth mindset in action
• Examples and accountability
• Identifying those who lack the growth mindset
• Training, capacity, and attitude
• Questions to ask yourself as a leader
• Incremental success and the growth mindset
• Seeing mistakes as opportunities for improvement
• The GROW conference
• Ryan and Annette McCarthy, GROW hosts
• Recap - questions to ask
• More details on Des Moines and GROW conference

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

GROW! Conference Feb 2024 

The Grow Group 

Grunder Landscaping 

Marty Grunder LinkedIn  

Vince Torchia LinkedIn 

Stihl  

Complete Landsculpture is an incredible landscaping business in Dallas that has grown tremendously over the years. Much like Marty and the team at GLC, Founders Gene Freeman and Chris Strempek have had wonderful success and they've also had mistakes in their years in business. In this episode, Gene shares what he's learned in his years in the landscaping industry, the best investments you can make, and why it's so important to be involved in your community.

Discussion Points:

• Intro and background - Gene Freeman
• Gene’s partnership with fellow Gemini Chris Strempek
• Current markets and sales
• Competitive advantages 
• College isn’t necessary in our industry
• How ops work at Complete Landsculpture
• The PM crew
• Technology and software
• Chevy trucks and equipment
• Advice on opening branch offices
• Hosting and learning at GROW! 
• Family and enjoying success
• Advice for other landscape professionals

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

Complete Landsculpture      https://completelandsculpture.com/

The Grow Group  https://www.growgroupinc.com/

Grunder Landscaping  https://grunderlandscaping.com/

Marty Grunder LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/martygrunder/

Stihl  https://www.stihlusa.com/

If you do nothing, guess what happens? Nothing.  Don’t just learn something new and inspiring and do nothing with it, put it to work in your business or personal life! In this episode, Marty shares four basic pillars that support every successful landscaping company, and what companies need to know to build these strong pillars in 2024.

Discussion Points:

• Why aren’t you at GROW! 2024?
• Doing nothing can sneak up on you
• Platform, people, process, profits
• Platform - your vision
• People - your team
• Process - systems that replicate your success
• Profits - result from the first three pillars working well
• Finding ideas and inspiration from businesses around you
• Landscape Workshop and Sieberts Chicago and their admirable success
• Complaining and procrastinating - just do something!
• Company tours coming up
• Final thoughts on making some changes

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

The Grow Group 

Grunder Landscaping  

Marty Grunder LinkedIn  

Stihl  

How did a chance meeting at a GROW! boot camp 30 years ago set the stage for Jeffrey Johns' successful journey in the landscaping industry with his company Coastal Greenery?

Marty Grunder chats with Jeffrey about their similar paths and experiences, Jeffrey's journey as an entrepreneur, the tough times in business that served as wake-up calls, and what was important for him to learn to get to where he is today. The episode then pivots to Jeffrey's role today, what he does to help his team, and how he works with family successfully.

Discover how Jeffrey's passion for landscaping, nurtured by his family, evolved into a sustainable business. You’ll hear Jeffrey open up about the family dynamics that drive Coastal Greenery, highlighting the pivotal roles of his wife Misty, and twin sons, Jacob and Joshua. With a 60-65 hour workweek, Jeffrey and Misty complement each other's leadership styles, evolving their roles based on team feedback and expectations. The conversation is a rich narrative on leadership, legacy, and the timeless value of building strong familial and business connections within the landscaping industry.

Coastal Greenery specializes in commercial landscape maintenance, providing tailored solutions that enhance the beauty and sustainability of each property. Their experienced team offers a Total Care Program, which includes turf care, tree and shrub maintenance, water management, seasonal flower installations, plant healthcare, and mulch installations. The Coastal Greeneryteam is dedicated to creating landscapes that reflect a business’s values while ensuring long-term health and functionality. From routine care to customized enhancements, Coastal Greenery is committed to delivering exceptional service for every commercial property.

In This Episode:

• Fall golf weather
• Intro and background - Jeffrey Johns' journey in landscaping, family's importance, and teamwork in Coastal Greenery's success
• Jeffrey’s start in the entrepreneurial space, mom’s van and family support, landscape architecture degree, working in Atlanta
• Entrepreneurial spirit, Jeffrey’s love of landscaping first, business challenges, getting a financial education, creativity and financial balance
• Getting out of the way, leading a family business with a demanding 60+ hour workweek, balancing roles and expectations, and evolving with team feedback, coaching
• Family relationships at work with wife Misty, and twin sons Jacob and Joshua
• Clarity in expectations, metrics, and transparency
• Jeffrey’s role mentoring with Grunder peer groups, advice for younger people coming up in the industry and Jeffrey’s younger self, people and relationships must be front of mind
• Looking forward to GROW! 2025 

What do you wish people would say about you in your eulogy? Taking a genuine interest in others is one of the best ways to “win friends and influence people” as Dale Carnegie said. In this episode, Marty Grunder shares ways that you can be a better teammate by taking an interest in the people you work with. People always work better together when they actually like each other. 

Discussion Points:

• Speaking in Atlantic City for Site One
• Dale Carnegie’s book
• Marty’s Mom and her winning attitude
• Joe Burrow and other sports figures with the right outlook
• Bob Grover and his son Dave
• Vince Torchia and his impact
• The amazing things that can happen when you’re interested in others
• 4 suggestions to help develop your new habit
• Read “How to Win Friends” - link below
• Join us for GROW! 2024

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

Site One   

Building a Winning Company Culture Episode  

Book: How to Win Friends   

GROW! Conference Feb 2024  

The Grow Group  

Grunder Landscaping  

Marty Grunder LinkedIn  

Stihl  

From Covid credits and cash incentives to sky-high demand over the last few years, we’ve gotten into some habits that may be hard to break in our industry. Grow Group VP Vince Torchia talks about the three big challenges he saw companies face in 2023 and what companies should focus on to improve their chances for success in 2024. His three areas of focus are cash management, sales and revenue generation, and workforce development.

Discussion Points:

• 2023 - Cash, Sales, and Workforce Development 
• Credits and artificial cash injections from Covid
• Laziness around A/R - stats
• Sales and revenue - focus is returning in 2024
• Workforce development has been great in 2023
• Check your banking relationships, goals, training programs, and more for a great 2024
• Consolidation, mergers, acquisitions
• 2023 saw some of the best sales many landscaping companies ever had
• Volume and margins
• Planning is key for your future
• Join us for GROW! 2024

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

GROW! Conference Feb 2024 

The Grow Group  

Grunder Landscaping  

Marty Grunder LinkedIn  

Stihl  

You’ll never have dinner alone, or sit at presentations for more than 45 minutes at the GROW! Conference 2024, happening February 6-8 in Des Moines, IA. In this episode, we discuss the conference in depth.  Vince Torchia turns the tables and interviews our host, Marty Grunder, on why he started The Grow Group and created the GROW! Annual Conference. He shares what he's learned along the way, the funny mistakes, and what our team considers when we build the agenda each year.

Discussion Points:

• What is GROW! all about?
• The first conference 
• Coming up with the conference agenda
• How GROW! stands out and what it offers
• Lessons learned at past GROW! conferences
• The structure and timing of the conference
• “Dine arounds” and the host company tour
• The highlight of 2024

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

GROW! Conference Feb 2024  

The Grow Group  

Grunder Landscaping  

Marty Grunder LinkedIn 

Stihl  

Joe Chiellini has been a friend and colleague for nearly 20 years. His landscaping business started as a side hustle when he was a 19-year-old firefighter. Today, his company, ASI Landscape Management, is budgeting to hit $14M in 2024. You may recall that back in 2019, ASI hosted the GROW! Conference in Tampa. Joe shares his career journey with all its ups and downs, and talks scaling down to refocus, lessons learned, books recommended, and more. 

Joe Chiellini is the founder and CEO of ASI Landscape Management, originating in 1993.  In its humble beginnings ASI was a two-man residential lawn service. Currently under the leadership and guidance of Joe Chiellini, ASI is now a multi-county commercial business, employing 180 individuals with three branches covering the greater Tampa Bay and Orlando marketspace.  Joe Chiellini recently retired from his career as a Captain for Hillsborough County Fire and Rescue.  Joe served the people of Hillsborough County for almost 30 years all the while building and growing his landscape management company to where it is today.

Discussion Points:

• Intro and background - Joe Chiellini
• Working at the fire department at 19
• Growing the business to $13M
• Scaling down to refocus
• Lessons learned as a firefighter
• Explaining OTS
• Why the team likes to work at ASI
• Strategic planning is the steps from reality to your dream
• Technology and software
• Equipment and maintenance
• Find nuggets - no matter how small, just listen
• Modeling customer care after Publix grocery
• Family 
• Advice for the younger set
• No regrets over ‘mistakes’
• Looking forward five years
• Recommended books
• Physical fitness, cold plunges, and working out

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

ASI Landscape Management 

Reliaquest 

Books: Larry Winget