The GROW! Show – Details, episodes & analysis

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  

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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