Total Landscape Care Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/285789
cover story share with their employees what the growth rewards are for them: personally, professionally and financially. "While they may all not be leaders in name, they all have an important part to play," Co- hen explains. "Steering a com- pany through change is a big job. If you create ambassadors for the change, you won't be shouldering your vision alone." Another challenge for a company navigating growth is determining the right time to hire more staff and how much staff they should actually hire, Cohen says. "The mantra in the landscape industry has been to run 'lean and mean,'" he continues. "By that, I mean maximizing your people resources to get as much done as possible with carrying as little overhead as possible. While this is a great philosophy – and I support it – it also brings challenges of employee burnout and potentially service delivery problems." So, when should a land- scaper add employees to his or her team? If they exceed their operating efficiencies and their business supports it, it's time. "It's your job to make sure you have the right people and the right number of people to keep your company running smooth- ly," he says. Not having the right resources in place to manage the growth is a mistake many landscapers make, Cohen says. This includes everything from the right pro- cesses and people to having a sufficient cash flow. "I recommend focusing on your business – instead of wor- rying about keeping up with others," Cohen says. "A success- ful business grows organically by taking small steps versus large strides." A P R I L 2 014 To t a l L a n d s c a p e C a r e . c o m 31 s 1/2" thick polyethylene s Supports 120 ton vehicles s Leaves turf smooth in soft conditions s Withstands record heat & cold s Never get stuck again s 1/2" thick polyethylene s Features the bold diamond plate tread on one side and a finer, slip-resistant tread on the other side s Ideal for 120 ton vehicles as well as pedestrian traffic sales@alturnamats.com Call for the name of your nearby dealer: 888-544-6287 www.alturnamats.com We've Got You Covered SAFETY TECH OUTRIGGER PADS Rugged, one piece pads with rope handle. Available in wide variety of sizes to suit every or any application. Turn-A-Links - Lock mats together to form a continuous roadway Handi-Hooks - Steel rod makes moving mats easier MAT-PAK - The complete package. Call for details. Whatever you need in ground protection mats, is your ORIGINAL source Text INFO to 205-289-3796 or visit TLC request.com Playing it too safe isn't always the best route to take with your business, according to Steven Cohen. He gives the example of either setting a conservative revenue goal of $100,000 for the year with a profit margin target of 5 percent or an ambitious revenue target of $1 million with a profit margin of 25 percent. "While the first choice might be the safer choice or even the more realistic one for that matter, take a moment to entertain the notion of the second, more ambitious plan," Cohen says. "Taking an ambitious plan and trimming it down to more realistic proportions is far more productive than starting with a conservative plan and failing to push it to its true limits." To still keep the ambitious goal realistic, you should continually monitor your progress, hold regular staff meetings and brainstorm – modifying plans when needed. CONSERVATIVE VS. AMBITIOUS GOALS