Secret Sauce
Do you have a secret sauce? You know, the special ingredients that make your recipe, or business relationship, come together perfectly? I’ve become a bit of a chef in recent years. I may not be ready for prime-time yet, but I’m told that some of the dishes that I create are worthy of a repeat […]
Caring Creates Culture
It’s the first essential ingredient: Caring. If a team commits to building a culture together, it all begins with deciding what they care about the most. More likely than not, the team leader sets the tone by demonstrating that he or she genuinely cares about the others on their team. An unsolicited, shining example of […]
Culture in the Cockpit
I just had one of those fabulous “dream client” experiences that make it all worthwhile. It was the sort of interaction where you hear that they not only love your work, but they use words like “strategic partner” during the conversation and openly discuss their Vision for the future. When you’re in the business of […]
Cultivate the Soil
Happy New Year! This article is my 87th cultivation(s) post since I began sharing thoughts and ideas with you on growing a bountiful culture. The Winter Season and commencement of a New Year are the ideal time to plan and prepare for the “Growing Season” ahead.Growing a business is a lot like farming, something that […]
Five Million Hours
The average full-time employee works 2,080 hours in a year. To work five million hours would require just over 2,400 years; that sounds like a very long time and an impossible feat for a mere mortal. You can only dream about it, but try to picture just how long that seems…Now consider working for 2,400 years […]
Culture of Safety
Managers from across our business have come together this week in a Safety Symposium, with their focus on enhancing the Culture of Safety in our business. As they actively discussed this topic, it became clear that Safety is not so much a “Thing” as it is an “Attitude” – a positive State of Mind.There are […]
Kaizanimals!
I met a unique tribe of humans in northern Wisconsin this week. As I toured their bustling American factory, I observed these highly engaged people designing, building and continually improving the core equipment that we use to carry out our business mission every day.They listen well and respond even better. They are committed to their […]
More than a Job
Good people will join a company for a job, but they will only stay for opportunity. Creating opportunity typically depends upon growth, but growth only occurs when the right elements are in place and in the right balance. Interestingly, those elements are dependent upon the very things that existing employees can do daily to create […]
Let Freedom Ring!
The spirit of Freedom is alive and well in the United States of America! On the eve of celebrating our Nation’s Birthday, I had the opportunity to attend a local “town hall meeting” with our new Congressman. What I saw, heard and learned was a living lesson in the power of Article I of our […]
It’s All About the People [Guest Post]
[Guest Post by Frederick “Drew” Dellecker] When my father asked me if I would consider writing a guest article for his cultivations blog, my first thought was to wonder how I could possibly provide insight to an organization composed of landscape professionals committed to creating premier properties and building lasting relationships. I came to a […]