Closing the gate: Life lessons from Martin Semken

Closing the Gate: Life lessons from Martin Semken.

Earlier this year we were thrilled to host a webinar featuring Martin Semken from Semken Landscapes, with the very able and equally delightful Ian Barker of Ian Barker Gardens as our quizmaster. Trying to condense an hour of quality advice and guidance into an article has been difficult, but here’s our list of Martin’s life lessons taken from the questions and answers about his 34 years in the Landscaping Industry.

#1: Treat everyone as an individual.

When I started, the best way to create a culture in business was to work harder than anyone else. I don’t believe that anymore. The theory of ‘pull your finger out and work hard’ is fine, but it doesn’t create a great culture. A business like ours is made up of so many different people. It's important to have a balance - not just work / life, but a balance for all the different human beings that work inside your business.

I try to know a little bit about everyone at Semken Landscapes; their birthday, what ages their kids are, what clubs they belong to, what restaurants they like; what’s important to them. Without being interfering, I’m genuinely interested. It also helps me know what they may need. A 21-year old’s needs are very different to a 35-year old who is married with a mortgage and 2 kids. Of my 65 staff, 20 are on a flexible work arrangement. It’s about recognising every staff member as an individual.

#2: Employ people with a passion for life.

The attribute I am looking for is passion for life. Sometimes an apprentice doesn’t know what that is but mum and dad can help remind them. We are looking for family values. I love people that are involved in clubs of any sort as this shows that they can do things with other people and work as part of a team. We can mould and help them learn how to do things, but they must have passion first!

#3: Support staff in paving their own path.

I want people to succeed in this business. On the weekend, any staff member can borrow any tool, any time, to do ‘cashies’. Do I want them to learn how to quote, run a business, become Members of LVML? Yes. There are so many splinter companies that have formed from us, and I couldn’t be prouder of those companies today, and continue to be. I work in a mentor role for anyone that wants to ask me.

#4: Process, process, process!

If I started a business again tomorrow, the first thing I would do is give that job a job number. I would use that job number to create the process and follow that through on every job. Every job would have a number and a name. I would develop process over everything. Process makes jobs run better, helps you be on time and enables you to give true answers because you know what stage the job is at. It’s the greatest way to help develop a young business.

#5: Don’t postpone what you can do now.

At the end of the day, I drive out the gate, and I close the gate every night. When I have closed the gate, I have completed everything I needed to do today. That’s really important.

"The ability to close the gate means that I haven't let anyone down today, I've done everything I can, I've tried my hardest. I don't owe any money. I'll put my head on the pillow, and I'll fall asleep."

A key example of this philosophy is that on a Wednesday, Mandy pays every single bill we have. We don’t owe anyone any money by Wednesday night. We get it done.

Mandy once received a letter from a staffer who had moved on saying, “I want to thank you, Mandy, for paying me on time, every time”. He was talking about wages. There are 7000 landscape businesses in Victoria – he has worked for a few, and clearly that’s not what everyone does. Take a lesson from that. Pay your wages on time, every time. The ability to close the gate means that I haven’t let anyone down today, I’ve done everything I can, I’ve tried my hardest. I don’t owe any money. I’ll put my head on the pillow, and I’ll fall asleep.

#6: If you get it wrong, own up and fix it.

24 years ago, we built a wall with a little tiny footing. We didn’t know any better. 20 years later the client rang me and said, “you didn’t build it right”. So, we went and rebuilt it, 20 years later. He was right, we didn’t do it right and we went and fixed it. It’s fine. It’s another great lesson.

#7: Don’t try to do and be everything.

You have to be willing to not think that your hands and eyes are the best. I call it splitting the atom. I always planned to grow, so as soon as I thought there was room for someone else to do a job, I would get someone to do it.

Guys or girls that think they are the only ones in their business that can do a particular job, then that’s their business finished in size and succession. I have young guys and girls that are fantastic plants people, others that are fantastic pavers. Let them be that. I am pretty good at running a business - I’ll do that, and I’ll pass that info onto others and they will learn how to do that.

The things we all should do is think about how lucky we really are. COVID has been a great opportunity to get to know your family better. To get to go for a walk, to love them all. It’s a great opportunity. Every night, close the gate, stay home with your family. Be home with your family.

I love Semken Landscaping. I love this industry. It’s the world’s most popular hobby, and we all get to do it as a job. My hobby is this. I have no intention of walking away. I’ll be here for a few years yet.