Stop!

Tim Malooly CID, CLIA, CIC | Water in Motion

For years, I’ve heard Green Industry members use phrases like “…it’s all over when the snow flies…”, referring with a combination of exhaustion and irony, to the annual end of business — and income.

…No business. No income. Lots of responsibilities and obligations. …For MONTHS.

Early spring this year opened with a new and unwelcome twist to our annual zero-income endurance challenge.

So, I write this message on April 24th, and most of the Minnesota Green Industry can work — just in time to attend to spring conditions. Major damage was incurred by retail and some grower members as a result of the closing of non-construction portions of our industry when Governor Walz implemented Executive Order 20-01 on March 13th in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

By April 8th, after full-time work on the part of MNLA staff, government affairs leadership, and calm, reasoned appeals by YOU, our membership, Governor Walz declared the bulk of the Minnesota Green Industry could re-open, carefully. In fact, “Lawncare and Landscaping workers” were specifically added to the Governor’s list of essential industries in his April 8th Executive Order 20-33.

I could write to you about many topics related to this event. My choice today is to discuss a particular uniqueness of our industry in contrast to many other industries. Now, I do not intend to make light of the extraordinary actions and impacts of actions taking place around the world in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Real people have died from this virus, real people are being harmed economically and we all will likely feel the effects of this event in myriad ways for years to come.

That said, it is interesting to observe other industries and their leaders grapple with the notion of “Dead-Stop” and contrast their reactions with that of our industry.

It may, or may not be something to take pride in but as an observer, I’d say our industry is among very few that is uniquely suited to manage the emotions and stress that comes with a “Dead-Stop”, that other industries and their leaders simply cannot handle.

Is there any relevance to my observation? I think so.

Especially regarding those who own Green Industry businesses -especially in “Dead-Stop” markets. When you think of the risks you take — that are on YOU; when you think of all the moving parts of your business that YOU are responsible for; when you compare your career accomplishments with those of others in other industries (we all do it); when you wonder if your business opinion is as valuable as that of someone else, someone who may lead a huge conglomerate; you can take quiet comfort in knowing that you have business skills that they and frankly, most others do not have.

Included in these skills is the ability to calmly reason when you know you have no income, for months at a time. These skills influence your character. How you use your unique skills defines you. You cannot learn these skills from a book. I’m not sure how to classify these skills but, I know ‘em when I seem ‘em. How you draw upon your unique skills in reacting to an extraordinary challenge like the COVID-19 event leaves an impression.

The impression we, individually and collectively, left this spring among elected leaders, bureaucratic operatives, the press and other industries throughout the country, using our unique skills as we reacted to and managed circumstances during “the spring of COVID-19” was of maturity, calm and reason. Make no mistake, nobody likes “Dead-Stopping”. I know I don’t like it. But, I know how to maneuver within it, and so do you. Good for your employees. Good for your clients. Good for You!

Now, how to eliminate the annual zero-income endurance challenge… a topic for another day…

Tim Malooly is an MNLA volunteer and an operator of a “Dead-Stop” business.