What 2020 Taught Me by Marty Grunder

Marty Grunder, Grunder Landscaping Co.

We have signs all over our office at GLC that say “No Surprises.” To us, this is a mantra that reminds our team to communicate clearly so that we don’t come across surprises on jobsites. But this year has been full of surprises, many of them unwelcome. As 2020 comes to a close, I can’t help but reflect back on the year that we’ve had. It would be easy to be cynical and negative as we look back on 2020, but my team and I have made an effort to stay positive.

On March 23, I was at the office with 35 parked vehicles, a warehouse full of equipment, and two other team members. We were shut down, and our plan for the year had gone from “Let’s grow.” to “Can we break even for the year?” in a week. It took an attitude adjustment and lots of changes to finish the year stronger than we thought was possible on March 23, and while none of it has been perfect we’ve made great strides in three distinct areas of our business:

Embracing Technology

Thankfully, we went live with a new industry specific software, Aspire, in January. It enabled our team to work remotely, which would not have been possible with the paper systems we were using previously. Allowing our team to communicate using technology means that our sales and administration team can sell work, schedule work, and create detailed work orders from any location. Our production team can get their marching orders without coming inside the office, and our team is able to stay in contact without as many face-to-face meetings.

While this change was already planned for this year, the pandemic accelerated adoption of it internally. We couldn’t rely on our old system as a crutch because no one was in the office to manage the paperwork, and the whole team quickly got on board with the new system. Now that we have Aspire fully operational, it’s amazing the extra productive time our team gets in a day, too.

Empathy

Sometimes it’s hard to see issues from other perspectives but solving problems in our business requires us to. My team at GLC is talented, and they often make their work look easy. When our crews were able to get back to work we had quite a bit to catch up on, and I did one of our mowing jobs myself so that the mow crew could get some time off. Being in Steven’s shoes for the morning made me realize how hard it was to match the quality of work that his crew does. Their lines are artwork, and mine were not up to par. normal work. I've been impressed by the patience my team has had with each other, and the empathy they’ve shown through the past few months. The pandemic has caused some of our attitudes to shift, and we’re working better as a team as a result.

Landscaping is Essential

There was doubt earlier this year if landscaping was an essential service. It’s clear now that we are: we clean the air, keep properties sanitary and safe, and create spaces where our clients can find joy, peace, and relaxation. These services are essential for our communities. There is high demand for landscaping, garden centers, and nurseries. I see a strong year ahead for us next year, and the anxiety I had earlier in the year has passed. We're able to safely do our work, and we’ll continue providing people with beautiful spaces they can use while social distancing outside.

We’ve embraced this year as a challenge and have committed to making the most of the opportunities we do have rather than dwelling on what we’re missing out on. Positive attitudes got us through these challenges and will get us through whatever comes next. If you’ve been feeling down, try to look for the silver linings. We’re well prepared for any new challenge that 2021 brings if we can stay positive.

Since my team reads this column, please allow me to indulge myself and thank them all publicly. Thank you, Team Grunder, your hard work and positive attitude is seen and appreciated. Your dedication to each other, our clients, and the pride you take in our work inspires me every day. Each of you has been instrumental to our success this year. B

Contact Marty at marty.grunder@ grunderlandscaping.com