WEBVTT 00:00:35.179 --> 00:00:38.979 What's up, hustlers? Welcome back to the Lawn 00:00:38.979 --> 00:00:45.259 Hustle Podcast. The podcast built for the grinders, 00:00:45.380 --> 00:00:51.880 the dreamers, and those turning grass into cash. 00:00:52.960 --> 00:00:59.759 I am your host, Andy Wilson. Today we're talking 00:00:59.759 --> 00:01:03.960 about something that does not get covered in 00:01:03.960 --> 00:01:11.359 most lawn care groups, masterminds, YouTube channels, 00:01:12.680 --> 00:01:17.620 or business podcasts. Today's podcast is not 00:01:17.620 --> 00:01:23.200 about equipment. It's not about pricing or growth. 00:01:24.579 --> 00:01:32.480 It's about our marriages and how running a lawn 00:01:32.480 --> 00:01:40.129 care business can either build it up or slowly 00:01:40.129 --> 00:01:46.530 break it down if you are not careful. Before 00:01:46.530 --> 00:01:52.310 we get started, let's hear a word from my sponsor, 00:01:53.409 --> 00:01:57.069 Eartha Brew. Tired of chasing payments and losing 00:01:57.069 --> 00:02:00.700 track of jobs? Eartha Pro Backoffice software 00:02:00.700 --> 00:02:03.519 makes it simple for solo guys and small lawn 00:02:03.519 --> 00:02:06.900 care and landscaping crews. Schedule, invoice, 00:02:07.299 --> 00:02:10.199 and organize all in the same place. We also have 00:02:10.199 --> 00:02:13.060 a mobile app and integrate into QuickBooks. Sign 00:02:13.060 --> 00:02:16.460 up at EarthaPro .com with promo code TheLawnHustle11 00:02:16.460 --> 00:02:20.919 for a $50 Amazon gift card, 10 % off, and personalized 00:02:20.919 --> 00:02:23.860 onboarding. Eartha Pro, you run the outside work, 00:02:23.860 --> 00:02:28.050 we run the office. So we're going to dig into 00:02:28.050 --> 00:02:34.090 how a lawn care business can affect your marriage. 00:02:35.889 --> 00:02:41.509 Let's be real. Lawn care is not a nine to five 00:02:41.509 --> 00:02:48.909 job, as much as we would like for it to be. During 00:02:48.909 --> 00:02:55.490 peak season, it's sun up to sun down. You're 00:02:55.490 --> 00:02:59.689 running on fumes. You're sweaty. You're stressed. 00:03:00.490 --> 00:03:05.810 You're tired. And by the time you get home, you've 00:03:05.810 --> 00:03:12.229 got nothing left to give. Now here's the problem. 00:03:13.949 --> 00:03:18.750 While you're hustling for your business, your 00:03:18.750 --> 00:03:24.479 spouse might be feeling left behind. They see 00:03:24.479 --> 00:03:30.300 the long hours, the missed dinners, the missed 00:03:30.300 --> 00:03:35.780 family get -togethers, the missed birthday parties. 00:03:40.159 --> 00:03:47.099 They see the weekends that are booked and they 00:03:47.099 --> 00:03:55.710 might start thinking, you care more about than 00:03:55.710 --> 00:04:03.770 you do about them. And that right there can be 00:04:03.770 --> 00:04:10.169 the start of a crack in your marriage. Now let 00:04:10.169 --> 00:04:14.789 me say from the beginning, I am not a licensed 00:04:14.789 --> 00:04:23.480 marriage counselor. I do, however, have a degree 00:04:23.480 --> 00:04:29.879 in social work from the university here in Indiana, 00:04:30.579 --> 00:04:38.399 IU. So let's talk about some common struggles 00:04:38.399 --> 00:04:44.839 that can affect your marriage if you are not 00:04:44.839 --> 00:04:53.120 intentional. Time strains. The busiest months 00:04:53.120 --> 00:04:58.639 don't line up with the normal family rhythms. 00:05:00.639 --> 00:05:07.779 Normal vacations, kids' sports, holidays. Sometimes 00:05:07.779 --> 00:05:13.879 these things take a backseat to your business. 00:05:16.740 --> 00:05:22.699 Number two, money stress. Cash flow can be feast 00:05:22.699 --> 00:05:29.920 or famine. One month you're flush, the next you're 00:05:29.920 --> 00:05:35.120 stressed about payroll, about equipment repairs. 00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:41.540 That financial roller coaster can weigh heavy 00:05:41.540 --> 00:05:53.439 on a marriage. Number three, identity. A lot 00:05:53.439 --> 00:05:58.220 of spouses don't fully understand what we do. 00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:04.980 They see cutting grass. They don't see the late 00:06:04.980 --> 00:06:13.439 night working on estimates, invoices, answering 00:06:13.439 --> 00:06:18.600 emails or text messages. They don't see managing 00:06:18.600 --> 00:06:26.410 crews. or chasing invoices. And that disconnect 00:06:26.410 --> 00:06:33.889 can create tension when there is a lack of understanding 00:06:33.889 --> 00:06:43.769 what all we do to help run or establish a business. 00:06:45.310 --> 00:06:48.209 But with that being said, I want to say this 00:06:48.209 --> 00:06:59.339 now. Don't get so busy building a business that 00:06:59.339 --> 00:07:07.220 you fail to build a life. Let me say that again. 00:07:08.839 --> 00:07:15.779 Don't get so busy building a business that you 00:07:15.779 --> 00:07:23.160 fail to build a life. As hard as you work on 00:07:23.160 --> 00:07:31.180 your business, you should work on building a 00:07:31.180 --> 00:07:35.660 relationship with your children, with your spouse, 00:07:37.199 --> 00:07:42.920 with your family. Because when the business is 00:07:42.920 --> 00:07:53.310 gone, family should still be there. Sometimes 00:07:53.310 --> 00:07:57.949 one spouse carries the home life while the other 00:07:57.949 --> 00:08:05.889 carries the business. That imbalance leads to 00:08:05.889 --> 00:08:12.410 resentment if it's not talked through. Does this 00:08:12.410 --> 00:08:17.670 sound familiar? It does for me. Because when 00:08:17.670 --> 00:08:26.660 I was starting my business, I was so focused 00:08:26.660 --> 00:08:32.720 on running a business, building a business, getting 00:08:32.720 --> 00:08:36.179 new clients, making sure all the invoices are 00:08:36.179 --> 00:08:38.840 done, making sure everything was mailed out, 00:08:38.899 --> 00:08:42.460 making sure that I had followed through and followed 00:08:42.460 --> 00:08:49.799 up on phone calls, emails, text messages. And 00:08:49.799 --> 00:08:54.860 sometimes it would be easy for me to, I don't 00:08:54.860 --> 00:09:00.100 need to do this around the house because I'm 00:09:00.100 --> 00:09:03.799 doing all of this for the business. That's an 00:09:03.799 --> 00:09:13.220 imbalance. That's why it's important to set your 00:09:13.220 --> 00:09:18.549 business up to where when you walk away, for 00:09:18.549 --> 00:09:24.529 the day, you can leave the business behind. Pick 00:09:24.529 --> 00:09:29.330 it up tomorrow morning, grind harder, hustle 00:09:29.330 --> 00:09:43.230 smarter, work harder. So, let's recap. These 00:09:43.230 --> 00:09:45.789 are some struggles that lawn care businesses 00:09:47.370 --> 00:09:55.950 go through time string, money stress, identity 00:09:55.950 --> 00:10:04.350 clash, and an unbalanced role in your relationship. 00:10:07.009 --> 00:10:10.049 So building a stronger marriage through lawn 00:10:10.049 --> 00:10:16.570 care is impossible, absolutely. Lawn care doesn't 00:10:16.570 --> 00:10:22.620 have to hurt your marriage. In fact, it can strengthen 00:10:22.620 --> 00:10:30.639 your marriage if you bring your spouse into the 00:10:30.639 --> 00:10:35.279 vision. Here are some things that I've learned 00:10:35.279 --> 00:10:39.360 both from my own journey and from others in the 00:10:39.360 --> 00:10:46.720 industry. Communicate with your spouse. Like 00:10:46.720 --> 00:10:57.279 you mow. Communicate like you mow. Consistently. 00:10:58.659 --> 00:11:04.980 Don't let weeks go by without checking in. A 00:11:04.980 --> 00:11:09.379 five minute hi, how are you doing? Can go a long 00:11:09.379 --> 00:11:15.779 way. When you take some time to include your 00:11:15.779 --> 00:11:24.230 spouse. in your vision of your business. It makes 00:11:24.230 --> 00:11:32.870 them feel a part of a team. So you want to communicate 00:11:32.870 --> 00:11:39.789 like you, like you know, consistently. You want 00:11:39.789 --> 00:11:45.529 to involve your spouse in the business. Maybe 00:11:45.529 --> 00:11:49.850 not out in the field, but in decision making. 00:11:51.330 --> 00:11:57.470 Share wins, share struggles. When they feel included, 00:11:57.929 --> 00:12:06.690 they feel valued. When they ask you how was your 00:12:06.690 --> 00:12:12.169 day, be honest with them. Tell them about your 00:12:12.169 --> 00:12:17.980 day. your experiences. What you did for that 00:12:17.980 --> 00:12:22.360 day. Maybe what you didn't get accomplished for 00:12:22.360 --> 00:12:26.779 that day. Because when you include them, they 00:12:26.779 --> 00:12:37.539 feel valued. Protect time together. Even during 00:12:37.539 --> 00:12:43.419 the busy season, carve out non -negotiable Family 00:12:43.419 --> 00:12:51.620 time. Breakfast dates. Sunday dinner. Kids events. 00:12:52.820 --> 00:12:57.259 Treat that time like a high paying client. You 00:12:57.259 --> 00:13:02.720 wouldn't cancel on them. So don't cancel on your 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:12.279 spouse. My family. We sat down every night. and 00:13:12.279 --> 00:13:18.960 have a family meal together. We eat dinner together 00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:25.179 because we are a family. And I'm not going to 00:13:25.179 --> 00:13:30.899 allow the stress and the pressure of that day's 00:13:30.899 --> 00:13:37.980 schedule take me away from my family. You see. 00:13:39.950 --> 00:13:42.529 You can get so busy trying to build your business 00:13:42.529 --> 00:13:47.190 that you don't build your life. And that is a 00:13:47.190 --> 00:13:58.110 mistake. So, protect time together. Talk about 00:13:58.110 --> 00:14:03.990 money openly. Don't hide the ups and the downs. 00:14:04.789 --> 00:14:10.429 Be transparent so your spouse doesn't feel blindsided, 00:14:11.470 --> 00:14:15.570 when things get tight, or when you make a big 00:14:15.570 --> 00:14:23.649 investment. Be honest, be transparent, and be 00:14:23.649 --> 00:14:33.929 open. Dream together. Remind each other of the 00:14:33.929 --> 00:14:40.700 why. Why you started. Maybe it was financial 00:14:40.700 --> 00:14:46.620 freedom. Maybe it was time freedom. Or building 00:14:46.620 --> 00:14:51.500 something for the kids. That shared vision keeps 00:14:51.500 --> 00:15:02.240 you rowing in the same direction. So look, hustlers. 00:15:07.879 --> 00:15:13.639 A lot of marriages end in divorce. My wife and 00:15:13.639 --> 00:15:21.279 I have been married for 37 years. And while we 00:15:21.279 --> 00:15:24.759 were dating and just talking about marriage, 00:15:26.120 --> 00:15:31.620 we made up our mind that the word divorce would 00:15:31.620 --> 00:15:35.960 not be mentioned in an argument. We wouldn't 00:15:35.960 --> 00:15:41.620 throw it up. in a disagreement. We would talk 00:15:41.620 --> 00:15:45.700 through it, we would work through it, and we 00:15:45.700 --> 00:15:51.700 would survive. You see, we took some vows for 00:15:51.700 --> 00:15:55.259 richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, 00:15:57.200 --> 00:16:01.559 forsaking all others, that we would love, honor, 00:16:01.700 --> 00:16:12.580 and cherish each other. So I'm not going to be 00:16:12.580 --> 00:16:20.940 inconsiderate when the money is there. And I'm 00:16:20.940 --> 00:16:24.480 not going to hide it when the money's not there. 00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:31.919 I'm going to love her in sickness and in health, 00:16:32.360 --> 00:16:40.429 forsaking all others until Death do us part. 00:16:42.110 --> 00:16:50.169 You see, marriage is until death, not until something 00:16:50.169 --> 00:17:00.850 better comes along. Your marriage is more important 00:17:00.850 --> 00:17:07.339 than your mowing route. You can always replace 00:17:07.339 --> 00:17:12.859 a trimmer. You can always find another client. 00:17:14.460 --> 00:17:19.660 But you cannot just replace the person who's 00:17:19.660 --> 00:17:23.299 been with you through the ups and the downs. 00:17:25.099 --> 00:17:30.720 When you take your marriage personally and you 00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:35.460 take it and you begin to build it and you begin 00:17:35.460 --> 00:17:40.420 to establish and you begin to mesh and grow together, 00:17:40.819 --> 00:17:49.279 the two become one. When you do that, there are 00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:52.220 going to be things that will try to destroy that 00:17:52.220 --> 00:17:58.339 unit, try to break down, try to divide, try to 00:17:58.339 --> 00:18:03.180 sever, but you've got to make up your mind, I'm 00:18:03.180 --> 00:18:16.299 in. this marriage until death do us part. So 00:18:16.299 --> 00:18:22.599 I encourage you to take care of your lawns, work 00:18:22.599 --> 00:18:28.680 on your route density, know your numbers, know 00:18:28.680 --> 00:18:32.710 what you should be charging. Charge according 00:18:32.710 --> 00:18:38.210 to your value and the customer's perceived outcome. 00:18:41.829 --> 00:18:44.809 But I want to also encourage you, work on your 00:18:44.809 --> 00:18:51.490 marriage harder. Work on your marriage even more. 00:18:53.190 --> 00:18:57.089 Because at the end of the day, the best business 00:18:57.089 --> 00:19:08.000 partner you will ever have is your spouse. We've 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:12.019 been through sickness as most of you know, I 00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:19.500 am a throat cancer survivor And I would not Want 00:19:19.500 --> 00:19:25.859 to walk that road by myself I'm so thankful and 00:19:25.859 --> 00:19:30.920 grateful that my wife was there for me She encouraged 00:19:30.920 --> 00:19:39.640 me she prayed for me wiped tears from my eyes. 00:19:41.380 --> 00:19:48.079 She was a strength for me. And there's been times 00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:52.000 that I have been there for her because that's 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:56.980 what a husband and wife does. Yes, I want to 00:19:56.980 --> 00:20:00.519 have a great business. Yes, I want to make money. 00:20:01.059 --> 00:20:04.720 Yes, I want to grow. I want to scale. I want 00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:09.519 to take my business to the next level, but not 00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:16.740 at the expense of my family. And this is why 00:20:16.740 --> 00:20:20.380 I think it's important that you set some time 00:20:20.380 --> 00:20:24.579 limits on work. For example, here are a few. 00:20:26.440 --> 00:20:31.359 Maybe no phone calls or no estimates after 6 00:20:31.359 --> 00:20:40.599 or 7 p .m. Maybe you start winding down the work 00:20:40.599 --> 00:20:49.240 day at 5 p .m. And if I'm starting a job before 00:20:49.240 --> 00:20:54.640 5 and I can't get it done either I wait and start 00:20:54.640 --> 00:20:58.480 it the next morning or I come back the next morning 00:20:58.480 --> 00:21:04.579 first thing and finish Because I want to set 00:21:04.579 --> 00:21:10.819 those time frames for my work so I can make those 00:21:10.819 --> 00:21:14.700 family dinners, so I can go to those family birthday 00:21:14.700 --> 00:21:20.279 parties, so I can go to the kids sporting events 00:21:20.279 --> 00:21:27.019 or school functions. You see, you can go through 00:21:27.019 --> 00:21:32.500 your kids' whole school years and miss out on 00:21:32.500 --> 00:21:37.180 all of their events. and when you look back through 00:21:37.180 --> 00:21:45.000 the years in the pictures or the videos and you 00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:49.140 see grandma and grandpa you see aunts and uncles 00:21:49.140 --> 00:21:53.059 you see your family but you're never in the picture 00:21:53.059 --> 00:21:56.460 you're never in the video because you're never 00:21:56.460 --> 00:22:08.289 there that my friend can be a I cannot survive. 00:22:10.890 --> 00:22:14.490 So set those timeframes. I'm not going to mow 00:22:14.490 --> 00:22:21.109 anything after 5 p .m. I'm shutting my work phone 00:22:21.109 --> 00:22:27.950 off at 7 p .m. I'm not going to answer the phone. 00:22:28.470 --> 00:22:31.789 I'm not going to return an email. I'm not going 00:22:31.789 --> 00:22:35.190 to return a text message. It can wait from 7 00:22:35.190 --> 00:22:43.339 p .m. to 7 a .m. Those 12 hours are my time, 00:22:44.599 --> 00:22:50.759 my family's time, my wife and I's time. So I 00:22:50.759 --> 00:22:57.799 want to encourage you. Yes, we want to be successful. 00:22:58.940 --> 00:23:06.910 Yes, we want to grow a great business. the ins 00:23:06.910 --> 00:23:12.910 and outs of running a business and being efficient 00:23:12.910 --> 00:23:22.269 and knowing the bottom dollar of our income versus 00:23:22.269 --> 00:23:25.730 the top dollar of our income. We want to know 00:23:25.730 --> 00:23:29.869 all about our profit margins. We want to know 00:23:29.869 --> 00:23:35.329 all about our P &L. You know, I want to make 00:23:35.329 --> 00:23:43.779 a problem. I need to know about that. But I don't 00:23:43.779 --> 00:23:48.819 want to sacrifice my family, my wife, my kids, 00:23:50.019 --> 00:23:57.160 my mother. She's 92 years old. She's the matriarch. 00:23:57.480 --> 00:24:02.240 She is what has held us all together for all 00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:13.009 of these years. These last years, to be flooded 00:24:13.009 --> 00:24:19.710 with family time, with honoring her, cherishing 00:24:19.710 --> 00:24:26.609 her, loving her more than ever before. And I 00:24:26.609 --> 00:24:30.170 know you want the same thing. I want you to have 00:24:30.170 --> 00:24:33.789 a great business, but I want you to have a great 00:24:33.789 --> 00:24:40.970 family also. Because running a business, whether 00:24:40.970 --> 00:24:44.549 it's lawn care or plumbing or roofing or whatever 00:24:44.549 --> 00:24:50.569 it is, running a business can destroy the family 00:24:50.569 --> 00:24:58.109 unit if you let it. But if you make up your mind, 00:24:59.309 --> 00:25:04.849 I'm going to involve my wife in my decision making, 00:25:05.990 --> 00:25:13.000 in my business finances in my day -to -day operation. 00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:22.619 And I'm going to find a happy family while I'm 00:25:22.619 --> 00:25:29.900 building a great company. So thanks for listening, 00:25:30.420 --> 00:25:38.180 lawn hustles. If this episode hit home for you, 00:25:38.400 --> 00:25:43.559 share it with another lawn care pro who might 00:25:43.559 --> 00:25:49.400 need the reminder. And remember, it's not just 00:25:49.400 --> 00:25:54.460 about growing lawns, it's about growing a life. 00:25:55.900 --> 00:26:00.740 I'll catch you on the next episode of The Lawn 00:26:00.740 --> 00:26:01.240 Hustle.