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The Do’s and Don’ts Of Weekly Team Meetings

We’ve all heard the meeting jokes, some funny and others not so much. “One of these days we need to hold a meeting about all these meetings we’ve been having”… “Jones thought he’d gotten widespread agreement at the last meeting when he saw all those bobbing heads, but it turns out was just everybody fighting the urge to fall asleep”… “We reached a unanimous decision at Monday’s meeting—everyone agreed that the meeting was unnecessary”… And so it goes. Why have meetings earned such a bad rap and sometimes dreaded by […]

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3 Tips to Effectively Manage Your Staff’s Projects

Managing one’s own projects is a subject about which many books and articles have been written. Managing the projects of others, however, is a subject unto itself, as many small business owners will quickly learn as they begin to grow their staff. What’s the secret to managing employee projects without taking them over as your own? For most small business owners, this is a matter of combining effective employee management with basic project management principles. Depending on your own level of experience and skills at each, this can be somewhat […]

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Customer Service: Empowering Employees to Please Customers

Many people have an easier time defining poor customer service than they do good customer service. That is, they can’t always articulate what quality customer service is, but they could write volumes about what it isn’t. Why do you suppose that is? Has customer service become a lost art? Some people believe so. Here’s why customer service still matters for businesses and how you can empower employees to please customers. Why Customer Service Matters Your Window Is Open In any industry, a company’s front-line employees—those who interact directly with the […]

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How to Set and Achieve Winning Business Goals for 2019

As another year draws to a close, our thoughts turn toward 2019. A whole new year filled with endless possibilities stretches out before us and it’s hard not to be enthusiastic. Wouldn’t it be great to keep that enthusiasm going long enough to convert some of those goals into reality for your small business? You absolutely can! Here are some ways to set new goals for 2019 and improve your chances of achieving them. Successful Goal Setting For Your Local Business Take Stock of Your Present Situation You cannot effectively […]

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Working Together: How to Make a Family Business Work

The vast majority of businesses in the US, roughly 90%, are family owned or controlled. There is something promising about going into business with your spouse, siblings, kids, cousins, or other family members. There are, however, many inherent challenges to successfully starting and growing a family business. Predictably, these challenges fall into two categories: issues pertaining to the family and issues pertaining to the business. Let’s look at the pros and cons of a family business, exploring some of the leading issues as well as the potential ways to resolve […]

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Unplugging From Technology: Benefits of Taking a Device-Free Day

We live and work in an age where the flow of news, information, and communication are instantaneous and continuous. Social media allows us to engage customers and vendors as well as old schoolmates in ways that would not have been possible in the past. And with very few exceptions, thanks to the current technology, we are always plugged into the data stream—unless we choose not to be. The practice of periodically removing ourselves from technology high-tech devices has become known as “unplugging” and it seems to have gained popularity in […]

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Should You Convert Your Green Industry Business to a Franchise?

You’ve spent years developing your own business and building a loyal customer base that looks to you as the local green industry expert. And rightfully so, as you have amassed the kind of local knowledge that can only be acquired through years of experience. For any number of reasons, you may have considered converting your local business to a franchise or expanding your service offerings by adding on a specialty franchise. Would converting your business to a franchise be a good move for you? The answer to that question must […]

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Spring-Green Welcomes Newest Franchise Owners in Valparaiso, IN

Spring-Green Lawn Care is proud to announce its expansion to service the Valparaiso, IN and surrounding areas. This expansion will be led by father-son team, Jim and John Mercon. The Mercon’s are expanding their service offerings by adding Spring-Green Lawn Care to work in conjunction with their existing business, Nature Cuts, Inc. “We’re extremely excited to join Spring-Green Lawn Care. It’s a perfect way to diversify our business. We will now offer residential and commercial fertilization and weed control, as well as many other services,” said Mercon. Mercon has been […]

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Five Reasons Why You Should Join Your Local Chamber of Commerce

Many towns and metropolitan areas have a local Chamber of Commerce that organizes small businesses with the goal of furthering business interests and developing local networks. Chambers of Commerce will also work with the local government to represent the business sector when discussing city initiatives. You might be thinking this sounds great and all, but you’re just too busy to be involved with one more thing. Plus, a membership does cost money. However, being a part of your local Chamber of Commerce offers many benefits that can make the time […]

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Time Management: Manage Time More Efficiently to Increase Productivity

The green industry tends to be incredibly hectic during the busy season. When the weather warms up and lawn, tree and pest needs start to grow, it can be difficult to manage time and complete all the work that has to be done. You certainly don’t want to disappoint customers with long wait times, and no business owner enjoys turning away new clients because they just can’t handle anything more. Sometimes this is unavoidable, but there are strategies you can implement to make the most of your time. Remember these […]

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