​I’m a grower at heart.  After working for many years in horticultural production and marketing “in my prior life”, I always enjoy an opportunity to return to those green industry roots. (Pun intended!).  Yesterday was such an experience.
 
I first knew this rural Flagler County land as a working cattle ranch in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s; it was like so much of “Old Florida”, with pasture, pine, patches of oak hammock and creeks winding through over 5000 acres. It was pastoral and it was peaceful.  The pristine frontage on Lake Disston is like the painting of a master artist.
 
In the mid to late 1980’s, a sizable tract of this ranch was sold to a family that developed a large tree nursery on it. Their approach was dynamic, scalable and utilized (then) the latest container production approaches. It was an impressive operation, which became part of a multi-location nursery and distribution network.  That horticultural business was something to behold – until the Great Recession claimed it as one of many victims.
 
The operation was idled and inventory liquidated over time as it could be. Container plants in the intense Florida environment don't age well, however, unlike fine wine in a cool cellar.  It didn't take long before the operation was but a shadow of its former self and fell into the hands of a horticultural operation that simply used what it could of the property for a period of time, putting nothing back into it. The steady decline of the infrastructure, and what little inventory there was, continued. This one-time showplace became like an abandoned Victorian-era house; the structure was still intact and it didn't look too bad from a distance, but close-up was another view entirely.
 
Grand old houses like that require a fresh new vision and an owner willing to invest time, significant capital, heart and soul into renovation. Fortunately, this fine property has found such a new owner and steward in Jonathan Saperstein of "Tree Town".  In a horticultural sense, Saperstein has made a massive commitment to rejuvenation and the restored potential is already taking shape. It's not just restoring the land and structure to its original condition; it’s a work-in-progress of fixing the foundation and framework, and then installing modern new conveniences and improvements that will make the new operation even better than the original. You can already see it coming to life and the Saperstein's Vision for Tree Town taking shape.  Tree Town has attracted top horticulturists to participate in the rejuvenation; the nursery is a beehive of activity and the positive energy is palpable.
 
Land, water, plants and daily care, both working with and defending against Mother Nature – those elements are ever-present and only for the vigilant. The addition of new technology and infrastructure to cultivate, pot, process, tend, harvest and ship will give this rejuvenated nursery operation every opportunity to elevate what’s there to a higher level.  It's inspiring to see the original, the old and the new being molded into something even better.  Something tells me that Jonathan Saperstein and his team are up to the challenge.
 
Life and business go through phases and cycles; it’s how we adapt when things change that defines us and creates our legacy.  Enjoy the journey!

…usually aren't what they seem!  People are always looking for a quicker way, the fastest route to the desired result.  That's an entirely different mindset than looking for a more efficient way, the optimum route to the desired result.
 
I learned this lesson as a kid, though I certainly didn't realize it at the time.  The teacher: my Dad. The subject: Pancakes. Not just any old pancakes; these were Buttermilk Griddlecakes, made from scratch.  Most weekends involved them and they were amazing.  They were made step-by-step, with fresh ingredients, and lots of love.  I can taste them now, just thinking about them!  It's a gift I enjoyed sharing with my own sons as they were growing up.
 
Sure, you can quickly whip up pancakes from a box mix, or pop some frozen ones in the toaster oven. Those shortcuts will get them ready fast, although they will likely taste like a cross between wet wall board and warm bread.  Or, you can take the time to do it right and delight your family (especially your own kids)!  It doesn't take a great deal longer, especially if you’re efficient.
 
It's always wise to seek out efficiencies in any process but, if that quest turns into taking shortcuts, you'll end up short-changing your customers.  And you can be guaranteed that they’ll soon notice if you've substituted “quick-mix” for the real thing.  Good processes are designed to deliver a consistent outcome, one that is appetizing and will keep clients coming back for more.  They'll appreciate the extra care you've taken to deliver something better, something worth remembering – and recommending.
 
So, finding ways to streamline and properly sequence steps in any process will pay off, especially when you can deliver the result more swiftly, consistently and cost-effectively.  Take pause, however, when it comes to eliminating steps, or combining them.  Make sure that approach doesn't homogenize the end result.  Your customers will know the difference!
 
As I think back about it, my father never took shortcuts.  He approached everything in his life the way he made pancakes.  “Do things the right way, always give it your best, and no one can ask anything more of you.”  That's pretty darn good advice.
 
Enjoy the Journey!

I'm delighted to share my Dad’s “secret recipe” for mouth-watering Buttermilk Griddlecakes with you, written in his own hand for me

​Oh, and one more thing……if  you do make Buttermilk Griddlecakes, only serve them with real Maple Syrup (or the fresh topping of your choice).  Don't ruin a masterpiece by taking an unnecessary shortcut right at the end.

It's really easy to get ahead of yourself. When the adrenaline kicks in, the impulse is to just charge ahead without the required focus to suit the situation.  Enthusiasm is a good thing; however, unbridled enthusiasm can wreak havoc behind you when that first ride ends!  It can also leave you bruised and unwilling to try again. Don't let that happen to you.
 
When starting out in a new endeavor, it's worth taking the time to think through what lies ahead of you. This applies whether we’re talking about a new job, new role, new organization, new project, or even a new sport. Putting first things first will help you move forward with focused energy and renewed purpose. 

I think about it this way:

• Why am I doing this?  What do I intend to accomplish?
• How am I going to go about it?  What are my various options available and what different paths might I take to get there?  Will one approach be more fun, or fruitful, than another?
• What gaps in information, resources or training do I absolutely need to fill, in order to enhance my likelihood of success?  “On-the-job training” is great, but sometimes it's simply an excuse for lack of preparation.
  • Take skydiving, for example. Do you just climb aboard any plane and dive out the door when told, or do you get some instruction on the fundamentals before bailing out?  Some of us might even try a tandem jump first……In any case, you'd better consider what you're going to do when you're out there in thin air, before you get there!
• When I'm fully engaged and making it happen, what defines success?  Am I committed to the outcome?  Be very clear and succinct about this aspect, since it defines what you set out to do in the first place.
  • To complete my prior example, floating back to earth and achieving an upright safe landing in the target zone, without broken bones, might qualify!

​I use the dramatic to illustrate the practical, but hopefully you'll get my point. It really helps to work through the things you need to accomplish before you embark on your latest quest, not after you're already underway and frustrated.  Or even worse, lost or injured in the process.
 
Boiled down to the essence, begin with the end in mind. Then put first things first. Enjoy the Journey!

Once a decision is made to take action, it's crucial to consider how to approach the work. There are often multiple means to an end, but they are not all created equal.  The methods chosen will greatly influence the lasting value that is created, or not.
 
Three crucial questions will help a leader and team evaluate different means to an end:

1. ​Is it ethical?  This first question may seem obvious, but is overlooked all too often in the rush to get things done. Do the proposed means and methods align with the organization's values, respect people and honor agreements?
2. Does the process complement the capabilities of the team that must carry it out?  I recall some words of wisdom that were shared by a process-improvement trainer during a “Kaizen” (lean process) event several years ago.  His advice was to “be hard on the process and easy on the people”.  This shouldn't be misconstrued to suggest that the work is easy, or the goal is not challenging; quite the contrary.  The key is that people will be more focused and effective in achieving high goals when the process supports their efforts, instead of requiring “work-arounds” that distract effort and delay progress.
3. Will the organization move toward its Vision?  By choosing a particular approach, will the organization merely tackle a short-term problem, or will it move along the path toward its long-term goals?  Quick-fixes may appear easy in the short-term, but they rarely support sustainable effort.

​Methods do matter.  When grounded in purpose, guided by values and supported by efficient processes, sustainable progress can be made. By pausing to ask these three questions before launching into action, a team will dramatically increase the probability of success.  They will also enjoy the journey much more. 

I heard a new expression this week at our annual Safety Symposium; it was new to me, at least, but the euphemism “Pencil-Whipping” is common enough that Google instantly returns multiple results, including definitions in the Urban Dictionary and Wiktionary.  It conjures up an image for me of a Number 2 Pencil being worked feverishly, such that the tip is whipping across pages, checking the boxes, shading in the squares or writing out explanations.  Apparently, the expression shows up fairly often in safety circles, where inspection checklists are common.

Pencil-Whipping is really just a clever modern-day word for Cheating.  It applies to situations where the person doing the whipping is quickly going through the motions just to complete the list and pass it along.  There's no meaning beyond the actions, other than getting that activity checked off the list.

If you're in a management role, you have an obligation to “inspect what you expect”.  It is important to measure what matters. The purpose isn't to catch employees doing something wrong, but rather to determine if the work is being performed correctly to achieve desired outcomes; the documentation enables managers to assess whatever training or other corrective actions are needed.  Often those inspection activities are requested by other managers in the organization to assess overall compliance and / or progress. That's where Pencil-Whipping can creep in to the picture.

Activity without intent or meaning is just wasted motion. Whatever you call it, that cheats the employee or work group being observed (or not), the person doing the Pencil-Whipping and anyone else who receives the useless or incomplete information.  If you're going to pick up the pencil in the first place, make your marks count.  After all, the point isn't to complete the form, it’s to improve a process and convey a meaningful message. 

​​Successful managers become leaders by learning how to spot and avoid Pencil-Whipping activities in the first place. When team members understand “why”, their actions have meaning and what they write down on paper (or mark on a digital form) will too.  So, no Pencil-Whipping, please!

Photos from the 2015 Yellowstone Landscape Safety Symposium

Building lasting client relationships depends heavily on how they start out.  Otherwise, you're forced to do things “The Hard Way”.
 
This doesn't mean that a business relationship that begins out of sync can't be corrected, because sometimes it can. But why handicap yourself at the outset?  Much better is to spend the time making sure that both of you are crystal clear about what's expected and what will be done.  Your odds of creating a lasting relationship go way up when you take the time to clarify expectations on the front end.
 
Doing the work daily is hard enough; doing the wrong work, not enough work, or substandard work all lead to stress and disappointment. There's a better way: 

1. Begin by establishing Crystal Clear Expectations. 
2. Provide highly Responsive Service. Put simply: Do what you say you're going to do, when you're going to do it. 
3. Communicate relentlessly about what's been done and what's planned ahead.

In a service business, you have three steps to reach two results: There’s The Winning Way; then there’s The Hard Way. The choice is yours!