At this time of year, with July just around the corner, most of us are at our busiest. I used to call these the 100 days of hell, given all the demands that are put on landscaping companies from April through the Fourth of July, until one of our Grow Group clients and friends, Jeffrey Johns, who runs Coastal Greenery in Brunswick, Ga., convinced me to think of them as the 100 days of victory instead.
I love Jeffrey’s reframing, focusing on what we’ll gain from hard work rather than on how difficult or taxing it may be. To win at business — to win at anything — you have to have the right mindset, and it’s up to all of us in leadership roles to impart that to our teams, both in what we say and in what we do.
And that’s never been more important than now, with all the uncertainty the coronavirus has brought. At the time of my writing this, my home state of Ohio is emerging from its shutdown, and businesses are starting to open up. At Grunder Landscaping, we’re working hard to make up for lost time and revenue and to deliver on what we promised to our clients.
My team has really pulled together and stepped up. We’ve challenged everyone in the company to look for ways we can operate more efficiently, and every day, it seems we are getting a little faster and a little better at what we do.
I would be lying to you, though, if I said I don’t find it stressful or that everything is just great. I don’t know anyone in business, with the possible exception of grocery store owners and face mask manufacturers, who reads the headlines now and isn’t concerned at all about the economic outlook. But, you have to focus on what you can do and control and let go of what you can’t. And you have to convey that message to your team.
Recently, I chatted with a friend of mine, Brian Arlinghaus, who’s the head golf coach at Wright State University in Dayton. Trained in sports psychology, Brian emphasized how important it is for those of us under stress — regardless of whether you’re an athlete or a business owner — to devote some time each day to “stillness.” He said to start with 10 minutes. Turn off your computer and phone, and shut out any stimuli at all. Let your thoughts go and just breathe.
Now, I know for many entrepreneurs, this may seem excruciatingly hard to do, or like a waste of valuable time we could be spending on getting real work done. I used to think that, too. But here’s the thing: It’s this stillness that enables your mind to de-stress and declutter, and it can lead to some of your best ideas and improve your productivity. That’s why some of the most successful CEOs — including the executive chair of Ford Motor Co. and the founder of Salesforce — have taken up meditation. It has certainly helped me. If you’re feeling stressed by all the demands made on you, give it a try and see if it doesn’t help you.
Brighter days are up ahead for all of us. Stay positive, focus on what you can control and lead your team to victory.
