They are often up before the sun. There are clients to meet, details to take care of. Lunch? Sometimes. Late nights, depending on the seasons, and sometimes very little “me” time.
We asked three industry professionals—Susan Hartman, landscape designer/sales at Santa Rita Landscaping, Santa Rita, Ariz.; Eddie Padilla, sales representative/estimator at Heads Up Landscape Contractors, Albuquerque, N.M.; and Kevin Ward, commercial maintenance account manager at Hillenmeyer Landscape Services, Lexington, Ky.—to give us a glimpse into their life to see how they manage to do it all.
All of them agree it takes organization, leadership and a long list of priorities to get it done.
Off to a good start
It’s 5:30 a.m. and Kevin Ward and Eddie Padilla are already looking ahead to the tasks awaiting them. Whether it’s enjoying a cup of coffee, relaxing or spending time with your spouse or reading the Bible, the morning routine sets the tone for the day ahead.
“This is probably the most important part of my day, because if I leave home at peace and anticipating a good day, it sets the tone for all of my interactions with the people I meet that day,” Susan Hartman explains.
Details
Arriving in the office between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m., the workday starts off with attention to the details. Wading through voicemails and emails and preparing or reviewing the daily schedule usually are first on the agenda.
Wade begins dispatching his crews at 7:30.
“I make a list of things to be done and when they need to be done. I write everything in my planner and I set short-term goals for the week, such as bid dates, design schedules and appointments,” Padilla says. “I address the major problems and get them off my plate as soon as possible.”
As a designer, it’s important for Hartman to meet with the foremen that are in charge of making her vision a reality. “I listen carefully to their input. Over the years I have gained considerable respect for the knowledge and expertise the crews put into their work,” she says.
Take a breather
After a morning of meeting with the boss, colleagues and clients, Ward grabs a quick lunch and meets with Dean Akers, Hillenmeyer’s other commercial maintenance account manager to discuss any problems and to brainstorm for ideas that might lead to more efficient or new operations. Padilla tries to eat lunch, but sometimes it’s on the run or skipped so he can grab some gym time.
The personal touch
Afternoons are usually reserved for more correspondence and paperwork, as well as scheduled appointments with clients.
Padilla catches up on paperwork, so he doesn’t get overwhelmed by it all at once; and Hartman works with estimators and staff to prepare the designs and build the jobs—when she’s not fielding client calls. The key, Hartman says, is to know your limits and to delegate.
“It is very important to stay focused and organized,” she says. “It is easy to become pulled by every interruption, but if I have priorities, my time will remain productive as I delegate tasks.”
Heading home
It’s 5 p.m. and Padilla’s off to the gym, maybe dinner with mom or off to play baseball before he goes to sleep around 11 p.m.
Ward leaves work between 5:30 p.m. or 6 p.m. (unless it’s spring, and then he alternates closing nights with a colleague) and heads home to his family. After his daughters go to bed, Ward spends time with his wife and watches TV or reads.
For Hartman, family comes first, which means dinners together, family time and relaxing with her hobbies—fishing, cooking and gardening.
The look of a leader
With such busy schedules, these professionals still make time to improve their leadership abilities to better serve their colleagues, clients and themselves.
Padilla reads books that inspire him to be the type of person he strives to be and focuses on the tools that help him to become a better leader.
“Being a team player and leading by example are important,” he says. “I love to encourage and guide my employees. It boils down to putting your priorities in order and following through.”
Hartman agrees that being a leader means encouraging employees and helping them be the best they can be.
“When you have people around you that have been hired into jobs that are interesting to them, an environment has been created that allows the work to flow better.”
