Leadership in Action

Today’s guest is a local entrepreneur who comes from a financing and consulting background. He’s a landscaping legend, and the kind of leader that rolls up his sleeves and gets it done. James Evans is the CEO of Jim’s Landscaping, and Principal at Gladstone Capital LLC. Host extraordinaire Mark Stiles interviews James to learn more about his background, hear James’s tips for entrepreneurs, and explore the challenges of running a successful landscaping company. 

Takeaways:
You don’t need to quit your day job to start a business. Having a steady source of income removes risk, and can make financing your business easier. 
When you take on a side project while still holding a job, it is important to be transparent with your employer. Establish boundaries, and communicate clearly what your plans are.
As an entrepreneur, you need to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. Things go wrong, and it’s important to be able to adapt.
Landscaping companies offer a unique opportunity for acquisition. Many owners are looking to retire, but there are not many people looking to take up the mantle. These situations offer an easy way to acquire a business that is already running smoothly.
The ability to prioritize is important when you run your own business. You will be tasked with overseeing all aspects of the company but you will only have so much time to devote. 
When starting a new landscaping company, growth can be slow and costly. Each employee will require tools and transportation, which can add up quickly.
When James acquired his landscaping company, he put a high focus on elevating customer service. He makes sure that a human always picks up the phone, that emails are responded to quickly, and has updated payment processes allowing customers to pay with credit cards.
 
 
Links: 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jimslandscapingma/ 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/glad_cap 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-r-evans/ 
Website: https://jimslandscaping.com/
Website: https://gladcap.com/ 

Quote of the Show
“What's dangerous is never taking a shot at something.” - James Evans

Book Recommendation:
Jim Koch - Quench Your Own Thirst

Ways to Tune In:
Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leadership-in-action/id1585042233
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2t4Ksk4TwmZ6MSfAHXGkJI
Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/show/leadership-in-action
Google Play - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubGVhZGVyc2hpcGluYWN0aW9uLmxpdmUvZmVlZC54bWw
Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/4263fd02-8c9b-495e-bd31-2e5aef21ff6b/leadership-in-action
YouTube - https://youtu.be/PX2QwErbhq8

Show Notes

Today’s guest is a local entrepreneur who comes from a financing and consulting background. He’s a landscaping legend, and the kind of leader that rolls up his sleeves and gets it done. James Evans is the CEO of Jim’s Landscaping, and Principal at Gladstone Capital LLC. Host extraordinaire Mark Stiles interviews James to learn more about his background, hear James’s tips for entrepreneurs, and explore the challenges of running a successful landscaping company. 



Takeaways:

  • You don’t need to quit your day job to start a business. Having a steady source of income removes risk, and can make financing your business easier. 
  • When you take on a side project while still holding a job, it is important to be transparent with your employer. Establish boundaries, and communicate clearly what your plans are.
  • As an entrepreneur, you need to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. Things go wrong, and it’s important to be able to adapt.
  • Landscaping companies offer a unique opportunity for acquisition. Many owners are looking to retire, but there are not many people looking to take up the mantle. These situations offer an easy way to acquire a business that is already running smoothly.
  • The ability to prioritize is important when you run your own business. You will be tasked with overseeing all aspects of the company but you will only have so much time to devote. 
  • When starting a new landscaping company, growth can be slow and costly. Each employee will require tools and transportation, which can add up quickly.
  • When James acquired his landscaping company, he put a high focus on elevating customer service. He makes sure that a human always picks up the phone, that emails are responded to quickly, and has updated payment processes allowing customers to pay with credit cards.

 

 

Links: 



Quote of the Show

  • “What's dangerous is never taking a shot at something.” - James Evans



Book Recommendation:

  • Jim Koch - Quench Your Own Thirst



Ways to Tune In:

Creators and Guests

Host
Mark Stiles

What is Leadership in Action?

Welcome to Leadership in Action, the podcast where host Mark Stiles engages in candid conversations with the resilient entrepreneurs of EO’s Boston Chapter. If you're an aspiring business leader, an established entrepreneur, or just someone fascinated by the journey of success, this podcast is your guide to the inspiring world of leadership in action. New episodes drop every other Tuesday, giving you a bi-weekly dose of motivation and valuable insights. Subscribe now to Leadership in Action on your favorite podcast platforms or visit us at leadershipinaction.live.