What happens when you hire a software programmer, not a landscaper, to help run one of the biggest jobs of your career? In this live talk turned podcast episode, Mike Lysecki reveals the behind-the-scenes story of how systems, transparency, and accountability became the backbone of TBG’s success and eventually the foundation for LMN and LeanScaper.
From a $5M residential project that ballooned into $12M, to a job interview where Mark opened his QuickBooks and doubled Mike’s salary on the spot, this conversation lays out the real playbook landscapers need to scale smarter.
✅ Why you might want to hire an operator instead of another landscaper
✅ How a $12M project exposed the need for systems
✅ The surprising power of financial transparency in leadership
✅ The first version of the Lean Playbook—and why it still works today
✅ Lessons from 20 years of cutting waste, building teams, and scaling businesses
This isn’t theory. It’s the operating system that transformed a company, and can transform yours.
What is The LeanScaper Podcast?
The LeanScaper Podcast is where serious landscape leaders go to grow.
If you want new school systems for an old school industry, expertly crafted interviews with world class experts, endless inspiration you’ve come to the right place.
Hosted by Benji Carlson and Mark Bradley. New Episodes release every Monday, on every platform.