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Five days, two very different experiences and one lesson I can't stop thinking about. Last week I spent time with people who have built incredible businesses. A few days later I stood at a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating a business owner's dream becoming reality. And those moments couldn't have looked more different. But they were connected by one simple truth. And today I want to share what that truth is and why it matters to every business owner listening Today's episode
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is brought to you by Yardbook, the All in One CRM for your lawn care business. And as an exclusive partner of this podcast, you can get started today and begin simplifying your business and maximizing your profits. Sign up now@yardbook.com the link is in. The show notes Time now for profits with PayJack, an essential podcast for you in the green industry who are looking to unlock the full potential of your business. Hosted by John Pajak, you're certified. The show features in depth discussions with successful entrepreneurs, thought leaders and industry experts. Providing practical advice and proven strategies on financial planning, operations, marketing and sales. Profits with Paycheck has valuable insights and action steps that you can implement today for creating long term success. Now here's John Pajak.
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Welcome to Profits with Paycheck the Podcast welcome to podcasts. We dive into business strategies and financial insights for the green industry. I'm your host John Pajak, and today I wanted to share a lesson that was reinforced for me during a recent trip to Texas. And this episode isn't about coaching, it isn't about consulting, and it isn't about selling anything. It's about something much bigger. It's about why the most successful people I've ever met never stop learning from others. Now, last week I had the opportunity to spend several days in Texas and part of that trip was spent at Warplant Studios with Joshua Latimer, Ashley Latimer, Derek Kelly, and several other business owners and entrepreneurs that I consider peers. Now, if you've never been in a room like that, you might imagine everybody sitting around and talking about their successes, maybe talking about revenue numbers or accomplishments, wins and achievements. But that's not what happened. This conversation centered around growth. How do we become better? How do we serve people better? How do we ask better questions? And how do we truly understand what our clients are trying to accomplish? One thing that kept coming up through the conversations was clarity. Because the reality is there's a lot of business owners that say they want more More revenue, more employees, more customers, more freedom, more opportunities. But when you ask them what more actually looks like, they aren't always sure. And that's a problem, because if you don't know where you're trying to go, every road looks like the right road. And the more we talked, the more I realized something. The people in the room weren't acting like they had arrived. They weren't pretending that they had all the answers. And despite years of success, they were still students. They're still learning, they're still growing, and still seeking perspective from one another. And that realization stayed with me throughout the week. And a few days later, I found myself standing in front of a brand new building for a ribbon cutting ceremony. And this is for one of my husband and wife clients, the Marshals. They had invited me to attend the event. The Chamber of Commerce was there, Friends were there, family members were there, neighbors. Everybody was celebrating. Everybody was very excited, and rightfully so, because what stood before them was the physical evidence of years of hard work. And what most people saw was a beautiful building. And what I saw was the journey. I thought back to April of 24, when me and the Marshals first started working together. Back then, many of the things they were celebrating that day, they feel like distant dreams. The building, the growth, the opportunities, the future that they envisioned. Now, at the time, some of those goals felt almost impossible. And it's not because they lacked the talent or they lacked the work ethic. They definitely didn't lack vision, but because the gap between where they were and where they wanted to be, it just seemed enormous. And I think every business owner listening understands that feeling. You want to know where to go, you just sure. You just aren't sure how you're going to get there. And as I stood there watching them cut that ribbon, my mind kept going back to the conversations from earlier in the week. And that's when it hit me. The people growing the fastest aren't the people who know everything. They're the people who never stop learning from others. Now, let's just think about this for a little bit. Imagine you're standing at the edge of a dark forest, and somewhere on the other side is everything you're hoping to accomplish. You're hoping to get a profitable business, a stronger team, financial security, more freedom, more time with your family, maybe a building of your own someday. You know where you want to go. You just can't see the path. And most business owners try to navigate the forest alone. They take a few steps, they hit a dead end, they turn around, they try another path. They get frustrated, they doubt themselves, and they wonder if they're even headed in the right direction and eventually they make progress. But often it takes years longer than it should. Now imagine someone walks up beside you. Not someone who read a book about the forest, but somebody who's actually walked through it. Someone who knows where the cliffs are. Someone who knows where the path's dead end. Someone who knows where the bridges are. Now, they don't carry you and they don't walk the path for you. They simply hand you a flashlight. And that's what mentorship really is. It's not someone doing the work for you, it's someone helping you avoid the unnecessary detours. Back when I was getting my lawn care business off the ground, I was juggling routes, invoices and customer notes with paper and prayers. It was chaos. Until I found Yardbook. Yardbook gave me the structure. It helped me track chemicals, route efficiently, invoice faster, and most importantly, it helped me grow a profitable business. If you're tired of duct taping your systems Together, go to yardbook.com and sign up for free. And if you're ready to go premium, use promo code PAYJACK to get your first 30 days on me.
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Are you mowing lawns, running crews, and still wondering where all the money went? You're not alone. Naylor Taliaferro of LCR Media has been there, and that's exactly why he created Profit Accelerator Live. Join Naylor and expert speakers John Pajak and Eric Triplett for two powerful days of hands on workshops designed specifically for lawn care and landscaping business owners in Richmond, Virginia June 26th and 27th. This isn't a conference where you'll sit in the back and take notes. You'll leave with an actual business plan in hand, knowing exactly what to charge, how to manage your time, and how to attract better customers. Tickets are just $299, but right now you can bring a partner or a fellow business owner free with our two for one special. Tickets are just $299, but right now you can bring a partner or fellow business owner free with our 2 for 1 special. Only 75 spots are available and they will fill up fast. Use the link in the show description or go to profitacceleratorlive.com to secure your spot today. Put more money in the bank and more time in your schedule with Profit. Profit Accelerator Live
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hey guys, John Pajak here. If you're a lawn care operator, landscaper, hardscaper, dealer or anyone working in the green industry, I want to highly encourage you to take a serious look at Equip Expo this October in Louisville, Kentucky because Equip Expo is the largest trade show and educational event in our industry. For three days, you're going to have the opportunity to see the latest equipment, test drive machines, attend educational sessions taught by industry leaders, and network with thousands of contractors from across the country. I've been attending for years, and every time I go, I come home with new ideas that make me money, save me time, or help me run a better business. So let's talk numbers. Registration is currently $30, but if you use promo code Paycheck, you're going to save 50% and get your ticket for just $15. And if you wait any longer, prices are going to keep going up. So the question isn't whether Equip Expo is worth the money. The question is whether you can afford to miss the opportunities waiting for you there. So head over to equip expo.com, use promo code PAYCHECK and I'll see you in Louisville this October. Link is in the show Notes I want to say this success leaves clues. You know, the people achieving the results you want are often following principles you haven't learned yet. And the question isn't whether you can afford guidance. The question is how much time you're losing by staying stuck. It's something I've learned a long time ago is that nobody makes it alone. And I think that's one of the biggest myths in entrepreneurship is the idea of the self made business owner. The longer I've been in business, the less I believe that phrase. Because every successful entrepreneur can point to people who influence their journey. Sometimes it's parents or teachers, sometimes it's friends. Other times they get inspiration from books or podcasts. Maybe it's a business partner or industry peers. It might be mentors or mastermind groups, but someone somewhere helped them see something they couldn't see on their own. Even the people I spent time with at Warplant Studios are constantly learning. They're investing time and energy into becoming better leaders, better communicators, and better problem solvers. And why? Because growth never stops. The forest never goes away. You know, the trees just get taller, the challenges start to evolve and the stakes get a little bit higher. And this is where the decisions become more important. And having trusted people around you becomes even more valuable. And I look at this and I think the biggest cost of trying to figure everything out yourself isn't failure. And most businesses are resourceful enough to eventually find their way. The real cost is time. Maybe you'll eventually figure out the solution, but what if it takes 10 years instead of 2 what if someone could help you avoid mistakes that they've already made? And what if one conversation saves you months of frustration? What if one insight changes the trajectory of your business? Money can be replaced. Equipment can be replaced. Opportunities sometimes come back around. But I'll tell you what, you know what doesn't come back around? Time. Time does not come back around. That's why wisdom is so valuable. Wisdom compresses time. So on the last day as I was traveling home from Texas, I realized I had witnessed two completely different examples of the same principle. At War Plant Studios, I saw successful people actively working to become better. And at the ribbon cutting ceremony, I saw the results of consistent growth, guidance and execution over time. And these are just different stages of the journey. It's the same lesson. But the people growing the fastest aren't the people who know everything. They're the people who never stop learning from others. So if you're in the messy middle right now, don't be discouraged. The messy middle is where growth happens. So you got to keep learning. You got to keep asking those questions and seeking out wisdom. You got to keep surrounding yourself with people who challenge your thinking and expand your perspective. Because success isn't about finding shortcuts, it's about finding direction. And sometimes the difference between where you are today and where you want to be tomorrow is simply having someone who could help you see that path a little more clearly. So with that being said, I hope you enjoyed this. God Bless. Keep pushing through and we'll catch you on the next one. Thank you once again for listening. If you've enjoyed the show, please leave a review and share it with fellow business owners. Your support means the world to me and helps keep the show going strong. I want to give a special shout out to our friends at Yardbook. Their continued support has been instrumental in bringing this podcast to you week after week. If you haven't checked them out yet, visit yardbook.com and see how they can give you the tools to streamline and manage your lawn care business. Also, don't forget to explore the resources and upcoming events that I've collected just for you in the show Notes. These are curated to help you stay ahead in your business with the latest tips, tools and networking opportunities. Whether it's a new tool, an insightful article, or an event you don't want to miss, I've got you covered. Until next time, keep pushing through and God bless.