
Loading summary
Mike Garvey
Are you ready to kick back and get inspired? Grab your favorite drink, pop the top and join the side Hustle Squad with Mike Garvey. This podcast is the perfect resource for anyone who's already started their side hustle or is just considering taking the lead. With in depth interviews featuring guests from the green industry and beyond, you'll gain valuable insights and learn what it takes to succeed in running a business while juggling a full time career. From personal stories to practical tips, the Soc side Hustle Squad podcast has everything you need to turn your passion into a thriving business. Now, here's your Side Hustle Squad host, Mike Garvey.
Paul
Today we're breaking a Guinness World Record with our friends at Relco. What do you think, Mike?
Michael
Oh, this is exciting stuff. I've never been at a Guinness World Record breaking attempt, but this is exciting stuff. The adjudicator, is that what he's called? He's here.
Paul
Yeah.
Michael
He's got the uniform on. The. Very serious stuff here. It's going to be interesting.
Paul
Yeah. We are here on the beautiful shores of the Ohio River. At one point, that was the number one riverwalk in America.
Michael
No kidding?
Paul
I think so. I, I, I, I don't take that to the bank, but okay. At least I saw, I think it was awesome. If not number one.
Michael
Number two, it's a beautiful day and it's. We're not here for equip. I've never been to Louisville. Louisville, you know what I mean?
Paul
Louisville, Louisville.
Michael
Not at equip. So it's very, a different experience. It's very quiet, more intimate, very cool. I'm very excited. Yeah.
Paul
And, and what we're doing here today. So Relco's attempting to set the Guinness World Records fastest time to mow. Basically we have a football field here, a real professional American football field. And they're going to mow it to show off their new engine and how it can handle real grass here at Tall Grass I got wet grass.
Michael
Got a combination of everything. The weather was a little up in the air this morning, but this is, this is exciting stuff. I mean it's got to be done under an hour, I believe. And it's, they got a big mower over there. A lot of, lot of the staff is here, came in and they, they're ready to go.
Paul
Yeah. And they're, they're showing off their new engine, the Command Pro 99. It's like Herman K. 999.
Michael
Correct.
Paul
Remember that politician?
Michael
Yes.
Paul
Like 9% taxes. I think it's 999. I just remember that 999?
Michael
Did he lose? He lost 9% taxes.
Paul
Well, he didn't lose. Yeah, I think the Donald got him. But the Command Pro 999cc. It's 41 horsepower engine. That's what they're working with today. Our friends at railcoast. This is a lot of fun.
Michael
This is a lot of fun. They got everything all set up. We're just getting ready to go. It should be a couple 20 minutes or so. Really looking forward to it. And then, you know, hanging with our friends at Roko. Coming, you know, putting on a nice, nice show here.
Paul
Yeah, very nice. Now, Louisville, how many years have you been coming here for a quip?
Michael
I think next year will be our. So we went one year when it was gie. Every bit of five, maybe six.
Paul
Okay.
Michael
Y. So we're looking forward to it. Got a lot of good things planned. And, you know, we're. We're. We're busy back in New Jersey. We're busy back at home. We're building another branch up in north Jersey. We're also now a certified. We are Jersey shores official crest dealer here in Toms River, New Jersey. So we're getting the crest dealership up and running. Our dealership is roped robotic outdoor power equipment distributors. So we got our hands in that. And really we're busy. We're really excited.
Paul
And what crest commercial equipment have you used so far?
Michael
So we. On our trucks, we have the backpack blowers on. My partner Larry on his. On his trucks. Hedge trimmers, weed whackers, backpack blowers, hand blowers, pruners, pole saw. They. They've. You've been using all of it. We have a Voyager en route to us now. Should be landing next week.
Paul
Yep.
Michael
So we're doing that and then we're meeting with other landscaping companies who are seeing the future and they're seeing that they're not going to resist to it. They're going to. They're. They are jumping on board. I. I had a demo with a. A guy looking to get two voyagers. He does a ton of colleges and stuff like that. So he's jumping all in. So we're real excited.
Paul
And the crest Voyager, I've seen this now. I went down to West Palm beach and saw it down there. There's a fella, Tyler, he has a amazing company that literally his yards are in Palm Beach. I know one of his customers, a multi billionaire, right. And anyway, they're using the Crest Voyager and I saw it here at equip, but it's a fully autonomous zero turn mower. So a lot of the mowers up to this point is it just kind of will do one soccer field at a time or one yard at a time. But the Crest Voyager, you load it up on your trailer, unload, will mow the customer's property, load it back up on your trailer, take it to your next property, and it goes with you throughout the day. Which employees sometimes don't always show up. Right.
Michael
It's helping the labor burden. You map it one time in the beginning of the year. And as long as that map doesn't change, it knows where it's going. It's incredible piece of equipment. It's really cool. And it moves for eight hours.
Paul
Yeah.
Michael
So we're talking. It can handle really big stuff. And then we're also working with these smaller robots too. Have one on my property. We've set up about five of them so far. Getting them rolling out the demos. And people.
Paul
People.
Michael
We set one up at our shop. We're on a pretty major highway. Like, cars are slowing down and they're like, slowing down. Is that a robotic. What is that? That's crazy. Like. Yeah, it looks cool too.
Paul
And they're all over Florida at the golf courses, which is nice because they're quiet. You don't even know they're going.
Michael
They cut day and night. Right. And they can cut while you're teeing off, essentially.
Paul
Right. Because a human can't mow because he gets knocked with a golf ball.
Michael
He's right. Or he stops to let the group tee off or putting. They can't drive. Like, there's a lot of. There's Crest is solving a lot of issues.
Paul
Yeah. Well, at the golf course. One of the golf course. I like to play down in Florida. I like play a lot of golf.
Mike Garvey
So.
Michael
Yeah.
Paul
But a lot of the common areas, I mean, it's just. It's just constantly going and it looks really nice. They have weddings there and everything. And it looks immaculate.
Michael
Yeah. So. So that's what we're doing there. We got all that developing and then also developing the new. The new coastal fertilization of North Jersey. So we. We have a new branch up north. We're servicing four more counties. So we're building that. So it's rebuilding coastal fertilization all over again, but kind of with the playbook that we already have. So. So a lot of the hard work is already done. It's just, you know, setting up, you know, a new jobber account and a new branch. And like, we have the playbook.
Paul
Yeah, let's talk about that. Because we did a coaching call. This is how I met Michael, like a long, long time ago. He books a coaching call with me and getting coach call. I'm like, you know, what's got, what you got going on? He's like, well, I'm owed about $90,000. I'm like $90,000.
Michael
And it was like December. Yeah, I was like, $90,000 out there.
Paul
And so I was like, all right, just call. Card on file. Card on file. So how did you get it now to where your cash, you know, customers are paying you?
Michael
Oh, yeah.
Paul
You know, hopefully when you're doing the service or maybe even ahead of time.
Michael
Ahead of time. So one of two ways. So you can prepay me for all your services in the year with a 5% discount that all the invoices, your prepay invoice gets sent out in the beginning of the year. So you, you know what you're going to be seeing. You know that you're renewing and you have the opportunity to pay upfront if you don't want to. You have a card on file either from the prior service or when you, when you sign up with us, you have to put a card on file or we don't come.
Paul
Okay, so. So you're onboarding Ms. Wilson or Mrs. Smith.
Michael
Right.
Paul
And your billing policy is they have to put a credit card on file through the secured vault on job.
Michael
Correct. Or pay us up front for the services for the year. Yeah. So there's no other. There's no other option. So that first year. Yeah, I was 90,000 in December. Last year, I think I had less than $1,000 that was owed to us. And it's, it's a game changer.
Paul
Yeah.
Michael
It's the way everyone should be conducting their business.
Paul
So what would you say to someone who's maybe not using the CRM job or why. Why should they switch to it?
Michael
Because the days are over of you're going to save yourself time, going to save yourself headache, you're going to have cash flow like stop having everything all over the place. Oh, I'm using this software. I'm using Zelle and I'm using Venmo and then I cash checks.
Paul
PayPal, you take cash app. What?
Michael
It's unprofessional. Right. So, so, but, but also too, just getting paid is one part of it. Right. So the other parts of, of Jobber too are customer communication. So the, the lead comes in, you see it on your dashboard, you can do a quote Real quick and text it right back to them. So they're like, oh my God. Mike Garvey just sent me. I just reached out to them. They sent me a quote back within the hour. I'm signing up. This is super easy. So it's an assembly line of the lead coming in to getting the quote, to booking the job, to getting paid, to closing the job and then reopening. That's how I. It's a very easy process.
Paul
Yeah, that's good. Well, we're, we're here in Louisville, Kentucky. I'm assuming you're coming back in October for a quip.
Michael
Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, we got a bring in a couple team members, a couple foremen. We're really excited see, you know, seeing what's going on here. We're also going to be getting a group of podcasters together with Pod House, having one collaborative area after hours. And you're certainly welcome to stop by and hang out. And we're going to be podcasting. Myself, Eric Triplett, Cornell Max, at a stop by Naylor and really just hang out and collaborate. Not on the showroom floor, not at Pod Row, but just a lot of, a lot of after hours stuff. So
Paul
we got. So we're here at the world Guinness World Records attempt here in Louisville and the big whale here from Italy just
Michael
stepped in the room. Big Boss.
Paul
Yeah, Big boss is here. So we gotta be on our best behavior.
Michael
Yes.
Mike Garvey
There are thousands of brands building gear for our trade. You could drive, say, 33,000 miles and visit all of them, but ain't nobody got time for that. October 20th through the 23rd in Louisville, Kentucky. They are coming to you at Equip Exposition. Visit them all in a gigantic indoor exhibition hall and the 30 acre demo yard outside. Mowers, skid steers, chainsaws, Erie irrigation, Hardscape, tree care, all of it in one place. Demo the machines, talk to the experts who make them try the new stuff before you even spend a dime. Early bird is only $30 if you register now equip exposition.com register now@equip exposition.com
Michael
or use the link in the podcast description. Save 50% off your registration when you apply the code. Side Hustle at checkout. Hey, guys. Adam Fullerton here with Branded Bull as
Paul
a proud sponsor of the Side Hustle
Michael
Squad podcast, we're all about help lawn
Paul
care and landscaping businesses make their mark and stand out from the competition.
Michael
Visit us@brandable.com to learn more about our
Paul
professional branding website and graphic design services and how we can help your business
Michael
look awesome and grow.
Paul
I mean, what happened to this chair?
Michael
We have the best moments from all the. Our interviews at the morning show are great. You know, all of our interactions.
Paul
My chair is, is broken. So I'm holding on to our for dear life TV stud right here. Welcome to Louisville, Kentucky. We just broke a Guinness World Records with Relco showing off their Command Pro 41 horsepower engine.
Michael
That was awesome. It was really cool to see. Haley did an awesome job. I mean, you got a lot of eyes on you cutting with a big mower and he's tearing that thing up over there. But you got a lot of pressure on you. You got a record to break. You have to hit every single blade of grass or she missed the corner over here. Right. We had to get, we had to get her back. It was really cool. And thanks to Relco for having us, having us cover the event. Very really awesome experience and great to be in Louisville. Not for. Equipped for, you know, a whole nother event. You know what I mean?
Paul
Yeah, this has just been absolutely wonderful. So what we just did, the Command Pro 41 horsepower, 99cc. That's the technical name for RELCO's Pro ECV941. It's their most powerful engine in their portfolio and they wanted to showcase it in real life. This Kentucky bluegrass is tall. It was wet. The load of work it put on that engine was a lot and it came through and broke those.
Michael
Yeah. And I think, you know, I think there's a misconception people are concerned with, oh, Kohler is. Where is Kohler? What is it? What happened to the engine and stuff like that. And this, this not. They didn't have to be re established, but they have to. They're rebuilding a full brand. Right. So which takes a lot that goes into that. And nothing's, nothing's changed, nothing's gone away. This.
Paul
Right.
Michael
All of that stuff is still there.
Paul
And the way I understand it is that. So Kohler has been around for I think over like 100 years. Yeah, good old Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Kohler, Wisconsin. And they have their plumbing division, which we've all seen a toy even in the bathroom and says Kohler. And then they had their Kohler engines, which is. I've been to their plant in Hattiesburg, Mississippi multiple times. They have a gigantic factory type place down in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. And then they do hospitality as well. Well, the engine division went off in its own direction and they, they renamed it, rebranded it. They took the letters of Kohler and changed it to Relco.
Michael
Yeah.
Paul
So it's the same letters, but it's. It's a new. Essentially like a new company now, Railco.
Michael
But it's still the same components, power. It's still. Yeah.
Paul
So Kohler Engines is basically now Relco, and they wanted to basically prove we're
Michael
still in the game and we're still a force and, you know, impressive. Clearly to be reckoned with. It is super strong. They cut a football field in 14 minutes, 51 seconds.
Paul
14 minutes, 51 seconds.
Michael
I'd be precise.
Paul
Just like I'm talking in American football field. So you got 100 yards, and then you got. The end zones are 10 yards on each side. So that's 120 yards. I don't know how far.
Michael
I heard 53 yards wide. I never heard that number, but I heard it today.
Paul
And that. That would.
Michael
That would be. Right.
Paul
Makes sense.
Michael
Yeah.
Paul
So this is a huge football field. And Haley from Ohio, she. They had a contest to see who would actually be the person actually attempting the world record. So she applied with hundreds of others. She won the contest. So she got. I don't know if there's a blessing her, you know, sound. She was really nervous.
Michael
Yeah. And I don't blame her.
Paul
I was nervous and I was just watching.
Michael
I was not nervous, but I was a little nervous getting on it. Over in the corner by myself.
Paul
By the Ohio River. By the Ohio River. There's a big drop off right into the Ohio River. If you want to drop that thing in the Ohio River. That would have been my viral breakout video.
Michael
Yeah. You made millions.
Paul
Just sliding down.
Michael
I was.
Paul
So we were our cameras over here, but the Ohio river is right over here.
Michael
Yeah.
Paul
And it just, like dropped right into the river. And Mike's just, like, mowing right next to the river. If that thing would have tipped into the.
Michael
Oh, I would be great. Flood down.
Paul
How did it go?
Michael
Well, it was good for a while, and then we need a tow truck.
Paul
Oh, man. But Haley did a great job. She probably took about 30, 31 passes up and down with some obstacles to work around here. We had tents and Chris Kaiser was here. The president of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute. The president Norelco was here. Media. I haven't seen so many fancy lights and cameras.
Michael
Yeah, they pulled out all the stops. We got. You got everything. We have media tent. We have a whole setup here.
Paul
This is very nice.
Michael
Yeah.
Paul
Fancy chairs. They look nice. They ain't working on this thing. I'm gonna have to hold on.
Michael
Yeah. No, no, but. But this is good. So thank you to Roko.
Paul
Yeah. Big shout outs to Railco, shout outs to Louisville, Kentucky. I love coming to this city. We come here for the Equip Expo every year.
Michael
Yeah.
Paul
And we were talking about that previously, but I wanted to button up. Button that up.
Michael
Right.
Paul
You have big plans this year. You guys are doing like a PO House.
Michael
Yeah. So we're doing. Eric Triplet and I have developed Pod House. This by that time we. It'll probably be our fourth or fifth one. We've already had two where we're collaborating, bringing a couple podcasters together at live industry events to bring the conversation off the trade floor, off the even pod row, and just developing, hanging out more because we miss a lot of the conversations when we're all hanging out. So we're doing a lot of. We're doing a lot of. We're doing a lot of dinner, dinners at the house. Breakfast at the house, lunch. And just having. Breaking bread, being a community. And Louisville, we already have everything booked out. We have almost an entire floor of one of these buildings that I've been at for years when I come here. So we're really looking forward to that and. And building out Pot house.
Paul
Yeah, Looking forward to that. Looking forward to Equip Expo this year. Gets kicked off on a Tuesday night, I believe, October 20th, down at the Kentucky Derby.
Michael
Yeah.
Paul
Churchill Downs, they got it rented out. There'll be food, beverage there. Good old Louisville hospitality. That's Tuesday night, October 20, 2026. Then Wednesday, the show opens up from noon to 5. The keynote speakers at 11am on Wednesday. And then Cornell will be doing an event, a bowling alley event. Wednesday evening, Thursday, we're going to be doing the morning show. Am I interviewing you? Who am I interviewing? Hey, Jack, who's interviewing you?
Michael
I don't know. I was on it last year. I don't think anybody. I'm not a returning guest. Yeah, yeah. I'm a one hit.
Paul
Oh, man.
Michael
I got what I got. Yeah.
Paul
You know, Well, I think, hey, Jack,
Michael
maybe Larry, maybe Cornell.
Paul
Cornell it is Cornell.
Michael
Cornell's doing the questions.
Paul
That's what it is. Cornell's doing the question.
Michael
Cornell. Who's else is on. Do we know who's on the morning.
Paul
I was talking about the morning show. I thought he was.
Michael
He goes, you're going to be on the morning show. I was like, that was last year.
Paul
We're live on YouTube here.
Michael
Yeah.
Paul
Oh, are we going to be going around to get the question? Okay, so you're replacing Pay Jack is. Maybe. I'm interviewing Pay Jack.
Michael
Okay.
Paul
Caleb's Interviewing Brittany. Oh, Naylor's interviewing Eric Triplet.
Michael
Oh, that's interesting. Yes.
Paul
Yeah, that's where I got confused. Yeah, we didn't know. So that's the morning show. As you're walking up, I was promoting your event, the Win at Life, Vernon Lanes. Again. Yeah. Wednesday night, October 22nd. I think it's the 21st. 21st. That makes sense.
Michael
Get there early.
Paul
October 21st.
Michael
Get your tickets.
Paul
You better get your tickets. 435 tickets. That's it.
Michael
Yeah.
Paul
And then they're gone. And. Yeah, there was 379 people there last year. Yeah. And it was. It was busting at the seams.
Michael
It's.
Paul
You're going to have your best year this year. Thursday morning, then we have the morning show without.
Michael
Without my Garvey. I'll just get the attend.
Paul
I. I thought we were him, but I. He got interviewed by you last year. Yeah, I remember.
Michael
Do you? Yeah, yeah.
Paul
No, that was. That guy don't made it out. We took that out. That's why you gotta be in the room. Yeah, exactly. No, in the room. We talked about that.
Michael
Right.
Paul
But then you asked me to take it out.
Michael
Are we live right now?
Paul
No, we're not live right now. Yeah, but I took it.
Michael
Yeah, we were crossing some. Yeah, yeah.
Paul
So anyway. All good. It's all good. So, yeah, I did interview Michael.
Michael
You did make me demonstrate you. A rest of you, I think.
Paul
Right. Yeah.
Michael
Role play
Paul
now. I got out of a ticket. Did I tell you my 92 mile
Michael
per hour was that.
Paul
Yeah, so.
Michael
Yes, you told me it on the stage.
Paul
Oh, man. These chemicals at the golf course, you're really getting here. I play go a lot of golf and they.
Michael
The pesticides.
Paul
The pesticides. Some days I'm out there, Larry. I'm like, where am I at? Great. Awesome. Well, Paul, once.
Michael
This is going to be a podcast episode too.
Paul
Yeah.
Michael
Okay, cool.
Paul
So. Powered by Railcoast. Thank you. All right, well, signing off from Louisville. Is there anything we're leaving out here needs addressed?
Michael
No, I think we covered it all. I mean, I gave you the update on everything me and Larry have going on back at home. Did we cover a quip? Man, it's going to be. It's not far away. And then.
Paul
Yeah.
Michael
This awesome Relco event. I mean, it's really cool to be with you guys and. And again, I love being here. I love. I would. It's really cool being here without the stress of equip. Correct. Yeah, it's here. It's like just actually like see the city without it just like flooded with equip.
Paul
It's like the time you get into town to the time you leave. There's no break.
Michael
There's no break.
Paul
Yeah, it's crazy.
Michael
I go back home and I'm exhausted for a week. Yeah.
Paul
I go and get an eye. My. My secret is I get an IV right after a clip. Kind of they put it we should
Michael
have IVs in the pothouse.
Paul
That would be good.
Michael
Mobile. Yeah, bring them in.
Paul
That'll be good. Alrighty with signing off from Louisville. Is there anything else you wanted to share with with my audience?
Michael
No, just again, check. Check me out Side Hustle Squad podcast and rope us what else we got. Weather handles but no Paul. Thank you for having me on. This is probably my eighth appearance on your show and I'm happy to be here Once again.
Paul
Awesome. See you later. Always a good time chatting with Michael Garvey.
Mike Garvey
Thanks for tuning in to the side Hustle Squad podcast with Mike Garvey. We hope you enjoyed this episode and gained valuable insights to help you succeed in your Side Hustle journey. Connect with Mike using the links in the podcast description. If you love the show, please leave us a well worded five star review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback and support help us grow and continue to provide you with the best content. And don't forget to follow the show to be notified when the next edition of the side Hustle Squad Podcast is available. We have many exciting guests and topics lined up so you won't want to miss a single episode. Thanks again for listening and we'll catch you next time on the side Hustle Squad Podcast.
Date: June 9, 2026
This episode of the Side Hustle Squad podcast is a special, on-location edition recorded at the Relco Event in Louisville, Kentucky. Host Mike Garvey is interviewed by guest host Paul Jamison, covering the excitement of witnessing a Guinness World Record attempt for the fastest mowing of an American football field, industry trends in lawn care tech (especially autonomous equipment), tips for business operations and scaling, and the camaraderie of the green industry community. They also preview upcoming collaborations, events, and personal stories from running a successful lawn care business while balancing other ventures.
Paul Jamison, on Louisville:
Michael Garvey, on the event’s thrill:
Paul Jamison, on Relco’s transition:
Michael Garvey, on revenue systems:
On using Jobber:
On the Pod House concept:
Mike and Paul close by emphasizing the importance of community, continuing education, and embracing new technology to keep improving business operations. The episode offers actionable insights for lawn care professionals at any stage and reflects the dynamic, supportive culture of the green industry.
“Check me out Side Hustle Squad podcast and rope us...Thank you for having me on. This is probably my eighth appearance on your show and I'm happy to be here once again.”
— Michael Garvey (22:26)
For more, subscribe to Side Hustle Squad, follow Mike for updates on business growth and tech adoption, and keep an eye out for upcoming events and collaborations in the lawn care industry.