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Foreign. Business podcasts. Things on Instagram are pretty shiny. But here we're going to get to the reality behind the scenes on the hard journey of growing a business so we can all learn from each other. I'm your host, Weston Zimmerman, co founder of Synced Up. Been in the green industry my whole life. Let's get into it. Welcome back to another episode of the Cost of Doing Business podcast. We are here at the Pools Bosch out in Atlantic City. And I'm here with Wes Roberts. Good. Well, let's say customer turned friend.
B
Okay. Let's do it with similar names.
A
Yeah, exactly. Great.
B
There's not too many of us.
A
So we both are from Pennsylvania. You're north of Pittsburgh there.
B
Correct? Correct.
A
I just got done interviewing Jordan, which you were just down to see him.
B
Yeah.
A
So give everybody listening a bit of an intro to what your company like makeup is in terms of team and what kind of projects you do and that kind of thing.
B
Yeah. So my name is Wes Roberts. Like you said, an hour north of Pittsburgh is where we dwell and been in business 28 years and we have changed. So. Went to school for landscape contracting at Penn State and got a degree. When I graduated, I got a lawnmower and away I went. And I've done many different things in those 28 years, but my passion and where we landed now is outdoor living. High end outdoor living spaces. So I love it. Design, build, and recently got into swimming pools.
A
Yep.
B
That's why we're here. That's my makeup. During the season, we have about seven guys. Full time. Full time admin. That's us.
A
Okay.
B
Yeah.
A
Okay. And you have a full time admin that you. Your own office or the workforce?
B
Yes. So we have a building that has three offices in it. So like the right hand man.
A
Yeah.
B
Admin and myself. And then. And then the shop is in the
A
back, has all the stuff. What's the job you're most proud of that you've ever done?
B
It's all. You know what? Honestly, it's. It's always the. It's. It's been the last one.
A
Yeah.
B
For like the last. I don't know how many. So I just want to keep that going, you know. Yeah, I had a really big one. Sunken fire pit, you know, the whole outdoor grill. It's bar and grill, fireplace, sliding mosquito net doors. You know, it just has all the bells and whistles and it's. It's beautiful.
A
So.
B
Yeah.
A
Yeah, yeah. How long have you been on sync up now?
B
I don't know. I would say three years. Four years.
A
Okay.
B
Yeah, maybe three.
A
A while.
B
Yeah, it's been a little while. Yeah.
A
So what did your business look like? What size were you and all that back then when you signed on?
B
Maybe similar size, doing different things. So the design build thing has, has changed. So at the time we were mowing grass. Yeah, we got rid of that. Yeah. Just about out of snow plowing and things like that and really have focused in on outdoor living. So it's been more concentrated in that area since synced up. Yeah.
A
Okay. And, and when you got it, what, what was your reason for getting it?
B
Like, so because I had tried and failed at or tried and struggled too much with other programs.
A
Okay. You okay, you were on others already.
B
Yeah. And it's so hard. Like, you know, you, you, you invest in it and you spend a lot of time setting it up and you go down the road so far. And then I, you know, I got to one in one software. There was, you know, all the data's in there, maybe used it for a year and then I got to the piece where okay, now we're going to start scheduling and using the sketch. But you couldn't grab the job and move it. You had to like, you know, just a lot of clunky problems. And I was like, well, this is a deal breaker. I need to be able to, I need to be more. This is dynamic, man. We gotta move these things around. So that was it. Another one was really complicated. Didn't use it to its potential for years and was, was finally bit the bullet and was like, hey, this is the year I've gotta. So we had outside help come in and we spent a lot of time and energy, but it just, at the end of the day, it just was not a good fit. Very complicated. And then all the while synced up was little grumblings in the circles that I'm in, everybody was kind of jumping on board with synced up. And I'm like, okay, finally, let's check this out. And I'm like, ah, there it is. That's it. It checks all the boxes, found a home, done onto the next problem.
A
Exactly.
B
Love it. Yeah.
A
Awesome. So, yeah, I mean, simplicity. It's interesting how like maybe when you're researching products, they can have a feature, a bullet list on features. That's relatively. But it does come down to the practical implementation.
B
Like it's gotta be easy to use, user friendly. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. I'm not tech illiterate, but.
A
But well, join the crowd. That's most of this industry.
B
Right, right, right. Yeah. Definitely. But no, it's super easy. It gives you what you want. The templates, the job costing, like all that stuff.
A
Yeah.
B
Yeah. That's wonderful.
A
So what is the most difficult challenge you've run into in your. In your business?
B
The most difficult challenge, without a doubt, has been becoming aware of myself and becoming aware of the challenges and obstacles and kind of how I approach those. So in my younger days, you know, running to put out all the fires, beating myself up, limiting mindsets, negativity, that voice inside my head, you know, that constant. I was my own worst enemy for. For a long time. And my. And the biggest obstacle was myself. I think that is, that is true for everyone. And so to be able to finally. Oh, we're getting.
A
Guess we're getting shut out of here. Yeah.
B
So to, to just, you know, grow mature and understand, you know, how our brains work and how just mindsets change. And so now I'm. I'm a partner to myself, I think more than I ever have been. So.
A
So what? I'm assuming there would have been a time when you were like, not aware that you were your biggest obstacle.
B
Yeah.
A
Like what, what was the thing that made you aware of that and started being like, huh?
B
It's a, It's a lifelong pursuit of improvement. And you know, it's. It's books and it's classes and it's constant searching and so just through lots of experience and lots of help from outside sources and. And you take a little nugget from here and there and to kind of piece the whole thing together and then eventually it's. It's just. Yeah. I don't know. I'm here now. That's. It's.
A
Yeah.
B
Yeah.
A
Well, Payne's a great teacher.
B
Payne is a great teacher. Yeah. Definitely. It is, it is definitely a great teacher. And. But learning how to accept pain but not be controlled by it. Yeah. So things are going to hurt. There's no magic bullet every time there's challenges. Man, this sucks. But we don't have to stay in that space very long and we shouldn't. The quicker we get out of that space and say, okay, well, how do we fix it? How do we prevent it from happening again? That's like my go to saying with the guys at the shop. There's non stop challenges and it's okay. It's. It's part of growth. Those challenges and problems are the path, the rung in the ladder.
A
Yeah.
B
That we climb.
A
Yeah. Well, there you can either avoid or you can attack.
B
So you know what? And that's a great point, because I see, you know, working with subs and working with different contractors and talking to different contractors, man, there is a big divide. And there are those that face their challenges and obstacles and say, hey, I messed up, or we can do this better, and they take responsibility for it and grow. Love those people. And there are some people that they're not growing. They're not taking advantage of those obstacles and challenges, and they're not growing. And you can see it, you know, 10 years later, they'll be the victim. They'll still be the victim. Right. You know, so it's always customers don't
A
want to pay anymore. Nobody wants to work anymore. There's always an external circumstance for why they're dealing with whatever they're doing.
B
Right. Right. And that's it. It's.
A
It's.
B
You know, we can't blame external stimuli for how we feel inside. Yeah. We manufacture that.
A
Yeah. Right.
B
You. Here's an. Here's a situation.
A
Yeah.
B
You're going to use it to grow or you're going to use it to be a victim.
A
Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I like Dave Ramsey's thing of choose your heart. You know, like his. In his. In his thing, he's like, being in debt is hard.
B
I'm sorry. Yeah.
A
Being in debt is hard. You're paying interest and dealing with that. Not being in debt is hard. Yeah. Choose your heart, which. You know, which side of the fence you want to live on.
B
100. Yeah.
A
So it's not that you're gonna escape hard.
B
No. And that's maybe an illusion, too, you know, and actually to kind of tie into the. The experience with. With Jordan is. What was it you just said? I lost my train.
A
The whole choose your hard thing. You're not going to escape hard.
B
Yeah. So, you know, going down to. To visit him and be with him for a week and shadow his company, I had this idea that. And he's several levels ahead of me, but I had an idea that at, like, his size and his level, all the problems would be figured out, and I would walk in, and it's. Man, it's just polished head to toe. And he has a fantastic business, you know, just beautiful. But he has challenges. The challenges don't go away. And I didn't. Maybe I never even thought about that. But when that was a big aha, I was like, oh, I'm gonna have to deal with this forever, no matter what. Yeah. Yeah.
A
So.
B
So it was. Buckle up. It was acceptance.
A
Yeah.
B
You know, you don't. You don't Fight that. You just accept that. Like, okay, all right. Well, if that's the way it is
A
now, and probably most anybody, even a brand new person that's just getting into this business could understand that in some form or fashion in that. Yeah, there's probably something today that you're better at than you once were. Something that was very hard for you back in the day is now it's just not even a second thought anymore, you know? And it's like. It's like you can see, but. But now you have it. Now you have a different problem. Like, to your point about Jordan and evolve and the thing that, like, if you could go back and talk to your prior self when you were dealing with that thing and show them who you are today, that's no longer dealing with that thing in the same way you would, like your prior self would be like, oh, wow, that's gonna be awesome. When I get there. You're like, yeah, there's a different problem. Exactly. That's it.
B
That's it. Yeah. Yeah. I don't. I think that's the illusion that, like, man, we just keep grinding this out. We're gonna hit that stride and we're just gonna ride this thing out. Yeah. But it's. Life has got other plans. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So it's. Yeah, it's just learning to deal and roll with the punches and. Yeah. And. And, you know, that's another thing, too, to talk about Jordan, man, I love his mindset. You know, Another thing is, like, you can look at his size and. And. And look at what a beautiful company he has and be like, man, what if this happens? What if that happens? Look at all these problems that could happen. This and that. He wakes up every day and it's a game. He loves it. Oh, yeah.
A
Right.
B
You know? Yeah, he loves it. Yeah. He's not afraid of all the things that could go wrong. He's got a monster. He's got a monster. He's got a tiger by the tail. Yeah. And he loves it. Yeah. And that was a huge takeaway. And I'm like, that's how you do it. Yeah, that's how you do it.
A
Kind of glass half full, glass half empty thing, you know?
B
Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah, that was a huge couple aha moments there. Yeah.
A
So what would you say is the best advice you've ever gotten?
B
I can't remember any one specific piece of advice, and I don't think that there is that best advice that changed everything. There's thousands of them. There's been thousands of Them, the couple that I just mentioned. You know, it, it's not really advice, but it's, it's watching someone like Jordan as an example. That was a great display of, of mindset. And so that was pivotal for me at my age, at my, in my career right now. But when I started off with the lawnmower, I'm sure there was as impactful.
A
Right.
B
Advice back then. And I think as long as we're on that path of growth and response and taking ownership of our lives, that it's a never ending supply of advice. It's there. Seeking ye shall find. It's there. But you got to be looking for it.
A
That's right. It's not going to fall in your lap.
B
Yeah, yeah.
A
Or sometimes you can hear the best advice in the world, but your door is closed.
B
So which leads me. We had a conversation the other day about books and rereading books. Books that were again, I was like, what's the book? Best book you ever read? Well, the one that, you know, they're all good. You take a nugget from all of them, but to reread it, you find new information.
A
Yeah.
B
You know, it's. You read it before, but it didn't resonate. And so now at this point in your journey now this is all, you know, there's new information in there. And so I think it was this winter. No, maybe last winter. I had a book that I, I would read. I had it on audible and I just was like, I just keep going through it, keep going through every single time. Back to back to back to back.
A
What book was that on?
B
Untethered Soul, Michael Singer.
A
I have not read that. Do it.
B
That's okay. That would be. If I had to pick the most pivotal book, that would be awesome.
A
Probably my favorite read recently was Go Giver. Have you ever heard of that one? I think I have that, like, go getter. Go give her. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm pretty sure I've read. Still chewing on that one. Like it's just some solid gold in that.
B
Yeah, yeah, yeah, definitely.
A
And I would say from the perspective of values, how kind of how you view the world. The half full, half empty thing.
B
Yeah.
A
You know, like so definitely giving me a lot to think about. Yeah, yeah, it's, it's, it's like the gist of the book is probably down the lines of just, if I put it my own words, it's kind of down in. Down the line of there's givers and getters.
B
Right.
A
And you know, we use the term Go getter. You know, what about go giver? Like, just give people it. Use the story of this salesperson that was struggling and wasn't, was missing his quota and all that. And, and he made a reference. He had a customer that wanted something that he couldn't serve the way he wanted to. And he was so sour about it because it was such a big deal.
B
Yeah.
A
And so he's like, you know what? It sent. One of his friends said you should just enter. Like, what's the best thing that they need right now? What could you give them? Well, he referred him to his competitor. Right. And out of that referral, that guy that he referred him to came back to him with a whale of a deal that was way bigger than the one he had referred to him, saying, I can't help these people. Can you help them right now? He did. You know, so the point is, it's like, how can you be a giving, giving person?
B
Yeah. 100%. That is absolutely beautiful. That sounds so familiar. I'm pretty sure I've been through that.
A
It's only like three and a half hours on audible.
B
Okay. Okay.
A
So it's not a huge book.
B
Yeah. And you know what, too? And that kind of ties into one of the sales classes that we had in outdoor living. It's really the mindset of a guide service. You know, I'm here to help them achieve their dreams. What is it that you are looking for? Let me help you get there. Yeah. You know, instead of just buy, buy, buy, buy, buy.
A
Pressure, pressure. Sales is just about educating the customer so they know what they want and can make the best decision for themselves.
B
Amen.
A
There's, there's no other pressure. Is, is working against you.
B
Yeah.
A
It's not going to come around.
B
Yeah, no, that's, that's it. And it's, it's, yeah. Helping people, you know, that's, that's a wonderful way to approach it. Yeah.
A
So let me ask you this. If you go back, if you go back to the beginning.
B
Yeah.
A
When was the beginning for you?
B
98.
A
And you were doing the mowing.
B
Yeah.
A
If you go back to that kid, talk to him right here. He's sitting in another seat around the table. What would you tell him? What's one thing you would do differently?
B
Honestly, back then? I mean, I, I, I, if I could go back then and change it, I don't know, man, I would sit down and, and we'd have a big, long talk about what you want to do, you know, I don't know that I would Necessarily do this again. I love it. I, I, I, it's a love hate relationship. There's been 28 years. There's been years of frustration and pain and, But I love how hard it is and I love the person that I've become because I had to go through all that stuff.
A
Dude, I am telling you, that resonates with me because like, in some ways, sometimes we all, I think we all, as entrepreneurs have those moments when you ask yourself, why am I doing this? Oh, why am I subjecting myself to this abuse, this pressure, this, you know,
B
so somebody who doesn't have can't tell us when to eat lunch. Like, we go through all this.
A
Right, right, right.
B
We do this all so we can eat lunch when we want to.
A
It's like the entrepreneur is the only person to work 80 hours so they don't have to work 40.
B
Right? Yeah.
A
But it, now I'm kind of lost, Lost my train of thought. No, no. Where I was going with that.
B
Oh. As entrepreneurs, we go through all this stuff. Like we put ourselves. Why would we put ourselves?
A
And it's, it's, it, it just
B
maybe do something else. Like.
A
Yeah, it just comes down to, well, pressure is a privilege. And that's not original with me. I watch, I saw it on a video that really resonate. So I think in our human experience, probably one of the most miserable things you can do be in states you can be in is if you have no purpose. And, and purpose brings pressure. Yeah, no pressure, no diamonds.
B
Yeah, right.
A
You know, like, and so the thing of stress and pressure and why am I subjecting myself to this abuse? It's like, well, that is the very thing that is giving meaning and purpose to your life.
B
Yeah.
A
And I follow Alex Ramosi some and he says it's like you get to the, you get to where you've achieved all your goals and you realize the goal was never the point. It's who you were becoming on the journey to that. Wow. You know, wow. And so, you know, it's so looking
B
back at that kid, it's like, hey, man, you know what? You, you don't think this, but you are smart enough to go get a good degree and a good job and work for someone and get a great paycheck and live in a great house with a great family and that's it. But who would that guy turn out to be? You know, there's lots of different scenarios there, but there's only one way to get to the person that I am now, and that's to go through all
A
that stuff through the valley of suffering.
B
Yeah, yeah.
A
It's, it's like if you'd use like say physical fitness as a thing. Like, like how many people are maybe like super physically fit but in their, in their character or right. In their mindset are like lazy, shallow.
B
Yeah, whatever.
A
Shallow, obese, you know.
B
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
A
You know, it's, it's like, it's, it's, it's a, there's a thing like men, I believe there's a thing of mental fitness.
B
Absolutely.
A
And so do I. You know, do you want to go get the degree and the comfortable job and, and, and then be kind of underdeveloped right up here?
B
Yeah.
A
Or, yeah. You know. Right.
B
And, and so I think looking at that. So now let's, let's. Okay. Hypothetically now. So. Okay. There's an easier life, maybe more comfortable. Yeah. But you, you might, you might be mentally underdeveloped or maybe not even healthy or no purpose or whatever. That is not saying that it has to be that way, but that would be a chance. So knowing what we know now, would you take that chance or run through the fire right this minute?
A
I'd run through the fire, yeah.
B
Yeah. You know, I just wish I had all the experience starting off, all the knowledge. Oh man, I kicked that.
A
That's the beautiful thing in the day and age of technology that we live in. You know, software is basically years of hard earned lessons that people developed into systems that a new kid coming off the street just getting into this industry for the first time ever can step right on their shoulders and be operating at the same efficiency as somebody that's been in it for 20 years through hard earned lessons.
B
And so back to that with those that are on the path of growth and those that are running the gauntlet of fire to, you know, improve themselves. What beautiful people like yourself, like Jordan, and to open his doors and, and to do that shadowing.
A
Yeah.
B
Like that type of people that, that help each other that, that know the fire and, and that aren't hoarding these secrets for me that are here to share and help others. Man, that's beautiful. Beautiful people. So on your journey, find those people, you know, find those like minded people, man, and get, make friends. Yeah, yeah.
A
I hate to repeat cliche stuff, but it's like, you know, you're gonna hang around five victimhood people, you're gonna be the sixth.
B
Yeah.
A
You know, 100. Choose your friends wisely.
B
Yeah. So. Yeah. Yep. And it's hard to find too, you know, I don't Think that it's. There's a lot more, I think, victims than there are people.
A
Yeah. It's the mentally easy. It's the default. As the default path.
B
Yeah. Yeah.
A
That's where the brain will go.
B
Yep.
A
Unless you work it out.
B
Yeah.
A
Right. Yeah.
B
So very cool.
A
Well, thanks, Wes, for awesome having me on here, for coming over here and hanging out.
B
Yeah, yeah, absolutely. It was a blast. Yeah.
A
And appreciate you kind of staying long. We didn't get kicked out yet, so.
B
No, that's okay. Yeah, we're good. I like it because there's nobody watching us, you know. Exactly. The pressure's a little quieter. This is when to do it, actually. Yeah.
A
But I need to come out and hang out with you sometime out there.
B
Yeah, absolutely.
A
Love to.
B
Yeah, that'd be awesome.
A
So.
B
Yeah, that'd be awesome.
A
Appreciate your. Definitely appreciate your. You putting your faith and confidence in synced up as well.
B
Love it, man. Like I said, it's all the things that we have to discover and check off our list. Our never ending list of improvements.
A
Yep.
B
My software box has been checked.
A
One's done.
B
That one's done. Feels good to shut, you know, to check those off.
A
So move on to better problems.
B
Thanks for an awesome software. Yeah. Everybody feels the same way. The streets. That's what everybody says on the streets too. So.
A
Good. Yeah. Word on the street matters.
B
Word on the street, man.
A
Proud of the team that's making that a reality. I'm just, I'm just the. I guess carrying the torch on the vision here. Yeah.
B
And you know what, too, though? I think you and Jordan are even similar with that too, because I. From a distance, I don't. I haven't, you know, spent any time with you or your team. I mean, individually, but. But haven't looked under the hood, you know, or shadowed or anything like that. You guys have a wonderful culture and that starts at the top. You know, that's the way you guys interact with. With everyone, your team. That's, you know, really to be commended and looked up to, man. You guys do a great job. Thank you. Yeah.
A
Appreciate it.
B
Yep.
A
My goal is to guard that. Never, never, never, never lose it.
B
Yeah.
A
Regardless what's ahead.
B
Right? Awesome, man. Yeah, awesome.
A
Thank you again, Wes.
B
All right, brother. Yeah.
A
Okay.
B
All right, man.
A
Hey, thanks for listening to the Cost of doing Business show. If you need help with knowing your numbers or you're looking for a better automated system to run estimating and scheduling and job costing or more in your business, just hit me up. You can book a demo@syncedup.com or DM me on Instagram inkedup, which is spelled syn k e d u p. See you on the next one.
Host: Weston Zimmerman
Guest: Wes Roberts
Date: March 16, 2026
This episode of The Cost of Doing Business podcast takes a real, behind-the-scenes look at the challenges and realities of growing a landscape and outdoor living business. Host Weston Zimmerman sits down with Wes Roberts, a longtime green industry professional and SynkedUP customer, to discuss personal growth, overcoming mindset obstacles, the necessity of pressure in business, and the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people. The conversation is candid and practical, diving deep into how Wes has evolved through the journey of entrepreneurship.
On Business Evolution:
"I started off with a lawn mower... and I've done many different things in those 28 years, but my passion and where we landed now is outdoor living." – Wes Roberts [01:00]
On Pressure:
"Pressure is a privilege... purpose brings pressure. No pressure, no diamonds." – Weston Zimmerman [18:28]
On Mindset Obstacles:
"The biggest obstacle was myself. I think that is true for everyone." – Wes Roberts [05:16]
On Community:
"What beautiful people... that know the fire and... are here to share and help others. Man, that's beautiful." – Wes Roberts [22:09]
On Continuous Growth:
"There's thousands of [advice], the couple I just mentioned... as long as we're on that path of growth... it's a never ending supply of advice." – Wes Roberts [12:55]
This episode candidly explores the real, hard-earned lessons behind business ownership. Wes and Weston emphasize that pressure is not an enemy but an essential companion of purpose, growth, and transformation. Rather than seeking an end to struggle, entrepreneurs should embrace the journey, surround themselves with those who challenge and uplift them, and remember that every rung of difficulty climbed is part of becoming a stronger leader and a better person.
For more practical business insights and stories straight from owners who “walk the walk,” subscribe to The Cost of Doing Business.