zackslawncuttin-blog

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Week 13 Progress Update

This week has been a good week.  No one cancelled this week at all and I picked up a few more jobs.  We’ve had a mix of rain and humid weather has been really helping the grass rebound.  I’ve picked up a few jobs for repair work.  Fiber optics is being put into the one neighbourhood that I cut grass in and it has torn up some lawns.  I have been laying down soil and seeding and watering.  I find that with seniors, a little bit extra means so much to them.  They enjoy a little chit chat and by giving them a little bit of time, they are very loyal and recommend me to all their friends.  Unfortunately chit chat takes up more time so I have had to work later than normal to fit in these little extra jobs. If I keep being successful, then hiring a part-time person would work well so they could do the little jobs to help with my time management.

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Week 12 Progress Update

Business is back up to all customers again now that the high humidity has eased up and we have had a bit more rain.  I have had to buy more line for my trimmer.  I ordered some t-shirts to wear with my name and company name on them which has worked out great.  It’s saved a lot of use on my regular clothes.  I also purchased a new pair of work boots which was an additional expense.  I think I should have ordered a magnetic sticker to stick on the side of my truck for additional advertising.  I have printed up some new flyers to advertise fall clean up leaves.  I’m hoping that might help with obtaining a few more customers   Overall I’m happy with how everything is going.

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Week 11 Update on Progress

This week has been much better.  I’m attending all my regular clients and getting back into my normal routine.  I expect by the end of the week I should be back up to where I should be. Because of the hot weather, I have added to my Instagram Post advertising lawn watering and weeding gardens in place of cutting the grass and have also extended it to looking at things I can do in the fall once the leaves start falling.  I don’t plan on changing my pricing as raking leaves and weeding gardens would be just as time consuming, probably longer, than cutting the grass.  It is given me the opportunity to make contact with a few more people.  I have learnt that I need to be more creative in coming up with future plans for water related issues. 

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Week 10 Update

This week has been a tough week.  The weather has been a huge influence. A lot of people have cancelled their grass cutting this week as they want it a little longer to prevent it from drying and burning.  Because a lot of my clients are elderly, I have still been going by and checking in with them and watering for them.  It’s been a tough week as I haven’t had much money coming in because people have cancelled because of theft their lawns don't need cutting because of the weather.  I totally understand that, however, as a business owner I have learnt that in order to maintain revenue even over tough times, I need to implement a contract system rather than a pay by the week system.  This week will be a tough week to recover from and I expect this week I will take a loss.  I am keeping in contact with my clients to ensure a positive environment going forward.

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Week 9 Progress Report

This week has been a slower week.  My Instagram account is working.  I have had several people reach out to me requesting me to come by and give them a quote.  With the weather being so warm and hot, the grass has been growing slower so I have had a few people skip this week which has given me the extra time to provide the quotes for them.  At the request of the some of the people who cancelled this week, I have gone over and set up sprinklers for them which has made them very happy.  It has been very rewarding to see how happy it has  made my elderly clients.  I think things are doing well overall.  I am learning that there are a lot of things that you cannot control when running your own business.  

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Creative Marketing

Let me be the guy to make your dream come true......Zackslawncuttin

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Progress Start-Up Venture

My flyers seem to be working as I have had some interest via email and phone calls and have a few jobs.  Unfortunately when I drop off the flyers, I haven’t been able to meet many people while doing so as most people think I am a volunteer canvassing to raise money for a cause.  So getting to meet the people has not been working too great while handing out flyers.  I feel things are coming along....a bit slower than I had hoped.  People are a bit apprehensive about hiring a younger person not affiliated with a company. I’m finding that as much as I would like work time and my time, that the two combine as I have to be available at all times to answer my phone or reply to texts and emails.  A lot of people want quotes prior to signing up which is extra time and then there is a waiting period to hear back from some of them.  I’m learning that I am proud of what I’m trying to achieve and although I can be quite shy and have anxious moments, that as long as I am confident in meeting these people and know what I’m doing, that I can be very successful.

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Where will I get the Money?

I think for my business, because it is seasonal, I would ask for Love Money.  I know that my parents and other family members would loan me any additional funds that I might need and be asked to pay it back at the end of the season.  If I wanted to try getting into the winter season by doing snow removal, they would then waive paying them back at the end of the summer season, and have my put those funds toward equipment I would need for the winter season.  I know that they would also waive any interest fees as they would be a source of advertising for me to help me out with getting customers.

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Case StudyI

I think Michael’s approach with the customers was too harsh.  You don’t tell someone that they need work done on their house.  He should not be saying “I notice the exterior paint on your house is a mess”.  People will not respond to that.  Instead, he needs to say he’s starting a business, he has experience and if they ever think about doing some painting, to give him a call.  You want to make them believe that he’s a nice guy and that he’s not telling them that they need work done. He is simply offering his service if they have been thinking about doing any paint work.

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Business Operation Plan

My plan to generate business is to print some flyers out with the service I can provide and my prices.  I will go door to door handing out my flyers and making that connection with the home owners.  If I can meet them, shake their hand and chat with them when I hand out my flyers, it gives me the opportunity to show them who I am and that I’m not just a random name on a flyer.  Once I hand out the flyers, I will go to the local decking companies and ask to leave them there as well as the local grocery store community boards.  I did that back in public school and got a few phone calls from neighbours to come cut their grass.  I already have the lawn mower, weed trimmer and gas can.  Ideally it would be great to be able to purchase a trailer to tow with my equipment in it, but that will be my goal to purchase later.

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Refined Fool is a Sarnia’s local craft brewery who have a simple concept….great beer, family friendly environment that takes you back to the simple times with board games, simple but amazing burgers and family gatherings without the distraction of TV’s.  They are very involved in the community supporting local talent, local entrepreneurs, and hosting everything from puzzle night to trivia to name that tune.

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Strengths and Weaknesses

One of my biggest strength is being a good networker.  Over the years in my line of work it has been essential to network.  I have learnt that you can gain information, names, alliance’s, techniques, and opportunities from simple networking procedures.

One of my weaknesses is curiosity.  i say this because i look at what we have created using the systems and tactics we have and I see no need for further change.  Therefore i lack the curiosity to see what things would be like with more progression.  

Another one of my strengths is efficiency.  i say this because i like to take the shortest path to a route and have a firm understanding that there are several “path’s” to every destination.  Over the years i have adjusted myself to be able to walk into a situation and find the quickest and most proficent route to completion. 

Another one of my weaknesses is my ability and knowledge of finance.  i assume the level of my financial knowledge goes hand and hand with my age.  Up until now its been “i got payed $800 i can spend $800″.  Other then small bill payments EI phone bill, insurance, and memberships, and saving for on going college expenses.    

In conclusion these are my strengths that would benefit me in the Entrepreneurship world and allow me to be successful.  As well as the weaknesses I have recognized and need to work on in order to be a successful and well respected entrepreneur in this on going and changing world.