Organic Lawncare, Struggling Sales, and Morality at Work
Not Just Another Lawn Care Company
From Maine to California there is a lawn company that is making it big.
NaturaLawn of America is an organic and environmentally-friendly lawn care company promising to be healthier for the earth, your grass, your pets, and your kiddos playing out in the yard.
Today, an idea like an organic lawn care company seems all the rage, but when Naturalawn’s CEO Phil Catron was dreaming this idea up in 1986, he had no foresight into the current market climate. And no one wanted his idea either.
This idea of his was rejected time after time. You see, chemicals could make lawns (easily) weed-free and brighter than a golf course. Why explore any other option?
Catron’s best advice came from his brother who told Catron after one particularly biting rejection: “You’re allowed to feel bad for 48 hours. Then, move forward.”
Catron cites that employing a younger generation and taking good care of the employees who work for him are the best pieces of advice he’d offer to any other business professionals out there looking to find an edge.
Still No Sales? Try This.
It’s the last element of a sales cycle. You pitch the product. You know the worth. You’ve explained the product perfectly. But, no bites? What gives?
Or, more importantly, what can you do differently?
Caroline Ceniza-Levine, the career expert and co-founder of SixFigureStart, suggests you may be marketing instead of selling.
Marketing is “an introduction.” Marketing is not selling.
1. Re-design your calendar to reflect the income-generating activity you’re after.
Want more sales? Be honest about which coffee meet-ups and sales calls are actually focused on selling.
Also, remember that to meet your goals, you should always plan for a few deals not working out. So, go for more.
2. Target better.
Prioritizing sales meetings means setting up meetings with the people who matter—not just everyone who is in your contact list.
3. Who holds the purse strings?
That’s who you should be talking to. Don’t make the perfect pitch to someone who can’t make the decision.
4. Make certain there is a priority.
Why you and why now? Make this clear as day for your clients so they don’t have to do any digging.
5. Take the “nos” as “not nows.”
Don’t give up. Timing and circumstances beyond your control are always at play. Stay in touch. Circle back. Be persistent.
Morality At Work
Businesses and business leaders reside on either side of the political aisle. The far left. The far right. And the entire spectrum in between.
When they’ve got an opinion on things, is it good for business for them to be themselves?
David Gelles of the New York Times says this: “Amid this turbulence, a surprising group of Americans is testing its moral voice more forcefully than ever: C.E.O.s.”
The American consumer demands a new form of conversation on the political scene, especially as business continues to be an essence of our own national and democratic identity. And, C.E.O.s. are voicing their opinions and making waves to support efforts that include everything from climate change to health care reform. Speaking up for inclusivity and speaking out against racism and hate speech, among other charged political tensions, is the new normal.
Companies and startups who truly want to “make it” are no longer just moneymaking machines. To truly succeed, they need to be an engine for change.
C.E.O.s carry with them their own significance. Their own power. Business these days is wrapped up in politics, in doing good and making some kind of stand.