John Gulius specializes in delivering high-quality lawn and landscaping services. Over a span of two decades, he has built up an impressive professional history and a large client base by consistently surpassing expectations. John crafts comprehensive care strategies and prioritizes collaborative client relationships.
How Would You Define Your Approach to Client Service?
JOHN GULIUS: I never rush anything. If I don’t have the right answer or an immediate idea, I’ll be honest rather than try to come up with something on the spot. I make sure the client understands that finding the right solution for their particular lawn is a process. We start out by gathering the information we need. We take photos, do sketches and we come back in a day or two with a clear plan that we can collaborate on.
What Are Some of the Coming Innovations in Your Industry?
JOHN GULIUS: The big ones are built around cutting exposure to chemicals, and there are some radical improvements coming soon. We’re going to have viable organic options for all aspects of lawn control and pest control, providing nutrients instead of harmful chemicals to the soil. This will make our business safer for everyone involved, and have a huge impact on preserving nature.
What’s Something Surprising That You’ve Learned in Your Career?
JOHN GULIUS: I’ve learned that there’s an answer to almost every problem in landscaping. What seems impossible is achievable with the right amount of planning and foresight, and technical expertise. I love the process of protecting whatever we can of the existing landscape and constructing something that honours its original nature but improves upon its style, appearance and grace within the setting. It also takes time for this process to happen – it’s going to be over several seasons that the desired effects will really come to fruition. So it takes patience, but the vision is worth pursuing.
Is There a Mistake You Made That You Could Help Younger People in Your Career to Avoid?
JOHN GULIUS: It’s a common mistake – but it’s not having a full grasp of the costs of running the business upfront. It’s easy to jump into things by cutting costs, and then you end up paying for it dearly with compromised results and lost customers. So make sure you know the cost of doing business the right way, and make that a centerpiece of your business plan.
Is There Any Certain Shift in the Industry That You’d Like to See?
JOHN GULIUS: I want to see the industry become weather-driven, over calendar-driven. I think that direction is inevitable. We have these set dates for implementing strategies, and I think with better technology and information we can be a lot more efficient with the timing. There are so many mistakes made by sticking to a rigid calendar. There are a lot of improvements in tracking these things with AI technology, determining when to put down seeds or fungicides based on the condition of the soil. You’ll be able to set up multiple weather stations and soil temperature stations with constant data uploads. These new innovations will have a huge impact on residential lawns.
Are There Any Key Pieces of Wisdom You’d Like to Share Before We Go?
JOHN GULIUS: I think it’s important to have a daily routine for your life and your business. You can chart your progress in both more efficiently. As with the sales approach, don’t try to rush things – take time to really mull things over and make intentional decisions. Don’t get left behind on the important trends in the industry. And make sure you take care of the people around you who look out for you. And for landscapes specifically – take the approach that with patience and the proper technique, almost any landscape can be saved.
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