I am a great fan of Simon Sinek. His books come well recommended. “Start with why” especially is one to read. The basic premise of the book is to ask yourself WHY you are starting a new business. You should do this first.
Then this week on social media, my eye caught a quote from Simon Sinek.
I thought, hey, I come close. It really is magic when you find a good boss and company and things click.
Just this past Wednesday my boss stopped by to help us on a big strata complex site. We had to remove several shore pines (Pinus contorta contorta) damaged in the last snow storm. My boss generously let me risk my life by giving me some chainsaw practice. There are no short cuts around this. You just have to do it and pray you live to blog about it. Remember, I am an ISA Certified Arborist but as a landscape professional I don’t do tree work full-time.
In exchange for some chainsaw tips I was able to furnish my boss with the correct botanical name for Staghorn sumac. Rhus typhina.
There is more love for Vas!
- great pay, full-time hours and bonuses which is a big deal when you have two cute kids at home
- professional memberships covered, like ISA
- great education support, the first time any employer covered both my time at a horticulture show AND the symposium fees; technical knowledge keeps me firmly in the industry, for example, I made lots of notes at a full-day tree training seminar
- access to company tools and machines, if required, for private use
- work task variety, as senior supervisor without a regular site portfolio, I get to visit different crews and help out
- notes and images for late night blog posting
- access to good machines and tools
- occasional weekend work and work during challenging periods like the recent harsh winter; years ago one boss cut my hours because it was “foggy” outside!
- chance to train new recruits
- tolerating my so-called “Vas-isms”
- the boss doesn’t get up in the morning to be average
- the boss is willing to try new stuff, for example, doing more blade edging and fewer verticals
But what about some love for the boss?
- great feedback and fat bonuses are obvious markers that the boss is ecstatic
- “Having the boss’ back” is a key marker. As senior supervisor I am on the boss’ side. It’s about good production and results. I’m not out to give the crews long lunch breaks.
- good, consistent effort with minimal deviations
- landscape certified and Red Seal Journeyman status mean there should be fewer mistakes made
- training new recruits on basics and quickly
- ability to perform most tasks well and fill-in as required on any crew
- willingness to learn and face my fears often
- resilience; I survived when the boss tried to kill me with an astro turf project where the two of us removed 8,500 kg of astro turf.
- commitment to decent fitness through running races as my age turns into a large number
Do YOU have true love at work?
