[Stonehenge]

I was wondering who would be interested in pooling our resources and knowledge base to create a franchise model, like the one presented in the E-Myth?

The idea is something like this - we figure out what kinds of job functions and tasks that need to be carried out in a typical landscaping company, then break out to create standardized procedures for those tasks and functions.

This would be a project that may take 1-2 years, and involve a good many people.

All info would be collected by me, and I would compile it into a total manual (or manuals). Those who were significant contributors would get free copies of this, CD ROM and hard copy. For all others I would make it available for a small fee (possibly the cost of a Private Gardens membership).

Is this something people would have an interest in? I'm likely going to pursue it anyway for my own biz, but it would go faster if more people were involved.

Whaddaya say?

[Lanelle]

I am wondering what already exists? I would guess that some associations such as ALCA have some of that already published.
Also, what about the technical manuals from the various wall mfgs?

[Bexter]

I think your Right Lanelle, although it is probably not in one manual. I found lots of info from a Safety manual from ALCA when doing ours. It still took me in excess of 300 hours to put it together.
The first step would be researching and using anything already done so you’re not reinventing the wheel.
I think it would be a great project.

[Stonehenge]

Yes, I believe those would assist us in this venture. However, there would likely be much to add to something like a Versa-Lok Tech Spec to get the installation totally standardized. And natural stone installs would likely not have much info at all to start with.

Having ALCA involved would be great, but I'd not be interested in paying any licensing fees - it would have to be freely available to us, otherwise we'd just create it ourselves.

And that is just handling installation. I'm thinking about a franchise model - with this manual(s), you could virtually open up shop and be successful. Handling incoming calls (we've already begun that), managing people at the foreman level, the manager level, etc. Procedures at the start of the day in the AM, to the end of the day, end of week, end of month, etc.

[diginahole]

I'm in.

[diginahole]

A few thoughts on Turn Key Operations.

A system has purpose; it produces a result and exactly the result that you intend it to produce. It does this predictably, on time, every time. Reliability is the hallmark of an effective system. Reliable systems become reliable businesses.

A system is dynamic. You can’t simply install a system and let it run forever, it won’t. It needs to adapt and evolve as your business does.

A system could be either intentional or accidental. You could develop and install a system or it could simply just happen as the random result of your activities. Which would you rather have? Which approach results in a business that works?

The process of systems building is thorough and disciplined. It will lead you to think through the details of how your business works, and more importantly how it should work.

The first task in systemizing is to get the systems house in order. To do that we must identify all the business systems that must be created or improved and then create a systems development plan to guide us through the process.

To develop the systems plan/ diagram we start with the 7 centres of management attention. For those who haven’t read E-Myth these are the 3 essential business disciplines of Marketing, Management, and Money, the 3 Essential business processes Client Fulfilment, Lead Conversion, and Lead Generation and the all encompassing Leadership.

We will ask the repeating question, “What systems do I need for ___________?” The responses are the sub-systems within that system. Ask the repeating question for each sub-system, then each sub-sub-system and continue as long the systems identified are meaningful and useful.

This is going to be a colossal task. There are a lot of systems to be documented, some generic and some specific to individual operations. If it can be done here is the place it would happen. I look forward to working with the willing. Synergy is a beautiful thing.

[Hamons]

any more interest in doing this project. I was starting to do this for my project when I decided to look on GTX to see if anything similarly had ever been done. And I should have known -- It had.

Many of us already have one or two things on paper --- so by just compiling them it would be much less work for all of us.

I think it is a fantastic idea. We could all learn from the way others do things. W e all have specialties. Some are great on setting up the systems - some are great at the technician side of things. Some of us know the science of fertilizers and plants.

This would be a fantastic use of our collective intelligence. (even tough I only add one or 2 points to collective )

LETS DO IT GUYS!!!!!

[yardguy]

Im in!! Being so young, not sure how much i could tell any of you more experienced guys, but surely i have some things to share!?

[GLAN]

Sure, count me in.

If I may........I don't think you would get much imput during the spring...It's the busiest of all the seasons for me. However I do think individualy, each can keep log of notes jotted down during the spring.

Yeah.......I would be glad to help


Just a thought........maybe it can get published.......proceeds go towards GTX with a stypen to Jeff

[Fine Edge]

My curiousity is peaking! Count me in to help in any way I can.
One thing that would be really useful is an average time that it takes to complete certain projects or parts of certain projects.
Since our company is focusing more and more on larger hardscape projects, we find it difficult to estimate some areas of a project because we just don't have the total knowledge on how long some of these things take. Or , we have only done a certain aspect of these installs 1 or 2 times and we know we can get quicker or there is a faster way.

Great idea, Jeff. Keep us posted on what you need.

[Stonehenge]

I should give you an update - this project was the brainchild of Diginahole and I back when the site started, back in '03. We stayed in touch about it for a year or so, but it never really got off the ground. Too much for the two of us to push forward, I suppose.

If folks are really interested in this, I can work on moving forward with this project. As a home for the site I registered the domain groundtradeswiki.com (even have a logo - see below). For those of you familiar with Wikipedia, the idea was this project would work using the same software, which allows anyone to create or modify the different pages on the site.

At the time I researched it I was able to find scripts that might work to let us print the thing as a manual that could be sent to the members who wanted (like Glan's idea). Might even be able to customize it with the specific company's logo.

If the project works it has the potential to change the fortunes of many in the industry, and even the industry as a whole.

Here are some of the snags I see in this project, and we should bounce them around before we go further:

1)Differing methodologies - a big one off the top of my head is the sand vs no sand debate for paver base prep. We'd probably have to include both methods in the manual. Having two version of base prep manuals isn't that big a deal, but we'd need to make sure the manual didn't become this fractured thing where there were 37 different "acceptable" methods for doing something. We'd need some way, maybe a small voting body or something like that, to decide what 1 or 2 methods for a given task would be considered the site (and industry) standard.

2) Participation. This project would be way too big for a few people to handle, and get it into reasonable shape in less than a couple years. We'd need the participation of many who'd be willing to write and/or edit content.

So if we see some serious interest in this, I'll get the wiki software uploaded, and we'll need to start breaking down all of the categories we'd want to include in this (Marketing? Sales? Record keeping? Accounting? Tool maintenance? Along with all of the "how to install a ____").

[Cochran]

This is a super idea. I want to be a part of it! Maybe we could list the areas to define and establish committees? Each committee would be comprised of folks specialized in certain areas....

This is a really great idea for both experienced and novice landscaper type folks! It would also be interesting to find out how different parts of the country tackle projects and jobs also....
In my area of the world, we can landscape almost 12 months a year and SNOW?? What's that--I've only seen the stuff once!

[GLAN]

The obvious thing that comes to mind is area of expertise.

Not all members, myself included are hardscape contractors. However, I have done some projects through the years that I can easily write a brief and pass that along to those that are hardscapers, Just maybe I have performed a task that makes sense or makes a job easier that is different from the norm, and just might be logical.

Where as my thing is maintenance, we design and install as well but I would have to say expertise.....maintenance. Although I am very good at color enhancements and have done extensive work in that area.

Then we have the plant gurus.

Yeah, the more I think about this as I am writting this post. The more I think we all can work this out.


Also we have regional/climate differences represented here.......We can pretty much cover everything for every climate zone.......

Oh.........I just got goose bumps

[Stonehenge]

Yeah - when you think about it, it does have an amazing, far-reaching upside.

I imagine there will be lots of bugs to work out of any system we create, so I'll shoot for getting the site live this week, then we can have people start getting used to how that system works, and then we can get down to the work part of the work.

I imagine any "committees" we create will work much like Wikipedia and GTX work right now; we have moderators (Rangers) who make sure things are where they belong and the content is appropriate for the given area. Wikipedia works much the same way. So what will probably be the most efficient way to go is to simply assign areas of specialty to people, and they will have the job of writing content as well as verifying/editing other submitted content. And like the moderators here, there should be some overlap, so one person doesn't have the job of overseeing everything. Right now that job would be somewhat easy, but as that site grows in content, there's no way one person could keep up.

I look forward to seeing this thing get launched. It's been a long time coming.

[Green4Me]

I too am interested.