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JULY 2020
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AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE DURING A PANDEMIC
ROBERT REFLECTS ON THE NEXT GENERATION’S CHALLENGES
J uly Fourth is more than just Independence Day — it’s a time when many reflect on their freedom and opportunity. And, in many ways, I think our personal experiences of independence are very much tied to our sense of freedom as Americans. I know there are a lot of high school and college students that are struggling with their path towards personal independence. Many students are taking gap years to avoid paying full price for an online education that would have otherwise been on campus, which is completely understandable.
Sure, if I hadn’t worked hard and ground it out all those years, the opportunity of owning a house and growing my company wouldn’t have presented itself, but the independence I and others have achieved also has a lot to do with the community around us too. No entrepreneur becomes successful completely on their own. My father helped me along my journey of homeownership, and my staff at work is incredible; I don’t forget what I owe to them. Responsibility means that you’re willing to look out for other people too.
We also shouldn’t be critical of ourselves for seeking support from our community either. Sometimes we need help. It’s responsible
Many of the traditional benchmarks for personal independence, like graduating high school, have changed completely. If this pandemic had happened when I was a kid, I’m not sure I would’ve known what to do. I was 23 when I bought my first house, and I was simultaneously running my business and attending college part time. It was my first taste of true independence. Over time, though, I’ve realized that being self-sufficient isn’t a singular event, but rather, it’s the result of many events, and you shouldn’t worry if those events feel different right now. In my eyes, the American concept of independence — even while in a pandemic — is comprised of three things: perseverance, ambition, and responsibility.
to take care of ourselves and others, and maintaining your sense of self is one of the best things you can do as a student or in life. To all young Americans: Your journey has unprecedented challenges, but I hope you ask for the help you need, continue to persevere, and keep all of your ambition. You’ll find yourself on the other side sooner than you think.
ROBERT, THE LEADER OF AN ORGANIZATION IS NOT BETTER THAN ANYBODY ELSE. THEY JUST HAVE MORE INFLUENCE, AND WITH GREATER INFLUENCE
COMES GREATER RESPONSIBILITY.
And if you’re stuck or you feel like you’ve got too much time that you’re wasting, remember it’s not impossible to
learn new skills. When prepping for my business, I taught myself much more than just landscaping. The internet is one of the most important tools for encouraging independence. I taught myself accounting, billing, payroll, taxes, and even design software. There’s always so much more that we can do, thanks to yet another product of American work ethic and independence: the internet.
Perseverance and ambition are highly touted when we talk about the American dream and work ethic. And I think they’re both very important — I see them in each person I work with every day. But if this pandemic has reminded us of anything, it’s that one of the most important parts of becoming an independent individual is being responsible. Because when it comes to things like ambition, some of the best advice I’ve ever gotten was from an ex-colonel in the military, who was the CEO of a billion-dollar company and is still one of my clients today: “Robert, the leader of an organization is not better than anybody else. They just have more influence, and with greater influence comes greater responsibility.” Responsibly means more than just considering your own success.
I hope you all have a fantastic July, friends! See you next month.
Robert Burns
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W hen you’re looking for someone to design your garden, you’ll likely want someone who is up to date with their Florida gardening and horticulture education and who promotes the future of the industry. That’s why I’m an FNGLA-Certified Landscape Designer. You may already know that I’m certified by FNGLA,
WHY SHOULD I HIRE AN FNGLA- CERTIFIED LANDSCAPE DESIGNER?
but you may be wondering what the FNGLA is and why it’s important. FNGLA stands for Florida Nursery, Growers, and Landscape Association, and it’s the state’s oldest nursery and landscape association, founded in 1952. Not only does the organization offer six different certifications for outdoor professionals, but it also requires those seeking certification to be devoted to their studies and acquire knowledge
to pass the necessary exams to be certified. Outdoor professionals also have to perform a physical demonstration of their abilities for each specific certification. In addition to providing credentials, FNGLA also helps industry professionals maintain their knowledge and expertise by requiring continuing education units (CEUs) every three years to maintain certifications.
TEDDY’S PAW-SPECTIVE HOW TO BE THE CENTER OF ATTENTION AT DINNER PARTIES
worry a single hair off your head. I have plenty of tips for being popular at dinner parties that will work for anyone, puppy or human. Your first and most reliable tactic? Get on the ground, roll on your back, and expose your tummy. It totally works. I cannot stress
Hey friends! Has anyone else’s family started getting busier? With everybody home all the time these past few months, my family was prioritizing my walks over their usual dinner parties and daily outings. But now, the small dinner parties are starting to come back, and I just don’t get it — we were walking at 7 p.m. sharp all week, Dad. We had regularly scheduled programming! It consisted of walks, gardening, watching TV, and getting petted the whole way through. On the one hand, I love the people that come over. They’re always happy to see me! I mean, why wouldn’t they be? Have you seen my fur? On the other hand, everybody’s talking to each other instead of petting me the whole time, which is silly. Luckily, it’s hard to not be the center of attention when you’re as cute as I am. However, for my friends that need some extra attention-grabbing tactics, don’t
this enough: Showing my tummy has never not worked for me. Although my
fur is super soft and deserves all the pats that people can give me, my tummy is also soft. Little known secret: The only reason why everyone knows that dogs go to heaven is because tummy pats get us there immediately. It’s a round- trip ticket; we come back to Earth when the pats are over. Ask any puppy you know.
If that doesn’t work, then try pawing their leg and begging a little bit. Not a lot! Just a little bit. Enough for them to know that you want to be on their lap. If you start crying too loud — and I know, it’s hard when you want to be petted so bad — then humans get confused about whether or not you want to eat human food. Which you do. You always want to eat human food. But besides that, remember to be polite! Give them your best puppy gaze and beg softly.
I hope these tips help you! See you all next month!
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OUR CLIENTS SAY IT BEST!
These professional designations help raise the bar for the whole industry and help the public know who the dedicated professionals in this field are. Landscape designers who maintain their certifications often attend educational seminars and participate in training related to
the industry. It helps them stay connected to the state, its green community, and any new efficiencies created from the community’s efforts.
“Robert and his team did an unbelievable job. From design start to finish they were true professionals. They took an outdated pool deck and an uninviting backyard and transformed into a wonderful modern
The horticulture industry generates billions in revenue and directly employs hundreds of thousands of people in Florida; the FNGLA is one of the largest, most important associations in the state that communicates horticulture standards in the industry. If your landscape designer is truly committed and passionate about their craft, then being certified by the FNGLA is one way you can recognize their dedication. Although I’ve been in the green industry since I was a teenager, it feels great to be a part of a larger association that advocates so strongly to move the industry forward.
inviting space. Our family is outside enjoying the new area almost daily. I have hosted multiple gatherings since they completed the work and all of my guests love the new design. My only regret ... why didn’t I hire these guys sooner!” –Jeff Jones
Robert Burns
Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh; I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Deuteronomy 6:5-6: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.” Philippians 2: 3-5: “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.” HAVE YOU HEARD THE GOOD NEWS?
EASY OUT
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The Challenge of American Independence in a Pandemic Why Should I Hire an FNGLA-Certified Landscape Designer? Teddy’s Paw-spective: How to Be the Center of Attention at Dinner Parties Hear From Our Clients Take a Break The Wacky Evolution of the Knock-Knock Joke
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KNOCK KNOCK! WHO’S THERE? The Wacky Evolution of the Knock-Knock Joke
Unless you’re living under a rock, odds are you’ve laughed, grumbled, or groaned in response to a knock-knock joke. You may have even told a few yourself before you realized knock-knock jokes had gone out of style in favor of sarcasm and memes. That’s because at their core, knock-knock jokes are a
Not very funny, is it? Well, over the years this style of back-and-forth jesting evolved into knock-knock jokes. The popularity of the “knock knock” bit of the joke could harken back to Shakespeare, who BestLife credits with “the first-known occurrence of a knock knock, who’s-there dialogue” in Act 2 of “Macbeth” (though it likely wasn’t intended to be funny), or it could be a reference to 1936 vice presidential hopeful Frank Knox, whose name made “knock knock” irresistible wordplay for the radio. Whatever the reason, knock knocks were all the rage in the 1930s, to the extent that people formed knock-knock clubs, businesses held knock-knock contests, and orchestras set them to music. However, the heyday was short- lived. In the following years, people started getting sick of knock knocks, and even psychologists turned against them. According to NPR, “people who loved knock-knock jokes were said to have social problems.” Today, knock-knock jokes are still around, but they’re mostly considered a game for kids or demoted to the realm of “bad dad jokes.” Maybe you think that’s warranted, maybe you think it’s tragic — either way, odds are the format will continue to evolve and probably outlive us all!
Knock knock! Who’s there? Theresa. Theresa who? Theresa crowd!
quintessential American experience — and the perfect homegrown fodder for International Joke Day, which falls on July 1. But where did they come from, and why do so many people knock the knock-knock joke today? Well, according to NPR, knock-knock jokes have had a roller coaster of a history. Near as we can tell, they actually evolved from another kind of joke: the “Do You Know” joke. This style of joke was popular in the early 1900s, and according to an Oakland Tribune article NPR dug up, this was a typical one:
Do you know Arthur? Arthur who? Arthurmometer!
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