Check out our May newsletter!
MAY 2021
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TAKING FUN SERIOUSLY
WHAT GOLF HAS TAUGHT ME
I watch a lot of golf (at least that’s what my wife tells me), and I always watch the post-game interviews. I often find myself fascinated by people who are forced to go out and make their success happen every single day. Especially with a limited college education, there isn’t really a “passive” way to be a landscape designer or run a business. Much like golf athletes, entrepreneurs have to take the shot, no matter what fears or doubts are on their mind.
think about is you and your goal. It’s very hard to have the focus required for golf because you can easily get distracted.
At the same time, sports have taught me that at the end of the day, life is about having fun too. I’m a pretty serious person by nature, but I’ve been taking golf lessons with a mentor for eight years. I’ve learned that if you take yourself too seriously all the time, you can get burned out.
If I don’t go out and put my best effort in every day, what will happen? For me, it’s important to maintain a mindset that will empower my ability to work hard for the sake of my business, family, and personal ambitions. And when I noticed that May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, it made me think about just how big of a role fitness and sports play in doing that. Of course, working outdoors can get you in pretty decent shape, but being conscious of your exercise and health is important overall to keeping your mind in top shape. I started going to the gym in the mornings two years ago, and it’s helped me feel more motivated and energized.
How do you obsess over what you do but also have fun?
IT’S IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN A MINDSET THAT WILL EMPOWER MY ABILITY TO WORK HARD FOR THE SAKE OF MY BUSINESS, FAMILY, AND PERSONAL AMBITIONS ... WHEN I NOTICED THAT MAY IS NATIONAL PHYSICAL FITNESS AND SPORTS MONTH, [I REALIZED] JUST HOW BIG OF A ROLE FITNESS AND SPORTS PLAY IN DOING THAT.
The answer is likely different for everyone. For me, I think it’s key to choose to love your work despite obstacles or ups and downs. That’s why I love watching the post-game interviews — it’s fascinating to learn how and why professional athletes dedicate their lives to a sport. Money can’t motivate you forever, and it takes genuine passion for many of them to succeed. Their tenacity and grit definitely helps inspire me in business and in life.
I’ve learned so much from sports. I’d be curious to learn what lessons sports and fitness has taught you, too, so don’t be shy to reach out to me and share.
But, in fact, the actual health benefits of exercise and sports are just one aspect that helps me. Sports psychology also helps me feel motivated while also helping me think differently about my business. In golf, you’ll often have a lot of obstacles between where you’re hitting the ball and the hole. There might be shrubs, trees, ponds, rivers, or hills, but you can’t focus on the distractions. As you hit the ball, the only thing you need to
Robert Burns
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WHY I LOVE ST. JUDE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
Normally, we use this section of our newsletter to talk about the valuable products and plants we use in landscape design or even an awesome book that I’ve read recently. However, today I’d like to talk about a charity and organization that’s very near to my heart: St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis. My sister Rose McGee works at St. Jude as a genetic counselor, and the last time I visited her in Memphis, I took a tour around the hospital with her. It was absolutely amazing to see the breadth of accomplishments made to save children’s lives and improve treatments for both cancer and cancer research.
At one point, we stopped by a wall at the hospital that held all the names of the children who’d made it through successful treatments — and those who didn’t. It was very emotional. You can tell just how emotional it is for all of the staff as well. The amount of love, care, and devotion put into St. Jude by my sister and all of the doctors and staff can leave you speechless.
GETTIN’ NUMBER SAVVY GAVIN’S GUYS
Hiya pals! It’s Gavin, your local 6-year-old backyard expert. I have a few exciting updates! As you know, I’m a very successful entree-manure. That’s just a fancy way of saying that I start and run companies. When you’re running a company, you have to count a lot of numbers — and I count them really good.
My addition skills have taken my company pretty far, but our investors (Mom and Dad) are encouraging us to take advantage of new technology. So, I’m excited to announce that we’re upgrading our operation to use multiplication tables soon. It’ll make my addition even
faster than ever before, counting all your trees and flowers with light speeds.
Counting is useful for keeping track of a company’s money, too. Lately, me and my guys have been real busy helping my dad build a shed. It has a little roof and pillars up right now, and we plan to plant more trees in the ground around it. I’mwhat my dad calls a “construction superintendent,” so I give directions as my dad and his partner build this thing. You’re probably thinking, “Wow, Gavin, that’s really nice of you to offer up your time like that.” Thanks! But the truth is that my dad was doing me a favor. On one hand, I don’t blame my dad relying on my expertise — it’s not easy installing a metal roof. But on the other hand, I was actually out of commission for a little while. Twenty minutes, to be exact. I lost two teeth, one upper tooth and one lower tooth. Anyway, I was super grateful to get back on the field after recuperating from that. Some business owners might worry about how they’re going to survive if they don’t make their $3 a week like I do. But don’t worry, financially, I’ll be just fine. The Tooth Fairy has me covered!
Plus, I’m very good about my savings. Anyway, I’m going to Target with Mom again. Thanks for reading, friends, and I’ll see you next time!
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OUR CLIENTS SAY IT BEST! Wanted to share how happy we were with the service and quality of the landscaping and lighting that was installed in our home by BLG. Robert worked with us to create a design and helped us stay within our budget by providing different options before work was initiated. His crew worked quickly as Dan and his team followed through and addressed all questions we had along the way. Robert created an innovative approach to our lighting that has greatly enhanced our curb appeal. Thanks to Robert, Dan, and all of the BLG team for a job beautifully done.” –Geoff Baldwin
It’s become an important priority for me to give back to organizations like these. We are so tremendously blessed in this country, and to be able to help sick children in need is a blessing. I know that I’m not alone in this feeling either. If you’re an avid reader of the newsletter, you’ll probably know this about me: I love learning, especially from other entrepreneurs. A few years ago, I gave an author/trade show speaker a ride from the airport to a convention center in Orlando. He was super successful and spoke all over the country. One of the first things he said was that you have to give back. He began to share with me about The United Way and the American Heart Association, charities he was most passionate about. I related deeply to that, and it’s always stuck with me. If you’d like to learn more about St. Jude and make your own contribution (or give back in another way, like volunteering!), please visit their website at StJude. org . During these times, an extra hand is always appreciated.
Thank you so much for all your help!
Robert Burns
HAVE YOU HEARD THE GOOD NEWS?
“Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.” –Song of Songs 8:6
EASY OUT
“Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” –1 John 4:20
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Taking Fun Seriously
Why I Love St. Jude Children’s Hospital Gavin’s Guys: Gettin’ Number Savvy The Good News Hear From Our Clients Take a Break! The Bet That Spawned the Filet-O-Fish Sandwich
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THE BET THAT SPAWNED THE FILET-O-FISH SANDWICH Inside the McDonald’s History Books
Every day, 68 million people dine under the iconic golden arches of McDonald’s. If you’re one of them, then you’re probably intimately familiar with one of the most famous offerings on the menu after the McRib and the Big Mac: the Filet-O-Fish Sandwich. This bestselling entree looks simple enough. It features a fried square of wild-caught fish nestled under a slice of American cheese and a smear of tartar sauce. But it has a contentious history. In fact, Ray Kroc, the owner of McDonald’s who was immortalized in the 2016 movie “The Founder,” didn’t want the fishy offering on the menu. It ended up there anyway for one of the oldest reasons in the world: Kroc lost a bet. The story starts back in 1962 in Cincinnati, Ohio. That year, an enterprising McDonald’s franchisee named Lou Groen had a problem. His customer base was largely Catholic and abstained from eating meat on Fridays (not to mention during Lent!), and they weren’t buying enough burgers to keep his restaurant afloat. According to the Smithsonian Magazine, on Fridays, Groen pulled in just $75 per day. To combat that lack of sales, he masterminded a beef-free option, and the Filet-O-Fish Sandwich was born.
The problem came when Groen pitched the entree to Ray Kroc. The founder didn’t approve. In a 2006 interview with Business Courier, Groen recalled Kroc’s reaction: “You’re
always coming up here with a bunch of crap!” he said. “I don’t want my stores stunk up with the smell of fish.” But at the end of the day, Kroc’s motivation was profit. So the two men made a bet. On Good Friday in 1962, select McDonald’s would put both the Filet-O-Fish and a different meatless option, the pineapple-centric Hula Burger, on their menus. The entree that sold the best would stick around. Since you’ve probably dined on a Filet-O-Fish and never heard of Hula Burger, you can guess what happened. Groen sold 350 Filet-O-Fish sandwiches. And Kroc? Well, he moved just six Hula Burgers. Fishy smell or not, the filet was there to stay. Want to read up on more fast-food capers? Pick up the book “Drive-Thru Dreams: A Journey Through the Heart of America’s Fast-Food Kingdom” by Adam Chandler. His KFC stories will blow your mind.
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