“It’s all about quality rather than quantity, but you do have to strike a balance”
after my search began, and with Steve’s reluctant support, I left Arsenal in March 2008.”
Hitting the ground running
St. Albans, where I live, is an affluent area but my Lawn Master venture began just as the phrase ‘credit crunch’ started to pop up with alarming regularity in the headlines. I admit feeling some trepidation until I completed my first quote. After that I felt totally at ease - I’d taken the plunge and I was flying. In my van I have a Dori scarifier and I spent the first three months permanently attached to it! I’d spent a considerable amount of time on a tractor at the training ground and the intensity of the physical work was a huge shock to the system!” “To launch our service in the local
area, which also covers Barnet and Harpenden, leaflets were sent to more than 110,000 homes so I had a reasonable volume of work right from the start. I don’t think I could have accommodated much more if I’m honest. I've learnt what does and does not work in terms of promotion but, by far the most common way of getting new
business is by referral - ‘lawn envy’ is a wonderful thing. Having worked at Arsenal has definitely helped me get business. People want to talk to me about it so it helps me engage with potential customers.”
A journey of self-discovery
After working abroad for years and having spent almost a decade at a Premiership club, was there anything Andrew could learn from self- employment? Absolutely. “The attention to detail that was instilled in me by Steve’s high standards is definitely something I took with me, and it has certainly helped with both customer satisfaction and retention, but it has caused me a few problems too.” “Initially, I spent far too much time on jobs trying to get them perfect when it has been unrealistic. When we first met, Bob told me that, unlike some other franchise companies, ‘this isn’t a numbers game’, which was one of my initial concerns. It’s all about quality rather than quantity, but you do have to strike a balance. I’ve also found that, having such high standards, has also made me reluctant to delegate.”
“Getting to grips with Lawn Master’s
bespoke computer system has been okay, I used to do the scheduling at Arsenal so I know my way around a computer and I’m good with numbers. I’m also not the most organised person but I manage well under pressure.” “The importance of self-motivation became apparent this winter. When we had snow I felt lethargic and downbeat but, once it cleared, I knew I had to channel my energies into something positive. When I’ve spent hours scarifying, have worked a long, hard day or if I’m at home doing quotes long into the evening, I try to stay focused on my goals and the positive aspects of my business, of which there are many.” “Motivating myself when I’m out working is easy. Groundsmen at football clubs are largely taken for granted in my opinion, and I enjoy the regular praise I receive from my customers. I go back to work at the Emirates Stadium on matchdays and I’m always interested in their progress. If I went back to work at the training ground, I’d be a much better groundsman.” “Every garden is a different project and I’m having to draw on every bit of
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