Dave reflects on his shipshape gardening business…and life
There’s nothing we like better than catching up with the business owners of an Ed’s gardening business. We often have a catch up when they are taking a well-earned coffee break. We believe that effective coaching is at the very heart of Ed’s success.
Even once our Business Owners are very well established, communication is always strong and we love to hear what’s going well as well as giving ongoing support when required.
Dave gives us the low down…
Earlier this week, we caught up with Dave Laing. Dave runs his own successful gardening business in Andover. He joined Ed’s in May 2017 so is now into his third year of operation as an Ed’s business owner. Dave took a few minutes to reflect on how he is feeling about his Ed’s journey. This is what he had to say:-
“Well, here I am with a great little gardening business. I’ve got forty great regular customers now, which was my target from day one. My business really is running smoothly now and I have a very strong sense of achievement.”
The gardening business road so far…
“I don’t want to sound smug but I really am in a very good place with my business now. I can see the fruits of all my focus and planning. At the start, the Ed’s team always stressed how important it was to put strong building blocks in place and I really took that on board and followed their advice to the letter. I am really pleased that I did that as I can see now how important it is in building a very strong business. My financials are looking really good and life is really very enjoyable. I still love gardening and get a real kick out of a job well done. I think my enthusiasm comes over with my customers and they are a really loyal, lovely bunch of people.”
Life in general…
“At a personal level, I can honestly say that life has never been better. My wife and I had a fabulous holiday in Namibia earlier this year and we are planning a trip to Corsica later this year and are also going to Cuba in the New Year. I feel fitter than I have in years and feel a lot younger than when I started my business with Ed’s.”
“When I joined Ed’s, I wanted a successful business, of course. However, I also wanted a good work/life balance and I’ve definitely achieved that. I work four and a half days per week now as I like to get finished around lunchtime on a Friday so we can have a really good weekend and some quality down time.”
“Ed’s really has been the best thing I have ever done career-wise. My only regret is that I really wish I had started my business five years earlier, when I think about how disenchanted I was in my corporate job in that period. If I had known then what I know now, I would have jumped ship in a flash!”
…And the future for your gardening business?
“I can see me running my Ed’s business for many years to come. I’ve found my niche and I can’t ever imagine being employed by someone else ever again. I love the freedom too much. I might go down to a four day week in ten years or so though!”