SWEEEET!!!

[greenfutures]

I would just like to thank everyone on the castanet forums for all of their advice and support. For those who have not read some of my previous posts; I am starting a ZERO EMISSION lawn care service in Kelowna and was having difficulties getting started. I asked for the advice and insight of everyone here on the forums, and the response was overwhelming! So many people supported the idea, they offered their kind words and some offered their marketing expertise which proved to be VERY helpful. I am proud to say that I have a few customer's who are as equally as excited about my business as I am. The key word however is a "few." I'm still not making much money at all, definitely not enough to live off of thats for sure. However, I had a "moment" tonight! .....
I am a self confessed self improvement junkie. I have read about how to be successful, why I'm not successful, and what successful people don't want you to know about being successful....hahahaha,,,I have read sooooo many success stories. All of them seem to have a few things in common; Somebody has a good idea, is passionate about their idea and sharing it with the world but get shot down over and over. They get frustrated but never give up. They try harder and harder, make huge sacrafices and risk losing everything. They finally get to the point where they wonder if their idea is worth all the sacraficing. Frustration and negative thoughts begin to take over....... then... the phone rings. And it changes everything!
Tonight my phone rang. It was Maxine Dehart who seemed very interested in my business. I wasn't here, she left a message on my phone that I have listened to about 10 times already, nothing special, just that she has read my email and is interested in talking with me tomorrow. But, it is enough to get me excited. Maybe nothing will come of this phone call, maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. But I feel so good right now I had to share these feelings with as many people as i could. It only makes sense to share my experience with everyone who has supported me on the forums. Thank you again!
I will keep you informed.

[Jo]

F A N T A S T I C !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's great news, getting in her column can be a real step up. Glad things are happening for you, and hope you keep us updated. Best of luck!

[kgcayenne]

That is fantastic news! Between Ms Dehart and the word-of-mouth potential from customers you have right now, you may be on your way. Your company may even strike a good nerve around here and get people thinking.

[greenfutures]

I just talked to maxine! She is such a nice lady, she knew I was nervous talking to her, she called me honey and sweetheart and made me feel comfortable. She told me that she was going to mention me in her column next week! and.... she recommended me to one of her friends and I will be cutting his lawn tomorrow! Things are lookin up! The nice weather is finally here! Time to start "kickin' some grass!"

[Olivia]

I just talked to maxine! She is such a nice lady, she knew I was nervous talking to her, she called me honey and sweetheart and made me feel comfortable. She told me that she was going to mention me in her column next week! and.... she recommended me to one of her friends and I will be cutting his lawn tomorrow! Things are lookin up! The nice weather is finally here! Time to start "kickin' some grass!"

Way to go GF!!
"Go kick some grass!" - Good one!!

[normaM]

good for you Told you she's a good bet. I'll let you know if our lawn service guy doesn't work out. N

[greenfutures]

Some really exciting things have happened in the last few days. There are definitely some strange forces at work here! I have been trying to create a logo for my biz, but it seems I just don't have the necessary computer skills. I was getting very frustrated. The other morning I attempted to bend and curve the logo letters on my computer and after about a half hour I gave up. About an hour later I got a phone call from a potential customer asking for an estimate, he was a really friendly guy and really supportive of what I was doing with my business. We talked for awhile, then he told me that he was a graphic designer, and also had a marketing background! He asked if I would be interested in a barter agreement, exchanging his services for mine. The hairs on my neck stood up for a moment. Very strange how things are starting to come together. I met with him, the other day, he was right around the same age as me, he hired me and I hired him. We still have a few fine details we have to work out in our agreement, but I believe this opportunity will be great for both him and I.
I also cut Maxine Dehart's friends property on the weekend. He told me over the phone that this was a big job and to be prepared, It was a huge property and the grass was extremely long! I went to his place gave him an estimate, and told him I would be back the next day to cut it. When he saw me show up with a "people powered" reel mower the next day he was shocked,"Are you going to be able to cut this with that?" he asked. I told him that I was going to be there for awhile, and I would get it done! I have cut alot of grass in my day and I know long grass when I see it; his lawn was loooonnnng and thick, and would have made some of the big powerful gas mowers I used to cut the parks with bog a little! The property was about a half acre and hadn't been cut since about October of last year. I quickly got to work, and started "kickin some grass!" At one point, my customer was standing on his back deck talking on the phone (my mower is so quiet, I couldn't help but hear some of his conversation he said to the person on the other line, " You would not believe what I am witnessing in my backyard right now!" I'm not sure but I thought I saw some camera flashes too! There was a 20 foot square area in his back yard that had "knee high" grass! No exaggeration whatsoever! I left that piece to deal with last. When i got to it, he felt pretty sympathetic, and offered me the use of his gas powered mower, he said he wouldn't tell anyone....lol... I told him that it would be cheating if I used it, I broke out my hand shears and started chopping!!!
It took me awhile, but I did it! And it looked great!!!! I was exhausted after I was done, and maybe had a little heatstroke. But at the time that didn't matter, I had just cut and weedwacked this massive, overgrown property without using ONE DROP OF GASOLINE!!! Needless to say these customer's were very impressed. I'm happy to say that these people are now full time customer's. We took a little while to socialize after the work was done, they are incredibly nice people, we talked golf for awhile, and they told me that they would be spreading the word, and telling their friends about my business.
Hopefully I can keep the good news coming! thanks again!

[ferri]

this is wonderful!!! i don't even know you, but i am just so happy for you!!! keep the updates coming!