Group CEU's?

by Danny Summers

The Horticulture Industry is certainly one where we are accustomed to promoting Certification Programs and earning credentials for you and your staff at retail. Most of our state associations have a program you can and should participate in, and being a Certified Nursery or Horticulture Professional designation can be an important part of building customer confidence. I know you are wondering where I am going with this...

I am not announcing a new Retailer Certification Program.

An Observer & Difference Maker

by Danny Summers

We have talked before about how important it is to keep an attitude of Lifelong Learning and what we can call being An Observer. I often think about long-time Group friend and mentor, Ernest Wertheim and how he exemplified this idea. Even into his 80's and 90's Ernest was always An Observer to what was around him and what could be learned and improved upon. He was also one of the most positive and objective people I have ever met and he challenged us to think in new ways during every conversation.

Being forever a student or An Observer should apply to just about everything in our lives. I see it beginning as we first awake in the morning. Whether we are observing our health, the weather, our garden, or all the people and circumstances we experience throughout the day, each can provide an opportunity to be An Observer. And from this, we should consider ways we can be a positive influence.

A Pattern of Five

by Danny Summers

Over the past week or so, a pattern has been emerging... A Pattern of Five!

Seeing the first major patterns then gave me the idea for this message to share today. But before I highlight the major ones that gave me this idea, I will first step back to some basic thoughts.

What's Your Blind Spot?
How Cognitive Biases Limit You as a Leader

by Carl Phillips

It’s been over 22 years since the roll-out of The Garden Center Group Mystery Shopper Program. Over three thousand, six hundred (3,600+) shops have been completed that form the basis for great customer service benchmarking.

Continual Learning

by Danny Summers

Don't you just love this photo? I do. Our wish for everyone should be to have a real passion for learning throughout life. In many ways, I believe it may be one of the very best ways to stay young. Many of us were fortunate enough to know Ernest Wertheim and even in his 90's he was asking many questions and had a passion for learning and encouraged everyone around him to do the same. He is an example of why we should have a passion for learning!

The idea of this message came to me as I was thinking back on where we have been the past two and a half years. We have certainly learned a lot in that period of time.

Report Card Grade: Not Yet!

by Danny Summers

At first glance, you might think I am referring to Spring 2022 performance numbers and this title very well could be used to describe the late spring arrival and the numbers we are seeing in the Weekly Department Review (WDR). But I want to first ask the question... Have you ever heard of a Report Card Grade of "Not Yet"? I hadn't until a few weeks ago when I found a quote by Dr. Carol Dweck to use in the April 25th edition of GROUPtalk for the Quote of the Week. The quote is:

“The hallmark of successful people is that they are always stretching themselves to learn new things."  ~ Dr. Carol S. Dweck

Dr. Dweck is a renowned psychologist who introduced the world to the term “growth mindset”. She is the author of Mindset, a book that introduced the differences between a Fixed Mindset and a Growth Mindset. As I read more and even watched several presentations of Dr. Dweck's work and her research on having a growth mindset, I realized this is not just for children and their development. It applies to all of us.

A Powerful Story

by Danny Summers

When our girls were young, we stumbled upon a magical story crafted in an animated film titled The Man Who Planted Trees. The fictional story paints a simple yet powerful and unforgettable message set in the early 1900s. It introduced us to a shepherd named Elzéard Bouffier who quietly takes on the task of planting 100 acorns a day in an effort to reforest a desolate region in the French Alps. As the story unfolds, you see the shepherd's work transforming the region as life (and hope) returns and the world around is renewed.

Building Relationships

by Danny Summers

Relationships. It is the lifeblood of a successful career or business. It spans all aspects of your operation... Your customers. Your staff and management team. Your growers and hardline vendors. Other relationships you have are here within The Group. The relationships built with The Group's team of Service Providers and your peer Centers is something that is very unique today.

Back to School?

by Danny Summers

Did you ever think we all would be going Back to School? I'm actually referring to Business School... That's what all Garden Centers in The Group have the opportunity to do. With the major Group financial programs and interacting with The Group Service Providers and peer Centers, we all have the benefit of advanced learning. It's really advanced business school for how to be most successful at Garden Retailing!

The Journey of Lifetime Learning

by Tim Quebedeaux

It has been almost a year since I started work with Steve Bailey. During that time, I have done onsite visits, attended Fall Event as a service provider, compiled the WDR weekly, and helped complete the P&L Study. I have gained a great appreciation for accountability in numbers and in the resolve of Garden Center owners to succeed. From those early Garden Center days to today, I recognize valuable information that I could have used 20 years ago, when I started managing Garden Centers.

Lessons and Blessings

by John Kennedy

As I say often, God gave me two hands to make life easier and decisions simpler.

A Passion for Learning!

by Danny Summers

To begin, can we agree... Sharing is a function of Leaning!