Growing up, there was a difference I wanted to make in the business world. I found 3 things that became my values & goals to move forward.

I believed it was better to be a giver than a taker as it's important to build people up & make them feel loved, included, and worthwhile. Helping others gives us direction and initiative to help ourselves.

I believed you needed to be honest and upfront in order to earn respect & credibility. Integrity means everything, even when no one is watching.

Those 3 beliefs set the pace in how I lived my life and have operated Johnson Landscaping. They carried me through joy and sorrow and have allowed me to stumble and pick myself up. Wins and losses were met directly. To run and hide was never an option. Most of all they gave me strength, courage, and hope to move forward. Not only did I believe in myself but others began to believe in me. Years back I had no skills or material possessions. It didn't matter. It wasn't what you had or knew that would provide direction in your life. It came down to how you applied yourself. In essence, those 3 beliefs structured my life. They have given me the opportunity to touch the lives of many people & achieve a reasonable amount of success & self-satisfaction. For that I will always continue to be grateful.

Stepping backwards, I ended up in construction due to my husband. He maintained a firm that handled residential landscaping. With some corporate skills and strong desires I found that I wanted more. What I did know was that a woman entering the construction business would be a definite challenge. For many years society has focused on the fact that normally men run a business. Today that bridge and gap is slowly closing, as women are becoming more viable as business operators. We find that women must be better than the best and work harder to gain trust and respect. With dedication, commitment, and patience you will earn credibility. It takes a great amount time & tremendous effort to earn a spot to simply "play on the field". For me it was important to be given the opportunity play as an equal. Common sense allowed me to grow in leaps & bounds. Time management is a high factor in running a business. It's a high profile area the general public looks at when deciding where to purchase services. There are so many resources to help you along the way. Those resources are a combination of agencies, contractors, organizations, employees, customers, & financing institutions. These people became an important part of my world & gave me many tools to utilize. First & foremost I found it important to constantly communicate with customers & people. Allow them to become comfortable with you & the business services you provide. 

Experience & confidence come as time speeds by. You can learn much from others. Don't ever be afraid to ask for advice or adapt to change. Being a team player allows us to accept wins & looses with dignity & grace. Everything happens for a reason & there is a purpose in everything we do. What's really important is how we travel down the avenues. Creditability & respect can be earned if you put forth a concentrated effort to "do the best you can with what you have". 

As a woman I believe we have an advantage in any type of business. Most women manage a home, family, and outside job. It gives us exceptional organization abilities and a compassion for people. Many women are able to complete a variety of duties at once because of our fast paced lifestyle. All people have a need to be patted on the shoulder. Because of the nurturing within us, we are able to touch our customers on a more personal level. I have always liked people. My interests have always been in both their personal and professional life. Those genuine concerns can be a deciding factor when it comes down to obtaining work. We find that being steady and consistent plays such an important part of any business. Simply make a decision & stand behind it. If you stand for nothing, then you will fall for anything. My strategy has always been to be upfront & with utmost integrity.  It comes down to how we do business.

Today, I look back and I sincerely appreciate the knowledge & experience I've gained over the years. My life has been richly blessed to have such credible general contractors & agencies as my mentors. There is so much more I need to learn. Knowing everything doesn't allow me room to grow. At that point, there are really no areas in which to expand. Within me is still a burning desire to "make a difference". I can't do it alone & I never have. It's taken a team of people to build a bridge along the way. Each one of them has played & continue to play such a significant part in the organizational structure of Johnson Landscaping. My duties today include everything from errands to scrubbing floors to dealing with the top brass. Title or position has never held much importance for me. I am simply a part of the Johnson Landscaping team. We have partnered together to provide the best service & products for our customers. Behind our image is a motto that we believe has been effective in our organization. " We'd rather explain the price than apologize for the quality". Our motto sends a strong message as to how Johnson Landscaping does business.

If I were asked today to give any advice to others it would be extremely difficult to decide what has been the most important factor in my business career. There have been so many bridges & roads which I have been allowed to cross & experience. Along the way I have met & shared experiences with so many fine people. Possibly the first words you would hear from me today would be "Give me challenge, and I will show you opportunity". From there I would say to anyone who wants to start a business: "first sell yourself &  you will be able to sell your services. It takes courage to show your dream to others. We did that and so can you.

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