The Landscaping Podcast

64. 10 Rules Professionals Follow

In this solo episode of The Landscaping Podcast, Zac Small breaks down how to stand out from the competition in the green industry, not by talking louder, making excuses, or acting like the job owes you something, but by becoming the kind of professional every company wants more of. Whether you are applying for a job, working on a landscaping crew, leading a team, or trying to earn more responsibility, the little things matter. * Showing up early matters. * Looking the part matters. * Paying attention matters. * Asking questions matters. * Staying off your phone matters. * Accepting critique matters. * Being transparent matters. * Doing the work without acting like everything is beneath you matters. This episode is a mentor session for anyone in landscaping, hardscaping, lawn care, the trades, or blue-collar work who wants to rise above the average and become someone people can actually count on. Zac talks through lessons from the Navy, federal work, and his time at Landscaping Unlimited, and explains why professionalism is not about wearing a suit and tie. It is about discipline, awareness, attitude, dependability, and how you carry yourself when nobody is begging you to do the right thing. If you want to become the person your team points to and says, “Be more like him,” this episode is for you. 🌱 Landscaping Unlimited, Inc. | Eastern North Carolina 🎙️ The Landscaping Podcast | Powered by Landscaping Unlimited Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. #TheLandscapingPodcast #LandscapingUnlimited #GreenIndustry #LandscapingBusiness #LawnCareBusiness #BlueCollarBusiness #SkilledTrades #Professionalism #Leadership #WorkEthic #Hardscaping #LandscapingLife #SmallBusiness #TradesPodcast

63. Back on the Mics (Why Rest Isn't a Reward)

After two weeks off the mics, we're back. Zac was on vacation with the family, Shay had a stretch of work that wouldn't let up, and instead of forcing content for the sake of content, we took the time we needed... This episode is about that. In the green industry, taking time off feels like a luxury you have to earn. There's always one more job, one more bid, one more thing that "only takes a minute." But the truth is, if you're not pouring back into yourself and the people who matter most, the work eventually starts taking more than it gives. We get into what the last two weeks looked like, what we learned stepping away, and why prioritizing your health, your family, and your friendships isn't soft, it's a strategy; the business will still be there on Monday, your kids growing up, your marriage, your own well-being, those don't wait. If you're a business owner, a crew leader, or just someone grinding through a busy season, this one's for you.

62. The Places Landscaping Can Take You

Solo episode this week, recorded on a quick break from installing artificial turf for Beast Games. A few years back, if you'd told me landscaping would put me on a set like that, I would have laughed. That's really what this episode is about. One minute, we're on a high-profile install, and just before that, Shay and I were standing in front of an elementary school classroom for career day, walking kids through everything we do beyond mowing lawns, which they already know about. That's the thing, most people think landscaping starts and ends with mowing. We got to show the students how much more is involved, from hardscaping and irrigation to lighting, drainage, turf, and the kind of jobs that pop up out of nowhere and take you somewhere unexpected. Every week in this industry looks different; that's part of what makes it worth showing up for. If you work in the trades, are thinking about getting in, or have a kid who needs to hear that there's real opportunity in this kind of work, this one is for you.

61. Leadership Is a People Business with Jon Rennie

What does leading a submarine crew have to do with running a landscaping company? More than you'd think. In this episode, Shay and Zac sit down with Jon Rennie, former Cold War submarine officer, corporate executive, manufacturing business owner, and host of the Deep Leadership Podcast. Jon has spent decades studying and living out one simple truth: Leadership is a people business, and that doesn't change no matter the industry you're in. These three leaders dig into what real leadership actually looks like on the ground, why so many business owners manage tasks instead of leading people, and how the principles Jon learned underwater and in the boardroom translate directly to the trades. Whether you're running a two-man crew or scaling a full operation, this conversation will challenge you to take a hard look at how you're showing up for the people around you. Jon is also the author of the Qualified Leadership Series and a voice you need in your rotation if you're serious about building a business worth following. Connect with Jon at jonsrennie.com.

60. Your Best Client Is Looking For You On Social Media Right Now

In this episode, Zac speaks about the "Digital Division" of Landscaping Unlimited and how social media is a tool that all companies should use. This is not about becoming an influencer; it's about making a smart business decision. Property managers, commercial clients, and potential partners are online right now doing their research to find out who is doing the best work and who the best people are out there. If you're not showing up on their timeline, someone else is. Zac breaks down why social media isn't about followers or going viral; it's about being findable, building trust before the first conversation, and reaching clients who would have never known you existed.