A Lost Dog and A Landscaper –Small Mistake, Big Lesson

Jun 7, 2024

Lessons in Responsibility and Growth

Hello, friends. Although I’m the owner of Lotus landscaping and Tree Company, today's message isn’t about crafting a perfect garden or building a great outdoor space. It's about the lessons I learned from a small mistake that had a big consequence.

I was parked in my truck on a typical weekday morning, staring at my IPAD. Our landscape architect had just sent a perfect hardscape design, but the cost was over my client’s budget. The project was a landscaper's dream – we were installing a custom outdoor kitchen and a large seating area in the backyard of a lovely midcentury modern home surrounded by contemporary treescapes and a lush garden. Then I thought of a good idea – we could lower the height of the retaining wall for additional seating to stay under budget, and in fact, the outdoor kitchen looked even better that way. I was feeling confident and optimistic.

But unfortunately, that feeling didn’t last long. Just as the landscape architect agreed to tweak the design, I received a text from one of my lawn teams. After finishing a spring cleanup for one of my favorite clients, they forgot to close the gate. Before I even finished reading the text, I knew this was bad news. Every time we spoke, my client reminded me to be careful with that gate because her dog would run off the second he got the chance.

I felt a profound sense of responsibility. This wasn't just about an open gate or a lost dog; it was about trust, accountability, and the integrity of my work. Taking a deep breath, I called my client and left a message. I started driving my truck slowly through the neighborhood, calling out the name of the runaway dog. About 15 minutes later, my client called to tell me her dog returned home safe and sound.

Even though the dog was ok, I felt terrible. If you own a dog, you probably know that losing your beloved pet is no joke. And I couldn’t lay all the blame on my crew members because I’m ultimately responsible for every project done by my company—the buck stops with me, the owner. While my client was not that upset (she still uses Lotus for all her landscaping needs), I knew I needed to learn from this mistake. And in my humble opinion, you can’t be successful just by preventing the same mistake from happening again—you also have to learn the bigger life lessons – you have to become not just a better businessperson, but a better person overall.

4 Life Lessons from Lou

But I didn't name my landscaping company randomly - I know the stunning Lotus flower only grows in swampy mud. In this case, the mud was the delay, and the flower was the website.

Details Matter:
You know the saying, “God is in the details”? I think it means that when we attend to the details, everything else falls into place. If we feel like we’re too busy to double-check that we closed a gate, send a text to a friend just to let them know we care, or go through a design plan one more time with an anxious client, we’re essentially pretending that we’re in charge of everything. But that’s not true.

Our job is simple: chop wood, carry water, watch for lessons. We do the footwork, learn our lessons, and allow the bigger picture to reveal itself over time. Just like a garden or a landscape project, things rarely turn out exactly as planned—but often, they turn out better because we were open to unexpected changes. Our job is to treat every obstacle not as a personal affront but as a chance to learn something new.

When we approach obstacles with an open heart, we can ask ourselves questions: Could that nasty pile of dead tree roots underground be excavated and turned into a pond? Is it possible that a lost dog can make me a better man?

Accountability Matters More Than Perfection:
One thing I’ve learned in the past fifteen years of running a landscaping company is that my company is not perfect, and neither am I. The best I can do when I mess up is act fast (but not too fast—sometimes you need more facts or a plan to remedy the situation before you make that call), own up to my mistake as soon as possible and make meaningful amends. In fact, I have found that mistakes handled well actually strengthen relationships.

Mistakes Handled Right Make Relationships Better:
My client appreciated the swift response and the free hydrangea plant I delivered and installed the next day. She still uses Lotus for all her landscaping needs. She told me that she thinks of us every time she sees her dog and I told her I think about how to do better every time I see any dog now.

I am more grateful than ever for her business, and we instituted a checklist to prevent mistakes like this in the future –the first item on that checklist is to triple-check gates every time we service a landscaping client (no matter how many other projects we need to get done).

Be Response-Able:
Let go of the word fault and embrace the word “response-ability.” If you have the ability to respond, use it. If you don’t, find out how you can become response-able and make things better. No matter how experienced or skilled you are, there's always room for improvement. Humility keeps you open to learning and helps you see your mistakes as stepping stones on the way to being your best self.

Embrace the Mud, Bloom Stronger

As a landscaper, my work often involves transforming messy, unkempt spaces into thriving landscapes. This process mirrors the way we grow as human beings. Mud is the fertile ground that births the Lotus flower. But still, being stuck in that mud is no fun at all. It can be helpful to remember that we all have our share of mud—mistakes, challenges, and hardships—but these experiences shape us and help us grow stronger and wiser. So, if you're going through a rough patch, remember the Lotus. Embrace your mud, learn from it, and let it help you bloom into something beautiful.

Thanks for reading, and until next time, keep growing, learning, and thriving!

Warm regards,
Lou