Bill Hildebolt, Author at The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals

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Author: Bill Hildebolt

How to Navigate in Challenging Times: Put a Peer Group on Your Desk

Before the invention of the magnetic compass, people plotted their journey into new territory by dead reckoning or by celestial bodies like the sun or the North Star. Others followed herds of game or their instincts in search of fertile lands. Centuries later, with the introduction of the compass and map charting capabilities, travelers venturing […]

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The Journey

When I first accepted the nomination to be on the Professional Lawn Care Association of America (PLCAA) Board of Directors in 2002, little did I realize that this was the first step in a long journey ā€” an odyssey, if you will. Shortly after joining the board, PLCAA entered into merger discussions with the Associated […]

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Is history repeating itself, again?

In a recent Newsweek article on Al Gore entitled, ā€œThe Evolution of an Eco-Prophet,ā€ the former vice president was interviewed about the genesis of his new book, Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis. During the course of the interview, he talked about several ways to control greenhouse gases, including the use of […]

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Branding effort puts emphasis on professionalism

Europe, with its long tradition of craft guilds (masons, printers, textile workers, and tanners for example) that formed in the late Middle Ages, developed the practice of apprenticeships. An apprentice provided inexpensive labor to his master in exchange for formal training in a certain craft. Most started between the ages of 10 to 15 years […]

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Adjusting to the new economy

As we start the New Year, I’m not alone when I say – last year couldn’t get over fast enough. There’s no question, 2009 was a challenging year for everyone in the industry. Every segment of PLANET membership has been adversely affected, as have been the customers we serve and the manufacturers and distributors who […]

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True professionals make a big difference

As a business owner, I know how easy it is to develop myopic vision – to get wrapped up in and involved with keeping the wheels of commerce rolling in a forward direction. I don’t need to go into detail about how the last couple of years have made it even more difficult for all […]

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True professionals make a big difference

As a business owner, I know how easy it is to develop myopic vision – to get wrapped up in and involved with keeping the wheels of commerce rolling in a forward direction. I don’t need to go into detail about how the last couple of years have made it even more difficult for all […]

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You can't miss this outstanding event

I know we say it every year, but Iā€™m going to say it again. The Green Industry Conference (GIC), to be held October 28ā€“31, 2009, in Louisville is a ā€œdonā€™t missā€ event. In fact, there are more reasons than ever before to attend the industryā€™s premier conference, starting with the lineup of savvy speakers, informative […]

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The PLANET Professionals

As youā€™ve probably noticed, the lack of professionalism in any walk of life, whether it be teaching, running a large company, or operating a lawn care or landscape contracting company, is an area of interest to me. One of the mantras I abide by every day is that if itā€™s worth doing, itā€™s worth doing […]

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We cannot pay back, we can only pay forward

In my opening remarks at this yearā€™s Renewal and Remembrance, I shared a quote with attendees, something I had heard years ago. The quote is, ā€œYou can never pay back; you can only pay forward.ā€ How true that was for the volunteers who were preparing to spread lime, install plants, prune trees, and do other […]

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