Invest in yourself this winter.

We are finally at the end of what has been an interesting and uncertain year, but indications are that Canadians are beginning to relax and invest back in their surroundings. Landscape bookings are up for next spring, with anxious customers writing deposit cheques to ensure they get priority service next year — quite a different atmosphere than this time last year when consumers wanted to ‘wait and see’ what happened to the economy.

What did we learn this year? In the part of the country where I live, we learned that weather had a greater effect on business than the economy. In all parts of Canada, we learned that our best customers are the ones we already have, and that serving the heck out of them (no matter what industry sector you’re in) is a proven way to build business. We are learning that people in the landscape trades are hungry for information that helps make them more profitable. Refreshingly, industry members demonstrated, again, what an amazing and inspirational group of people they are, as I’ve been witness to an unprecedented amount of information sharing and support between peers in my travels this year.

The end of the growing season also signals the start of the horticultural industry’s show and conference season. All across the country the green industry associations are gearing up to stage conferences, seminars and meetings where you can get a chance to learn from experts, as well as pass along your knowledge to others in informal networking sessions.

While attending a standing room-only seminar earlier this month, I could almost see the light bulbs going on above the entrepreneur’s heads in the audience as they planned how to integrate the speaker’s ideas in their company’s infrastructure. The presenter was enthusiastic and professional, and used the audience’s energy and input to create a dynamic workshop that left everyone excited and geared up to go home and make some positive changes in their business.

I hope everyone invests in at least one seminar or workshop this winter, as we regroup, revamp and reenergize ourselves and our businesses to meet the challenges that will come quickly next spring.