education pays.

[treeman82]

Hey guys. I used to get into arguements over at LS / LF all the time because I am gettin my degrees and they say that they will do better than I will without one. Well I wish to contest that. I was on the phone today with the owner of a big nursing home over here. I had worked a few times for his former landscaper, there is a story there, but I would rather not get into it. Well anyways, this nursing home account is a 100K per year account. I informed the owner that I am getting my degrees and asked if I could come and talk with him once I get out of school. He was interested in that. I have a builder who has told me to come and speak with him once I get out of school as well, and that account is at least 200K per year if worked right. I also have a board member who wishes to speak with me about a 254 unit condo complex in the future. That account my numbers indicate would be about 300K per year plus. That woman is interested because I told her I am working on my degrees. These people are willing to pay good money to people who know what they are doing, but who are also willing to learn new things. Let's see these guys who argue with me get asked to look at accounts like that at 21 without a degree.

 

[ArborView]

I hear what you're saying but having a degree doesn't mean everything either. I went to the same school you're going to (UMass) and got a bachelor's in urban forestry. In my opinion, that won't get you squat unless you have some practical field experience to back it up with. I realize this isn't true in your case, but I'm just saying a piece of paper doesn't mean much if you don't know what you're doing. I remember one particular guy I went to school with. I think he got his degree, but he couldn't have climbed a tree if there had been had a pack of wolves on his ass.
As I get older, I'm learning money isn't everything either. I put my wife and kids way ahead of that in life.

 

[treeman82]

Arb, I understand what you are saying. Most guys over here though don't have degrees and are grass slingers / tree jockeys (no offence) / etc. When I go to people who are in charge of the big $$$ places they like to hear that I will have a degree I guess. The guy with the nursing home who I talked with today said that his former landscaper liked to go in and make messes and didn't want to learn anything from the him (the owner). I believe that customers respect people who want to learn, but people who also who already have a good background to back up whatever they may be taught. Oh- and one other thing.... I used to be a pretty good removal climber before my accident.. Now it may take a few wolves biting at my heels to get me up those trees like I used to. However in the words of Gloria Gainer "I will survive"

 

[Smith]

Sounds Good!! I just finished school myself and news like that makes me feel a lot better about paying for school when a lot of people told me it was a waste of time and money.

 

[Treeman14]

Originally posted by treeman82
I also have a board member who wishes to speak with me about a 254 unit condo complex in the future. That account my numbers indicate would be about 300K per year plus.

Do the math. That means over $1,000 per unit per year! For tree work??? I don't think so.

 

[Eric E.]

If I got all the work that people said they were going to give to me I'd never have to sell another job. Most of them that "promised" work were looking for lower prices and didn't care about degrees, certifications,etc.

 

[treeman82]

14- It's a big package; snow / grass / trees / fert / clean-ups / etc.

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Once you have all that work, you can't possibly do it all yourself, so you'll need to hire. Will it be only degreed professionals? I think not. You'll be lucky if you can find an alcoholic that can wait 'til the end of the day to drink, an ex-con or two, a druggie, and then some morons to drag brush. You won't even have time to check on the jobs anymore 'cus your running your head off doing bids, paper work, and customer relations(fixing all the problems your half witted crew has caused).

This is why the point is mute, degreed profesionals don't climb trees. Who could afford them? They become salesmen, educators, or they start their own company, they don't work in the field.

 

[underwor]

This old degreed professional still climbs as often as possible. It helps to add credibility to what I say my students should do, if I can go up the tree and show them myself. Also it is still fun. I must have been lucky when I had my business in the 70's, cause I always had good help, even though it was not full time. The ex-con who is back in jail now I think, was one of the best at the time.

By the way, If anyone in the eastern WI or Northern IL area is looking for a good worker, I have a grad there with 2 yrs experience that is looking to change positions. Great climber, probably faster than me now!! Excellent student, super concientious. I visited with his boss this past summer and got glowing reports on him, just a small enough company to have a lot of slack time in the winter months. Drop me an email if you are interested

My thoughts for the day. Bob

 

[treeman82]

Mike, to heck with ex-cons. I prefer to go the hispanic way for labor. I had a couple of those people working for me this summer and were very upset when I had to lay them off because of my accident.- They loved working for me that much. I have a friend who has a degree in landscape contracting who is going to come work for me a few days a week doing designs, I have several equipment operators to call, my father is planning on retiring in another 5 years and coming to work for me doing paper work. I really am not worried at all. Just looking forward to what the future will bring for me

 

[treeman82]

Hey guys, I had gone to a bell choir concert this evening that the chiropractor / builder's daughter is in. We talked with him after that outside in the parking lot. He told me 2 really good things.


1) If I get a 4.0 any semester of my school career he will get me a mail order bride from Russia with a 90 day trial period (if I don't like her she goes back)

2) He owns over 420 appartments and is building new ones and then some by the day.

BTW- Friday he told me he is gonna give me a shot with clearing and stumping 3 acres he just bought.

 

[sgreanbeans]

russian girls are hot! Is that what they mean " Justification for Higher Education "! I need to go back to school! you got his number! i wonder if my wife would get mad!

 

[Scraper]

Sounds to me like they said all that just to get you off their back. I know I would. Why don't you come back to LS/LF and see what they think?

PS...I thought you fired the hispanics? Man...you gotta keep your stories straight dude if your gonna tell tall tales.

 

[Randy scott]

You go lawnboy82, I mean treeman82.
Seriously though, are you on crack? What posseses you to BS the way you do? Do you think anyone believes you? Get help. 600,000 worth of work and a mail order bride! I guess, you give me something to laugh at with this stuff. Keep slinging it!

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

600k dont go as far in his area as it does here. Cut him some slack, if one of them pan out he'll be doing real good for himself. I'm rootin' for ya dude!

Hey RScott, I hear Von Schledhorn is retireing. Who's getting his customer list?

 

[cantoo]

treeman82 where are you?

treeman82, I just had to respond to your comments.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Ever heard the saying "never count your chickens until the eggs hatch"??
Oh yeah, I am sending a space ship to Mars to look into some tree removal there, should be around a 450K job if you want it.
The rest of you guys have to check out his posts, better than Letterman and Leno combined.

 

[Chuck Sinclair]

He can't go back to LF he was "BANED" from there his room mate too!

 

[D]

Hey guys, Arboristsite has been a great site for as long as its been up. I don't want it to be a bunch of arguing like its been on "those other sites". People here are smart enough to either agree or disagree for themselves. I don't need you guys to come in here and piss people off. He was banned from both of those site cause of your personal attacks. So finally he got pissed off and told you guys where to stick it. I know some things may be exaggerated but if you don't think big, you will always be small. He is in school to better himself. Are you? Have you? Please don't come in here an screw the nature of this site up. I like the makeup of the people we have in here and don't need a bunch of haters. Treeman82 will remain a member here unless he goes postal. I havent had any problems with him, nor anyone else. When you guys stopped in, I had several emails to tell these guys to stop the hating. Talk to you guys later. Have fun and behave.

 

[Scraper]

I hear you Darin and will respect your wishes. I apologize if I ruffled any feathers.

As for your questions...not currently in school and yes a college graduate. In addition always learning as "life is an endless pursuit of knowledge."

 

[D]

See thats great. You are a college graduate. He is getting his education also. So many of these guys "scrubs" as you call them on LS or LF don't have any. Don't know if yours is profession related but I feel its a must to have some formal training in your profession. Although, I still feel in the field, you learn the most (I am a visual learner). Thanks for the respect, Scraper!!! It is appreciated.