Industry Insights

Jeffrey Scott’s 2025 Growth Summit hosted by Schill Grounds Management in Cleveland, Ohio was another success. Compass Creative was proud to sponsor this event. It always impresses me how the landscaping industry continues to share information and cooperate with each other to improve their profession. Here are two key takeaways from the three-day event.

Know your Why
There was a lot of attention on branding, culture and purpose - aspects we have been advancing for years. The Schill team repeatedly spoke about the need to “know your ‘Why’” and the importance of communicating it clearly, repeatedly and consistently. This involves so much more than sticking some words on the wall (although that is a great way to make your mission, vision and values visible on the daily). One speaker’s challenge, “Who here has a mission statement not generated by AI?” sparked some nervous laughter. A few people raised their hands.

It’s worth reflecting on. Writing a mission statement isn’t primarily a copywriting exercise. It’s about giving clear expression to deeply held beliefs and values that lie beneath the surface of our company cultures. In a busy and fast changing world it’s tempting to skip this introspection, but neglecting it risks misaligned teams, poor decisions, and market confusion. Customers seek brands whose values align with their own. A clear, authentic “Why” cuts through the noise, builds trust, and fosters loyalty. Know your purpose and make it resonate.

Know your Numbers
In addition to emphasizing the importance of brand development, culture, and purpose there was a lot of talk about numbers, KPIs, processes, systems. There were bar graphs, pie charts, spreadsheets and ghant charts. Sales reports, timetracking, expense tallies, productivity metrics, cashflows and financial statements. Running and growing a successful business requires leaders to track and make sense of a lot of numbers. It reminds me of a quote a controller had hanging on the wall outside his office once. It read: In God we trust. All others need to show data.

“In God we trust. All others need to show data”

Without data, leaders risk flying blind, making decisions based on intuition rather than evidence, which can lead to costly missteps. Numbers drive accountability, productivity and scalability. Moreover, stakeholders like investors, partners, or lenders expect leaders to present clear, data-driven strategies. In a competitive landscape, knowing their numbers sets leaders apart. It empowers them to anticipate trends, mitigate risks, and seize opportunities. Knowing your numbers isn’t just about tracking, it's about transforming that data into actionable insights for sustainable growth.

Knowing your “Why” gives your company direction and drive.

Knowing your numbers builds credibility and sustainability.

We enjoyed meeting many new people in Cleveland, learning about exciting changes in the industry we serve and gleaning new ideas about business management from the leaders in this space.

We love what the landscaping profession does. We care about the people who do it. We appreciate how they continue to improve as a profession because we believe that shaping the outdoor spaces we live, work and play in shapes us in profound and exciting ways too.

These are the people we want to serve.
Theirs are the stories we want to tell.
Theirs are the companies we want to grow