Getting Green With Growing Success
The Summer Issue of Growing Success Newsletter tackles one of the most powerful Global Trends to come along in plantscaping for quite some time.  It’s a trend that carries with it a lot of mis-information and confusion but also a lot of opportunity for you.  Of course I’m talking about the global "Green" trend.  And perhaps by calling it that I’ve just provided an example of how ambiguous this trend and the industry growing behind it currently is.

We Don’t Know It All, But Don’t Need To
Barb and I don’t claim to have all the answers, but that’s not a problem because no one has them.  I’m fortunate to have some credibility in saying that because I’ve been smack dab in the middle of a new Global Trend before - called the Internet. 


What I Learned About Profiting From A New Global Trend
I embraced the Internet trend early, using it for building business back in 1995.  I saw it’s power to change the business landscape and provide new opportunities in my industry when people told me it was a "fad".  Long story short - I studied, invested, observed and participated first hand in the Internet revolution.  I witnessed it’s hype and reality, it’s business opportunity and threats.  I saw companies ignore it and get crushed and I saw companies go overboard trying to exploit it and get crushed.  Of course, I also saw a lot of profit being made and companies reinventing themselves in ways never imagined. 

The Common Thread About The Trend - No One Had A Clue
Perhaps most interestingly what I learned about the Global Internet Trend was that no-one had the answers.  Most business experts were humbled by their lack of understanding and bogus predictions.  Those that succeeded on the Internet , myself included, used creativity, guts and a bias for action to learn fast.  While many businesses were paralyzed and let opportunity pass them by, others took baby steps and dipped their toes in.  They were the ones that were far better off. 

Of course, the web changed (and is still changing) everyday.  But what remains constant is that since 1995 The Internet has and continues to revolutionize the world.  I have profited in untold ways from building upon it and taking action on the trend early.  If you missed it don’t worry - you’ve got a second chance.

History Repeats Itself & This Won’t Go Away
I see the same patterns that drove the early Internet emerging with the green trend.  There’s a lot of hype, a lot of promise and a lot of confusion surrounding "green".  And behind it all is A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY.  Global warming is not going away.  Worsening, air, water and noise pollution is not going away.  Increasing demand for global energy is not going away.  Diminishing fossil fuels are not going away. 

These problems are what the green trend - its initiatives and innovations are designed to solve.  Our goal at the InnerCircle is to help our members capture the green opportunity within the interiorscape industry.  Already Barb Helfman has invested significant resources in becoming an expert on Green Buildings.  She has attended LEED seminars, is working with LEED accredited consultants and has been retained as a green consultant herself to guide the green initiatives of several companies serving the plantscape industry.  She is like a sponge sucking up green information and positioning it for plantscapers.  I will be bringing my experience in profiting from chaotic markets, new technology and a strategic perspective from outside the plantscape industry to the mix.

The Field Is Wide Open
Hopefully, this issue of Growing Success will help you start to UNDERSTAND, PREPARE & CAPITALIZE on some of the green trend opportunities for your interiorscape business.  Keep in mind this information is just a start. At this point there are no rules.  World governments are constantly changing their "green" guidelines and mandates to respond to advancing environmental issues and energy threats.  This puts constant pressure on everyone trying to establish themselves in the green market. 

Having no rules can be scary for business owners as there is no clear precedent to base decisions on.  For others it’s exciting.  Our goal is to give you tools and information to manage the fear and build the excitement.  This will be especially valuable to you as oil moves past $80 a barrel and gas prices approach $4.00 / gallon.  How will this impact your and your customers operations, budgets and needs?  These are the questions we must answer and the faster the better - so lets start…