Brandon Kirby, Partner at Rainbow Gardens, took a rare path in business when he decided to leave his corporate job and run a family nursery. He shares what compelled him to leave his higher paying oil and gas job, to move back to where he grew up and work in the hot Texas sun. Brandon used what he learned in the corporate world to help him think about the nursery business differently. After being in business for over 45 years, a successful nursery can be a hard ship to turn, but with determination and passion for his work, Brandon was determined to make a difference. Brandon talks about the early days of coming into the family business and how he quickly realized he did not know anything about running a nursery, but knew that he needed to earn the respect of his Teammates before he could think about improving or changing anything. He shares how far just working side-by-side your employees can make a difference and that simply sweating with them eventually gives you permission to improve upon what they have established for the last half-century. Staying humble is key. Brandon also shares the good and bad of what COVID did for the business. Even though the pandemic allowed the business to grow, it also shocked it when they realized how quickly demand increased. While most folks were stuck in their homes, Brandon and his Team were working harder than ever before, trying to keep up with demand. In the end, Brandon realized that balancing growth and mental health is crucial to the longevity of the business and its operators. Running an "old school" business is not easy, but something Brandon is passionate about. Even though his talents and skills could be used to advance a very lucrative career in oil and gas, he is spending his time improving upon a legacy and business that brings healing and joy to his employees and customers.
