Marty Grunder talks with Phil Harwood from Snow Fighters about leadership lessons from 40 years in landscaping and snow removal. Phil reveals why his previous company made 80% of profits from snow despite it being only 50% of revenue, and shares insights on leading by example and building profitable snow operations.
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00:00 - Start
00:30 - Introduction and Welcome
01:24 - Meet Phil Harwood: New Strategic Partner
02:56 - Phil’s Personal Background
04:19 - The Importance of Having a ‘Why’
06:27 - Phil’s Career Journey
09:50 - Funny Stories and Lessons Learned
13:22 - Phil’s Transition to Consulting
15:07 - The Value of External Perspectives
16:27 - Core Leadership Lessons from Phil
17:34 - The Importance of Preparation
19:49 - The Power of Continuous Learning
22:33 - Technological Trends in Snow Removal
26:29 - Phil’s Thoughts on the Future of the Industry
28:09 - Final Thoughts and Advice
Show Notes & Key Takeaways
- Leadership by Example Sets the Tone - Phil would arrive at the shop 2 hours early before midnight crews, plow the lot, make coffee, and clean trucks. "They walked in like, wow, this guy's ready... that sets the tone."
- The Outsider's Advantage - Phil learned from working with EOS founder Gino Wickman that the same advice he'd been giving internally was finally heard when delivered by an external consultant. "That's where the value is, being the objective outsider."
- Unintended Consequences of Company Mottos - Marty's "Where Service is Always in Season" led to inefficient routing, while Phil's "Yes, I Can" culture resulted in applying outdoor-only chemicals inside a building, sterilizing it permanently.
- Snow Removal as Emergency Service Mindset - "People always relate snow and ice management services to firefighting because it is an emergency service... you're doing something super valuable in an emergency environment."
- The Basics Still Matter Most - Core leadership lessons: "Do the right thing. Do what you say you're gonna do. Answer your phone. Be respectful, care about people." Sim...
