Louis “Mike” Stoffel picked me to help him hand out cookies to our kindergarten class. We’ve been buddies ever since. He and I have a lot in common: we’re both farm boys from big families who struck out on our own to start businesses in 1994. His endeavor was a landscaping company. He’s been running it ever since. Lou joins me to discuss the lessons from his early years. He discovered getting customers wasn’t the problem but getting the right customers — and more importantly the right employees — was. He provides insights on hiring employees as well as hiring contractors. Lou also explains the problem with the old saying “The customer is always right.” This conversation between two friends and seasoned veterans of self made business promises several tidbits you can apply to your own business.
