Episode Details

00:29  Rob welcomes Paul St. Pierre of Landscape FX (LFX Group), a Windsor-area operator in business since 1987.

01:15  Paul's origin story: a land developer dad, landscaping at 15, flying home from Laurentian University on weekends to work, and skipping teachers college to go all in.

04:01  The scale today: design build (residential and commercial), property care, maintenance and snow, plus Rochester Place resort, a 16-acre supply center, a local publication, a golf course and land development.

06:21  The Gordie Howe Bridge port of entry and the battery plant: back-to-back large-scale projects in Windsor.

07:00  The biggest growth block: thinking he could do everything and just work harder instead of paying for key people.

09:25  The tipping point came with executive and management hires, around the seven to eight million range. Then comes the identity shift from doer to leader.

10:30  The question Paul asks his team: what do you need from me? Why he trusts from day one and lets people make mistakes.

12:29  Coming back from Florida, ready to plow, and finding no keys and a card-lock fuel system.

14:17  The "in the business / on the business" hat: flip it around so the team knows which mode you're in.

15:43  Why banking relationships, budgets and strong financial statements matter when you're growing fast.

17:48  Surviving downturns by adding offerings and vertically integrating: ready mix concrete, trucking, a supply center and salt.

19:30  The partnership with Troy: hot pink salt supporting families affected by cancer, plus Paul's plan for a bagging plant.

21:29  The surprise 1976 Chevette: Paul's son, dad and family bring back the car he started in.

23:29  The old 220 square foot office (a retired exterior bank machine) and how it anchors onboarding and humility.

24:38  Mentorship: meeting Jean Paul Lamarche (JPL), Mark Bradley's influence and the value of masterminds.

28:29  Book and mentor shout-outs: Crucial Conversations and Tony Garerri.

30:50  Wrap-up and thanks.

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