Jody Shilan, Editor

In the early stages of my career I used to bring every piece of sales paraphenalia I had to my initial client meetings. Sample drawings, my leather bound portfolio of my installation work with my resume as the first page, and so many brochures and marketing pieces that I often had to take two trips to my car just to bring everything into the client's house. Now looking back some 30 years later I realize how much harder I made things for myself and my clients and why my sales were so poor.

A good friend of mine, Peter Bemis, a professor at Western Technical College in La Crosse, Wisconsin emailed me a question that his students asked him last week in class. How much information is enough and how much is too much? His students were actually discussing plant schedules and if it was important to list both the botanical name and common name on your drawings. One theory is that it shows knowledge, experience and professionalism (Peter) and the other theory is that it is a lot of work that is of little value unless you are having a Latin Spelling Bee (Jody).

So let's address this question and while we're at it throw in some discussion about all of those other "pesky" and time consuming details and descriptions like caliper sizes, container or b&b, height, quantities along with those other silly notes that we have all been taught to use like, "must be field grown" -- oh brother. By my tone you can easily guess which philosophy I support.

My design/build experience has proven that providing less information in your drawings will actually yield better results. Now calm down a minute and just read the rest of this before you start sending me L.A. hate email. I have very good reasons for why I say this. All of which fit perfectly into my business model, my presentation style and the exciting world of landscape design/build. It is not the "traditional" way of doing things and was certainly not the way I was trained. Then again I like to push the envelope and always "Think Outside the Boxwood". It has taken me many years to come around to this way of thinking, but in the long run I can guarantee you, that providing less information in your drawings will speed up your process, makes much more sense, can protect you legally and will absolutely help you sell more work. The only thing is, that to be successful at it, you have to do it the right way.

So what are some simple things that you can do to minimize problems and maximize profits?

Read more information about this subject and get other great ideas in our Featured Content section.

Join in our popular Forum Discussion to see what other contractors are doing.

Chat "live" about this topic at our weekly Coffee Break scheduled every Wednesday at 10:00 EST.