Have you ever had that experience where you need a good idea ASAP but it’s a little late to the party? Or doesn’t show up at all? (Fred is shaking his head, “No” right now.)

When you hit that wall, it’s time to regroup and brainstorm. Here are some of our favorite ways to overcome even the most serious case of “landscaper’s block.”

Get out of the office!

This is the best idea on the list.

When you start to feel mentally sluggish, flee the office. Don’t get us wrong, we love our chateau on Shaw Road. Sometimes, though, spending too much time in one place can start to gum up your creative engine.

Going to grab lunch is the easiest escape plan.

However, often we are looking for something specific and outdoors intensive. In those instances we take a trip to a local nursery or, depending on what month it is, we’ll go check out a historic garden. Living and working in Northern Virginia presents tons of opportunities to see some of the most beautiful gardens in the country. We are big fans of the colonial/English influence!

Kyle (our landscape architect), without fail, travels every year to the Philadelphia International Flower Show. He returns with hundreds of pictures and a multitude of new ideas that keep him going for months.

Getting out and experiencing others’ passion for gardens and landscaping inspires us to get back to the office and create something wonderful!

If you can’t get out of the office, look online.

We love the Internet. It is a portal to all the places we’ve ever wanted to visit but have never gotten the chance.

Lowes, the mega-home improvement store, has added a helpful tab on their website called “Inspiration.” There you will find hundreds of pictures of different areas of the home and garden. These serve as small kickstarters to get you thinking about all of the different possibilities out there for your project.

Another great place to look is that new social media/photo sharing website, Pinterest. People like you and I collect pictures that they come across on the Internet and “pin” them to a virtual cork board that is centralized around a particular theme.

Both are gold mines for visual ideas to get you going.

If you are still stuck, outsource!

As they say, two heads are better than one.

Get as many brains on your problem as possible. Just having someone around to bounce ideas off of is invaluable. Together, you and your team can come up ideas that you didn’t even think were in the realm of reality!

We had an idea a few months ago that has grown in to something more than we ever imagined.

We love giving back to the community. It is one of the core principles of our company. So therefore we recently partnered with the Environmental Plant Sciences program at C.S. Monroe Technology Center, a local magnet, technical high school in Loudon County. We offered our services so that students could gain experience interacting with an established landscaping company. We even let students contribute to our logo redesign process (coming soon, by the way!) and we were pleasantly surprised with the results. Without a doubt, their hard work will be seen in the finished product. Thank you C.S. Monroe!

So those are our favorite ideas. Do you have any? Let us know on Twitter (@enviroenhance) or on Facebook.

Earth Day is one of the best holidays of the year. Every April 22nd, organizations and individuals recognize the environment and all that we get from it, which is just about everything if you think about it.

We’ve put together a list of ways to celebrate. We’ve got options for people from East coast to West coast, who are staying home or headed out!

1. If you are staying home, go outside and garden!

This is a simple one. Turn off the TV and leave the iPhone on the table. Get outside and get dirty! You could plant a tree, or your own small garden. Maybe all you need to do is pick up the trash in your neighborhood or around your apartment building. Either way, there are tons of options to get outside.

If gardening is not your thing, you can try the Pick 5 challenge that’s organized by the EPA. It is a checklist of small ways to conserve energy and reduce waste. They may be small tasks but they make a huge difference!

2. Donate/Volunteer to a local environmental organization.

There are thousands of great organizations that work year round to give back to the Earth. They love having fresh faces so stop by to learn more.

This year, Environmental Enhancements selected two different Earth Day events that we’ll donate to. In addition to sponsoring these events and providing the plants, we will speak on living and doing business sustainably. We are very excited for the opportunity!

3. Attend one of the large festivals in your area.

The EPA has put together a fairly comprehensive list of events going on in each of the 50 states. You can find events that are closest to you here.

Environmental Enhancements is in Virginia, so we’re Region 3. We’ve got some stellar events in our area, including the Earth Day Network party on the Mall in DC. The event in years past has seen some big names including appearances by James Cameron, John Legend, and Fred’s all-time favorite performer–Sting.

Now you know what’s going on, so don’t sit still! There are plenty of ways to get out and celebrate Mother Earth. Get out there and get going!

And remember you don’t need a holiday to respect the environment. Every day is Earth Day.

Want to know what it is?  Help those in need.

We’ve found that the simpler the rule, the easier it is to follow. We don’t need to get into any specifics or nitty-gritty details, if we keep it straightforward. If someone needs a helping hand, we’re more than happy to reach out and give it to them. We’ll even throw in a smile for free.

This past week, Environmental Enhancements worked on a very special project for Habitat for Humanity. A few months ago, Habitat came to us and asked for some assistance with landscape installation, as part of a larger condominium complex they were building for low income families in Arlington County, Virginia.

After hearing more about the project, we couldn’t say no. The twelve-unit condominium complex was built for five at-risk families, as well as seven County employees who couldn’t afford the cost of living in Arlington. We provided our services during the final stage of the project; grading, installing sod, planting bushes, and doing a few other odds and ends. It was only a two day project, but the results will have an impact for much longer. We are really proud and honored to have had the opportunity to help out these families.

The experience led to a discussion back at the office: How important are mission/vision statements, whether formal or informal? We decided that they are vital, as community service is part of Environmental Enhancements’ mission statement.

So, how do you write one?

First, be aware that it’s a source of humor in some circles. Next, watch Simon Sinek’s “Golden Circle” for inspiration.

Once you’ve taken those two steps, get your team together and hammer it out. List all the reasons you are in business, and where you want to be when you have reached your pinnacle. Using those lists as resources to draw on, shape your future. Don’t be afraid to quantify it, either. Take a look at Microsoft’s old statement from before they diversified their services: A computer on every desk and in every home. Bold? Yes, but also inspiring. You’ll also know when you’ve accomplished your mission.

So we here at Environmental Enhancements encourage you to reexamine your mission statement. Take it off the shelf and blow off the dust. Make sure it’s still something that aligns with your goals as an organization. If does, great!

If not, get to work!

Landscaping, in ways similar to other agricultural industries, puts you in intimate contact with Mother Nature. We are constantly reacting to her needs and desires as we work to help gardens and lawns flourish. We know when she needs a little water and when she wants to be left alone to work her magic.

We also have developed a knack for knowing what works and what does not. One thing is for certain, if there’s too much outside intrusion from Man, you’ll have a problem on your hands.

So what are some ways that you can foster natural harmony in your lawn and garden (especially, if you’re an avid gardener or landscaper)?

Well, the first step happens internally. You must be committed to being “green”. If you are a landscaping company, sign a green statement. You can see ours here. No need to go full Greenpeace on this unless you want to. Merely, put it out there that you understand what should and should not be done in terms of protecting and “enhancing environments” (no pun intended, right?).

For individuals, read up on the subject. Educate yourself on best practices and green tips. The commitment to learning will be more than enough to make you aware of what’s going on with Mama Nature. Plus, green tips are never a hassle and are always gorgeous. It’s more about changing how you think rather than adding more work.

If you are looking for some action items to try out this season, we’ve seen a lot of neat ideas over the winter. Have some old cinder blocks lying around? Build a tiered, wall garden. What about that pallet that your mulch delivery comes in on? Turn it on its side and use it as a tall planter. Literally, anything can be used to spruce up the garden if you just give it some thought.

Here at Environmental Enhancements, when we are working on our projects we focus on reusing materials and limiting our impact on the surrounding environment.

That’s why we use low-emission back-pack blowers and push mowers. We also recycle all of our leftover yard debris. If we created a pile of yard trimmings and grass clippings, you better believe we’re dropping it off to get mulched!

We also strive to reuse existing materials as much as possible. We once worked on a patio that had an improper foundation installed by the previous contractor. We were able to build a new foundation and save 90% of the flagstone to reuse in the surface of the new patio.

Small things like these, that don’t take any extra work, make all the difference. So we encourage you to make the change to sustainability!

We were sitting in the office the other day reflecting on how we all got in to the landscaping business.

Kyle, our design architect, started out in advertising. He had an eye for what looked good and the magical ability to communicate it on paper and in words. After a few years, he decided to combine his two passions: design and plants. He went back to school, got his degree, and here he is today.

Fred, of course, was spawned by Zeus himself, tasked with managing the gardens of the gods. Unfortunately, he fell out of favor and was sent down to earth to toil among us mere mortals until the end of his days. He figured why not put his skills to good use.

Pat grew up around the stuff. He was 13 when he got his first job at a local nursery. He would ride his bike down after school and on weekends to make a few extra dollars. As he got older he realized how much he enjoyed working with landscapes. The choice to stay in the industry was natural.

And then there’s me. I’m Sean, the social media/Internet guy. I’m not actually a landscaper. I work more with people (and computers). To me, gardens are not a source of income.

In fact, at times they seemed to be a source of punishment. Caught stealing a cookie? Water the garden. Came home too late one night? Mow the lawn.

I would sweat outside under the sun while my father looked on, wearing his wide-brimmed, straw hat. The one he had gotten in the Amish country. The ice cubes in his tall glass of ice tea would knock together as he leaned on his rake and watched me.

However, the more gardens I watered and the more lawns I mowed, the more I got used to it. Soon it became a place for me to relax. It was a place for me to forget about other things going on in life and focus on the soil beneath me and the plants in my hands.

I started to wonder. How did my Dad get started gardening? I never bothered to ask. I was enjoying the garden and so was he. Nothing more needed to be said, or could be, really.

The biggest event happened when he gave me my own wide-brimmed, straw hat, from Amish country. I was officially a gardener.

I was about 12 when Dad and I visited his father (which we did often). My grandfather owned a large plot of land inside the beltway surrounding DC, one of the few multi-acre fields that had yet to succumb to development.

He had a large garden. It was filled with beautiful, red tomatoes that always made it to our table. It had squash the size of footballs. And of course, there were flowers representing every color of the rainbow.

My father had come up to get some gardening advice. What it was, I can’t remember. But there was a good chance my grandfather had the answer. As I climbed in the car to head home, I waved goodbye.

There, in the middle of that garden, stood my grandfather, waving back.

As we drove away, his sturdy frame turned to his field.

He picked up his shovel and gloves, and put on his wide-brimmed, straw hat. The one he had picked up on a trip to the Amish country, a long time ago.

We’re moving quickly, and change is the name of the new game.

Let’s put it this way. There’s only one CEO whose biography is in the front and center of every major bookstore in America and he goes by the name of Steve Jobs (whom we love). His ideas changed the world at least twice, and he wasn’t pushing convention.

For those of us in the small business game, that’s a good thing. Because, after all, small businesses are all about innovation. It’s what we need to do just to survive. And it’s what we need to do to grow.

So, what does innovation mean? Here’s a possible definition: innovation means readily identifying available opportunities, adapting to changes, and using new ideas to stay competitive. Replace the word “innovation” with the phrase, “how to succeed in small business,” and it still works.

The thing is, it’s imperative for the small business to innovate. It’s actually what distinguishes us from larger firms. In fact, it’s probably the case that the big guys could learn a whole lot from us. 

After all, we’re the model of customer connections. If we’re not responding to the constantly changing needs of our customers, what needs are we serving? The failure to do so is the first step towards business stagnation. And, as a small business, there just isn’t the time or money for that to happen.

We also have the freedom to experiment and improvise. We’re calling our own shots on a day-to-day basis, and this requires a certain amount of flexibility to make things work. You could even say, a whole LOT of flexibility. But in a market driven by customer service, it’s what we’re good at, right?

There’s our ability to connect and our ability to improvise. What else needs to happen for the small business to innovate? Well, we need to recognize our resource limitations and we need to collaborate with others to do that. And that is how we evolve.

For those of us small businesses providing services, we need to recognize the ways that what offer can change on a regular basis. None of us are in a static industry, and it’s the ways we adapt that make it all work. Consider this: if you’re not adapting, someone else is.

We’re excited about this at Environmental Enhancements. We’re kicking some new things, so be on the lookout. It’s a good time to be a business like ours.

For some reason or another, twenty-twelve has seen an avalanche of predictions. Perhaps it has to do with the prediction that ends all predictions, the Mayan prophecy (seen here). Or maybe fortune tellers are just trying to be more sensational than 2011.

The reality is that 2012 will come and go much like the years before have passed, one day at a time. And we as a small business have to prepare for everything that is coming our way in the next 365 days. It’s around this time that we cast our net out and reel in all the best predictions and insights from the experts.

Whether the world is ending or just keeping calm and carrying on, there have been some wild ideas out there and the following are 4 of our favorites.

4. Mobile Commerce

Do you remember a time before the internet? Remember when eCommerce first showed up? Everyone needed an online store. eCommerce was going to be the end of the shopping mall as we know it. Well speaking from experience, malls are still as crowded as ever. Nevertheless, eCommerce has changed the way we shop. We now price compare and read reviews before we ever set foot in a store.

mCommerce will have the same effect but it will put all the power in our pockets. Now everyone not only has all the information they need to make a buying decision, but the power to complete the transaction anywhere at any time. Wild stuff.

3. Google+ Rises from the Ashes

When Google+ first came out, it was a huge success. “Facebook Killer” was its nickname. However, once the buzz died down, doubts started to float to the surface. Suddenly, Google+ was just another platform we had to visit. It became a supplement, not a substitute. Who wants that?

Well, some say that Google+ will fare better in 2012. With growth on pace to reach a few hundred million by the end of the year, we’d have to agree. Not to mention, Google+ Brand pages will drive businesses to the site in search of high SEO rankings.

(Be sure to read #6 on Mashable’s list, too. Those crazy guys over at Honda, what will they think of next?)

 2. The Rise of Blue Collar Social Media

Looks like we’re ahead of the curve on this one! If you take a look at number 26 on the list you’ll find Marcus Sheridan’s bold predictions that plumbers, carpenters, mechanics and landscapers will take to the internet to market to customers.

So far we’ve seen great results with the introduction of social media in to our marketing tool kit. We’re definitely keeping it up for 2012.

1. The End of the World

Bring it on. We could use the extended vacation.

So there you have it. Just a taste of some of the things we’re keeping our eye on this year. Of course there are many more but we wanted to share these with you.

Happy and Healthy New Year to you!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree!

The Holiday season is here! These are the days of cold weather, family reunions, and bringing trees indoors – a traditional reminder of the importance of the green life around us.

Legend has it that, in ancient times, bringing greenery into the home during the winter solstice symbolized life through the season of hibernation.

Makes sense, doesn’t it? Just the word “evergreen” could be inspiring when the winter world outside was cold and barren.

Sure, we’re not living in a time when our entire livelihood is dependent on the harvest. Winter doesn’t signify the kind of lack that it did when we were living off the land.

But it’s good to take the time to remember that, even in these days of interconnected web discussions and social media commerce, we’re still cyclical creatures. Just like the plants in our yard, we have times of growth, decline, and renewal.

The winter holidays can be a time in that cycle to reflect on the growth that’s happened through the year. We surround ourselves with hardy firs and cover them with lights. We have feasts to remind us of the good things that have come our way – and of the things that will grow in the future.

Okay. For some, the holidays don’t always mean R & R. They come with their own kinds of stress (*cough* in-laws, loud kids, jubilant siblings *cough*). When things get frantic, though, the natural life around us can be reminders that all things are growing and changing with the seasons.

A garden that’s bold and colorful in the spring is thin and bare in the winter. Vibrant greens from the summer have faded. But these aren’t signs of things lost. It’s the natural cycle necessary for the blooms of the warmer months.

In the same way, we have those same times in our lives. Difficulties bring new fruits. And tending to the seeds we plant is key to ensure quality growth.

To do this, it’s equally necessary to reflect and plan as it is to be in action.

The dawn of a New Year can be the perfect time to reflect on the growths of the past year. At Environmental Enhancements, we’re excited about our new clients, new relationships, and new social media outreach.

But it’s also a time to nurture the seeds that have been planted for the next growing seasons. These cooler winter months can be a time to strategize, take inventory of past accomplishments and plan for the future.

So here’s to prosperous growth! Have a Happy Holiday!

I’m talking about the backlash.  People are getting sick and tired of social media.

Tweeters are tired of tweeting so often. “It’s a time suck,” they say.

On the flip side, readers are tired of sifting through the junk. “98% of what people tweet isn’t worth reading,” someone commented.

Even Google, who might not be the social king (with Google+ not being as successful as hoped) but is certainly Emperor Almighty of the Internet Realm that Extends from Here Forward to the End of Space and Time, has shied away from relying solely on the internet.

Google recently announced that they were opening a call center for people with questions about Google Apps. 

That’s right; you can now call Google and talk to a real person about your problems.

Whoa.

But it’s Google? Shouldn’t they have an algorithm that can predict what your problem is and fix it before you call? At least they should have an all knowing phone tree that has a computerized British woman leading you in circles, right?

Nope, it’s just a person who’s willing to stay on the phone until your issue is resolved.

So this must mean the end of social media as we know it if an Internet company known for its automation is de-automating.

WRONG.

What is happening is a shift. It’s a mass exodus away from stuff that doesn’t matter.

Stuff like, “Like Me on Facebook!” and “Follow Me on Twitter.” Or “So and So has just sent you a gift on Mafia Wars.” Or things like, “Our customer service bot will be able to help you with ALL of your problems.”

Cartoonist Hugh MacLeod wrote a great piece on what is actually important on the internet. He calls them, “social objects.” (Be warned there is some rough language in his post. But hey, he’s passionate.)

What we’re seeing is a shift towards meaningful interactions. Interactions, that when they are over, leave a lasting impression.

It boils down to the same stuff that gets us talking in “real life”: Shared interests, common experiences, mutual friends, desires, dreams, and aspirations.

Talk about much of anything else and you’ll be ignored. MacLeod puts it well in one of his cartoons, “If you talked to people the way advertising talked to people, they’d punch you in the face.”

So, here at Environmental Enhancements, we got on social media to chat with customers, other garden enthusiasts, and people who need answers to questions.

Honestly, we’re here to talk to just about anyone with something to share.

The reality is, if you want to like us on Facebook, you’ll like us. If you want to follow us on Twitter, you’ll follow us. If you feel compelled to comment on our blog posts, you’ll comment.

But if you don’t, you won’t.

We’ll still be here, sharing our social objects because we’re not here for the likes, or the follows, or even the re-tweets.

We’re here for something a little more meaningful than that.

When I first got in to this business it was because I was secretly running away from Math class. I could have never predicted that understanding an algorithm that I will never be able to see (nor would I comprehend it if I did) would be so vital so running a business.

Yet, here we are facing the reality that 35% of all Google searches will be affected by this new update.

Does that include Environmental Enhancements?

Well, probably yes; hopefully favorably. We’ve been putting in some effort to appeal to the internet powers that be and they’ve been noticing.

The experts are saying that it will affect mostly current news stories, real time data, fresh content, etc. So we may be safe from internet obscurity, for now.

In the end, only time will tell.

This whole update thing just brings up the question, as a landscaper (or other non-tech, small business), how much effort should I be putting in to Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

(Side note: For those readers who aren’t quite sure what SEO is… Basically, how do you format your website so it shows up as one of the first few links in a Google search result.)

The answer is a lot.

I don’t even realize when I use Google. We’ve got a young guy helping us out with some of our web stuff and he once typed in, “how to best Google”. He didn’t even realize that he was using Google to search about how to best use Google and using “Google” as a verb in his search (on Google).

That’s a whole lot of Google.  But it’s a great example of how much we use it without realizing.

Think about it, when’s the last time you ever clicked on the 2^nd page of Google search results? I can’t even remember the last time I did. Most people would rather retype a search than click to page 2.

But, believe it or not, we are actually really excited that Google is behaving differently. We believe strongly that our commitment to sharing with and valuing our customer is going to shine.

It encourages us to keep in touch. So we’re Facebooking. We’re blogging. We’re tweeting. We’re putting ourselves out there for our customers.

That makes me fresh, cool, and hip right?

(You should see Kyle shaking his head right now.)