Landscape Management, October 2012
BUSINESSPLANNER2013 By Christy WeBBer andscape Management asked me to write about my experience as a woman doing business in the landscaping industry You know the drill Write about how the industry held me back how men treated me unfairly how I never could catch a break and throw in a few of those big words I can hardly spell such as bigotry prejudice chauvinism and sexism Gals and anyone else who may be reading this my story doesnt follow that pattern Maybe I am too naive to recognize all of those terrible things Or maybe I just dont care I am not saying those terrible things dont exist or that I didnt experience discrimination as a woman But I can tell you this I never let it stand in my way I got started in this business in 1988 I was teaching high school in Chicago and hated it So for extra money I began mowing grass for friends and others who would hire me My residential business grew and in 1997 I hired a great landscape architect who helped me win a prestigious contract for a new arena the United Center during the Chicago Bulls Michael Jordan era Go Bulls Today 15 years after landing that contract Christy Webber Landscapes employs 400 staff and has gross revenue of 32 million And were still growing So how did I do this as a woman in an industry completely dominated by men In an industry so male that LANDSCAPEMANAGEMENT NET OCTOBER 2012 82 when I signed up for trade shows women in the industry had nowhere to meet but in rooms reserved for our male counterparts wives I did it by doing the same things successful men need to do work hard put in long hours make smart hiring and banking moves and learn from your mistakes I never allowed my being a woman to work against me Make connections Yes there were comments such as Honey how are you or people like the beast in the job trailer who treated everyone poorly not just me I never let it get me down or let my frustration show Instead I schemed Be a woman in a maledominated industry QUIck tIP Do the same thing successful men do work hard put in long hours make smart hiring and banking moves and learn from your mistakes If you experience roadblocks never let them get you down or let your frustration show
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