In business, everyone has an opinion. It can be easy for founders to get swayed by the latest trends, customer chatter, or investor pressure. However, for Christian Toetzke, founder and CEO of the global fitness racing craze HYROX, staying true to his original vision has been key to the company’s explosive growth.

“You have to be very convinced about your product and the DNA of a product. And you have to stick to the game plan,” he says.

Toetzke appears this week on an episode of One Day with Jon Bier to talk about the power of persistence, the importance of retaining company equity, and other lessons he’s learned since launching his brand in 2017.

Staying the course

By any metrics, HYROX is a success. Competitors run 1 km during the races, followed by one functional workout station, repeated eight times. In 2024, 260,000 people are expected to participate in 60 global events in 65 countries. Sponsors include Red Bull, Puma and Centr.

Still, Toetzke says he’s frequently asked to tinker with the formula.

“In the last five years, I don’t know how many people told me what we have to do.”

The number one request he gets is to change the workouts, which are always the same and include the farmer’s carry, rowing, SkiErg, wall balls, burpee broad jumps, sandbag lunges, and sled push and pull. But Toetzke says he’s studied the most successful sports in the world—marathons, triathlons, golf, tennis, Olympic sports—and notes they never change the fundamental rules of the competition.

Sports are “built around principles and rules and history and heritage,” he says.

Moreover, constantly changing the competition makes it impossible to compare the results of past competitors.

“In traditional sports, you have world records, and that’s one of the strongest marking tools in the world of sports,” he says. “If someone breaks a world record in a hundred-meter run, he’s immediately a global superstar.”

Related: How One Company Transformed a Medical Device into a Mass Market Phenomenon

Being reliable

By maintaining consistency, Toetzke has built a strong brand identity for HYROX. He wants to make it the “marathon of fitness” — a gold standard event that remains consistent across locations.

He admits they still have work to do on this front. As HYROX expands globally, he personally attends events worldwide to ensure they meet brand standards. “I see one million things they did differently in Melbourne and Mexico City. And that’s what we have to change.”

He wants HYROX to be a consistent, reliable experience for participants worldwide.

“To control the brand that is exploding globally, everyone has to follow the same game plan. Everyone has to follow the brand DNA. That’s a difficult task and not easy to do because with more and more people involved, everyone has own ideas how to do it.”

Related: 40 Entrepreneurs Share Their Secrets to Staying Focused

Innovating with constraints

This is not to say that HYROX isn’t in favor of innovation. Toetzke says that HYROX continually tries to evolve and improve without changing the fundamentals of the sport.

He uses the iPhone as an example. Since its inception, there have been 42 different models with different features, but the basic look has remained the same.

In that regard, Hyrox has made significant innovations in its technology, as well as practical innovations with its equipment. Recently, they introduced sensors so that counting during the wall ball competition is done digitally, taking the onus off the judges. Through their partnership with Centr, the Official Equipment Partner of HYROX, the competition kettlebells are now designed with a unique ‘octo’ shape to allow for better weight distribution and handling during the farmer’s carry.

Taking financial risk

In an era where many startups rush to secure venture capital, often at the cost of significant ownership dilution, Toetzke calls for a more measured approach.

“My biggest advice is if you really believe in your product, try to keep as many shares as possible as long as you can,” he says. “Don’t take the quick money; take the risk.”

He warns against being the “guy who drives the whole business, who’s running all the operations, while the investors are making all the money but do nothing for the business.”

Related: How to Fund Your Business With Venture Capital

Fostering community

Another factor in HYROX’s success has been its ability to build a strong, engaged community around the brand. Toetzke says that 60 to 80 percent of the HYROX community view fitness as integral to their social life.

“You’re not just going to a gym. It’s your group of people. It’s your community, and that is now happening in every gym around the world.”

Toetzke envisions gyms becoming modern-day clubhouses, similar to golf clubs, where members form strong social bonds.

You go together to a HYROX event where you compete together, and you represent your gym,” he says. “Suddenly it’s emotional, suddenly it’s become a community.”

When it comes to thought leadership, content marketers love to talk about authenticity. However, other aspects of a thought leadership content strategy might be more relevant. Every leader working on their thought leadership content has heard the A word: authenticity.

The Oxford Dictionary defines authenticity as “of undisputed origin and not a copy; genuine,” and to me, that is a given when it comes to a thought leadership strategy — but it shouldn’t be the only thing that you focus on.

In fact, I’d say there are more important aspects to focus on if you want your thought leadership strategy to work in the long run for your personal brand.

In this article, I’ll define what an authentic thought leadership strategy is, explain why it’s not the only thing you should focus on, and tell you which alternative approach will give you optimal long-term results. Let’s start with the basics.

Related: Authenticity Is the Latest Business Buzzword — But Don’t Fall Into Its Trap. You Need to Balance It With This.

What is authentic thought leadership?

An authentic thought leadership strategy involves sharing genuine insights about your expert topic or industry.

It focuses on showcasing personal values along with action steps, showing a legitimate alignment between thoughts and actions. And as a strategy, it prioritizes original and honest interactions and communication, encouraging trust and accountability not only with their audience but also with their teams and stakeholders.

Isn’t that what every leader aims to be? That’s why there’s more to thought leadership than just authenticity.

Why not focus only on authenticity?

While sharing original content is one of the fundamental pillars of thought leadership, it’s not the only important aspect of it.

And here’s why: Scientific studies show that the average person needs to hear the same message around two to seven times to take action. This concept became known as the marketing rule of seven. As the American writer Zig Ziglar put it: “Repetition is the mother of learning, the father of action, which makes it the architect of accomplishment.”

This means that if you don’t repeat your message enough times, all that authentic thought leadership is lost in content limbo. And worse: it means that your content is unlikely to have a meaningful impact on your audience or stakeholders. People need to engage with your thought leadership messages multiple times for them to “sink in.”

All the effort (and money) you put into authentic content, and a thought leadership strategy is wasted. Alone, authenticity is not enough to make a lasting impact. Without consistency, you might as well throw those carefully crafted pieces of content to the wind.

Related: 5 Key Elements to Master Thought Leadership and Establish Your Credibility

Consistency is the new authenticity — here’s why

Personally, I think consistency is the undervalued side of most thought leadership content strategies. But it shouldn’t be.

Merriam-Webster defines consistency as “steadfast adherence to the same principles, course, form, etc.” Consistent leaders adhere to the same principles every day. It helps to define who they are and how they serve their community.

As studies show, messages need repetition if they’re to be effective. Having a consistent message, then, leads to a true, meaningful impact. And just as it would in any relationship, consistency builds a trustworthy foundation.

But that doesn’t mean you must repeat your message word-by-word or post the same content every week. Consistency is about evolution, not mindless repetition.

Instead of copying and pasting previous work, bring authenticity into each message, providing new insights and building on your previous content. This will help to ensure that your audience grows into long-term followers and helps you achieve the ultimate goal of a thought leadership strategy: becoming a trustworthy industry resource.

That consistency can show up in a thought leadership strategy in several ways, too. It’s not only about having an increasingly insightful content strategy that builds on your authentic message every week. Consistency is also about showing up for your audience, team and stakeholders genuinely, actively joining conversations, answering questions in a timely manner and offering feedback when necessary.

When you break down your thought leadership strategy into bite-size pieces, working on them consistently, your message builds up over time, and your results last much longer than a single (and accidental) viral post.

Without consistency, your authenticity might lose its purpose, as you might jump around ideas and projects. This will also make it more difficult to determine what parts of your thought leadership strategy work and where the successes and failures are.

Related: What Your Brand Needs to Unlock The Power of Thought Leadership

Establishing a consistent thought leadership strategy

Thought leadership is a marathon, not a sprint: It takes time and consistent effort. While the occasional viral post is a great motivator, it won’t guarantee long-term success and a reputation as a thought leader.

Nurture your audience consistently, and they will regularly return for your advice. Remain true to your values and principles, and your followers will know exactly where you stand and what insights they will find.

Consistency used to be the forgotten sibling of authenticity — but not anymore!

As an entrepreneur, amateur athlete, and father of two, I know that multitasking is sometimes the only option for getting anything done. Juggling tasks is often expected of us — by our companies and families alike.

This is exactly why I’m trying to avoid multitasking as much as possible during my individual work hours. And I’m doing all I can to kill what I call a ‘multitasking culture’ in my company.

As a productivity expert, I’ve encountered many productivity myths centered around multitasking. Some of those are so deeply rooted in our thinking that we may see them as universal truths instead of the fiction they really are. I’ve grouped those assumptions into four main myths that may be hurting your company’s efficiency.

Related: Why Hearing a ‘No’ is the Best ‘Yes’ for an Entrepreneur

Myth #1: Multitasking employees are more productive

I’m sure you’re familiar with companies that resemble a bee hive — the hustle and bustle is always there, and everyone looks busy and stressed most of the time. If we had the time and capacity to analyze such organizations, I’m sure most of them would turn out to exhibit a ‘multitasking culture’ — an environment where you’re judged by the number of tasks you juggle instead of the results you bring.

Still, countless companies fall into the trap of mixing up productivity with ‘looking busy.’ If you simply want to look busy, multitasking may indeed be one strategy to use. But if you are a multitasker striving to be productive, I have bad news for you.

The research findings indicating the harmful effects of multitasking are compelling, from it interfering with your working memory to the propensity to have attention lapses and just generally forgetting things.

In simple terms, the human brain can’t efficiently handle multiple complex tasks simultaneously. That’s why multitasking often leads to context switching, which can be time-consuming and error-prone.

Related: Want to Start a Business? Skip the MBA, Says Bestselling Author

Myth #2: Multitasking helps your team meet deadlines

Adding to the previous myth — instead of helping you reach your goals, multitasking slows you down because of the mental strain associated with jumping from one task to another. Therefore, multitasking can lead to delays and missed deadlines.

Focused work with clear priorities is an evergreen tactic for effective time management. My approach is to interchange periods of focused work with strategic breaks and promote this practice to my team as well.

This is nothing new — ten years ago, our study discovered the 52/17 work-break ratio of the most productive people. The study found that combining 52-minute sessions of uninterrupted work with 17-minute breaks is the golden ratio to achieve maximum productivity during your workday.

This approach still works for me, even though sometimes I adjust the length of either of those periods to suit my needs. Employees can also choose an individual work-break ratio—it might as well be the Pomodoro Technique with its 25/5 ratio—whatever works for them as long as it doesn’t entail jumping from task to task every two minutes.

Myth #3: A multitasking boss is an indispensable boss

While multitasking might make a manager seem like a jack-of-all-trades, it can also portray a lack of prioritization and planning skills. Even worse, if they try to micromanage employees and poke their noses into everyone else’s jobs.

Focusing on a manager’s core responsibilities demonstrates much greater value and expertise. Being omnipresent and leading are two different things — if you’re doing the latter right.

I think it’s best to have a self-sufficient team that can do all or most of the tasks independently of the manager’s input. That said, the manager should be available to answer strategic questions and give team guidance.

Related: Why Smart People Don’t Multitask

Myth #4: Employees are productive if they respond quickly

Employees often feel obliged to answer their boss’s messages or emails instantly just because they’re afraid to appear distracted or slacking. In my company, we try to do the opposite – what matters is the result of your work, not the speed of responding to emails or Slack messages.

I respect that employees’ individual work styles can differ; therefore, nobody’s forced always to be available. That said, some positions require responsiveness more than others (think developer vs. human resources rep).

I encourage my team to use Slack’s status updates, indicating that they’re in a meeting or lunch break, and use custom statuses, e.g., “focused work” status. As a hybrid team, some of us often work remotely, and such minor team updates keep everyone in the loop about what others are doing.

Should you ditch multitasking for good?

Finally, multitasking may not be all bad for you or your company. Some studies have shown that multitasking fuels productivity, which may be relevant for your team. If you’re not ready to go cold turkey on multitasking, keeping some parts that you think are beneficial may be wiser and gradually phase out the rest. As with all things, the best approach is about striking a balance.

I have written and spoken on radio shows about productivity, and one thing is for sure – productivity is an ever-topical subject. People will never stop searching for the perfect productivity recipe.

But perhaps the most exciting thing about productivity is that the ideal recipe doesn’t exist, and you have to keep searching for it and fine-tuning the details. Even if you got the base dish right, you might need to adjust your seasoning time after time because what worked for you last year may no longer be potent today.

The U.S. Presidential race is heating up after the news that Vice President Kamala Harris is the presumed Democratic nominee for the 2024 Presidential Election.

And while major business and tech leaders are split on their support for Harris or the Republican nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump, one billionaire says he’s been contacted about cryptocurrency.

Related: Mark Cuban Slams ‘Soulmate’ Elon Musk, Says Silicon Valley’s Support for Trump Is a ‘Bitcoin Play’

In an interview this week with crypto-focused publication Decrypt, “Shark Tank” star Mark Cuban said that, after being contacted by Harris’s team with questions, it was a “good sign” for the future of the business if elected.

“I’m getting multiple questions from her camp about crypto,” he told the outlet. “The feedback I’m getting, but certainly not confirmed by the VP, is that she will be far more open to business, [artificial intelligence], crypto and government as a service.”

Cuban, an avid Bitcoin owner and supporter, has accused Silicon Valley leaders supporting Trump of a “Bitcoin play.”

“What will drive the price of BTC is lower tax rates and tariffs, which if history is any guide (and it’s not always ), will be inflationary,” Cuban explained on X. “Combine that with global uncertainty as to the geopolitical role of the USA, and the impact on the US Dollar as a reserve currency, and you can’t align the stars any better for a BTC price acceleration.”

Harris has not formally taken a stance on crypto in the past, but President Biden’s stance has been traditionally unfavorable.

In May, Biden vetoed a bill set to repeal the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Staff Accounting Bulletin 121, which “directs financial institutions holding crypto for customers to keep the assets on their own balance sheets,” according to Coindesk.

Related: Billionaires, CEOs Respond President Biden’s Decision

“By virtue of invoking the Congressional Review Act, this Republican-led resolution would inappropriately constrain the SEC’s ability to set forth appropriate guardrails and address future issues,” Biden said in an official White House statement at the time.

Cuban has not formally endorsed a presidential candidate but has shared a few Harris memes on social media.

Starting out is always tough, especially when building a team for an early-stage startup. Founders often lack the resources to attract and retain top talent, but having a strong team is critical to the product’s success.

From the candidate’s perspective, joining an early-stage startup might look like this: an unknown company; it could be a huge success, but it could also flop. The tasks are certainly interesting, but the level of uncertainty is high, the сompensation is modest, and there are no guarantees.

From the founder’s perspective, the situation is no better: there is no large budget, no established HR brand, no market positions, and it’s challenging to compete with the industry’s big players.

How can these two realities be brought together? Here are some tips I’ve developed and tested through personal experience. So, let’s dive deeper into it.

Related: Being a Good Manager Isn’t Enough — Here Are 5 Leadership Skills That Will Keep Your Employees Around

1. HR is not just about compensation — start with your culture

Building a strong culture is fundamental, and it should be a priority from day one. You’ve probably heard the iconic phrase “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” Before creating and implementing a business strategy, it’s crucial to know who you are, where you currently stand, where you aspire to go, and the grand vision behind your company. Understand your core values and what values you aim to share with the world.

Founders must answer all these questions before starting to recruit and hire. This forms the mission, vision, and strategy of the startup. From these insights, you can develop an EVP.

2. Identify competencies and behavioral indicators

Next, consider the type of people you want on your team or those who will thrive with you. This involves understanding competencies and behavioral indicators.

For example, in a startup, employees need to have developed flexibility and adaptability since we work in a rapidly changing environment. We also highly value openness to new ideas, healthy ambition, a readiness to take risks for innovation, and the ability to stay calm and decisive under uncertainty and pressure.

If someone lacks these traits, it will be challenging for everyone involved, resulting in poor task performance. This employee probably won’t remain with the company for very long.

Related: From Crisis to Control — How to Lead Effectively in High-Stress Scenarios

3. Formulate your EVP and clearly communicate It

Startup-ready people are typically passionate enthusiasts and risk-takers. They value freedom, room for creativity, a sense of belonging to something significant, and opportunities for career growth. Ensure you offer these. If compensation is below market level, consider offering extra perks like stock options.

On the flip side, understand that startups aren’t for everyone. A candidate could be an outstanding specialist, but they won’t be happy if their mindset doesn’t fit the startup culture. No matter how many perks you offer, such as corporate psychologists, fitness trainers, family insurance, or interest clubs, if the person values stability and status, they won’t join a startup.

For a startup founder, it’s essential to talk about the product’s growth and future potential, communicate a culture of excitement and development, and emphasize the benefits and values it contributes to the world. These triggers are effective in attracting like-minded individuals. This should be part of your EVP — Employee Value Proposition. Choosing a job isn’t always about the pay. You need to know exactly who you’re looking for and understand the needs and expectations of potential candidates to attract the right talent.

4. Start building HR processes

Creating HR processes for an early-stage startup requires balancing structure and flexibility. Essential tasks like hiring and defining roles are set up immediately, while other processes develop over time as the startup expands.

Key HR areas include:

• Recruiting
• Training and development
• Performance management
• Compensation and bonuses
• Corporate culture and internal communications
• Performance evaluation
• Offboarding, etc.

Yes, you will have to deal with all this, and it will be a challenging journey.

Related: How HR Professionals Can Effectively Balance the Needs of the Employees and the Business

5. Consider outsourcing HR back office

For early-stage startups, the main difficulty lies in determining where, how, and when to search for the right talent. The workload is extensive, and experience is often limited, especially with only 24 hours in a day. Moreover, the founder needs to keep their strategic focus on the product. If you try to handle everything alone, the chances of approaching a successful and scalable business model drop dramatically.

Consider outsourcing HR Back Office processes. A team of specialists can manage all aspects, including recruitment, hiring, culture-building, HR branding, and creating retention and development programs.

By outsourcing HR tasks, you can speed up hiring and cut the costs associated with attracting and retaining talent. Most importantly, this frees you to dive deep into product development and reach your goals more quickly.

Building a team is a bottleneck for early-stage startups. This is primarily because of limited resources, high uncertainty, and difficulties in attracting and retaining talent. An early-stage startup is not a classic business, so HR processes for such projects have their own unique complexities.

Today’s top companies were once founded and developed by enthusiasts who believed in the big idea and took risks. Your task is to find such dreamers, innovators, and visionaries for your project — those who are ready to share the risks with you and strive together towards a big goal. The key to assembling your dream team is to know your mission, goals, and values clearly. With this clarity, finding people who share your mindset, worldview, and culture will be much easier.

The PDF has become the standard file format for sharing and presenting documents across various platforms and devices. Many of us know all too well how difficult they can be to work with if you need to do anything other than view it.

An Apple Editor’s Choice Award app, PDF Expert for Mac is a tool that makes it easy to manipulate and work with this popular file format. And a lifetime subscription for Mac users is currently on sale for just $79.99 (reg. $139).

One of the most common frustrations with PDFs is the difficulty in editing them. PDF Expert eliminates this issue with its powerful editing tools.

With PDF Expert, you can effortlessly modify text, images, and links within your PDFs, ensuring that your documents are always up-to-date and error-free. Need to swap out an image or fix a spelling mistake? It’s all at your fingertips, empowering you to make changes before anyone else sees them.

Another common challenge is effectively reviewing and annotating documents. PDF Expert’s advanced annotation tools make it easy to collaborate and provide feedback on PDFs. You’ll be able to highlight important sections, underline key points, and strike through unnecessary text, which can help you and your team quickly identify and focus on critical information.

You can easily add comments and notes to your documents. This could come in very handy in keeping all feedback on one document during team reviews.

Convert, sign, organize, and fill out forms, too. It even has the capability to recognize text so you can easily find what you’re looking for.

This is an essential tool for entrepreneurs looking to solve common PDF challenges and streamline their document management processes.

A lifetime subscription to the PDF Expert Premium Plan for Mac is currently on sale for just $79.99 (reg. $139) for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Niche marketplaces have a number of competitive advantages over horizontal platforms: a product focus that simplifies the searching process for customers and increases variety within a specific category, a loyal and unique audience that comes to a marketplace with a specific request, high sales conversion, profitability owing to lower commission, lower barrier to entry for sellers and a high expertise of the platform in working with the target niche.

A niche focus fosters clear communication: sellers can tailor their offerings to a well-defined audience, increasing the likelihood of sales. Research shows that 48% of online shoppers head straight to large marketplaces, but these platforms struggle with personalization due to their vast product ranges.

Niche marketplaces, on the other hand, allow sellers to develop targeted strategies and build long-term customer relationships. This focus on customer experience is crucial, as 73% of consumers say it directly impacts their purchasing decisions.

Niche marketplaces offer a curated selection of stores within a specific segment. This fosters healthy competition between sellers, ultimately benefiting the customer with a wider variety of high-quality goods.

Unlike global platforms, where sellers compete across a broad spectrum, niche marketplaces allow sellers to target a passionate audience within a specific category. This eliminates price wars and helps sellers maintain their brand positioning. Customers, in turn, benefit from a well-organized platform that allows them to find exactly what they’re looking for easily.

Niche marketplaces’ key to success lies in effectively communicating this internal segmentation through their user interface. Clear category labeling, filtering options and product descriptions highlighting a seller’s unique selling proposition are crucial. By facilitating targeted communication, niche marketplaces create a win-win situation for both sellers and buyers.

In three steps, you can build your own successful niche marketplace.

Related: 5 Lessons Entrepreneurs Can Learn From Niche Marketplaces

Step 1. Embrace simplicity

While providing access to otherwise difficult products has demonstrable value, your marketplace will build trust and loyalty by simplifying the user’s choices and asserting a high level of quality.

As we have seen with Uber, which first launched using the exclusivity of luxury cars, successful niche marketplaces have limited options with high quality for time-poor yet quality-driven audiences. The marketplace’s role here is as a marquee, offering a limited amount of space and housing only those sellers that meet its full criteria to provide the best possible user experience.

My company, Flowwow, began in the fertile ground of the floral marketplace. Since then, we have strategically evolved into a comprehensive platform for local gift-giving brands. Recognizing the potential to elevate the gifting experience, we strategically expanded our offerings to encompass a wider range of high-quality local brands.

This horizontal expansion now includes various products, from delectable sweets and unique dеcor to handcrafted jewelry. But we remain true to our niche roots, still operating within a narrow market with a specific message.

By maintaining a focus on curated selections and a tightly-knit community, we ensure a consistent, exceptional customer experience. This meticulous vetting process allows us to partner only with the best sellers, ultimately enhancing the joy of gift-giving for our users.

Related: How Niche Micro-Companies Will Rule the Business World

Step 2. Set yourself apart with excellent content

Operating within a niche offers a distinct advantage: you already understand your audience and have access to an engaged community. However, keeping them interested and returning for more requires a strategic approach. Attracting users is just the first step; the true challenge lies in fostering long-term engagement.

Within your broader niche audience, there exist various sub-groups with distinct needs. Some prioritize affordability, while others require faster delivery times. Niche marketplaces empower sellers by facilitating targeted interactions with these diverse customer segments. Through effective user interface design and clear segmentation strategies, the platform ensures customers encounter sellers best suited to their needs. This win-win situation allows customers to discover the perfect product while sellers gain access to a highly relevant and engaged audience.

Beyond targeted interactions, niche marketplaces can enhance user experiences through features that encourage repeat visits and purchases. Studies have shown that features like purchase history and recommendations based on past views and orders can significantly increase repeat purchases (e.g., a 7% increase observed on Amazon).

Related: How to Stop Online Marketplaces From Robbing Your Brand

3. Remember that communication is a two-way street

Once you have matched your audience and vendors, create a direct, personal way for them to interact and build ongoing relationships.

Carefully consider media channels in each country to engage both customers and sellers. For example, Flowwow uses several Twitter, Instagram and TikTok accounts to connect our marketing campaigns with the perfect audience, tailoring content to resonate with local preferences.

eBay showcases this effectively with its country-specific Instagram accounts. In Germany, their account leveraged the excitement of Euro 2024, featuring the couple’s outfits and game-related content.

Meanwhile, their Canadian account uses local influencers and films Reels against the backdrop of the CN Tower. They also have an Instagram account for sellers with promotional tips and FAQs. Furthermore, providing valuable website features like a categorized wish list section can significantly enhance user experience and encourage repeat visits. Gift cards with customizable occasions (birthdays, congratulations, etc.) are another excellent way to keep your audience engaged and drive future purchases.

It’s crucial to refine your approach, based on local preferences to ensure smooth marketplace experience for both buyers and sellers. Keep constantly improving your product by listening to locals, personalizing market model and creating unique experiences.

In the vibrant greenscapes of Maryland, Nature’s Friends Landscaping stands as a pillar of craftsmanship and dedication in the landscaping industry. Here, Cliff Bressler nurtures every garden and tree and tree with the same passion and precision as those in his own backyard.

In 1999, Bressler transitioned from the corporate world to follow his love for the outdoors. This shift marked the beginning of a new era for him with his profound knowledge of plant life and a commitment to sustainable beauty. Bressler and his team ensure that each project they take on enhances the lives of their clients, and Nature’s Friends has, in turn, become synonymous with exceptional quality and unwavering reliability.

“My big goal for this business was to not have to travel far for work,” Bressler says, highlighting his focus on cultivating local gardens and building strong community ties through personalized service. His business approach is built around a cornerstone of meticulous attention to detail and respect for the environment, and this philosophy extends beyond landscaping to fostering connections between his clients and their outdoor spaces. Listen to the episode below to hear directly from Bressler.

Nature’s Friends distinguishes itself by offering comprehensive solutions tailored to each client’s unique needs. Bressler’s commitment to excellence is evident in every project, driven by his belief in delivering value that justifies his pricing. “I’m usually middle to high-end,” he says. “For the work I do, I will be on the upper end of cost, but I can guarantee clients [they’re] going to get great quality service.”

Liz S., a loyal customer and Yelp Elite, echoed this sentiment. “I can’t say enough great things about Cliff and his crew,” she says. “If you’re looking for someone who knows plants and trees, cares about his clients, is clear and communicative, as well as really nice to do business with, look no further.”

Further reinforcing the value he provides, Bressler takes the time to really get each client’s vision just right, transforming their outdoor spaces in ways that go beyond just looking good—they’re about creating sustainable and beautiful environments everyone can enjoy.

Liz regards Bressler’s attentiveness and interactions with customers as what sets Nature’s Friends Landscaping apart. “Cliff responded very, very quickly. He’s really on top of his business. And I also want you to know that he shows up,” she says. Her testimony underscores the trust and hallmark dependability of Bressler’s approach, illustrating how effective communication is woven through every interaction.

Moreover, Bressler’s flexibility and responsiveness are particularly valued in unexpected situations, which Liz experienced firsthand. “It was a Sunday. I sent him a text. He showed up that day at five o’clock in the afternoon,” she says, impressed by his commitment to resolve urgent issues promptly, a rare quality that fosters loyal customer relationships.

Bressler’s influence extends beyond individual gardens, impacting the local community through his service and environmental stewardship. In fact, he says he has “turned down a lot of business in really great areas” because it would take him 45 minutes to get there. This selective approach underscores his commitment to being available for his local clients and minimizing environmental impacts associated with longer commutes.

Nature’s Friends is also deeply integrated into the community, participating in local initiatives and building relationships that reinforce a collaborative and supportive local network.

“I found it a lot easier to manage myself with the client and the three guys that work full time for me,” Bressler says of his desire for autonomy, which allows him to engage more profoundly with local projects and community efforts.

Recognizing the broader impact of Bressler’s commitment, Liz appreciates this local focus, noting how Bressler’s community involvement and employee care enhance her trust. “He is very loyal to guys that have stayed with him,” she says, emphasizing how Bressler’s treatment of his team translates into high-quality service and consistent customer satisfaction.

Through strategic partnerships and a focused business scope, Bressler ensures that Nature’s Friends both transforms spaces and strengthens community bonds. His efforts to maintain a concentrated service area allow him to respond swiftly to client needs and engage more intimately with the local ecosystem.

“I provide a level of service and quality that I’m proud of, and that commitment will continue as we grow,” he says. “We’re about more than just landscaping; we’re about creating spaces that people can love and thrive in for years to come.”

Nature’s Friends Landscaping relies on these principles for success:

• Commitment to high-quality customer service. Bressler focuses on detailed communication and responsiveness. Prioritizing transparent and consistent communication ensures customers feel valued and well-informed throughout their service experience.
• Maintaining a local focus. Bressler’s decision to limit his service area allows for more personalized service and quicker response times, showing the benefits of catering intensively to a local market rather than diluting efforts over a broader area.
• Fostering community engagement and sustainability. Bressler’s engagement in local community projects and his commitment to sustainable practices resonate well with customers who value environmental consciousness and community support.
• Caring for your team. By ensuring his team is well-compensated and valued, Bressler creates a positive workplace culture that translates into high-quality service for customers.

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Editorial contributions by Charlotte Che and Kristi Lindahl

This article is part of our ongoing America’s Favorite Mom & Pop Shops™ series highlighting family-owned and operated businesses.

It’s no surprise that return-to-office mandates leave some employees dismayed — many workers don’t want to give up their work-from-home setups and begin commuting again.

A new report from Bamboo HR found that roughly 25% of Vice Presidents and C-suite executives hoped that implementing strict return-to-office policies would help bring on “voluntary turnover” among employees. Meanwhile, 28% of remote employees surveyed reported they would consider leaving their jobs if mandated to a five-day-a-week in-office model.

Related: Salesforce Will Require Employees in Office 5 Times Per Week

Bamboo HR referred to this concept as “layoffs in disguise.” Still, around 40% of executives and managers surveyed said they had to implement a round of layoffs within the last year because fewer employees actually quit than expected after the new in-office mandates.

“This level of dissatisfaction could lead to a further drain of talent, affecting not just morale but also the stability and innovation potential of the workforce,” the study said regarding employees unhappy with being mandated to return to the office.

Related: Elon Musk Says Remote Workers Have ‘Marie Antoinette Vibes’

The return-to-office debate has been top of mind at major companies, including Amazon, Tesla, and Salesforce, which will require certain employees in the office four to five days a week starting October 1.

According to Desk Bird, an estimated 90% of companies in the U.S. with office space will return to in-office work by the end of 2024.

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