You're a Vietnam vet, a retired police officer, and you've worked hard your entire life. What are you doing mowing lawns for a living? That's the question Walker Talk asked Vernon Henderson, owner of V. Henderson Landscaping, Washington, D.C. His answer gives a glimpse of a person who looks for more out of life than money and the pleasures that go with it. Oh, Vernon is human and he likes money well enough. But he is also driven by a strong work ethic, the need to stay busy and to do something positive. Mowing lawns and landscaping fit the description.
Vernon is one of those people who would like to see at least 48 hours in every day. Even during his 20-year stint with the police force, he ran a dump truck operation and worked overtime for the force. And he started mowing lawns a full three years before his retirement date in 1991. A lady on his beat asked him if he knew of anyone who mowed lawns. He didn't but he found somebody. Himself.
Mowing lawns and landscaping seemed to be a natural way for Vernon to enjoy retirement. Born and raised in Alabama, he has an agricultural background. And his education and interest throughout life have been in agriculture. He also harbors a natural love for equipment. The basement of the apartment complex where his office is located resembles a new car showroom. Two sports cars and a Harley wait patiently for their owner to rev 'em up. "I'm not materialistic like some people think," explains Vernon. "I care as much for my line trimmers and power blowers as I do my cars and bike."
In some circles, especially mowing and maintenance circles, Vernon might be viewed as a bit eccentric. What other mowing contractor, for example, won't let rain touch his Walker mower? Vernon won't. Not if he can help it. Or who else retains "problem" customers in part because they are viewed as barometers for their business. That's right. Vernon sees these customers as challenges. "If I can please them, I can please any of my customers," he tells with a grin.
By the Book
Looking back, Vernon says both working in the Air Force and in the police department came naturally because he has always gone by the book. That trait carries over into his business, too. All of his maintenance equipment, from his 1988 Walker mower to his Toro walk behind and Echo handheld equipment, is cared for like no other equipment on the panel.
"My grandfather always told me that any piece of equipment you buy should last a lifetime, and I still believe that," says Vernon, who uses nothing but the best synthetic oil and changes it religiously. He lets all of his equipment warm up before he puts it to work, and that includes his line trimmer and blower, each of which is wrapped in a blanket to offer protection to and from jobsites. He doesn't shut equipment down, either, until it has cooled.
Following the rules helps in other ways. Vernon is fastidious about keeping his properties neat and clean. And although he hasn't had any formal business training, he knows that his grandfather was right when he once told him, "It's not how much you make, but how much you keep that counts."
Henderson Landscaping is keeping enough to keep both Vernon and his younger brother Vantura busy.
"My brother is amazing," tells Vernon. "He's great with landscaping and landscaping design. ''I'm good at managing the business and buying equipment."
Together with two employees, the Hendersons maintain about 75 homeowner properties and a handful of commercial properties in the D.C. area. The company gets between $25 and $65 for regular mowing and maintenance accounts, with income supplemented by larger landscaping projects like the ones it recently completed for Walter Reed Hospital and the Washington Metro. Vernon also does custom aerating and power seeding, which, he adds, is a real money maker, and a back breaker, too. As he puts it, "I've been blessed. The man upstairs has made me work for everything ." And Vernon wouldn't have it any other way.
Street Smart
Being a policeman and being a lawn maintenance professional have at least one thing in common. "The most valuable lessons are learned on the street. When it comes to landscaping, Vernon has learned valuable lessons about buying equipment, hiring people and developing long-lasting relationships, all three of which are fundamental to any contractor's success.
"I've bought a lot of wrong equipment over the years," he tells. Not that it was bad equipment, it just wasn't what was needed to get his jobs done. he emphasizes.
One of his first mowers, for example, was an Excel Hustler. Vernon says it was a great mower for larger, commercial properties. But it was too big for smaller, residential yards. A couple of walk mowers sit idle in his garage, too, victims of being the wrong machine for the application.
Vernon saw his first Walker in a magazine advertisement and saw his first mower in real life during a 2:00 a.m. demonstration right at the police station.
"I liked what I saw," says Vernon. "The mower looked substantial and I liked the 16-hp Kohler." He pauses for a moment, then adds. "You know, I don't understand why every contractor doesn't own a Walker." Vernon's machine has 1,000 hours on it. and has never seen the inside of a service shop. The only problems over the last seven years has been a testy carb, caused by using high-test fuel, and a broken hour meter. Still has the same bells and tires, too, he says proudly. Although there is no question the Walker - like all of his machines - has been spoiled.
Equipment. however. is easier to spoil and maintain than either employees or customers. Vernon says one thing he's learned about hiring employees is to hire ones who are hungry to work. ''Too many younger people live at home and don't really need a job," he relates. "Hire someone who has responsibility and needs a job."
Developing the respect of customers just takes time, Vernon adds, but it can start with something as simple as a work order. That' right, Vernon doesn't sign contracts yearly or otherwise with residential customers. Customers receive a work order that lists all of Henderson's services. They check off the ones they want and sign the form.
"If you don't want my services, just write me a teller to that effect," Vernon tells his customers. "And I'll do the same."
Vernon developed the work order idea early on in his business after being approached by a couple of homeowners. They asked if he could mow their lawns the following year. When he inquired what was wrong with right now, they said they had contracts to honor.
From the contractor's point of view, there is little honor about fulfilling a contract when someone doesn't want you there, he notes. "A work order puts the burden of proof on both the customer and the contractor."
Biscuits and Gravy
Like too many of his previous employees, Vernon doesn't have to work, either. But unlike them, he wants to and will continue to do so as long as lawn maintenance continues to be fun and he feels he's working toward an end. Vernon wants to develop and grow something that either a member of his family or an employee will want to take over one day. "That really is my goal for this business," he adds. "I've got enough money with the police pension and my savings to live on. After all, you can only eat so many biscuits."
No, there's more to life than eating biscuits or finding a gravy train. Growing up in Alabama taught Vernon that lesson, as did his stint in the Air Force and serving in the D.C. police force. In fact, he would like to get time to set up a youth program in his home town. After being on the street, he has a good idea of what youngsters need today to stay out of trouble. You can imagine participants in his program would be asked to follow the rules - and develop an appreciation for work.
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