Ask Dave Hawkins of East Calais, Vermont, if he’s a pioneer, and he’ll probably just shrug his shoulders and say, “Not at all.” His family roots are planted deep beneath the Green Mountains that highlight the state.

Can you recognize the signs that indicate you’ve grown too fast or that you’ve become too big? If you recognize them early enough, there’s plenty of time to take your foot off the business accelerator and regain control of your operation. If you don’t, there is the danger that your business, not you, will end up doing the driving.

We slowed down in July. As a “level” manufacturer, we produce mowers at a steady rate year-round, based on an annual forecast with the objective of building the number of machines that can be sold to retail customers — not making more or less. The consequences of going too fast or slow are well-known; too much inventory means pushing product to customers at or below cost with resulting poor service and poor value. Too little inventory means customers cannot get the product when they need it, and ultimately they may purchase a lesser product, because it is available.

We’re not bashful about saying that Walker Mowers equipped with GHS decks are among the most effective tools for collecting grass clippings and leaves in the industry. The challenge for most Walker users is not picking up debris, but finding a time-saving and cost-effective way to handle it once it has been collected.