What a difference a few decades can make. During the mid 1970s, Sarah Johnston was a flight attendant for British Caledonia Airways, jetting around the world in a Boeing 707. Today, her itinerary is slightly less robust, as she and her son, Dave, install and maintain landscapes for homeowners in and around Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Pete and Mary Maust are not your ordinary Florida retirees. In fact, at age 85 and 80 respectively, they’re not retired at all. The couple still owns and operates M&P Lawn Service, and although they don’t maintain nearly as many properties as they once did, mowing and maintenance continues to bring home the bacon.

Wise before his years. That’s one way to describe Scott Snider, president and owner of M&S Connection Landscaping in Strongsville, Ohio. In business for less than six years, he already has a good handle on what it takes to be successful. “Our company rests on four pillars,” Snider explains. “We believe in Quality, Green, Creative and Clean.”

“I don’t know what I would do without him,” says one customer. Another relates, “I told my wife that if Winston ever retires, we will have to sell our house.” A third customer remarks, “If you need something, call Winston.”

Darwin Haerer Sr. positions his wheelchair next to his Walker Mower. He places a hinged board between the mower and his chair and slides across it to the mower’s seat. “There,” he says. “I’m ready to mow.”

If only Ralph Anderson had a crystal ball in 1946. At the time this 14-year-old farm boy and his brother were pulling an old reel mower down the road behind a Model A Ford. They were mowing 20 to 40 yards a week for what today would be pocket change.