I've always heard the old saying, ‘Actions speak louder than words.’ Unfortunately, I was reminded the other day that words carry some pretty heavy weight, too. 

In a heated moment, I was short with my six-year-old by curtly asking him to leave me alone for a moment. As I watched him walk away with his head dropped low, I could hear his dejected sigh. 

I knew that I had messed up.

It's astounding how our words, even in a moment of haste, can have such a profound impact on those we care about most. And yet, we often toss them around without much consideration for their weight.

Reflecting on that moment with my son, I couldn't help but think about the times I've been on the receiving end of someone else's thoughtless words. The pain of rejection, the sting of hurt, the weight of disappointment – these are all too familiar.

However, it's not just the negative words that leave a mark. Words of encouragement, affirmation, and love have the power to charge us up, to give us hope and motivate us to carry on.

The biggest lesson in the interaction with my son wasn’t the weight of words, though. The heaviness wasn’t determined by the words alone, but by who’s words they were. 

In a world where words are constantly being thrown around, let's strive to be mindful of their weight and the impact they have on those around us - specifically those closest to us. After all, our words have the power to shape not only our relationships but also the world we live in.

As the seasons have shifted and the cold of winter has faded away, I can't help but feel rejuvenated. Maybe it's the longer days, warm and sunny weather,, or the sight of landscapes in full bloom, but there's something truly magical to me about the spring

For many of us, myself included, the colder months of January, February, and early March can feel gloomy and stagnant. The shorter days often affect me, as I drive home from work at 5:30 in the dark. But as April rolls around, a transformation takes place. Nature comes alive. 

I've always loved spending time in the great outdoors - not surprising considering the industry I chose to work in. Whether it's taking a jog through Turkey Creek Preserve, an early morning walk on Vilano Beach, or simply spending time on my back patio, there's something incredibly rejuvenating about being surrounded by nature, and even more so while it's bursting with new growth.

Countless studies have shown that spending time outdoors can have a profound impact on our mood and mental well-being, so let's not let it go to waste. Schedule that camping trip, eat your lunch outside, make a date with your significant other to visit a local park, or drink your coffee on the porch tomorrow morning.

Do what you can to make the most of the great outdoors this spring.  Revel in the beauty of nature, and here's to a refreshed and blessed spring season. 

Two decades of serving our community calls for a celebration!

The Master's is proud to announce our 20th-anniversary milestone, and we're marking this special occasion with an initiative to thank our communities we serve for their support!

We’re Celebrating 20 Years with 20 Acts of Kindness

We're excited to introduce our 20 Acts of Kindness campaign. This is a heartfelt show of gratitude to our community for supporting The Master's for over 2 decades by completing 20 acts of kindness in 2024. 

We're reaching out to you, our community, for suggestions on acts of kindness. Share your ideas through Instagram, Facebook, or Google Form submissions. Whether it's a small gesture or a grand initiative, we welcome all ideas aimed at making a positive impact on the communities surrounding Gainesville or St. Augustine.

Do you work with a non-profit organization that could benefit from our assistance? Share your suggestions with us! Are you aware of a family in need that could use our support? Please inform us! You can submit your requests privately through our Google Form or publicly on social media, ensuring privacy is respected. 

Watch for Monthly Updates:
Come back here to see some highlights of what our team did with your suggestions and how they turned out!

Follow the Acts of Kindness:
Follow #TMLC20for20 to witness the ripple effect of kindness in action.

Together, let's create a wave of positivity that will continue to resonate for another 20 years and beyond!

March 2024 Highlights:

Thank you so much for sending in your suggestions for our 20 Acts of Kindness campaign. The support has been overwhelming! We are thrilled to share the impact we made for a local family and a non-profit in our community.

If these stories spark an idea for a non-profit or family in need of our services, please let us know so we can add them to our Google Form!

HIGHLIGHT #1:
One of the first Acts of Kindness our team took part in is gifting a long-term landscape maintenance and lawn health program to a woman in our community. Her husband has recently suffered an unexpected series of strokes, prompting the need for our assistance. Her husband loves their landscape, so it was a weight on her to figure out how to care for it while he recovers. 

Since our team has been providing the service, this lovely lady has visited our office every couple of weeks to show appreciation, provide updates on her husband’s recovery, and to visit. She even brings donuts for our team as a token of her appreciation! 

In my opinion, this experience has honestly been more impactful for our team than for her family - as there are few times our team gets to realize the kind of positive impact our services can have. What our team does is more than fertilizing a lawn, trimming a shrub, or fixing a sprinkler. It’s peace of mind. It’s especially peace of mind for someone who knows how important the lawn is to her husband who isn’t able to care for it, and wants him to come home from recovering to it looking just as beautiful as he left it.

HIGHLIGHT 2:
Our second Act of Kindness is that we have the privilege of providing landscape maintenance services to the Sira Women's Health Center. Our team finds great joy in giving back to a non-profit in our community, especially through organizations that offer vital healthcare services to women in their time of need, completely free of charge.

It's an honor to support an amazing non-profit who is serving our community well, and we remain committed to making a positive impact in the community that has fostered our success. 

Check back next month for more updates!

April 2024 Highlight:

April's spotlight on kindness shines on our commitment to gifting a full year of landscape management services to a beloved local church in our community. This congregation relies solely on donations, as most churches do, but also has an outward-focused posture to make a positive impact on the community it is in, regardless of faith tradition.

Beyond its weekly worship gatherings, this church serves as a hub for numerous nonprofit initiatives. Monthly, its doors swing open to provide a no-cost medical clinic, and it offers counseling services from its premises. Clearly, this church champions the ethos of positive impact.

Our objective is twofold: by alleviating the burden of landscape maintenance expenses, we aim to empower the church to amplify its community outreach efforts. Simultaneously, we pledge to ensure that the grounds remain inviting and well-kept for all who cross its threshold.

Do you work with a non-profit organization that could benefit from our assistance? Are you aware of a family in need that could use our support?
We are still taking for suggestions on acts of kindness(and we will through all of 2024)
You can submit your requests publicly through social media or privately through our Google Form ensuring privacy is respected.

As part of our bedtime routine, I have the joy of tucking in my six-year-old boy, sharing stories, discussing our prayer requests, and saying bedtime prayers together. Most nights, it's the usual—simple prayers for friends or, occasionally, whimsical wishes like flying a life-sized X-wing jet because, well, who wouldn't want to fly a jet like an X-wing?

However, the other night took an unexpected turn. As I inquired about what was on his heart, a look of profound concern crossed his face. It was a departure from our usual routine, and I could sense that whatever he was about to share held great significance to him. His voice dropped, and his eyes welled up with emotion.

Here it comes, I thought—a glimpse into the depths of my son's soul.

But then, in a broken voice, he uttered, "I want to pray for the Pokemon battle."

I have to confess, I felt a twinge of disappointment. In a world full of serious issues—health concerns, war, political strife, financial struggles—I had expected a weightier concern. Pokemon seemed trivial.

Ever been blindsided by unmet expectations?

I was on the verge of steering the conversation toward more "significant" matters when something hit me: Most the things I worry about fall into the realm of trivialities, too. Yet, here was a very real reminder that God cares about every aspect of our lives, no matter how seemingly inconsequential.

Then it dawned on me—a revelation that still resonates with me. While I often find myself in the role of teaching my son life's lessons, there are moments when God flips the script. Through my six-year-old son, He teaches me profound truths.

In the grand scheme of things, the battles my son envisions for Pokemon may be inconsequential. Yet, God's care extends to the minutiae of our hearts and minds. His desire is to connect with us on every level, offering comfort and love—even when what unsettles us appears as trivial as a Pokemon battle.

In the simplicity of a child's prayer request, I found a profound reminder of God's boundless love, encompassing even the smallest concerns that weigh on our hearts.

As we navigate life's complexities, let's remember that God cares about what concerns us, no matter how small, and His love extends to every corner of our lives...even Pokemon battles.

As we approach the end of another year, I've been doing some reflection on the lessons life has thrown my way. This year, I've come to realize more than ever that two daily choices hold influence over the outlook for my days, weeks, and ultimately years.

These choices don't magically alter our circumstances, but they hold the key to fueling both optimism and action in almost every situation.

Choice #1: Focus on What You Have, Instead of What’s Missing.

It sounds simple, right? Choose to be thankful for what you have rather than dwelling on what you believe is lacking. Any time you feel frustrated about a situation, even when it’s justified, you can implement this idea - but it’s not just about tangible goods. 

For example, frustrated with your child not listening? Try to focus on what you have (a child), rather than what’s missing (an obedient child). Not an easy task.

Sometimes the most simple of things aren’t at all easy to implement. 

We've all been there—caught up in the "what ifs" and "should haves." It's human nature to occasionally focus on what we think we're owed or what we missed out on. But, I've learned that dwelling on these thoughts only fans the flames of discontentment. It's like pouring fuel on a fire that, left unchecked, can consume the joy in our lives.

To grow this habit, one action I’ve added to my morning routine is to write about one thing I am grateful for. I was amazed how quickly I ran through the fundamentals of family, church, health, and career to get to things I wouldn’t have normally even considered to be grateful for. 

Choice #2: Focus on What You Can Control, Not What You Cannot

Life is unpredictable, and we encounter daily events beyond our control. The second choice that has improved my action is about where I direct my focus in response to these events. Do I fixate on things I have no influence over, turning myself into a victim of circumstance? or do I channel my energy into actions and decisions I have control over?

I've learned that when I consciously choose to focus on the aspects of my life where I can make a difference, it empowers me and shifts me toward action. It's a mindset shift—from feeling helpless to being proactive. It's about taking charge of the things within my reach and recognizing that, even in the face of challenges, I have the ability to influence outcomes.

This upcoming year, I plan to push harder in these two areas—focusing on gratitude for what I have and taking control of what I can. I am choosing to infuse my days with more gratitude and action in 2024. 

As we wrap up 2023 over the next week, I encourage you to take some time and reflect over what your year has taught you, and how you can apply those lessons forward into 2024. I believe God has a unique way of using our life experiences to teach us more about ourselves, but we miss out on the lesson if we don’t take the time to examine it.

Wishing you all a wonderful end to 2023 and an even brighter 2024 ahead!

As we approach Thanksgiving, a time when many of us reflect on our blessings and give thanks for the abundance in our lives, I wanted to share a different perspective on gratitude. While it's easy to be thankful for the good things, the sunny days, and the moments of joy, I believe that true gratitude also includes our ability to appreciate life's challenges in addition to the victories.

Imagine hiking through a valley, surrounded by towering mountains. The path is rugged, and the climb is steep, but as you struggle through, you can't help but look up at those peaks in awe. It's the challenging work of the climb that makes the mountain views that much more beautiful. This analogy holds true in life as well.

One of those valleys for me was on my journey to fatherhood. The path included six years of grappling with the emotional rollercoaster of infertility—marked by prolonged waits,  the hopefulness of positive pregnancy tests, anxious doctor visits, and the crushing heartache of loss. Those days stand as some of the most emotionally taxing moments in my life. Even now, as I write about them, the emotions resurface.

However, all of the pain made my gratitude of finally becoming a father immeasurable. I am thankful for the journey, not just the end result. 

I recently came across Jocko Willink's talk about the concept of "good." He discusses how we often label experiences as "good" or "bad" in the moment, but it's often the "bad" experiences that lead to growth and greater appreciation for the "good" in the long run. It's a powerful reminder that life's challenges are not obstacles; they are opportunities for growth and a deeper sense of gratitude.

So, this Thanksgiving, let's not only be thankful for the obvious blessings, but also for the valleys we've travelled through and the strength they've given us to appreciate the mountain tops. True gratitude is born not just from the good times, but from the entirety of our life's journey.

One of The Master's Core Values is "Own it," emphasizing the importance of treating tasks, equipment, and even mishaps like an owner. Think about how differently you might drive a rental car compared to your own vehicle as a simple example.

While the ownership mentality is valuable, I'd like to introduce the idea of stewardship, which has challenged me a little more than even ownership.

The definition of Stewardship is the careful management of something entrusted to your care.

Whether that's in relation to time, money,  family, business, or even natural resources - I want to steward all of those well. 

The most obvious is time - I don't and can't own it, because it comes and goes without my direction. Most times, it goes much faster than I could want, reminding me I'm not an owner of time, but merely a steward of the little bit I'm entrusted with. 

While my 6-year-old son currently relies on my guidance, it's crucial to recognize that his future isn't entirely dependent on me. As he continues to grow, from now until he is a young adult, he'll make more decisions independently, beyond my control. I have no desire to assert ownership over him or his future.

Instead, I've been entrusted with the responsibility of caring for and guiding him, with the task of preparing him for his unique path to success. We've all observed instances where parents attempt to live vicariously through their children, pursuing their own desired life through them.

The Master's Lawn Care, a business turning 20 years old this spring, was named in such a way that I would always remember it's about something larger than myself. Contrary to popular belief, the name is not alluding to the Golf tournament or being a Master Gardener. It's a personal reminder that I'm not the owner - but a steward. 

At some point, the hope is that The Master's impact for the clients, team, and our community will far outlive my time of stewardship.

This concept has the potential to resonate in many aspects of life, including marriage, finances, and your positions of influence.

So, I leave you with a couple questions: Where might embracing stewardship in your life become a catalyst for change?

Is there something you're currently clinging to as an owner, instead of a steward?

Life's most profound treasures often lie in the lessons we learn along the way. In our fast-paced world, it's easy to get caught up in the daily grind and overlook the immense value of continuous growth and learning. This month, let's pause and reflect on what it means to be a lifelong learner and how this mindset can enrich our lives.

For me, the pursuit of knowledge is a journey that lasts a lifetime, and I've taken several tangible steps to make lifelong learning an integral part of my life:

• Attending Conferences: Regularly participating in conferences not only expands my professional knowledge, but also inspires me to continue growing and improving. The exchange of ideas and the thrill of discovery at these events fuel my passion for learning. Whether business, religious, or personal conferences - they always motivate me to do better.
   
• Connecting with Like-Minded People: I've joined various peer groups and networks, enabling continuous growth. These connections provide a platform to share insights, challenge one another, and foster a sense of community. The Rule of Five is a proven fact.
   
• Exploring New Hobbies: In the past, it has been training to become a private pilot, a scuba diver, or more recently, starting CrossFit. The last one is very much still a work in progress - as my coaches can attest. Each new endeavor stretches my abilities, teaches me perseverance, and adds a rewarding dimension to my life.
   
• Diving into Compelling Books: I've made reading a daily habit, focusing on books about everything from faith to accounting, parenting to personal habit improvement, politics to leadership, and much more. These subjects have become gateways to growth, inspiration, and positive change in my life.

These actionable steps have not only opened doors to new horizons but also fostered curiosity, understanding, and wisdom. The more I engage with the world around me, the more enriched my life becomes.

The benefits of embracing lifelong learning extend far beyond professional success. They reach into the very core of who we are, enhancing our relationships, boosting our confidence, and helping us navigate life with insight and empathy.

You might be wondering about empathy - how does it tie in? When you engage in learning something new, it serves as a gentle nudge to practice patience with others who may also be in the process of learning, whether it's a student driver or new co-worker.

In an ever-changing world, lifelong learning stands as a beacon guiding us towards personal growth and fulfillment. Where are you learning right now?

As the warm summer winds down over the next couple weeks, I find myself reflecting during a cherished tradition that has pause and insight into my summer routine. 

When my son was born, a close friend shared a tradition he did for his children that I have embraced and taken as my own. Every year, on Griffin's (my 6-year old son's) birthday, I take the time to write him a letter, reflecting on the past year.

These letters document his growth, milestones, and challenges he faced, creating a long list of memories that he will receive on his 18th birthday. Surprisingly, in spite of being meant to be a gift for my son celebrating his progress into adulthood, it has turned out to be more of a gift for myself of reflection and pause.

As a business owner in the green industry, life can become a whirlwind of activity during the summer season. Between increased lawn and plant growth, rising pest and weed pressures, navigating the Florida heat, and managing the normal demands of business, it gets challenging. In the industry, it's even been nicknamed as the 'hundred days of hell' referencing the 3 months of summer. 

Then, additionally, the typical summer challenges of school being out, summer camps, and travel can just pile on the stress. It gets really easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. 

But these annual letters have a way of grounding me, compelling me to slow down and relive the precious family memories we've created over the previous year. The act of penning these letters forces me to pause and contemplate the journey we have undertaken as a family. 

These letters remind me every summer that time passes swiftly and the little moments we often take for granted are the ones that shape us the most.

Moreover, this tradition of reflection carries over to my role as a business leader as well. As I relive the impact my decisions have on Griffin, I'm reminded of the profound impact we all have on those around us - our team members, clients, vendors, and community as a whole.

The choices we make today ripple into the future. It's a profound realization that guides me to be more mindful of the  legacy I am leaving behind.

Now, as the end of summer approaches, I am filled with gratitude for the moments of respite it offers. Amidst the hectic schedule of summer; it's essential to pause, step back, and appreciate how far we've come.

The end of summer encourages us to reflect on the growth we've experienced, the memories we've made, and the steps we need to take for the future.

So, as I complete my annual letter of looking back, I extend an invitation to each of you to find moments of reflection in your lives.

Whether you're a parent, a business owner, or someone seeking purpose, taking time to look back and plan ahead can infuse your journey with deeper meaning and intentionality.

Create A Great Day,

Rusty Thompson

Ever since ChatGPT was introduced, it has sparked a lot of debate and interest. Some people are genuinely thrilled about artificial intelligence’s potential to enhance our lives. On the other hand, there are valid concerns about the risks associated with this technology. 

The more I’ve played with the tool, the more I’ve noticed a parallel principle between getting the best feedback out of artificial intelligence and getting helpful answers from our own intelligence as well.

That parallel in both forms of intelligence is that the quality of our questions determines the quality of our answers. 

For artificial intelligence like ChatGPT, the way we phrase our questions significantly impacts the accuracy of the responses we receive. By carefully wording the questions, we can guide the AI towards providing more helpful and meaningful information. 

An example could be asking, “How can I improve my speech” as opposed to asking “Provide tips and tricks on improving my speaking and presentation skills for a public demonstration that is only two weeks away.”

Vision. Detail. Clarity.

The interesting parallel is that the same can be said of our self-directed questions, as well. When we have clarity in the questions we ask ourselves, it's like flicking on a bright light that shines the way into our thoughts and emotions.

It's pretty amazing how asking the right questions can help us go deeper, gain fresh perspectives, and really get to know ourselves on a whole new level.

For instance, asking ourselves, “Why is this happening to me?” in a challenging circumstance is natural. However, asking “What can I do to improve this situation?” empowers us to take action and find actual solutions.

Similarly, shifting from “When is John going to learn to….” to asking, “How can I help John learn to…” opens the door to being part of the answer rather than just stating the fact that there’s a problem.

Both sets of questions can be asked in similar circumstances, but each leads to very different outcomes. 

Whether we’re dealing with Artificial or our own personal Intelligence, remembering that the quality of our questions determines the quality of our answers is an essential nugget of wisdom to keep in mind. It's like having a secret superpower that can make all the difference in how we learn, understand, and make decisions.