Root Force (Kurt)

For 25 years, I worked in web development, building sites, writing code, and solving complex problems for big companies and small ones alike. Then I got stumped. Literally. After dealing with problem stumps on my own land here in Tennessee, I realized how few reliable, efficient options were out there. So I started Root Force. I just bought a remote-controlled Carlton 6016 and am getting started grinding stumps for a living. Will I love it or hate it? Can't say for sure, but I'm excited as hell. It's not just the stump grinding - I love building businesses. This is my fourth. All successful so far. Now I'm focused on growing Root Force and sharing the journey with like-minded folks. Speaking of which, hat tip to Tyler Mumford, The Stump Guy — @StumpGuyTy. A great success that I hope to learn from.

@verge Without a universally accepted definition this is all pretty meaningless.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says ‘I think we’ve achieved AGI’ theverge.com/ai-artificial-…

@Woodscrapers Of course I'd appreciate that and wouldn't push it if I didn't think it would help. That said, I hope you know the CRM is secondary to us just supporting one another and enjoying ourselves. Let's go!

@rootforcegrind Thank you, Kurt! You might also win me as a customer too. Let's goooo!

Today, I jumped out of the airplane. I tendered my resignation at the W2. I'll leave them in a good place, and turn our focus to the things we want to do. Working for ourselves vs for another.

@EBikeMikeVA Not easy to do even when they're big red flags. Way to go MC!

Walked off my first job this morning. Supposed to be a simple wooden shed demo and haul off. A. It's much bigger than the photo indicates B. It's built out with plywood interior walls and old insulation Feels good to be in a position to say no.

@RealPlantBrah @StumpGuyTy Ouch

@StumpGuyTy “Are you still mowing lawns or whatever?”

I love what I do for pretty much everyday of my life. Until I see mine or my wife’s extended family at a big dinner and I have to answer “So is that little stump thing going ok?” 15 times in one night. Makes me want to die.

@StumpGuyTy They suck.

@realnaholmes It was probably fine, but if not, most congregations don't expect you to nail it every week.

Yesterday I felt ahead and prepared on my sermon prep. Today I felt like I totally biffed giving it.

IMHO, this is great. The animations are nice and your points are easily digested. Some things to consider... 1. Speed. It should continue to be readable, but I suspect you can get to you points faster. Besides, snappier animations are going to be a little more eye catching. 2. Stop the scroll. Add Initial title screen. Immediately show something like - "Top 3 reasons no one finds your laundromat on Google". Then continue to deliver details. 3. Call to Action. Might as well include the CTA ("Get your free gap audit") right out the gate rather than making someone wait. Always give them a means to take action. 4. Vid dimension. Is the video dimension optimal for the platform you're going to show this on? Push back on any of it. I'm no expert man.

Okay, V6 and now we're here:

@OneLegchris Happy to. Heading out the door rn, but will check it out when i get back.

@rootforcegrind If you have time, would love y our feedback

Five days of testing, here's V5 of what I've been trying to get dialed in.

@LetsAscend_248 Yeah, that's probably too heavy a lift for a pretty niche use case on my end. But if your grinder was using my system, I'd definitely be open to working with you both to make it work.

@rootforcegrind Yeah it’d be a cool feature, but our CRM is garbage and requires API integration, so probably too heavy of a lift lol

Morning good people. My ad on FB. If you happen to see it and could give it a like it would be hugely appreciated.

@ahmedZCreate Thanks for having a look at it. It's doing ok at FB, but not great. I'll DM you.

@rootforcegrind I like the ad is very visually dynamic and smooth, however as a video editor I see some points that could make it even better, I can help!

@NoVAStumpGrind @StumpGuyTy He did and I felt the same and still do to a degree. It'll come though.

@rootforcegrind It’s been a very slow start - @StumpGuyTy set the bar too high 😅

We’re grinding! First two jobs was just chasing roots. Still getting the hang of moving the machine around. I’ve learned just go in a straight line, back up, and do another line. Like mowing grass without pivoting. How do you guys do these kind of “stump” jobs?

@realnaholmes A like isn't enough for this post Nate. Lot's of parallels to my own experience as well and a good reminder to not completely succumb to the ADD trap.

One of the struggles I have is concentrating on something for long periods of times. I've been in the types of businesses for most of my adult life where I am constantly being hit from a thousand different angles. I am very good at switching instantaneously from Office work, to dealing with a customer, to troubleshooting equipment, to talking with a member of my church about theology or whatever they are dealing with. But that constant rapid switching has taken a toll on my ability to focus for extended periods of time. I've been working at this, nowhere near where I want to be yet. 1. I've always been a a reader but I've been trying to read for extended periods of time again. 2. Last year I went back to handwriting a lot of my notes especially sermon notes. I eventually type them up, but the handwriting process forces you to slow down and think. 2. Try and find times of quiet, no noise or distractions. I don't believe in eastern type meditation of emptying your mind. But filling ones mind with something and then actively thinking through and focusing on that one thing. From a physical aspect. I have been trying to get in more exercise even if it's just walking on the treadmill at a fast pace uphill and taking creatine daily which has really helped brain fog.

@LetsAscend_248 Sounds like you're basically wanting the outsourced grinder's invoice tied back to the right job so your actual cost is more accurate. Interesting use case. I'm impressed by how detailed some of you guys get with this stuff!

From a tree service perspective, it’d be cool to integrate our stump grinders system into ours to reconcile costs. Right now we just sell it, place the order with them, then they invoice. No RFQ’s. I like this from a time perspective, but calculating actual margin is tough. It’s more of just an educated guess rn. Ideal workflow would be invoice is sent, matches with our job based on address and automatically updates our unit cost for grinding in CRM

@AaronZimmer123 Love to hear! Thanks Aaron!

@rootforcegrind I traded in Jobber for your software. Can confirm - it’s legit and how I am running the customer side of my business 100% now.

To be clear, most of you probably already know this, but I don't just do stump grinding. I've also been a web developer for 26 years. Yeah, I’m old. Point is, my CRM isn't some vibe-coded piece of shit. I'm over 900 hours into it. It's the result of a long-term obsession and, frankly, it's excellent. Sorry there's so much BS to wade through out there, but that's not me. This is the real deal.

@bprintco I may need to reach out to your guy. I did not enjoy making my last ad.

Hiring a video editor might have been one of the best decisions I've made. When I edited my own videos I'd focus on whatever made it easiest to edit. So I'd limit angles and clip volume to make it easier on myself later. Now I focus on getting every angle I can think of and grabbing as much B Roll as possible. It has certainly increased the final video quality and brought the fun of making videos back. Shout out to @ahmedZCreate

@Woodscrapers Totally understood. Your posts are always very welcome and appreciated.

@rootforcegrind I'm mostly being cheeky.. cuz interwebs...and Friyay. I remain fond of your work, man.

@realnaholmes I get it. A very good friend of mine totally looked up to him. Went to meet him with his son and everything. I respect that.

@rootforcegrind I'm not star struck usually. But I'm actually sad to hear of his passing. One of my childhood action heroes and from what it appears one of those genuinely good guys.

What loser wrote and approved this? Probably a wimpy beta boy.