From Healthcare Worker to Jim’s Mowing Franchise Owner: One Man’s Journey to a Flexible, Family-Focused Future
After 25 years in the healthcare industry, Glenn made a bold move – he left his stable hospital job to start a new life as a Jim’s Mowing franchisee.
In this in-depth interview with Joel Kleber, explore Glenn’s story and uncover the surprising realities of franchise ownership that he discovered along the way.
Leaving the Corporate Grind Behind
Glenn’s career in healthcare spanned over two and a half decades.
As a radiation therapist, he worked at the prestigious Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, helping cancer patients through some of the most challenging times of their lives.
It was a rewarding career, but after 25 years, Glenn felt the pull of something new.
“Look, I really enjoyed it and I felt like I got a lot out of it and put a lot into it,” Glenn explains.
“But for me, 25 years was a pretty good innings. You don’t hear too much of that nowadays – loyalty to a place or to where you’re working for so long.”
Glenn’s decision to leave his job wasn’t a snap judgment.
He took several months of long service leave to really reflect on what he wanted next.
During that time, he discovered the true value of flexibility and work-life balance.
“I decided to take a few months off, and that few months of,f once I got a taste for the flexibility of life and being able to do school drop-offs and pickups and really be involved like I hadn’t been up in the day-to-day life of things, it was great.“
As Glenn’s leave stretched on, he knew he couldn’t go back to the 9-to-5 grind.
The freedom he had experienced was too valuable to give up.
It was time for a change.
Discovering the Opportunity with Jim’s Mowing
With his mind made up to pursue a new path, Glenn started exploring his options.
It was his partner who first suggested the idea of a Jim’s Mowing franchise.
“It was funny, it was only talking to my partner about it who said, ‘Oh look, if what about something like Jim’s?’ Because I’d always in a way jokingly, you know, half joke but said to people, ‘Oh if I could do anything I’d just mow lawns every day, you know, I’d love to do that.‘”
Glenn had never seriously considered lawn mowing as a career, but the more he thought about it, the more the idea appealed to him.
The flexibility, the time outdoors, and the opportunity to be his own boss – it all aligned with what he was looking for.
After reaching out to the Jim’s team, Glenn connected with John, his future franchisor.
The comprehensive training program and the support network of other franchisees sealed the deal, and in September/October of last year, Glenn officially became a Jim’s Mowing business owner.
The Shift from Employee to Jim’s Mowing Business Owner
The transition from a salaried hospital worker to a self-employed franchise owner was a significant one for Glenn.
He quickly realized that running a business involved far more than just mowing lawns.
“It was quite amazing even when you were talking to people initially before I’d done the training and say, ‘Oh, I’m getting myself a Jim’s Mowing business,’ and even myself at the time, all you could see was sort of pushing a lawn mower or doing the gardening or whatever, which is great, that’s the job. But really, it is learning and developing and building your own business, which is massive.“
Glenn was surprised by the emphasis placed on business management and development during the Jim’s training program.
Things like quoting, bookkeeping, and growth strategies were just as important as the practical lawn care skills.
While the hands-on work was familiar territory for Glenn, the business-building aspect was entirely new.
But with the support of his franchisor and the network of other Jim’s franchisees, he was able to navigate these uncharted waters.
Expanding Beyond Mowing: The Joys of Gardening and Customer Connections
When Glenn first started his Jim’s Mowing franchise, the majority of his work was, unsurprisingly, mowing lawns.
But over time, he found that his business was evolving, with more and more customers requesting gardening and other services.
“It’s probably heading almost towards 50/50 now, and even some of that has come from the already established customers that I was just doing mowing for, not just doing mowing but I was doing the mowing for, and then once you talk to them and they say, ‘Oh, do you do gardening as well or you do gutters or you do pruning or all that sort of stuff.’“
Glenn embraced this shift, finding great satisfaction in helping his customers solve problems and maintain their outdoor spaces.
Whether it was pruning, hedging, or ongoing garden maintenance, Glenn relished the opportunity to put his growing horticultural knowledge to use.
In fact, Glenn recently started additional training in horticulture through the Jim’s Group, further expanding his expertise and ability to provide valuable advice to his customers.
“That’s really helping to build my knowledge base so that when people do come to you and ask you the questions about certain things that you are equipped with the understanding and you can answer those more technical questions when it comes to the things around not just lawn but garden maintenance and planting and pruning and a whole lot of stuff like that.“
Beyond the practical work, Glenn has also found great joy in the connections he’s made with his customers.
He’s discovered that being a Jim’s franchisee is about more than just completing jobs – it’s about building relationships and becoming a trusted partner in their outdoor maintenance needs.
The Power of the Jim’s Brand
One of the key advantages Glenn has experienced as a Jim’s franchisee is the power of the brand.
With decades of brand recognition and a reputation for quality service, the Jim’s name has opened doors for Glenn that may have been much harder to access as an independent operator.
“The number one thing that from my perspective is that brand awareness is absolutely massive, it’s not unwarranted, it is an absolute legitimate awareness that people have going once they see the Jim’s logo and the branding, they know not just generally what the service is, but importantly, they know what the standard of the service is.“
This brand recognition has been a game-changer for Glenn’s business.
Customers are immediately familiar with the Jim’s name and the level of service they can expect, making them more likely to choose Glenn over other options.
But the benefits of the Jim’s brand go beyond just attracting new customers.
Glenn has also found that existing Jim’s customers are often eager to try out other services within the group, further expanding his client base.
“Even if it wasn’t the customers, people walking along the nature strip, they’ll stop and they’ll talk and they say, ‘Oh, what are you using here? What are you using there?’ Because they haven’t seen it before necessarily, particularly if they’ve got their old petrol power right at home that they’ve been using for the last 30 years.“
The Jim’s brand has also helped Glenn establish himself as a trusted expert in his local community.
Whether it’s customers stopping him on the street or referrals from other Jim’s services, Glenn’s association with the brand has been a powerful asset in growing his business.
Upholding the Jim’s Standard of Customer Service
As a Jim’s franchisee, Glenn is acutely aware of the importance of maintaining the group’s high standards of customer service.
This commitment to excellence is a key part of the Jim’s brand, and it’s something that Glenn has embraced wholeheartedly.
From the initial customer contact to the completion of the job, Glenn focuses on clear communication, responsiveness, and delivering exceptional results.
He knows that every interaction with a customer is an opportunity to reinforce the Jim’s reputation for quality.
“The communication that makes sure one, you get in touch with the customer and that you know what they expect, they know what we can deliver to them and the standard that we can deliver to them, and then once the job has been completed, we find out are they happy with the outcome.“
This dedication to customer service extends beyond just Glenn’s own work.
As a brand ambassador for the Jim’s Group, he understands that his actions and the quality of his work reflect on the entire organization.
By consistently delivering a premium service, Glenn is not only building his own business but also contributing to the ongoing success of the Jim’s brand.
This sense of shared responsibility is a key part of the Jim’s franchisee experience.
Embracing Battery-Powered Equipment
When it came to equipping his business, Glenn made the conscious decision to go with all battery-powered tools and machinery.
This choice was driven by a few key factors, including the reduced maintenance requirements and the environmental benefits.
“I’ve gone for all battery-operated equipment, and that’s been really good. I haven’t had to worry about anything outside of the battery environment, which is great. It’s all consistent, and it’s worked really, really well.“
Glenn has found that the battery-powered equipment not only simplifies his day-to-day operations but also resonates with his environmentally conscious customers.
The lack of fumes and the quiet operation of the tools have been a hit with the community.
Interestingly, Glenn’s choice of Makita as his preferred battery brand has also been a talking point with customers.
Many are curious about the technology and are impressed by the power and performance of the commercial-grade equipment.
“Customers notice that as well, because they haven’t seen it before necessarily, particularly if they’ve got their old petrol power right at home that they’ve been using for the last 30 years.“
By embracing the latest battery-powered technology, Glenn has not only streamlined his own workflow but also positioned himself as an innovative, eco-friendly service provider – a valuable asset in today’s environmentally-conscious market.
Designing a Flexible, Family-Focused Workweek
One of the primary reasons Glenn was drawn to the Jim’s Mowing franchise was the promise of greater flexibility and work-life balance.
After decades of the corporate grind, he was eager to regain control over his schedule and be more present for his family.
Glenn has been able to achieve this by strategically structuring his workweek around his daughter’s school schedule.
Mondays and Fridays are his full workdays, while Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays are reserved for school drop-offs and pick-ups.
“It’s fantastic because I can be present for those times, I can be there, I can experience those opportunities, whether it be it’s drop-off or pickup, and I can do school drop-off and I can be working within 5 minutes if I’ve got a job locally or 10 or 20 minutes if it’s a bit further on.“
This flexibility has been a game-changer for Glenn and his family.
He’s able to be more involved in his daughter’s life, attending school events and activities, while still maintaining a thriving business.
The ability to adjust his schedule as needed has also allowed Glenn to celebrate important milestones, like his daughter’s recent 7th birthday.
Instead of having to take a “sick day” or negotiate time off, Glenn was able to simply rearrange his workload to ensure he could fully enjoy the day with his family.
Embracing the Identity Shift
One of the most significant challenges Glenn faced in his transition from healthcare worker to franchise owner was the shift in personal identity.
For over 25 years, his career had been a core part of who he was, and letting go of that was no easy feat.
“I probably had a bit of job snobbery myself, thinking, ‘Oh, you know, I’m am taking a bit of a step back to go on my lawns?’ That’s absolutely not the case. I look at the benefits now that I continue to get out of this change in career direction, and it’s huge.“
However, with time and the support of his family, Glenn has embraced his new identity as a business owner.
He now proudly introduces himself as the owner of a Jim’s Mowing franchise, recognizing the value and fulfillment he’s found in this new chapter of his life.
The flexibility, the physical activity, and the meaningful connections with his customers have all contributed to Glenn’s sense of purpose and satisfaction.
He’s no longer defined by his job title but by the positive impact he’s able to have on his own life and the lives of those around him.
Advice for Those Considering a Franchise Opportunity
For anyone contemplating a career change or exploring franchise opportunities, Glenn has some invaluable advice to share:
- Don’t let preconceptions hold you back: “Don’t be afraid to investigate what benefits you can get out of something such as this because I continue to see benefits that I didn’t even expect out of this.“
- Prioritize what matters most: “Think about what your priorities currently are and think about what you might like them to be. I’d be pretty confident that by making this sort of shift, you’d be able to tackle a lot of those priorities.“
- Embrace the support network: “There’s always someone out there who’s been there and done that or can advise and say, ‘Look, you know, why don’t you try this?’ or ‘I had this experience.‘”
- Be prepared for the business-building aspect: “It is learning and developing and building your own business, which is massive. But it’s also really exciting. It’s a real challenge that I probably wasn’t expecting, but I’d like to think that I’ve begun to embrace that.“
For Glenn, the decision to become a Jim’s Mowing franchisee has been a life-changing one.
By stepping out of his comfort zone and embracing a new path, he’s discovered a world of flexibility, fulfillment, and family-focused freedom.
His story serves as an inspiring example of what’s possible when you’re willing to take a leap and redefine your own professional identity.
To learn more about the Jim’s Group and explore franchise opportunities, visit jims.net/own-a-franchise/ or call 131 546 (Australia) or 0800 454-654 (New Zealand).
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