Mike AndesFounder, Augusta Lawn Care and Homeworks · Founder of Homeworks and Augusta Lawn Care

Quitting the Field to UNLOCK Leadership

4 Sept 2026 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

0:49

In this segment of the YouTube video, Mike Andes discusses the evolution of a field professional from a solo operator to a manager and ultimately to a leader. He uses Dylan’s trajectory as a concrete example: Dylan started as a solo operator generating $800‑$900K in revenue, then moved into management as his business grew to $1.4M, and is now learning the third, higher‑order skill of leadership—guiding other managers and the entire organization. Andes emphasizes that the transition involves moving from doing the work yourself, to teaching others how to do it, and finally to leading without having to perform the tasks personally. A secondary speaker adds that operational issues (e.g., “yellow slips”) stem from personal accountability, reinforcing the idea that improvement starts with the individual before it can trickle down. Overall, the excerpt highlights the three‑stage growth path—solo work, teaching, and leadership—while underscoring the importance of personal responsibility and empowering managers to lead autonomously.

That's the harder part. It's pretty interesting because we've been able to see Dylan when he first got started as a solo operator, then as he began to figure out management at $800,000, $900,000 a year in revenue, and now at $1.4 million, he's learning this next skill. And I like to think of it as you do the work as a solo operator, then you have to teach other people and be a great manager. That's the next skill that has to be learned.
If we're struggling with yellow slips in the field, it's really trickle down, right? So like, I know I'm very fortunate for my hardworking crew. As much as we try to improve, I always think it starts with me first.
And the part that Dylan is learning right now is the leadership part. That's the third element of how do I actually lead the organization and lead other managers, people like Michael, to be able to be successful as a teacher, to be able to not have to do the work, not have to teach the work, but lead the team and the entire organization.