Attention to details

After reading a recent article about the state of turf programs in academia, I thought more closely about what it takes for young people to make it in the turfgrass industry. While a sound education, a well-developed portfolio and an intense drive are essential components, I believe the attention paid to the details separates those who have it from those who never will.

As with all the articles I write, you have to be prepared for my straight forward opinion and take everything with a grain of salt. Just like in growing grass, there’s a lot of ways to get a desired result or outcome. This just happens to be how I believe young people in the industry can reach their goals and how I prepare my students for a “potentially” successful career.
 

Always give your best

Sweating it out 70-plus hours per week during a grueling summer isn’t always the easiest thing to do. As a young person, however, it’s going to be part of the process. As with any job, there’s a tremendous amount of hard work needed to reach the level of success that you set for yourself.

Giving your best isn’t just about working hard for your employers. It’s about always bringing your ‘A’ game in everything you do. This comes in many forms, including the emails you send to potential employers, the meticulous review of your résumé and cover letter to ensure there are no errors, or the level of effort on a class assignment turned in to a professor who may ultimately be asked to serve as a reference.

Getting to the top is not easy. You will probably be competing against others hoping to end up at a similar spot. Competition is tremendous in the industry, but giving 100 percent will set you apart from mediocrity.
 

Don’t forget those that helped

Networking is an invaluable aspect of reaching your goals. There’s a reason for the phrase, “It’s not about what you know, it’s about who you know.” While I don’t really think this holds 100 percent true, there is definitely some merit in the cliché.

Going the extra mile to confirm that your former boss is OK with being listed as a reference, reaching out to the network around you on a regular basis or sending thank you notes to those who have gone out of their way to help are all excellent ways to stay connected. In fact, although almost a lost form of art, a hand-written thank you will have more impact than you may think. These connections will pay dividends in getting your foot in the door. Giving 100 percent in everything you do, however, will likely be what gets you the job.
 

Realize what your job will be

I read student applications on a monthly basis, and many of the essays begin with something like, “I just love being outside and preparing the golf course for play.” If this is why you’re getting into this business, then I can probably save you thousands of dollars in education and heartache. If you make it to the top, this will likely be a small part of what you do.

Once you’ve reached the level you aspire to, the job often changes. The focus now becomes about building a team around you that does all of that for and with you.

As a superintendent, your life will be more about paperwork, human resource management and politics than sitting on a mower or setting the day’s pin locations. This doesn’t mean you should be disconnected from the course, it just means your responsibilities will change.
 

Only a select few will make it

If a young person listens and adheres to the advice above, they will receive a leadership position at some point because they will be among the elite.

Only a small percentage of everyone entering this industry has the work ethic, brain power and attention to detail needed to make it to the top in this industry. Some may be hard workers, others may be among the most intelligent. Those possessing both attributes combined with a meticulous eye for the detail will have the edge.
 

Make it a focus of everything you do

The next time you’re driving through the course, think about what real attention to the details means. Straighten the stakes and tighten the ropes. Pick up the debris or candy wrapper in the fairway. Edge the cart paths and around the irrigation heads. Move the benches and tee markers routinely to prevent turf decline.

Now do the same in all aspects of your career. Show up for work daily with a positive attitude and well-presented. Update your résumé to standout and be error free. Reach out to leaders around you and thank them for their advice.

If you make this part of your daily routine and work habits, it will start to define who you are as a person and who you will be to a future employer. It’s all in the details.

John E. Kaminski, Ph.D. is an associate professor, Turfgrass Science, and director of the Golf Course Turfgrass Management Program at Penn State University. You can reach him at kaminski@psu.edu.