People love the "How to" articles, and they respond to the "Before and After" more than anything, but we believe that Landscaping is a people business, so we will continue to share stories of the people who make this company what it is.
We know it's not quite the same with visuals, and it won't get us the same electronic validation as other topics, but we aren't here to trade integrity for "internet points".
Today, that's precisely what we're doing, keeping our integrity as we share the interview Shay conducted with our newest member, 16-year-old Landon.
Most people expect a 16-year-old to be worried about video games, group chats, and maybe a part-time job bagging groceries...
Landon isn’t “most people"...
He’s homeschooled, a college student, plays TEACH + American Legion baseball (Fun Fact: Zac met Landon as he played on the same team as Zac’s son a year before he joined us at Landscpaing Unlimited) and instead of chasing an easy indoor job, Landon chose to step into the trades and get experience which supports his overall goal of becoming a project manager.
On Episode 14 of the Landscaping Podcast, Shay sat down with Landon for an honest conversation about why a teenager would choose to work early mornings, summer heat, cold exposure, run heavy equipment, and hard work.
The answers say a lot about where the trades are headed, and what kind of young men this industry is built for.
“I Don’t Want to Sit Behind a Desk All Day”
When Shay asked Landon why he wanted to work with us, his answer was honest and straightforward:
He doesn’t want to be stuck inside, staring at a screen for the rest of his life; he enjoys the outdoors, and the art behind shaping the Earth, and so that is what compelled him to make the career decisions he has made.
Landon talked about how good it feels to be outside, moving, sweating, and actually doing something with his hands. For him, the job isn’t just about getting a paycheck; it’s about building something real.
He sees the difference between clocking in to pass time and clocking in to create something.
In a world screaming at young men to go to college “just because,” take on debt they don’t understand, and hope it all works out, Landon is choosing a different route:
- Learn real skills
- Work with a team
- Build a future in project management
- And yes, still chase his dream of playing collegiate baseball
He’s not choosing between his dreams and the trades; he’s using the trades to fund & fuel his dreams.
Homeschool, Hard Work, and a Head Start
One of the most interesting parts of the conversation was how Landon connected being homeschooled with being ready for the field.
Homeschool kids are often already:
- Used to self-discipline
- Comfortable managing their time
- Able to work independently without someone hovering over them
- Familiar with learning in different environments, not just a classroom
Landon talked about how that flexibility and responsibility carried over into his work with Landscaping Unlimited. He’s not shocked by early mornings, or unfamiliar with manual labor...
He’s used to figuring things out and taking ownership.
That’s a big deal for a company like ours in the industry in which we operate.
There's a lot of talk about the “next generation” not wanting to work, and Landon is proof that the problem isn’t age; it’s attitude. When a young man is given responsibility, expectations, and an opportunity to be part of something bigger than himself, he will rises to the occasion.
Sorry (not sorry) to burst your bubble, but there's nothing wrong with, "The kids these days..."
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Seeing Dirt Turn into a Finished Vision
What really lights Landon up isn’t just the work, it’s the transformation.
He talked about what it’s like to walk onto a property before the first shovel hits the ground. It’s just dirt, grass, maybe some overgrowth, an unshaped space with potential.
Then, over days and weeks, that same property becomes:
- A clean, sharp lawn
- A new patio or outdoor living area
- Edging, mulch, plant beds, and structure where there used to be chaos
To Landon, that process is addictive...
He’s not just trimming grass or hauling stone; he’s helping turn a client’s idea into something they can walk on, sit in, and use every day. Landscaping, to him, isn’t “yard work.” It’s construction, art, and service rolled into one.
And he gets to say, “I helped build that.”
That sense of ownership is something we want every man on our crew to feel, whether he’s 16 or 60.
A Teenager Thinking Like a Project Manager
Landon isn’t just thinking about tomorrow’s job; he’s already learning what it is to have a strategy and plan out how things have to operate, like any good project manager should.
Experience in the field beats theory every time, and Landon is learning from hands-on experience:
- How jobs are structured from start to finish
- How crews are scheduled so no man hours are wasted
- How materials, time, and manpower come together efficiently
- How communication with clients shapes expectations and satisfaction
Most kids his age are thinking about their next practice or their next weekend; Landon is thinking about that as well as his next position, both on the baseball field and in his career.
A Message to Parents, Coaches, and Young Men
One of the big reasons we wanted to share Landon’s story on the podcast, and here on the blog, is that his path is one we want more people to see.
If you’re a parent, you don’t have to choose between:
- “My kid goes to college” or
- “My kid is stuck in a dead-end job.”
There is a third option:
Your son can learn a trade, develop real-world skills, build a work ethic, and still pursue education, sports, and leadership roles.
If you’re a coach, this is the kind of young man you want on your team: Disciplined, hungry, and willing to put in the work, on the field and on the job site.
(Also, Shout-out to the TEACH & Legion Coaches who Landon recognized in his interview; you helped shape this man's mindset to believing in himself enough to go after what he wants in life)
If you’re a young man reading this, understand this clearly:
The trades are not a fallback plan; they are a launch pad to a rewarding career.
You can learn, earn, and build a name for yourself faster by stepping into real work than by drifting through years of school with no direction.
Why We Share Stories Like This
At Landscaping Unlimited Inc., we’re not just building retaining walls, patios, and lawns...
- We’re building men.
- We’re building careers.
- We’re building a culture where hard work is respected, blue-collar pride is real, and the next generation gets a chance to stand on solid ground.
Landon’s story is one of many we plan to highlight as our team grows; we want people to see what this industry really looks like from the inside:
- Real responsibility at a young age
- Young guys learning from seasoned veterans
- Opportunities for leadership, management, and ownership
- A path that doesn’t require drowning in student loan debt
Listen to Landon’s Full Story
If this resonates with you, or if you know a young man who needs to hear it, listen to the whole conversation.
🎧 Listen to Episode 14 of the Landscaping Podcast:
“Why This 16-Year-Old Chose Landscaping & The Trades Over a Desk Job (Landon’s Story)”
Share it with:
- A parent wondering what’s next for their son
- A teenager struggling to figure out their path
- A coach who wants to show his team another way forward
The trades are wide open, and men like Landon are already stepping in; here at Landscaping Unlimited Inc., we’re proud to hand them a shovel, a mower, and a real future.