to take criticism from clients personally. She also discovered in Sandler Sales Training the difference between role and identity. “Identity is who you are no matter what


room you walk into: kind, outgoing, stub- born, etc.,” Chris says. “Then you have your role, which is what you do, depending on who is in that room: mother, account manager, neighbor, boss, etc. Separating those two changed how I took feedback from not only clients but everyone. I went from having my defenses up to listening to how I could utilize this information to grow.”


She also understands the importance of continual learning and not getting comfortable in your routine. One of her mentors, regional manager for com- mercial services, Shaun Murphy, always challenges her to see the bigger picture and not get caught up in the day-to-day. Chris is passionate about promoting the industry and its rewarding career paths. She says there is such beauty and fulfillment working in the landscape industry. “I remember when I first started off in


the industry and would share my job title, I could see the spark of interest die in their eyes,” Chris says. “It was hard for me to cope with. Whenever they did allow me to share the day-to-day of what I got to do the whole conversation changed, but that was only if I was given that chance.” She says she’d like to see the industry creating a larger impact in the communi-


ties they work in. “This is not for any one company to do but a collective,” Chris says. “Whether that would be creating and maintaining a community garden within a food desert or donating time to low-income school districts. We can share our passion for landscaping in so many ways. We just need someone to start the movement.”TE


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 


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  


National Association of Landscape Professionals 11


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