Jason Taylor (00:00)
All right, welcome to this edition of the People's Playbook. In this episode, I’m excited to have Ed Hansen join us. Ed’s a veteran entrepreneur and coach with over 30 years of experience. He started in the landscaping industry, building a thriving business, but even then, his focus was on coaching and developing people. Today, he works with presidents and CEOs as a TEC Canada Chair, and also serves as President of Landscape Ontario. Ed, great to have you on.

Ed Hansen (00:55)
Thanks, Jason. Honestly, I feel super blessed that you’d even think of me for this.

Jason Taylor (01:01)
Not only did I think of you—you were one of the first people that came to mind.

I want to bring you back 30-plus years ago when you started in landscaping. What first sparked your interest in becoming an entrepreneur, and more specifically, in landscaping?

Ed Hansen (01:28)
If I’m being honest, I think it started by accident. My parents didn’t give me money, so I had to earn it. That began with cutting one neighbor’s lawn, then another, and another. I wasn’t chasing a business—I just needed cash. But because I was heavily involved in sports, I couldn’t take a job with fixed hours. Landscaping gave me flexibility, and I wasn’t afraid of work.

Jason Taylor (03:11)
A lot of entrepreneurs “take the stairs” rather than the elevator. Have you ever gone back to thank your parents for installing that drive?

Ed Hansen (03:54)
Absolutely. My dad, especially, set the tone. In the mid-80s, he had two cars, each with a clipboard. If you wanted to use a car, you signed it out, recorded kilometres, put the radio back where it was, and at month’s end, you got billed for insurance, fuel, and depreciation. I was 16! It taught me responsibility and cost awareness. Eventually, I bought my own car at 17 just to avoid his rules.

Jason Taylor (05:42)
You want to make the rules, not break other people’s rules.

Ed Hansen (06:03)
Exactly. As a leader, you set parameters, but you also need to teach your team which rules they can break to make a customer happy.

Jason Taylor (06:44)
If you look back at your leadership style from when you started to now, how has it evolved?

Ed Hansen (07:01)
Early on, I thought leadership meant being the best doer—out in front, putting out fires. Over time, I learned I was a better leader from behind, creating an environment for my team to succeed and shielding them from stress. Trust took time, but when I gave people space, they often did their jobs better than I could.

Jason Taylor (08:09)
Did it take you a while to delegate and trust your team?

Ed Hansen (08:28)
Yes. I compare it to a wolf pack—elders lead from the back, setting the pace and guiding the pack without always being in front. Early on, I’d rush to fix problems myself without telling the team what went wrong. Eventually, I realized I was hurting them by not giving feedback. Once I started coaching them through mistakes, our quality improved.

Jason Taylor (09:34)
Sometimes as leaders, we’re actually the bottleneck. Have you found that when you start delegating more and trusting your team, you actually make more money and improve the culture?

Ed Hansen (11:37)
Absolutely. Early in my business, I’d write “Ask Ed” on every work order. Everything came through me, and that was a massive bottleneck. When I finally realized I didn’t need to have all the answers—and that my team could figure things out—we moved faster, and morale improved.

Jason Taylor (13:13)
What role does failure play in leadership and growth?

Ed Hansen (13:31)
Failure is one of the best development tools you can have. If you fail and learn from it, you’re better off than if you win all the time. Today doesn’t mark your future—one bad day doesn’t mean you can’t succeed tomorrow. I’ve made plenty of mistakes, but each one taught me something important.

Jason Taylor (15:57)
What’s one lesson you wish new entrepreneurs would learn early?

Ed Hansen (16:04)
That today doesn’t define your future. Don’t be too hard on yourself when you make mistakes. Learn from them. And don’t just do great work—make sure you’re actually building a profitable business.

Jason Taylor (17:44)
When you coach leaders, some have long-standing businesses and others are newer. How do you help them balance innovation with tradition?

Ed Hansen (18:02)
First, I help them get comfortable being uncomfortable. Innovation doesn’t mean changing everything—it means looking at what tools or ideas could make things better. For example, ChatGPT isn’t a threat—it’s a tool, like a hammer or screwdriver. Leaders who deny change often sabotage themselves. I like to be the first to try something new, learn it, then see if my team can benefit from it.

Jason Taylor (20:10)
How do you get leaders to be more curious so they can grow their business?

Ed Hansen (20:24)
You have to learn what they want first. Not everyone is in the same place—some need personal growth before professional growth. I ask questions, get them talking, and often they hear themselves identify the issue. That self-realization can be powerful.

Jason Taylor (21:31)
Do you believe someone needs personal balance before their business can grow?

Ed Hansen (21:57)
I prefer the term “work-life rhythm” over “work-life balance.” Balance suggests a static state—rhythm adjusts with seasons. In busy seasons, like tax time or a snowstorm, you ride the wave. Then you take breaks in between. Entrepreneurs have to find their own rhythm and know when to work on themselves versus the business.

Jason Taylor (24:06)
Can you share a moment when asking the right question changed everything?

Ed Hansen (24:22)
Sure. One of the first hot tubs my team ever installed was exactly where the client asked for it. Two weeks later, I called to check in, and she said she hated the placement. I went over, and she explained that whenever they got in the hot tub and took off their clothes, the neighbors could see them. My first thought was, “You do what?” But it hit me—I never asked how they planned to use the hot tub. From then on, I started asking clients, “What does fun look like to you in this space?” That one change saved a lot of future issues.

Jason Taylor (26:08)
Why is empowering people such a key part of your mission?

Ed Hansen (26:08)
I realized my purpose is helping others take the next step. Watching someone grow, solve problems, and achieve more because you gave them the tools or belief—that’s my high. In my TEC Canada group, seeing members overcome challenges together is incredibly rewarding.

Jason Taylor (28:48)
What’s one habit or mindset that’s helped you stay energized and effective after decades of leadership?

Ed Hansen (28:57)
Two things. First, I give myself permission to be upset for a few minutes, then I move on and focus on what I can learn from the situation. Second, I take full responsibility for everything in my company. Even if a team member messes up, it’s on me to ensure they were trained, supported, and set up to succeed.

Jason Taylor (32:08)
I find many leaders don’t just review mistakes—they forget to review wins. Do you agree?

Ed Hansen (32:41)
Absolutely. I’m a big believer in the After Action Review—looking at what worked, what didn’t, and how to improve, regardless of the outcome. And it’s important to make sure everyone, from leaders to front-line staff, has a voice in that process.

Jason Taylor (34:46)
Any examples of great ideas coming from the front line?

Ed Hansen (34:46)
Yes—one of our snow removal operators suggested keeping repair tools on their tractor so they could change parts themselves during a storm. It seems obvious now, but back then it was a game changer. It saved time, reduced downtime, and empowered the operator.

Jason Taylor (35:10)
If, years from now, someone mentioned your name, what would you want your legacy to be with the leaders and teammates you’ve worked with?

Ed Hansen (36:06)
There’s a saying that a person dies twice: once when they pass, and again when they’re no longer spoken about. In First Nations culture, they think seven generations back and seven forward—your actions today should have meaning for the future. For me, if someone said, “That Ed Hansen guy—he really cared,” that would be enough.

Jason Taylor (36:50)
You do care, and it’s obvious. You create belief, and belief fuels passion—and in my experience, passion rarely fails. You’ve made people better. People remember their best leader and their worst leader. I think you’ll be remembered as one of the best because it’s evident you care. Thank you for your time and generosity, Ed. I’m looking forward to more conversations.

Ed Hansen (37:33)
Jason, I appreciate that, and I feel the same about you. You care about growth, about people, and about watching them succeed. I’m proud to call you a friend.