Aquascape Academy in Chicago

In February 2020, myself and Peter took another trip to Aqualand to take part in the Aquascape Academy,

What is the academy??? And why do I go???

It’s a winter training event that is held by aquascape, this 3 day event consists of hands on training, and business training. Intensive doesn’t even come close! Day 1 started at 8am and finished at 10pm

Day 1 had me sat in tediously boring financial class, a class which turned such a pre-determined view into my favourite class of the trip! I pride myself on been able to recognise strengths and weaknesses in myself and others. I knew before I left what my weakness was, and I made sure that this was addressed this trip!  Other classes included easier ways to document and track things that are working well with the business and more importantly identifying things that are not doing so well.

Brushing up on new skills and easier software allows me to make the whole process from enquiry to completion of build, easy and simple for my customers. Tradespeople/contractors don’t have a great reputation as a whole of doing what they say they will, whether it’s a phone call, or actually turning up on time to consultations. Or even just turning up… then there is the waiting for the estimate… as a contractor myself, I am so frustrated when I get people out whether its plumbers, or builders, the story is always the same. We have now a definitive system that allows us to price up an estimate just off photos, and cementing that price during a consultation. There is no way that you will be waiting for days/weeks to hear back from us.

Back to the weather…. It was FREEEEEZING, a personal favourite moment was Peter doing a snow angel haha.

Been back at Aqualand is such a privilege, and its now starting to feel like home, this time though we decided to skip swimming in the signature pond, with the air temperature around -12 degrees C it certainly wasn’t inviting us to jump in like in august!

Day 2 was similar to day 1 with the classes, peter attended construction and foreman leadership courses and I hit the important business owner classes

Day 3 was the really fun day! We got the sand box training area to ourselves! We split off into 2 teams of 5 and we built some waterfalls, and naturally it turned into a competition. “THE POND GUY” Greg Wittstock been the judge on this occasion. NATURALLY WE WON!!! Having an opportunity to have people who don’t have as much experience as we do allows me to do what I absolutely love… and that is teaching people, explaining every detail and reason why a certain rock has been put in that place. WHATS THE BEST WAY TO LEARN?… TO TEACH IT!! Its surprising what you either forget or take for granted as standard knowledge, the minute you start teaching someone, all that knowledge stored in your brain comes out and you re-educate yourself!

Later that day a bunch of us contractors and staff from Aquascape went to play a game of whirlyball… yea we didn’t know what it was either. But its basically lacrosse on bumper cars! What a great day! So much fun and again more important bonding time with fellow contractors and staff from Aquascape who spend a lot of their time teaching us everything they know! Im humbled once again by the warmth extended to us by Aquascape. Ive learned never to be surprised by it, but to never expect it!

In conclusion for those who have made it this far… (thank you) The question was what is the Aquascape Academy and why do we go? Its safe to say that the answer is that if you want to be the best, you learn from the best! My investment in training for myself and my team is most importantly been brought back to you… My Clients