Working in one of the lesser-known professions, I would guess most of us have been approached with the question, “How did you get into the tree business?” I love these conversations. Not only do they allow us to spread the word about a great career choice, but they also reveal untapped resources that we have to expand our companies’ skill sets and thrive in what Simon Sinek coined the “Infinite Game of Business.”

How many of us found that our way to this industry was not intentional – and perhaps didn’t follow a straight and consistent path. I can certainly relate to that, and chuckle when I tell the story of my entry into arboriculture beginning by failing a finance exam in college! Here’s a quick recap.

Wakeup call

I was a college business major with no particular attraction to any one profession. I had an affinity for the logical, preferred math to reading and knew I liked to organize and manage projects. But I had grown up in a small town with very limited exposure to career choices. My mother had been a children’s librarian for 30 years, and my father was in the semiconductor industry – working in a hermetically sealed manufacturing facility where “bring-your-daughter-to-work day” would never have happened. Simply put, I had no idea what went on behind the doors of an office building.

Despite that, I felt the pull toward leadership, creating space for others to thrive and the challenge of building something that would leave our world in a better place. A business-management degree from a liberal arts college felt like a logical choice.

However, when my professor handed back a finance exam – for which I thought I was prepared – and a big red failing score was staring me in the face, my 19-year-old brain went to the dark side. I was convinced that this was the end of any success story for me. I was washed up before I had even begun, and I had no idea what career was in store for me. I left the class in a dizzied stupor and went straight to the career counseling center, trying to navigate this “life-altering” event with desperation in my voice and not enough life experience to know that this too shall pass.

Career counseling 101

Lucky for me, the career counselor was no stranger to this undergrad drama and took me through a series of activities to help me more clearly identify a direction. The counselor then presented me with an internship opportunity working with the Pennsylvania Nurserymen’s Association that summer. I was hired for the job, and that became my introduction to the world of horticulture. From there, let’s just say the rest is history, because my entire career has unfolded as a result of that experience.

Why do I share this? Here’s what I take from the experience.

There is always opportunity in adversity. What seems like a stumbling block may just be the steppingstone you need to find your way. And there is rarely a life journey that takes a straight and expected path. Our ability to see each step as an important one allows us to stay open-minded about new opportunities and adventures. Failing an exam was that step for me.
It’s important to share our stories. When we know more about each other, we identify commonalities. It humanizes us and encourages better working relationships. I encourage you to let curiosity fuel your day. What skills and interests, beyond those displayed in their job, do your teammates have? How can those contribute to the culture, vision and energy of the company?

Each employee is a compilation of stories, talents, interests, histories and potential. We each may fulfill our individual job description each day, but how we do that comes from the qualities that make us uniquely ourselves.

Common bonds

I am not a production arborist. I am still that business-minded, numbers-oriented, creatively inspired person who thrives on creating a safe and encouraging work environment for our team. But I also love our urban forests, the artists/technicians/scientists who steward our trees and the impact we’re making in our communities. I bring my own talents, but this is our common bond.

As we look to the future of this profession, I know there are people out there who have not yet realized that arboriculture can be a rewarding career for them – whether it be working in the trees, organizing our insanely complicated production schedules or greeting our clients with a friendly voice. In every interaction we have with people, our enthusiasm for the industry and pride in what we do – coupled with our interest in their stories – will undoubtedly open thought to the future of our workforce.

We have an incredible community in the Tree Care Industry Association, TCIA, and our ability to connect is our biggest asset. I hope we will come out in force to do just that at our upcoming events, including TCI EXPO ’24 in Baltimore and TCIA’s Winter Management Conference ’25 in St. Thomas. These are incredible opportunities to share the wisdom and talent each one of you brings by arriving via your own unique journey. And if you’re inspired to do so, please introduce yourself, because I’d love to know – what’s your story?

Jennifer McPhee is a member of TCIA’s Board of Directors and co-owner and dreamweaver at Harrison McPhee Inc., an accredited, 10-year TCIA member company based in Millis, Massachusetts.