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On Episode 101 of The Plant Movement Podcast, Willie Rodriguez sits down with Kevin Lyden, a third-generation plant industry professional whose career has taken him from working in his family’s nursery to managing major landscape and nursery projects across the country and internationally.
Kevin shares the story behind his journey in the green industry, starting sales at just 16 years old and learning the fundamentals of business from his father: pick up the phone and keep dialing until you get an order. From there, his career took him to large-scale projects with Sandals Resorts in the Caribbean to now working at Large nursery and also focusing on growing Clean Air Foliage.
The conversation goes far beyond plants and sales. Kevin opens up about losing both of his parents within six months, the lessons that came from grief, the importance of faith, mentorship, gratitude, integrity, and learning to make the most of the time we have.
Willie and Kevin also dive deep into the realities facing today's nursery industry—from labor shortages and rising costs to immigration policies, pricing, client relationships, restructuring, and the pressure many businesses are facing behind the scenes.
Kevin shares his experience landing a $500,000 plant order, his approach to finding and selling hard-to-find material, and why having the right client before buying inventory can make all the difference.
Most importantly, Kevin leaves us with a simple philosophy:
Work hard. Love people. Don't judge. Stay consistent. Make the most of today.
This is a conversation about plants, business, loss, resilience, sales, faith, and the future of the green industry.
Business • Sales • Nursery Operations • Leadership • Life
There is always an opportunity—you just have to be willing to pick up the phone and go after it.
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