Work Smarter, Not Harder: Lessons From the Field
“Work smarter, not harder” is more than a catchy phrase—it’s a practical mindset that helps us get better results without burning ourselves out. At our outdoor cleaning company, we’ve learned that putting in long hours doesn’t always equal a job well done. What matters more is how we plan, the tools we use, and what we learn along the way.
Here are three ways we’ve learned to work smarter—and how it’s made our jobs easier, more efficient, and more satisfying.
1. Use Tools That Save Time and Effort
We were once hired to remove a thick blanket of fall leaves from a property. It took four hours of raking and bagging, and when we finished, we had filled 18 large 55-gallon bags. Because it had rained a few days before, the wet leaves were heavy, and moving them was exhausting.
Since then, we’ve upgraded our approach. We now use hand rakes or leaf scoops that let us pick up more leaves, faster. When possible, we also bring along our wood chipper, which accepts leaves and reduces their volume significantly. The right tools don’t just save time—they reduce physical strain and let us get more done with less effort. And sometimes, you've got to wait for the leaves to dry out.
2. Plan Before You Start
Nothing slows down a job like realizing you forgot a tool or misunderstood the scope of work. That’s why we take time up front to ask key questions:
What exactly needs to be done?
What’s the best way to approach it?
What tools and equipment will we need?
We’ve also found it helpful to get input from everyone involved in the job. Often, someone has a better or faster idea. Taking a few extra minutes to plan before arriving on-site helps us avoid delays and work more efficiently from the start.
3. Learn From Wins and Mistakes
This is one of the most important ways we work smarter. Every job teaches us something. When things go well, we ask ourselves why—so we can repeat those wins. When things go sideways, we look at what happened and adjust.
For example, we’ve noticed that a lot of people are afraid to make mistakes—but in our experience, mistakes are OK, as long as you learn from them. In fact, we’d rather make a mistake early and correct it, than waste hours going in the wrong direction.
By reflecting on both wins and setbacks, we avoid repeating errors, build better systems, and improve continuously. This kind of intentional learning helps us work faster, safer, and with more confidence on every job.
Final Thought
Working smarter isn’t about cutting corners—it’s about being thoughtful, prepared, and open to improvement. Whether it’s using the right tools, planning ahead, or learning from experience, these small shifts make a big difference. They help us serve our customers better, reduce stress for our team, and make outdoor cleaning work more rewarding for everyone involved.
