Provided
While just off a plane in Portland, Robert Whittaker listens to my question about the state of Magnolia Fence & Patio and then ponders briefly.
“We've thrown this business on my vision and my back,” Whittaker says. “We've been stuck between $7 million and $8 million [in revenue] for the last four years. And the only thing that hasn't changed is me. We've got to get somebody else in with a new perspective, see if they can see something that I've missed. And so, the best way for me to serve my team is to get out of their way.”
If only Jerry Jones felt that way about the Cowboys. I jest, Jerry. We’re excited about overreacting in football season.
And Whittaker isn’t exactly “retiring,” as he jokes. “I’m sure I’ll still have some critical roles to play,” but he’s planning his primary role to be that of mentor and coach to the staff he has assembled.
His new baby is Purple Coaching & Consulting, which advises entrepreneurs on how to build successful companies. Magnolia grew out of Mean Green Lawn & Landscape, a company he founded with his twin brother Michael. He and Michael split in 2019. Michael went on with Mean Green, and Whittaker continued with Magnolia, which, in addition to its home in Everman, is poised to open a flagship location in Benbrook.
The brothers have reunited with Purple Coaching & Consulting.
Whittaker, 40, is also stepping into the realm of philanthropy with a campaign called 1 Million Blessings, inspired by a conversation with John C. Maxwell. Rather than treasure, Blessings’ stewardship and giving will be more in time and talent. At least at first.
“I think in our world today, what’s really underappreciated is looking somebody in the eyes and listening. That's what most people really need. They really need somebody to actually care and connect. That's what we're doing.”
Whittaker is in Portland for a conference. Typically, he’s the one doing the speaking.
“This one, they’re speaking to me. So, it’s going to be a nice week.”
How did you guys start Mean Green? We just never could find anybody that would hire us early on. It seemed like more work to find a job than it was just to create our own work. We've never worked for anybody but ourselves.
What mistake taught you the most? Never stop asking questions, or in my case, my biggest mistake was I never asked questions. Someone at Starbuck’s asked me for one piece of advice. Embrace patience. Patience will outperform grit and hard work. Sometimes you just got to have a little bit of patience with yourself, with your vision. Patience is a superpower. We talk about it all the time listening. Listening is a form of patience. Here's a little nugget: Silent and listen contain the same letters.
What are you doing when you’re not working? I'm in a season right now where I'm doing a lot more work than I'm probably proud of, but I coach my 12-year-old’s soccer team. And I have a 19-month-old who definitely keeps me smiling. But hunting, fishing, stuff like that. But if it were up to me, every single day that I wasn't working, I'd be on an airplane traveling somewhere. That's my favorite thing to do.