I did the typical American thing and started mowing lawns when I was around 13 or 14. At first I had a single 20" push mower and had one or two lawns. Then I us

I did the typical American thing and started mowing lawns when I was around 13 or 14. At first I had a single 20" push mower and had one or two lawns. Then I used our family riding mower. After I had built up some clients I took out a loan and bought a used 36" commercial mower. The loan was repaid early, in about 8 months as I recall. About this time my dad bought a trailer and we used the family van to pull the trailer around. Not very long after that, I bought a 48" commercial mower. Along the way I also bought string trimmers, backpack blowers, and hedge trimmers. Every new customer was a springboard to more customers in that neighbourhood. All I had to do was make the lawn look great, and the new customers would come to me! At the fall peak, I could gross about $1400/month. I was my own boss, in top shape, had plenty of money (way more than all my friends) and in general was very happy. Those experiences were invaluable, and helped form my work ethic today. My father still has the large mower, and uses it every week to mow his own lawn - 20 years later.