Honest Stories about Surviving Setbacks

The Professional Development Committee continues its ongoing series featuring TOCA Gardner award winners.

Honest Stories about Surviving Setbacks
Gardner Award Winner for Special Projects – Publishing — Publishing
by Jennifer Klemmetson, TOCA professional development committee

We asked Nicole Wisniewski, Editorial Director, Grand View Media the following questions about the October 2016 issue of Turf magazine:

Please briefly describe your winning project. 

This issue involved a special research and reporting project where I sought out readers who had suffered major setbacks in business and successfully came back from them. The research helped confirm how readers cope with issues like this. This project was near and dear to me as a writer and reporter because I learned so much from the people I interviewed and I knew their lessons learned would help readers.

What were your main objectives in developing this project? 

According to research I found, only 56 percent of agriculture businesses and 55 percent of service businesses survive after their first four years in business. We wanted to showcase stories of businesses that survived some of the worst setbacks to help readers realize how they can do this as well. After all, those who realize setbacks are simply part of business usually find a way to thrive, while those who dwell on problems routinely falter.

What influenced your approach? 

I was extremely inspired interviewing the four landscapers featured in the main story. I don’t know what impressed me more: how honest and open they were about their stories, how incredibly courageous they were in fighting their fears or how unwavering their positivity was despite the setbacks they endured. Their stories moved me, and I wanted to share them to encourage readers.

Please tell us what you think stood out in your winning entry. 

The very personal, open and honest stories readers shared with me about their business setbacks and how they came back strong. One business owner lost a client that made up a majority of his business, one survived a partnership gone wrong, one lost a loved one and folded his business as a result of grief and then reopened it later, and the fourth business owner nearly lost his home as result of poor business finances.