itor From the Editor From the Editor From the Editor From the Editor From the Ed

Sr. Vice President / Sales

GLENN HANSEN

Or at least it’ s dangerously misunderstood. I don’ t know where“ Grow or Die,” that treasured business maxim, originated. Some point to a 1973 book by George Ainsworth- Land. Others give the credit to Nike creator Phil Knight. It’ s not the“ die” part that kills me here, it’ s the“ grow” part.

Too many businesspeople equate growth with more— more customers, more stores, more production space, more revenue. Always looking for more. And maybe that’ s okay. Who am I to tell Nike or Amazon or Starbucks or Walmart they are doing it wrong. Well, they are, in my opinion, doing it wrong.

Can you honestly say you love and appreciate these brands and businesses? If your product is for everybody, it’ s for nobody. Starbucks went public in 1992 with 165 stores. Six years later it had 2,000 stores and its brand-busting growth continued. Along the way, it lost the qualities that led to its early success. The coffee got worse and the sense of community vanished. Amazon once improved shopping for books and things. Now it helps Jeff Bezos fly to outer space. Walmart used to be all about low prices on American-made products. That’ s no longer true. But boy did they“ grow.”

Growing for size has indeed earned business owners great riches. But I’ m more about growth as improvement; growth as evolution toward a purpose, and not just a purse.

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Improve or Die Honestly, I think this is what Ainsworth-Land meant when he wrote“ Grow or Die”( though I haven’ t read the book). Growth as improvement is evolutionary for individuals and businesses. And it leads to the question of“ Improve what?” or“ How?”

When I spoke with Matt Conrad of Mean Green Mowers a few months ago, we talked about the evolution of batteries and electric products, where“ range anxiety” is a concern. I asked him about the possibility of a hybrid mower. That could certainly be a growth opportunity, and I saw new hybrids in other displays at Equip Expo in October. It’ s even evolutionary. But it does not fit in Mean Green’ s purpose, Conrad told me, which is to make mowers that run quietly with zero emissions. Mean Green is growing, evolving and improving. As are other focused and purpose-driven companies in this industry. Growth should mean knowing what matters deeply to you and improving to attain that.

Grow your Purpose My purpose has been to tell stories about curious people working on their passions. I will continue to improve on that. Or I’ ll die.

Speaking of evolution, I am taking my storytelling work to another industry. I am leaving OPE +; this is my last column and issue. I came into this industry about three years ago knowing very little about power equipment and with few industry connections. Several people helped me learn and connect so I could tell stories about compelling businesses. Thanks to you all for reading and listening. And most importantly for your purpose-filled work.

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4 OPE + December 2025 www. OPE-Plus. com