Philosophical Rants & Analogies

Bright Shiny Object Disorder

May 19, 2015 By Ahmed Hassan Leave a Comment

Lawn and garden machine pro!

Staying focused on your own individual integrity is the name of the game.

In business and in life there are more distractions than ever. In fact, it has become so commonplace that now there is a diagnosis for the condition… SOS or Shiny Object Syndrome. I, myself, coined a similar term, Bright Shiny Object Disorder, or BSOD. Essentially, it works like this. We get so busy filling our lives with things that are interesting, or intriguing, that we begin to lose focus. As a result, many things get started, but nothing ever gets finished.

This happens to businesses all the time. In fact, tech companies are known for chasing every fad, turning it into a product that we can’t live without. Six months later, they develop a new variation and the cycle repeats. Since it’s all bright and shiny, we simply have to have it. Television stations do the same thing. They spend millions of dollars to create a new program, only to can it after six or seven episodes. That’s Bright Shiny Object Disorder. Those types of things might be able to work in the business world. It is easier to absorb something like that if your industry is designed to respond accordingly, by producing another product that is sustainable and turns a profit. However, in life it is much different. Bright Shiny Object Disorder can really be a hindrance.

Take me for example. In my own life I receive text messages, Facebook messages, emails, phone calls, voice mails, of calls that I can’t get to, messages on facebook messenger, Twitter, Google Plus… and I haven’t even left the house yet! If I took the time to respond to each and every one, I would not get very much accomplished during my day. The problem is, I like the interaction. If you know anything about me, you know that I love posting and interacting on social media. I know this about me, so I have to keep it in check. It’s a delicate dance (or roller derby in my case). Doing that dance is easy though. I just have to remember who I am.

I became a gardener because I enjoy working and creating outdoors. On any given day I’ve got 3 to 6 people waiting and wanting my direction. While I’ve claimed more than once to suffer from ADHD, this is a self proclaimed diagnosis. My awareness is ultimately what drives me. My passion and inspiration are what lead and direct my life on a daily basis. I’m of the philosophy that each of us needs to find our own unique inspiration. We need to find that dream, or those dreams, that most inspire us, and seemingly, best suit us.

I’ve been dreaming of being a landscaper since I was a kid.

Sometimes the vision was me as an operator…

Lawn and garden machine pro!

or myself as the horticulturally saavy gardener…

Look at that Young Guy!

The reason TV was easy for me was that I was playing the role I’d always seen myself as, in the first place.

I’m still the original Yardcrasher ya’ll!

I enjoyed the work because it was fulfilling. That leads me to the following summary about life. Finding time to be selfish is healthy. Finding time to focus on what’s most important to self is a means of maintaining one’s own sustainability. Yes our friends are important, and yes, our spouses and children are important. Hell! Life is important! But focusing on ourselves is by far our primary need, if we want to truly be happy in our lives. Taking time to love ourselves is not what our society promotes or encourages.

However, at the end of this month, I will be doing just that. The plan is for me, and a group of other dynamic speakers, to get together for a time of encouragement, inspiration, and positivity. The event is called Alive Again Positive Living, and it will take place in Palm Springs, California. You can find all of the information by clicking the link above, and I hope you can attend. Being a part of this event will give you the tools and resources necessary for you to maintain yourself as a priority. That way you can really make an impact on the lives and businesses of those people around you.
I, myself, will be speaking on the topic of love. You don’t want to miss it! When you think about it, that’s not too far from what I do as a gardener. Nothing grows unless you give it the proper amount of time and attention, also known as love. The same is true for you. Without the proper amount of time and attention you will wither up! Manifesting what your heart’s desire is, is essential to your well being.

So go get caught up in yourself. You’ll only get one life, and one opportunity, to do so.

Follow Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed Hassan on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram! #TeamAhmed #GoGreenWithAhmed #BSOD

Making Some GREEN in the Green Industry

May 5, 2015 By Ahmed Hassan 1 Comment

From Lawn jockey to Ahmed Hassan Celebrity Landscaper. Persistence in business and following your dreams is where your success will come from. Trust me. I’m speaking from 23 years of experience.

As a kid I was more of a lawn jockey than a landscape professional. These days, the thing that sets me apart most from other folks, that might be deemed my competitors, is the fact that I portray and see myself as an expert. When I started working, hosting shows for DIY Network, they asked me what my title was. I told them I was a gardener. That wasn’t a good enough title in the Network’s opinion. In a world of titles, degrees, sophisticated salesmen, and bullshitters, gardener wasn’t even in the realm of earning respect, much less capturing the attention and respect of television viewers.

Being a business owner in the Green Industry takes that little something extra in order to demand a reasonable, and what I call sustainable, wage. Being able to articulate one’s value, in the world of what others see as mundane weed pulling, is an art that I’ve been working on for over 23 years. The business of gardening, landscaping, and what’s now termed “Outdoor Living,” requires a few basic principles. I feel that it’s both my responsibility and obligation to share what I’ve learned with others; so they might begin to better understand the ways in which they’ll need to manage their own “green industry” businesses, and actually make a little green, while going green.

I married my office manager. Tiffanie Hassan allows me to actually run a business. She schedules work, emails clients, handles invoicing and contracting and just about everything else that’s necessary in owning and operating our landscape services business. Behind every celebrity landscaper or small business owner there’s likely a silent partner that’s the glue to keeping things together.Teamwork, makes the dream work!

1. Learn To Teach. All of life is an opportunity for us to learn. If you’re interested in a particular subject, you’ll put in the time and research galore. I started my continued education at San Francisco’s City College. Then I spent about a decade taking several horticulture and landscape construction classes at Merritt College in Oakland California. I signed up for classes that most appealed to me. I looked over the list of Horticulture classes offered at the time and signed up for the ones that most appealed to me. There was of course a pre-requisite course titled “Intro to Horticulture”, which was a basics class about tools and practices. Earning a degree is less important than knowing how to talk the talk and walk the walk. It’s just a certificate.

2. Network with others in your industry. Classrooms are an awesome place to network with like-minded and like-interested folks. Seeing how others do what they do and love, while also generating income, will allow you to emulate your peers, and eventually, your career role models.

3. Begin freelancing and taking on small projects for the experience, rather than the money.
This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t charge, but consider yourself a student and real life experiences are your opportunity to learn and expand what you’re learning and building your confidence in.

An original business card isn’t essential until you’re really ready to manage the workload. Put all pertinent info on your business card. If you’re wanting a little help with professional design, branding, and printing; contact my cousin and graphic designer, Seda Bryant, by clicking the image above.

4. When charging for your services, the rule of thumb is to charge as much as you can and feel comfortable with. Since you, after all, are the one who will have to negotiate your fee, schedule work and payments with clients, then collect what you ultimately charge. Since you, after all, are ultimately the one who will have to negotiate your fee schedule with clients and collect. Just remember to be fair and transparent with your clients, and they’ll likely be fair with you.

5. An hourly rate is safe since you’ll always get paid for your time. Bidding on projects as a whole requires a solid and expanded awareness of the scope of work and what could and most likely will go wrong and/or require your time. Do your best to be responsible and accountable, but a reasonable hourly rate is always gonna be the safest bet. Your clients will absolutely watch you and determine whether they feel your rate is comparable to what you charge. Know this.

6. Always charge for your time. A professional charges for their time because they understand and respect their own value. So many contractors offer free estimates. I stopped doing these years ago. There are plenty of folks out there that believe that if they don’t give away their info, time, and energy trying to get a job, they’ll go broke. News Flash! If you’re giving away free estimates, you’ll definitely go broke!

7. Learn to charge for an initial consultation. The agreement you see below is my pre-qualifying form to help me get rid of the tire kickers and window shoppers. My time is valuable. Maybe you can’t charge what I do. You might offer a different kind of service, but please, for yourself, your family, your self-esteem and our industry; consult and trade your valuable time for a sustainable rate.

You have to charge for your services if you want to get paid and have yourself be respected as someone valuable.

Both of these pics are from page one of my consulting agreement. Page two simply has a space for clients to input contact information; and of course a signature line to seal the deal.

8. Give yourself ample time to walk, talk, listen, and take copious amounts of notes. I typically walk and talk with my clients for 1 or 2 hours, depending on the size of their property and how much we like to talk. Once we’re done, I’ll walk the property again to write down my notes, thoughts, suggestions, and things I’ll need to research and address. (My consultation is a flat rate. Once I’m familiar with what’s wanted and needed I can discuss hourly charges or a flat rate or bid.

Trucks and fuel cost money. Wear and tear is real. Even your wheel barrow is valuable. Business is business. You’ve gotta charge for your services and tools

9. Lastly remember that phone calls are free but house calls will cost you. Gas costs money and leaving your family and home to go help someone else at their home is worthy of a fee. This isn’t a hobby, and if it is, you’ll still have to charge in order to make your gardening and home improvement hobby a sustainable and enjoyable one. Thanks for reading, caring, and sharing.

Follow Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed Hassan on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest! #GoGreenWithAhmed #TeamAhmedTV #MakeGreenBeingGreen

The Cobbler’s Kids

April 28, 2015 By Ahmed Hassan 2 Comments

If you’ve not heard the story of the cobbler’s kids, this week’s blog would likely make very little sense to you. But, for those of you that have, I’ll just come clean with you now… I am very much “The Cobbler.” Before becoming the “Celebrity Landscaper” I was just the Landscaper, before that I was the gardener, and let’s face it, gardening has really always been a trade that’s less than glamorous, to put it lightly.

We gardeners are people of the earth. We see beauty in nature and desire to work with nature, rather than against her. Mother Nature is an abundant creator; she bares such an abundant harvest that, for many of us gardeners, we have more work than we could ever complete. We are hoarders of all things plant related and we know that with a little love, a little water and a little compost, all will be well and look gorgeous as ever. So long as plants grow, we’ve always got plenty of work to get done.

I like to think before I put it out there.

My own yard has of course never been”crashed.” Nobody in TV land is wanting to watch the show where the guy on TV gets his own yard done for free. While I shoot plenty of web video for the Green Industry, I’ve shot no web videos at my own house showcasing any green industry tools or tips. In all honesty, my yard, as a backdrop, simply isn’t worthy, yet! I believe that one of the reasons my yard looks like a raggedy 3rd world country is because I’m really not all that bothered by it. I mean of course I’d like to have my space look better, as would my family. Unfortunately, the amount of time, energy, and conscious awareness that I choose to put into my yard and the fact that I want to do so much of the work myself means I can only do these improvements in bits and pieces when time permits. I do this in between making sure that my bills are paid and seeing that all is well with my family. There are plenty of more important priorities that I choose to allocate my precious resources on before I’m willing to splurge on our outdoor aesthetics.

My yard has never been “crashed”.

Both Tiffanie and our kids have said on more than one occasion, “When are we gonna have a nice yard, like the ones you’ve done on TV?” To which I’ve answered, “As soon as you’re willing to go outside and help to start making things look better.” The last thing I wanna teach my wife or kids is that beauty in outdoor living just happens through osmosis. Yard work and gardening is a true labor of love. I spend most of this labor and my time making money and my yard doesn’t worry me because I know how to manage, maintain and change it. It’s more about finances and my time. Here’s an interesting article about the subject I found on-line.

All of this is in my driveway as we speak!

My yard is a place for me to collect and store all kinds of goodies until I’m ready to install them as permanent structures and a part of my landscape. It’s also a place where I can work with plants; dividing, growing from seed, and incubating them in my small inexpensive greenhouses, while getting them ready for sale.

Oh that’s right! I also run a couple small retail nursery outlets. I sell plants at Under the Arbor and Churchill’s Hardware. My house is more like Club Med for plants, a place of refuge for my container plants that aren’t quite sellable, due to poor watering practices, too much sun exposure, or whatever other reason.

How I use both sides of my house

The north side of my house is used for rain water collection and shade for my plants. While the south side is used for rain water storage, hand tool storage, and a variety of other things like transplanting, mixing of soils, and a place where I put boulders, gravel, and other elements to use in the yards that I create. On any given day I’ve got piles of mulch, compost, soil and other landscaping supplies in my driveway. It’s my life, my passion, and my livelihood.

In closing, I must speak on behalf of us cobblers and acknowledge that we professionals do not work on making our own stuff look lovely just because we lack funds and/or time. It’s also an issue of priority. We put them off as a lesser priority, since we deal with these same things daily, for the folks we call our clients and customers. We’re a little desensitized and less bothered by what others think is critically important. When the time is right; bit by bit, and little by little, we’ll enjoy the process of creating beauty for our own families in our own homes and gardens.

My kids remind why I also must leave some of the work alone, and just be present and playful. There’s a time for work, a time for play and a time for rest. The yard will get done when the time is right.

Follow Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed Hassan on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest! #GOGreenWithAhmed #TeamAhmedTV #CobblersShoes

What Just Happened

April 17, 2015 By Ahmed Hassan 44 Comments

It’s Tuesday April 14th and I’d be lying if I didn’t acknowledge the surreal feelings I still have.
I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you all that what just transpired and took place in the little city of Miami Springs, Florida was likely the most ostentatious event I’ve ever had the pleasure of being a part of, and also, responsible for making happen.

Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed Hassan often calls himself the big mouth landscaper

When I’m crashing a yard, I can be a bit vocal!

Hi, My name is Ahmad Hassan. Most people know me as “Ahmed Hassan” the original host and inspiration for DIY Network and HGTV’s Yard Crashers. I am a professional landscaper, fundraising guru, fast talking, smack talking, motivational speaker, and professional flirt. I love babies and children. I love men and women; black, white, Latin, Asian and every other ethnicity. I love Christians and Muslims; Jews, Buddhists, and Atheists. I love the under dog.

I grew up watching TV shows, believing in superheroes. Those larger than life characters that come from humble beginnings and develop amazing talents. Those that learn to utilize their powers for the good of humankind. As a kid, I saw my dad as a superhero. He was absolutely a character that inspired and amazed me with what he knew, what he could do, and what he’d been through.

I lost him to a modern days form of kryptonite (heroine). I was changed forever. My eyes we’re opened and my awareness shifted from being a kid. I began to see, understand, and live my life as an adult.
It took years to process my pain and my sadness. I believed then, and continue to believe, that life is merely a journey where we get to “show up and show off”, as the awesome super heroes of our own choosing. Please understand that because we are all merely natural human beings, we can only develop our natural human powers.

Silvia and Daniella sharing a moment

This is to say that our powers must always be kept in the realm of human possibility. Humans don’t fly, so the cape isn’t necessary. On a day like any other, I received a tweet from Mrs Silvia Vanni of Mystic Force Foundation. The tweet included a picture of Silvia and a young, bald, and beautiful Daniella Collazo. Mrs. Vanni is easy on the eyes and Daniella, well… now this little angel is as precious and beautiful as they come.

The request was for Ahmed, the Original host of Yard Crashers to come and “crash” aka create, remodel, accentuate, spruce up and horticulturally enhance, Daniella Collazo’s backyard. This request was nothing new for Ahmed but it came from someone different than the folks that typically reach out and ask for assistance with their oudoor living space. The first reply from Hassan was to please provide more information. Vanni did just that. She shared the pain of losing her own son, Salvatore, to Neuroblastoma. This was the same type of cancer that Daniella was diagnosed with, only Salvatore was diagnosed at stage 4 while Daniella was diagnosed at stage 3.

This is what saying Yes looks like!

My saying yes to Silvia Vanni and the Mystic Force Foundation was my opportunity to be big. It was my opportunity to be heroic; my opportunity to step out in faith. It was my chance to prove to myself, Mrs Vanni, Daniella, and anyone else who gave a damn; about the power of intention, love, and being a BADASS as I call it, for good.

Good intentions, good measure, a partnership and movement with other good people that are inclined to join in and “represent” for the cause; this is the kind of stuff my heroes are made of. The kind of stuff that Ghandi, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King and others were known for. These men and another master teacher named Jesus Christ were also known for it. It’s all about helping those that cannot, or do not know how to, help themselves.
Because I’m just one person, I’m just one piece of the puzzle. I only have particular human powers. I happen to be a pretty damn good landscaper (And yes, I know it!). I began to reach out to others like myself that are awesome at what they do. I look for gifted and talented individuals that really know their craft. Their confidence level is something that needs to already be in place so that my job is merely one of buttering them up and convincing them to partner with me. Yes it’s manipulative, but in no way malicious.

I understand enough human psychology to understand that people need to feel big, they need to feel proud, and they need to feel loved, in order to rise up and be their best self. My job, my task, and my mission, was to solicit all of who I felt was needed in order to create the space and make Daniella’s Wish a reality. I did this in a modern grass roots way, utilizing social media and personal conversations. I also asked others to reach out in order to exploit and further network for this worthy and heartfelt cause. I played no games, I told no lies. I did what was necessary, and because I love The Green Industry, fans and friends; I kept everyone informed to the best of my ability, posting and sharing regularly as we built momentum and moved towards our goal.

A total outdoor play space transformation

The most unique thing about this whole experience was that it was completely non-profit. As a result, we needed to raise funds for what I thought would be a $50-$70K yard. In actuality, it evolved into a project totaling more than $100K. So in that regard, the learning curve on this project was something that I also said yes to. I’ve done so many things in my life where I hadn’t a clue as to what I was doing, or how I was suppose to get it done.

And yet I set a date anyway, having a conviction in my mind, heart, and the rest of me. Then I worked tirelessly with all of my human powers of communication, visualization, anticipation, discipline, collaboration and finally, fortified the entire thing with LOVE. Love for Silvia Vanni who loved her son Sal, love for little Daniella, who has a real life threatening disease. Love for all of my comrades; the ones that I know and truly respect as well as those that I’ve not met yet. Things magically tend to come together when you maintain your intention to love.

The seed was planted, I said yes, and because of so many others, Daniella’s Wish and Silvia Vanni’s request have been fulfilled. If I had Super Human Powers to take away Childhood and all other forms of cancer I would. But because I don’t I’ll simply and humanly continue to utilize my natural human powers and prove to my family, friends, fans, and absolute strangers; just how beautiful we women and men can be.

Thank you to the Mayor and all of the sponsors who helped make this wish come true!

Thank you to everyone that helped and assisted in making Daniella’s Wish come true. I appreciate each and every dollar that was donated, spent, and shared to make it all happen. I appreciate the men, women, and children that showed up and exhausted all of who they were to help with the heavy burden. I appreciate the list of National and local sponsors, businesses and the wonderfully loving city Of Miami Springs, Florida.” You all really made a difference this past weekend. Here is a fantastic video of what we accomplished courtesy of Seda Custom Design!

Follow Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed Hassan on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest! You can also JOIN ME THIS MAY in PALM SPRINGS at the Alive Again Positive Living Conference! #GoGreenWithAhmed #TeamAhmed #DoitforDaniella #DiditforDaniella #DaniellasWish

No More Crutches

April 8, 2015 By Ahmed Hassan Leave a Comment

Here I am writing another weekly blog that won’t be a list of gardening tips. There won’t be any explanation of how to design your outdoor space or which plants are deer resistant. Nope, none of that in this post.

I am so much more means going off to build a playspace for Daniella

The other day I began to recognize and question why I’m always so deep and more interested in so much of what else goes on in life. Why do I share on so many other topics that are mostly related to interpersonal growth, development, and love. I mean, I am after all the Celebrity Landscaper; but as I’ve told you once before, I’m so much more than that. The labels we use in our day to day lives are necessary, and give shape to the substance of our lives. They also limit us on so many levels that it’s restricting, and often keeps us ignorant as to what’s really going on.

We all like to fully understand and be able to envision what’s to come. We like to package people, places and experiences up in such a way that it all makes perfect sense. “He did this, because of that” and “that happened because of this”, but the truth is, these labels and life aren’t really that simple.
The complexity of life is what makes life so beautiful. It’s a riddle that we’re living, learning, and experiencing each and every day. We’re doing our own form of research and development as we have experience after experience. Through that, we have an opportunity to better understand what works and what doesn’t as we move gracefully through our lives… or otherwise.

As a matter of fact, many of us learn more through the “otherwise” experiences. Those experiences that cause us pain and anguish often show up as monumental learning curves in our own development. This is the effect that nature has on all living organisms. We’ve all heard that phrase from Freidrich Neitzsche, “That which doesn’t kill me, makes me stronger”. I find this statement to be absolutely true.

I often find similarities in nature and utilize analogies to better understand and explain what I notice in both nature and our lives. This shouldn’t come as any surprise, since after all, we’re all connected and a part of nature.
While I know that we often forget this small fact (that we’re natural), it’s still true. In the same way that a tree growing outside must learn to weather the 4 seasons, the pollution, and whatever the hell else life throws at it, we must learn to do the same.

Okay so here comes the landscape analogy:

Just like these tree stakes, our crutches should be temporary.

Young trees that are planted outside may or may not need a stake, in order assist and support them as they grow. This stake can be seen as a crutch. Anyone that’s ever had to use crutches knows that a crutch is meant as a temporary means of support. When it comes to tree stakes, the same applies. These supports are only needed as a temporary crutch.

A tree needs to sway in the wind. It needs to be challenged by the occasional and sometimes brutal weather, depending on where you live. In life we often face storms. These storms, problems, challenges, and opportunities will topple us; or they’ll do what the wind does, which is to challenge the tree. When the wind moves the tree, it’s roots are actually strengthened in the process. They are slightly moved, shaken, and displaced from where they were once present, in the soil. This movement and change could be seen as a problem even offensive, since roots need to be connected with the soil and hydrated in order to properly grow.

Of course what’s really happening is that the roots are being simulated. This stimulation causes even more roots to develop and expand the tree’s ability to live, take up water and nutrients, in turn creating an even larger tree; one that’s stronger and has a more extensive root system, better prepared for the next storm. This is how life is.

Storms help us grow.

With each challenge, each problem, each storm in life we can either dig in and see ourselves expanding, maturing and growing into the type of person we’ll eventually become, or we can throw in the towel and say screw it. This is what people do when they commit suicide. People barely feel a lil discomfort and they think they need a drink, or smoke, or divorce of some sort. In actuality, when we begin to shift our perception, what we’ll see is, ‘that which did not topple us…” Once we recognize that, we understand that what doesn’t completely do us in can only serve to prove one thing… just how strong we really are. We all have our vices, and maybe a crutch or two. Yet just like a tree stake, we shouldn’t be bound so tightly, and/or become dependent on our crutch. Neither should we be forever attached to whatever or own vice, stake, or crutch is.

We must allow nature to push, pull, and develop who we are so that we can be a spectacle for others and ourselves. So that we can live for as long as possible and benefit the world with our having existed in the first place.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for caring. Thank you for sharing.

Follow Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed Hassan on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest! #GOGreenWithAhmed #TeamAHmedTV #DoItForDaniella #MoreThanALandscaper

More Than a Landscaper

April 2, 2015 By Ahmed Hassan 2 Comments

Folks, my title of Landscaper is actually a bit deceptive. It’s a label which society has given to me and I wear it proudly, but as the saying goes, “don’t box me in” because I’m so much more. As I’ve expressed before, I am a multi-dimensional being, just as you are, and I seek to continue developing the different dimensions of me as time progresses forward.
If you must label me then consider philosopher, author, teacher, motivational speaker or charitable cause badass. Based on these titles alone, you can see that I really am More Than a Landscaper and it’s due to this fact that I am currently working on a book of the same name for release next year. My co-author, Marie Blackstock and I, began working on the content last year; however writing a book is a highly personal and creative process so it’s important to respect the organic flow of such a project. In other words, you can’t force things.
As this will be my memoir, the content is being created with each new daily experience that I live through. Marie and I recently met in person to wrap things up and one of the first things she said to me was, “This book isn’t happening right now because it isn’t the book we are supposed to be writing.” I surprising didn’t protest as I knew she was absolutely correct.
My life has been transforming in major ways over the past few years and I continue to learn from the multitude of experiences coming my way. I’m positive that this growth pattern will continue throughout my lifetime. Many of these recent growth spurts have been huge so that the book we began writing in August is far from the same story I wish to share with you folks today.

Both books will be available May 29th!

We did decide to create two books that will be ready for purchase by the end of May and neither are about landscaping in the least. They are tentatively titled, Philosophical Rants & Analogies for Life and LOVE.
You might be wondering where you can get an autographed copy when they come out, right?
I’m happy to announce that I’ll be making a special guest appearance at the Alive Again Positive Living LIVE EVENT in Palm Desert, California on May 30th. This weekend will be filled with dynamic presentations on love, light, joy, success, health and wellness so I encourage you to invest in yourself and buy a ticket to join us. I have the honor of covering the topic of LOVE and you’ll be able to purchase copies of both books onsite. There will be opportunities to have them personally autographed by both myself and Marie too. So are you still wondering why a landscaper is writing and talking about love? Well, as I stated above, I’m far from just a landscaper and LOVE is likely the most misunderstood yet commonly used word in the English vernacular. I spend much of my life teaching and helping people with their landscaping and gardening woes and while landscaping is important and critical in terms of agriculture and the planet, love is something that’s even more critical to our existence here on earth.

I will be signing both copies in Palm Springs

The next few weeks will be focused on combining my big, badass landscaping talents with loving compassion in order to see the #DoItForDaniella campaign through to fruition. Daniella, and all of these precious children living and dying of cancer, inspire me to work harder than I’ve ever worked before. I’m completely coming from a place of love and a state of love expressed outwardly towards others. This love is keeping me in the frame of mind that I need to be in, so that I can stay positive, even when things aren’t necessarily feeling good or going my way. The love I have for self and this project have radiated out to others who are sharing their love by donating their time and products to the project.

Thank you to Southwest Airlines, My Splash Pad, Cascade Outdoor Design, Deck King Corp. and Genovations decking, Tremron pavers, Forever Lawn, Valley Crest Tree, Vista Pro landscape lighting is being donated and installed by Magic Irrigation’s Michal Wilk, Todd Chambers of TC Masonry, Mayor Zavier and the City of Miami Springs, Leah and Mike owners of Cascade Outdoor Design, electrician Ken Morningstar and Joe of Plumbtech, Miami Dade College horticulture department, The Fresh and fantastic EB Hotel, Corona brand gardening tools, Hunter Industries and recently committed Costa Farms plus the list continues to grow. Beautiful people everywhere continue to step up, step in and donate time, materials, products and services.
My own fans, friends and loved ones have raised an amazing $10k in cash through our Crowdfunding and all of our efforts are impacting the Collazo family and the Childhood Cancer community at large. Lead Designer and fellow badass, Duane Draughon of VizX Design; and I really had no concept of how awesome and powerful love was until we started this journey. I continue to give thanks and am in awe.
So, next time you hear The Beatles sing, “All ya need is love,” remember that there really are no truer words ever spoken.

Follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter! #MoreThanALandscaper #DoItForDaniella #AliveAgainPositiveLiving

Abundantly Blessed!

March 24, 2015 By Ahmed Hassan 7 Comments

In spite of California’s current drought, in spite of the global evolutionary changes taking place everywhere, in spite of sweet little Daniella Collazo, and the fact that three minutes from now another child will be diagnosed with cancer, in spite of the fact that I’m an unemployed TV host….

I recognize how abundantly blessed I am.

Yes, this is one of those optimistic, acknowledgment, blog posts. So what that my dad died. So what that I lost my house 4 years ago and had to file for bankruptcy. So what that I have a felony for selling pot when I was 19.

I am still BLESSED.

Blessed to be here to see my children grow. Blessed to have had a career where I get to do what I love and enjoy daily, because of my freedom. Being black in America is no longer the excuse or reasoning for any limitation in my life.

We are blessed

Being raised by 2 parents, a step mother and having step and half siblings is what’s made my life experience so wonderful. Having broken up and now reconciled with Tiffanie, my wife for the past 23 years; is what’s given us the opportunity to learn how to love, live, and raise our own kids. Raise them together in such a way that they will have even more tools and experience than we did growing up.

Life on planet earth is hard and yet we’re all endowed with the same common rights, responsibilities, and talents. The same get down attitude that we can each step into when and where we need to. No matter how much challenge and strife life delivers to me, I maintain my warrior attitude. I teach others to tap into this same warrior mindset and be the badasses, the talented and the optimistic characters, in their own life stories. It’s about taking limits out of our lives. The last time I argued with the producers of my former show Yard Crashers was when they tried to put me in a limited box called “Host”. I sent my executive producer the video of a song I so enjoy by Lauren Hill titled, “I Get Out“.

Marie Blackstock Author and Intuitive Counselor

Marie is another powerful, positive blessing in my life

No matter what the challenge, no matter what the pain, no matter what the struggle and small mindedness around me is; I seek to be big, be loving, and give thanks for my opportunities. The opportunities to reach, teach, and express a love and optimism for life. As many of you might know. I’m in the process right now of writing my very first book with Author and all around positive chic Marie Blackstock. She and I are both students and teachers of positive living. That is to say that we have both experienced many of life’s challenges and are completely obsessed with figuring out life’s mysteries and sharing these truths with the rest of humanity. Please continue to follow all things for positive change both here and at Alive Again Positive Living.

I know that I am abundantly blessed and I know that these blessings will continue and expand so long as I am willing to acknowledge them and give thanks, and so it is!

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Chickenshititis

March 10, 2015 By Ahmed Hassan 4 Comments

Chickenshititis, that condition that, from time to time, I’ve gotta believe we all suffer from. Even the most courageous and well intentioned of us, manage to find ourselves not quite living up to our standards for personal integrity and/or doing as we said we would. The topic, and word chickenshit, is very much a term that most Americans can relate to. I know this because I can Google the word “Chickenshit” and Merriam’s got a definition right there for me to read:

chickenshit

adjective chick-en-shit \chi-ken-shit\

Definition of Chickenshit

1. usually vulgar: petty, insignificant

2. usually vulgar: lacking courage, manliness, or effectiveness

My reasoning behind using this offensive word was due to the fact that I experience being chickenshit; and I also tend to recognize when others seemingly fall into this rut as well. Hey, it happens! It’s okay, it’s natural and normal. Yet, it’s also something, that with clarity and awareness, we can rise above in order to improve our lives and the way we relate with others.

So I recently had an experience where a male client and I consulted. I visited his property and we discussed various options and ideas for making improvements. Mind you he’d already had another contractor over to do this same thing too, though the other contractor focused primarily on what his specific trade was. None the less, both of us contractors had different opinions as to the process and direction we’d have my client go. This became a mental conflict for him. As a result, he somehow fabricated in his mind that I would be disappointed and he didn’t want to disappoint me. So what’d he do… nothing!

No call, no text, no NOTHING! He was experiencing what I call Chickenshititis, also known as fear. Fear is a huge factor in so many of our lives. It hinders our creativity, and causes us to live lives where we unknowingly limit ourselves and cause more drama than we ever imagined. Rather than continue to succumb to this condition that I’ve just defined and pointed out, I’d like to share just a few ways in which you might over come and cure yourself of chickenshititis. Living life courageously is how we overcome Chickenshititis.

Operating from the standpoint of love keeps you smiling.

1. First you might wanna consider that there are really only 2 emotions that exist, Love and Fear. All other emotions stem from these 2 cerebral sides of our brain. While fear is a good and legitimate emotion that ‘s necessary for our safety and survival, it’s also something made from our memory; and we often confuse this made up reality with what’s real. The solution is to ask yourself,

“Am I thinking and acting out of FEAR or LOVE?”

The more often you can choose love, the better your results and outcome will be. A great resource for this is one I touched on in last week’s blog post. Dr. Jerry Jampolsky’s book, Love is Letting Go of Fear, is a must read. Check it out.

Invest in People

2. Let your intention be your guide. That is, of course, when your intention is loving, rather than fear filled. Our intentions are the back up documents and rationale for what we do. They are the “WHY”. I am in no way saying that your intentions will be understood by others. That is never a guarantee. But I will say that when your intentions are loving, and you allow these loving intentions to guide and direct your actions, you’re bound to experience a more pleasant response from, and with, others. That link will take you to an interview with Brother Ishmael Tetteh. His book “The Way Forward” is an awesome read.

Go for it!

3. Be willing to act immediately. Whether it’s as simple as making a phone call to inform someone you’re going to be late, or delivering what you know and anticipate someone might take as unwanted or bad news. Be willing to honestly, share immediately, and deliver this information. The longer you sit and flip flop this unwanted news in your head, the larger, and more seemingly dreadful, it becomes. So be courageous, don’t allow the chickenshit mindset to consume you. Act NOW and act expeditiously. In time you’ll get even better at doing this.

My reasoning behind sharing as I do is because I love humankind. I live and learn, then seek to teach what I have learned in life. My hope is that we will evolve in such a way that our lives, our relationships with others, and ourselves grow even deeper in love, and prosperous development.
Thanks for reading and sharing.

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Say Yes

March 3, 2015 By Ahmed Hassan 3 Comments

The awesome power that comes from saying yes. I do, I will, I can, and yes! All action words. Each willing to step out and live or stand, rather than crawl or stay put. Last week I was asked, “why Ahmed?” Why are you helping this little girl, Daniella Collazo? Why her? Of all the people, and through all of the years that I’ve been known as a TV host, I’ve now been asked why did I say yes?

So here’s what I said….

“I chose to simply say yes!” was Ahmed Hassan’s response to his agreeing and assisting Mystic Force Foundation’s request for Daniella Collazo’s backyard play space.

Ahmed did, admittedly, have some internal doubts after his initial reaction passed and “how” was the biggest query of all. Once the initial angst went away, he recalled the role models he grew up wanting to emulate; the regular everyday heroes in society. He intuitively knew he must follow what was in his heart, the right thing. Against all odds.

“It’s just time and money. Daniella doesn’t have any time and I do. She can’t help herself, but I can. I needed to grasp a hold of my courage to help her. This project is a gift from myself, and others like me, that are grateful to live lives where we stand and sometimes step into “bad ass” mode when we need to. In this instance, I must be a bad ass for sweet Daniella who cannot be one for herself.” We all have this power and there’s nothing we can’t do if we simply believe and act on that belief.”

There’s an incredible power that comes from saying yes. It’s the power that comes when we decide to go for it!
It’s the power that comes from being willing to act in spite of the fear; to run towards our fears and conquer them.

This is a REAL BIG DEAL!

There are people that say no all the time, and it’s not because they’re incapable. It’s because they’re afraid. There is no love in fear. In fact, according to Dr. Jerry Lee Jampolsky, love is letting go of fear. Indeed Dr. Jampolsky wrote a book titled the same. I read this book many years ago and I’m still practicing, still walking thru my fears. I spend a lot of my life’s time acknowledging, and discovering my fears. In the last several years I’ve been actively pursuing getting over them, and learning to simply say yes to living life.

Consider this…

The sunrise says yes.

The sun rises each and everyday; nature is NOT afraid.

The tree doesn’t up root itself at the threat of a storm. It merely weathers it and continues growing, branches bending, developing even more roots in order that it might fair even better for the next storm.

Nature says YES and persists.

Spiritually, I work daily on saying YES to that spirit within me that causes life’s growth and expansion, NO MATTER the fear.

Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed hassan with his daughter

I say Yes to being an influence for my kids

My dad was my HERO. I only hope and aspire to be the same for my children.
Not only for my youngest here depicted with me, Camille Hassan, but also for others like Daniella Collazo.

Pema Chodron wrote another book that I’m reading called “The Places That Scare You, A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times”. If you ask me, life is filled with difficult times. It is filled with all sorts of daily opportunities to stay put, to stay inside, to stay small and small-minded.

Yes You Can!

But I’ll tell you my philosphy. I say, we only live once. When we die, there’s no more. No more saying yes, no more having a choice. No more can we say, “I wish I’d done this or that”. So instead, do it now! Whatever it is that you think you can’t, prove to yourself like the little engine that could. Say, I THINK I CAN, then go one step further with, I know I can. Then do like Michael Jordan and Malcolm X put together… Just do It. By any means necessary.
Say yes!

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Evolution

February 24, 2015 By Ahmed Hassan 1 Comment

It’s not a conspiracy theory, it’s merely our reality and evolution. Humankind’s impact on the planet is largely responsible for the climatic changes we’re experiencing back east and out west. Flooding and drought conditions are just a few of the causes and effects that we have going on in our ecosystem. This is nothing to be alarmed about or freaked out about. I mean really…

AHLS at your service

When has your freaking out ever helped bring about sustainable solutions for change? As for me, I choose to take responsibility into my own hands. As a professional landscaper, former TV host, and Celebrity Landscaper, I travel the country spreading knowledge, goodwill, and what I know to be good horticultural practices. Locally, around the greater Sacramento, California area, I continue to offer landscaping services via my small business… Ahmad Hassan Landscape Services (AHLS). I love what I do and plan on doing it for a long, long time.

My own prediction is that for the next decade or more, I will continue to be solicited, and encourage best management practices while assisting folks with creating drought tolerant/friendly, and ecologically friendly landscapes, at home and abroad. Take a look at these two examples to give you an idea of what I mean. Here is a before and after of my client Annie Tran’s Yard

Ahmed Hassan Trans Home Before and After

Drought tolerant plants make for easy maintenance

And another example… the Hughes’ Lawn Before and After Transformation

Hughes Project by AHLS Ahmad Hassan Landscaping Services

Here we transformed the lawn into a dry creek bed

In order to keep the cost down in both instances we used lots of small plant material. Most folks have more time than money. As the plants grow, the boulders and rock work will diminish, as the garden and greenery take center stage. At the end of the day, my goal was to be ecologically sustainable, as well as create something for both of them that presents well aesthetically. This is my obligation to the planet, and a commitment I make to myself and the human race. I get a real kick out of being a role model for change.

Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed Hassan loves being a role model for change.

This guy wants to be a role model for change

I intentionally plan to leave my mark on the planet with my life and impact the world in my own small way.

Ahmed Hassanpresenting at a home and garden conference

Educating people on sustainability

Television allowed me to grow my popularity, and because of this, I am committed to returning to TV in order to become the next Anthony Bourdain of the environmental industry. Bourdain is best known for his ability to communicate and share folks experiences around food, wine, and culture. He loves what he does and it definitely shows through in the programming. This is why he has been so successful.

My interests lie more within our local and global environment. I seek to give people an expanded awareness of what’s going on in both their own backyards, and the local community, and beyond. I enjoy creating these outdoor living spaces and giving my clients and fans the tools that they need in order to make a positive impact during our evolutionary period. It’s all about educating and then putting that education to use if we’re going to make a difference. I believe most people will do whatever is necessary to live in a sustainable manner if they just knew what to do. My job is to teach them those very things.

Watch out… big mouth landscaper coming through!

I don’t claim to be an expert in all things environmental, but I do understand soil, plants, water management, and how water is utilized by plants. I also understand our need for plants as a part of our human diet and overall nutritional health. I’m a nerd in case you haven’t noticed… A garden nerd who gets by with the title of “Gardener”. I’m ok with that. I often introduce myself to people and call myself the “big mouth landscaper” because it’s true!

It’s this big mouth that let’s me bring about awareness within the Green Industry and affect sustainability. It also helps me affect positive change. Remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease because the squeaky wheel gets things done. Last week I had the opportunity to meet with the director of sustainability at Ewing Irrigation to discuss having me join their team of speakers and teachers on that subject.

Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed Hassan at Ewing Irrigation in Phoenix, Arizona

Partnering with Ewing Irrigation to make a difference!

A little later this year you’ll have an opportunity to learn even more about what I’ve been doing over the past year with another irrigation manufacturer, Hunter Industries. I feel like all of us humans, landscapers, gardeners or not, need to take responsibility for ourselves and this planet. We don’t have another planet to move to and if we did, we’d likely throw that one out of balance as well. Learning what we need to, in order to improve and make living conditions better, is a real trial and error process. It took us many years to get to where we’re at. I only hope that we can expedite our learning curve so we can enjoy the years we have left and create something sustainable for our children, and their children, to enjoy.

Thank you for reading and sharing and caring.

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