SKU: 19489238088

Growing Weeders Into Leaders: Leadership Lessons from the Ground Up

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Growing Weeders Into Leaders: Leadership Lessons from the Ground UpAt some point in this postmodern life, individual greatness has lost its appeal for many of us. It has been commodified and relegated to those who are measured by shortest longest times, impressive distances, highest heights, lowest lows, medals won, honors givenand againAristotle and Nike got it rightGREATNESS is what we can DOevery daywithout recognition or reward, but for the satisfaction that comes from meeting the challenge, creating a team, and

At some point in this postmodern life, individual greatness has lost its appeal for many of us. It has been commodified and relegated to those who are measured by shortest/longest times, impressive distances, highest heights, lowest lows, medals won, honors givenand againAristotle and Nike got it rightGREATNESS is what we can DOevery daywithout recognition or reward, but for the satisfaction that comes from meeting the challenge, creating a team, and overcoming the odds. And that is what Growing Weeders into Leaders is about.

It is an entertaining and thoughtful look into the hearts and the workday lives of ordinary people - just like you and me - who tapped into their inner greatness in pursuit of a vision. Creating one of America's most beautiful college campuses, at Ole Miss, did not happen overnight and, inside these pages, Jeff McManus describes the joys, the defeats, the brilliant problem-solving and the "best laid plans" that are proven worthless...until the bigger picture is told. It is the "bigger picture" told from the ground level. Growing Weeders into Leaders takes you through the practical applications of empowering people to experience not only what it means to grow outstanding landscapes, but also to grow greatness in themselves and encourage it in others.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jeff McManus grows things. As the Director of Landscape Services at the University of Mississippi, he grows plants.he grows people.he grows ideas. Jeff is a problem-solver, understanding that doing more with less is a 21st century mandate.

After coming to the University in 2000, Jeff took on the challenge of managing a multi-million dollar landscaping beautification implementation project. Faced with a demand for excellence and high productivity, and a stagnant budget, Jeff knew that growing the people was critical to growing the plants. Through that experience, Jeff developed his approach to managing resources and developing personnel his GROW-theory; a management and professional development approach based in the belief that all humans either strive for or have within them the elements of Greatness, Resiliency, Opportunity and Wisdom they just need a fertile environment to GROW.

Taking his grounds staff, affectionately known as weeders, and developing them into leaders has been a joyous challenge that reaped acres of rewards in the form of national recognition by the Princeton Review, PGMS, Newsweek and every faculty, staff, student and visitor who has walked onto the Ole Miss Campus. Building on that momentum, Jeff has designed a professional development plan for his Weeders called Landscape University a replicable training program that promotes the individual's innate ability to GROW.

Jeff holds a Bachelor of Science in Landscape and Ornamental Horticulture from Auburn University and is a PGMS Certified Grounds manager, and Certified Arborist. His message rings true for any industry leader or manager looking to GROW a high-performance and dedicated workforce. Jeff has spoken at Caterpillar Inc, the Biltmore Estates, Leadercast, SRAPPA, Trent Lott Leadership Institute as well as the SEC Ole Miss Athletics. He has also worked with Memphis University, the University of Tennessee, the University of Georgia and private firms in developing their own training programs.

REVIEWS:

OKthis is big. Here's a leader who understands the importance of weekly staff meetingsbut has reduced his own talking time in meetings down to five percent. Incredible!
-John W. Pearson

Beautiful in its simplicity, this lesson on leadership is much-needed in today's world of business, non-profits and more. I love how Jeff takes lessons from horticulture and applies them to people and leading others. One of my favorite moments is when Jeff shows us how working smarter is so much better than just working more hours and "working harder." One thing that struck me was the idea that everyone is a leader - or at least has the potential. I've always thought that some businesses just need "button pushers" and "warm bodies" and that's okay. In reality, every person in an organization has the potential - and the responsibility - to be a leader. Getting us all there and getting the buy-in is up to the experienced leaders - but we all have a part to play. That was a great epiphany. Thanks Jeff!
-Dan Moyle

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SKU: 19489238088

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4.1 ★★★★★
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Mayhem and Mood Reads
Pawtucket, US
★★★★★ 4
What did I just read
Format: Kindle
I’m not sure how to articulate my feelings about this book. It took me a bit to get into it, the story was interesting from the beginning but felt very slow paced to me. That changed about half way in. I don’t know what I was expecting, but that was not it! I did end up enjoying this. It was well written, funny, and shocking.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2026
B
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Brad layland
San Leandro, US
★★★★★ 5
Meaningful, Enjoyable and Uplifting
Format: Paperback
I don’t read a lot of novels, but after hearing recommendation after recommendation, I finally picked up Theo of Golden—and it absolutely lived up to the hype. Alan Levi tells a story that is inspiring, wholesome, thoughtful, and genuinely fun to read. The characters felt real, the writing was engaging, and the story carried deeper themes about life, purpose, and relationships without ever feeling forced. I also know Alan through Young Life, which made reading the book even more special for me personally. If you’re looking for a meaningful novel that is both enjoyable and uplifting, I highly recommend this book.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2026
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jubydo
Lexington, US
★★★★★ 5
a swim through literary magic
Format: Kindle
Reading this book reminds me of jumping into a pool of water and the way the water tickles your skin as you descend into it, then surrounds you and totally encompasses you in its liquid wonder. There is so much here: beautiful metaphors that conjure up both visual images and the emotions that accompany it. Wonderful character development: presented with gentleness, respect and grace. An intricate plot that carries the reader along lightly and buoyantly, not calling attention to itself, but carrying through to the end. The book itself is a portrait of Theo, in keeping with the portrait style described within.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2026
E
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EarlyLight
Louisville, US
★★★★★ 5
Savor Theo -A Heart & Soul Dish
*No spoilers in this review I found this book to be an unexpected banquet for my soul. I don’t read fiction very often, but as I read Theo of Golden, I realized I am hungry for what this story offers. Based on its swift and growing popularity, I believe the world is hungry for the gift of Theo of Golden. When speaking on his book, Mr. Levi shared a quote from David Brooks, “ To write a book about kindness does not make you kind. To read a book about kindness does not make you kind… but to buy a book about kindness, that makes you kind.” 😄 This humor & humility — a “don’t take yourself too seriously” a welcoming accessibility is in the author and this book. I love this spirit in the story —so much so, if I could hug this book any tighter— it would be behind me. (borrowing generously from Groucho Marx ) I started to do research on Allen Levi - who wrote this gift. He chose well, hundreds of little choices, keeping him close to beauty, kindness, meaningful relationships and community. His choices of early morning devotionals and prayer and regular visits to schools and coffee houses, to write songs instead of watch tv, all feeding the character of the author. I believe you cannot share beyond where you have traveled. He has traveled to deep places. A definite Ode to Joy prior to offering Theo was to write about the last 365 days of his brother’s life they shared after a cancer diagnosis entered. His brother’s early exit from here and entrance into heaven, I believe, prepared the way for one of the greatest fiction writings of our day. Allen Levi’s habits to avoid technology and be fully present with the people in his life bleeds beautifully onto the characters of Golden. The environment is one which doesn’t talk about technology or politics. Just people connections. He firsts introduces us, then beautifully befriends us to a better way and a place, accessible to us if we would choose to allow mindful relationships to develop. All this making the community of Golden a place to cherish. Ultimately I believe the gift is to see Golden could be grown in a hometown, a neighborhood, with all people… It’s a heart posture- a posture that Theo bestows on the town. In my ideal world, the author would meet another great songwriter, poet, storyteller: Ray Hughes. Ray is another gift to humanity, in creativity, intelligence, and accessing heaven on earth through words. I believe there would be a powerful explosion of hope, humor and generosity in their meeting, subsequent friendship & collaboration. I’m dreaming here, and lifting a prayer to the heavens- it would be awesome!! With a grateful heart, I highly recommend Theo of Golden. Humbly submitted, Dawn Holley Author, 22 Keys To Joy for the easily distracted
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Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2026
A
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Arty
Whiting, US
★★★★★ 4
The end is only the beginning
Format: Kindle
Theo appears in a small fictional Georgia town named Golden. He’s a distinguished old man with a mysterious past. He’s a quiet observer; then he makes friends in a coffee house and there pursues a plan to personally gift every portrait drawing on the wall to the townsfolk simply pictured there. As an artist, I appreciated the detailed descriptions of each face, and then the invited dialogue with each person behind those drawings. The characters Theo gets to know are varied and storied. Of even more value to me was Theo’s visit to the studio of the originator of all the portraits. Layers start getting unpeeled in this tale. I started to highlight phrases when the motivation for doing the work got uncovered between them. There were times when I felt the main character was “too good” to be believable. I personally appreciated the subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) references to Theo being a Christ figure. But remember that Jesus was the one who said “woe to you when all men speak well of you”. The Theo who is pictured in this book, and the reactions of most around him is maybe a little too syrupy? A friend who is in my book club felt herself being “manipulated” when reading this book. I ponder that. There was a plethora of reactions to Jesus too, but I don’t think any honest quester ever felt manipulated. He let them walk freely away. For me the significance of each face was the key theme, and each face held sorrow. There are some beautiful lines in the book around this. The ambitions: true and false in the “art world” also the business world resonated also. The Pastor’s words during a funeral at the end were valuable. And the little girl’s imagination (prompted by Theo) of all the musical notes flying on their wings into the chandeliers so that they can sing again later was a wonderful metaphor. There are some excellent passages in this book if you remain in it. As one grandmother said in this tale: “Baby, they’s justice and they’s mercy. If you not sure what to do and you gotta choose one or the other, I say always go the mercy way. If you make a mistake, make it for mercy. Bad mercy don’t hurt nearly like bad justice and always remember, the eye of God can see.”
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2026

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