Ahmed Hassan TV

Consultation · Design · Nursery · Build

Balancing Kids, Family Life, Work, and Fame

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This week’s Blog Topic was inspired and requested by none other than my Facebook friend Maria Strickland.

The week of Jan 12th has been quite a busy week indeed. I realized late on Wednesday that I had yet to write a blog for this week, so I put a post on my Ahmed Hassan Celebrity Landscaper page. I asked for inspiration for today’s blog post because this week’s project is very time and energy consuming.

Ahmed Hassan - Richie Rich

Richie Rich was very different than me in many ways.

Maria offered a suggestion, and this morning I’m refreshed and ready to delve in head first! First of all, I want to acknowledge and share with so many of you that while you might see me as some big time celebrity, I waiver and waffle at this notion. I consider myself a regular guy. I know that I’m popular and all, but I’m in no way an “A List” celebrity. Here’s a funny story that I’ve rarely shared. When I was a kid growing up, I watched a cartoon character named “Richy Rich”. What fascinated me about this cartoon character was that he was so much different than I was. He was white, I was black. He was rich, I grew up poor. He had everything; I was taught by my dad, mom, and step mother Mabel, to appreciate everything I did have.

I actually remember stating to God or the Universe, “I don’t wanna be rich”. It was one of those prayer like affirmations that we sometimes make when we “claim” something. We’ve all heard that money is the root of all evil and I distinctively remember this Richie Rich character having so many challenges to deal with because he had so much money. I was like, “I just wanna be comfortable, but not rich”. It wasn’t until my 30’s that I realized that being comfortable in today’s society was considered being “rich” by the standards I was raised by.

You see, everything is relative. Some people might see me as some big time celebrity that’s got it made. In fact, I’m that same kid who’s been hustling, doing yard work all my life. I finally decided that I would be “ok” with being rich. Yet, I want to also be responsible and enjoy my life, family, and fame. I’m not rich now, but I am willing and wanting to experience the reality so I continue to prepare.

Ahmed Hassan- Power Partner Tiffanie Hassan

My Power Partner, Tiffanie Hassan!

You’re probably wondering, “So what about the balancing act that Maria asked about?”. When it comes to balancing and being there for my kids, I could not do it without Tiffanie. It’s Tiffanie who is the primary chauffeur, back to school mom, the one that pays the bills, and the one that creates most, if not all, of the structure that the Hassan’s have at home. Tiffanie and I are business partners, friends, lovers, and co parents. I often refer to us as “Power Partners”. We have teams of others that we work with in order to do all that we do, but it’s she and I that manage all things Ahmed Hassan Celebrity Landscaper, as well as Ahmad Hassan Landscape Services.

I actually run and maintain 4 businesses. I create and provide web video assets and content for my industry and national brands like Monrovia Nurseries, Hunter Industries, FX Luminaire, and Shindaiwa, just to name a few. I also do personal appearances at home, garden, and builder shows around the country. I continue to maintain and operate my own business in the greater Sacramento area, and in 2014 we began operating a couple of small nurseries in Shingle Springs where we live. The way I manage everything is with a little bit of patience, understanding, love, and inspiration. I’ve learned that being perfect is overrated, it’s merely a matter of being present.

Ahmed Hassan- Family

Tiffanie helps keep the smiles on these faces!

I love my wife and kids. I love my fans and friends. I love my work and creating beautiful, functional, outdoor living spaces. I love teaching and inspiring others to find, explore, and exploit their passions. I continue to dream up new things and ideas because I’m in love with life. Truly I am! There’s absolutely no reason that Yard Crashers should have become as big a hit on television as it did except that it was a show with this crazy, energetic guy who was in love with what he was doing. He actually knew something about landscaping, building, creating, and gardening.

That brings us full circle to the work I have this week. I am going to design, build, create, and develop a new presentation for the Like Water Event at Free Flow Academy’s Rocklin, CA location. It’s a health and wellness event happening this weekend. I’ll be right there in the gorgeous space that my team and I are developing. Everything I do requires the help, assistance, and buy in from so many others. This weekend’s event is no different. This space is an area that a couple of Master Gardeners are going to use. I’ll be using it to host a workshop on Gardening, The Original Crossfit.

I’m tired and fatigued this week because I’m creating. I work within the metaphysical realm, designing, plotting and planning. Then I utilize all of my natural powers to communicate, explain, design, acquire, and create what it is that I see in my minds eye. It’s tiring work. It’s physically and mentally taxing. Yet it is what my life looks like and I’ll continue down this path. I love life and seek to do everything, and experience anything, I see as beautiful and worthy while I’m here. Thanks for this mornings inspiration Maria Strickland. Thank the rest of you all for reading.

Follow Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed Hassan on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest to stay current on upcoming events! Check out the sponsors below for this weekend’s event!

 

#TeamAhmedTV #GoGreenWithAhmed

 

Energy, Intention, and Faith for the New Year!

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The 3 ingredients in the title are needed to accomplish anything.

I sometimes lie in bed in the morning and begin to think about what I want, or need to do, on a given day. At some point I’m finally inspired to get up and get things going. I’m either INSPIRED or MOTIVATED with fear. I don’t wanna miss out or be late!

My ENERGY and intentions have me living the life that I do and chasing after those dreams that inspire me. I take full advantage of my Celebrity status wherever I can and yet I’m fully aware that I’m the same kid that dropped out of High school in the 11th grade because I was simply more interested in smoking weed and hanging out than I was in academia. Today I intentionally live my life in a way that pleases and inspires me. It seems foolish to do anything but this! Being clean and sober was the best choice I could make 22 years ago.

My ENERGY and INTENTION are the fuels that keep me going. My FAITH, coupled with the conscious action I put towards making my dreams come true, helps me execute my wants around my business, and the whole of my life.

The concept of ENERGY is used everywhere around us, but what is energy?

The dictionary definition of the word states as such:

: The ability to be active
: The physical or mental strength that allows you to do things
: Natural enthusiasm and effort
: Usable power that comes from heat, electricity, etc.

So it seems that energy is any number of things, but they all come from the state of being alive, able, and capable… which is what we all are.

When you’re dead. You’ll lack any energy or capability.

Now let’s consider the word INTENTION. It means:

: That thing you plan to do or achieve
: An aim or purpose

Bear with me for a moment and assume that you’re just like me; a regular person that lives, breathes, and goes about your day doing things that you either need, want, or have to do. Have you ever noticed how different tasks during your day affect you emotionally?

This is true for EVERYONE.

I have things that I’m inspired to do that come from something I might have imagined, or something that someone else has collaborated with me around and we’ve decided we’re going to make it happen. My energy and intention around this event might range from, “I’m super excited and can’t wait to get started with things!” OR “I know that things need to get done but I lack the urgency or desire to get them going right now”. I choose to focus daily on staying inspired.

Ahmed Hassan - Celebrity Landscape - Energy

Here’s to a beautiful day!

I’m best known for my television work on HGTV and DIY Networks Yard Crashers. This is a show that came into existence because of my passion and love for landscaping. The show was developed by me, a few producers at a very small production company, and Scripps Networks. We developed a show that was based around me, playing myself, on television. At the time of the shows creation, I was merely a landscape gardener. I wasn’t yet a licensed contractor. I became one because the network wanted to feature me as such, and I had already intended on becoming one because I wanted to grow my vision for Ahmad Hassan Landscape Services. However, I lacked the money and was already over booked with local work through my word of mouth network.

DIY paid for the cost involved with me obtaining my license. I took the classes, passed the contractors exam, and to date, I am still a licensed, bonded and insured C-27 (California Landscape Contractor). Sacramento never had it so good! I have been learning and working in landscaping most of my life. My bio says since the age of 10 because that’s when I recall having the drive and ambition.

While landscaping isn’t all that I do, it’s what I call my occupation and what people mostly know me for. I was featured on HGTV’s “Landscape Smart” shows dating back to 1999. I didn’t start hosting until 2007 for DIY Network. As a kid I always imagined myself as someone that would be in the limelight. I sang choir and did a little acting in junior high and always enjoyed entertaining, teaching and leading.

As a host for a landscape and gardening show I believe I’m unparalleled due to the energy and excitement I have around the Green Industry. When you’re interested in something, it’s amazing how much you’ll commit to learning, exploring, and becoming the best at it. When Yard Crashers first came out it was a dynamic television show. My energy mixed with my creative team of professionals, artists, and contractors; our real world approach to making Outdoor Living spaces,it was all something that hadn’t yet been featured on television. Not like this at least.

As each season was produced, I evolved. As a professional, I became interested in making more of an impact with what I taught and the messages I sent out to folks. I eventually out grew it and became bored with the format of my own show. Folks began recognizing me everywhere and that too changed the dynamic of the show.

Oh yeah, another word to define! “Dynamic” Means:

: always active or changing
: having or showing a lot of energy
: of or relating to energy, motion, or physical force

Ahmed Hassan - Celebrity Landscape - Action

Whatever you do in this life remember… results require action!

As a result of my becoming complacent with producing the same formatted show again and again for television; many of my fans are beginning to see why the man that they first became interested in on TV is no longer there. I get bored easily and have to switch things up here and there. While TV evolves as an industry, a particular show doesn’t typically allow for evolution to happen within a formatted program. Yard Crashers had awesome appeal and was real when it began. What it evolved into was a tightly formatted television program that no longer held my interest.

In 2015 I intend to return to television. That is to say that my Energy, Intention and my entire life’s work will be focused on bringing this idea, and plan, into existence.

When you have dynamic energy like I have you’ve gotta simply support your thoughts and ideas with one key ingredient in order to make life happen. You’ve gotta take ACTION. Even if you don’t know how or know where to start.

All of us started life in the same way. We had no clue or idea. We grew up and we acquired all of what we needed to get us right here. If we want to go further, we must focus on what it is that we want. We must set our intention; focus, manage, and maintain our energy and momentum; and apply the action that’s required on a daily basis to bring our life’s desire into reality. Sure it’ll be a challenge. All of life is!

Religious people say just pray on it. Others say to meditate. Then there are those that subscribe to the law of attraction and understand that it’s merely your energy, intention, and action bringing all of what you focus on into reality. You decide which concept works best for you but at some point you’ve got to DO. Take action and make things happen. As you believe, so shall you receive.

I have faith in you. 2015 is a new year. I know that if I can do it, so can you!

#GoGreenWithAhmed #TeamAhmedTV

Follow Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed Hassan on Twitter and Facebook. If you are brave and really want to have your mind blown, check him out on Pinterest!

Understand You Might Be Misunderstood

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When we say, “CHANGE your thinking, CHANGE your life,” we acknowledge the Power of language, of words, to affect us in this world. The combination of language plus image plus emotion is the builder of consciousness. Words trigger images, images trigger feelings, feelings have impact on our belief system. Words matter. Sometimes our word to another may be Powerful. That is, it may have more intention behind it than our word to ourselves.The capacity to keep one’s promises and agreements is paramount in a Spiritually mature person. When we use words loosely or without clear intention, we waste their Power. When you speak to yourself, mean what you say or do not say it. When you speak to others, do the same. If it is not your habit to do that now, then be with the discomfort inherent in making a worthwhile change. Do not lose anymore Power or Love in your Life.

— From The Science of the Mind Magazine

Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed Hassan- Birmingham, AL Home and Garden Show

Me giving tips at the Home and Garden Show in Birmingham, Alabama 2013. I think they “understood” what I was talking about!

Yes words are powerful. They are also quite limiting, considering we use them with ourselves and others, who may have a very different understanding of the same words.

As a landscape contractor and creative entrepreneur, I use words all the time. Emails, contracts, and text messages are just a few of the ways in which I communicate and seek to clarify and define what’s intended. Descriptively, there are a slurry of words that I use to convey my intentions around any number of relationships between clients, workers, sub contractors and others. I draw upon my mental thesaurus and let ‘er rip!

I need always keep in mind that even though I feel like I’m speaking directly to what we might be crafting an agreement around, there is always room to be misunderstood. It can happen. Universally it DOES happen!

When it does, it tends to annoy us, piss us off, and can even lead to divorce or major catastrophe. We sit back and wonder why…

Look at Merriam’s definition of the word “Understand”

1. to perceive the INTENDED meaning
2. INFER something from information received.
3. to KNOW how (someone) thinks, feels, or behaves

Now according to those three definitions, how could you truly know how someone thinks, feels or behaves? You can’t.

This is why in contracting I use my wonderful little “Landscape Design and Scaled Drawing”. This is nothing more than a visual tool. It assists me with describing what goes where. It also assists my female client, her husband, their neighbors, the attorney, and the judge; so that if there were ever any question, we can all see just what is or was expected and involved with their project. Of course, there’s also got to be a written description for the work and services that are to be included as part of any landscape and construction project.  In this way, we can all be a little more clear with what’s expected, and agreeable with regards to time, money, and expectations.

When I hosted Yard Crashers, the homeowners paid for nothing out of pocket so a fiduciary contract was not required. The Network paid for the yards with their “Show budget” and the production company administered this expense by contracting out the various jobs and all of the work. It’s amazing how smooth things can go when you’re giving someone something for free. My team and I pretty much had free reign with being creative. Of course, because I’ve been doing landscaping and reading people for a long time, I always seek to truly appeal to my clients and what they’re really wanting and needing in their outdoor living space.

Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed Hassan - Yard Crashers Yard

A yard I crashed when I hosted the show. More pictures of crashed yards can be found by following the Yard Crashers link in this post!

It’s like offering the hungry homeless person your leftovers while walking down street. If he’s truly hungry, he’s appreciative. It’s up to him what he wants to eat and/or discard. Yet, you take this same guy into a restaurant and have him pay for a meal, request no onions or salt, and it’s served to him with both onions and salt; he’ll likely return the whole damn plate! Or… he might simply decide to pick through the onions and deal with the salt. One can never say because choice is the privilege that each of us has.

Like the affirmation says, words trigger IMAGES, images trigger EMOTIONS, and emotions bring about CHANGE. As it relates to Ahmad Hassan Landscape Services, that change is either moving us closer towards what we’re agreeing on, or further away from what was mutually shared, discussed, understood, or misunderstood.

My day to day job is that of a designer. I design landscapes, my two retail nursery locations, my home, my yard, and so many other aspects of my livelihood. With each of these items I’m not alone. I live just like you do in a world filled with other beings that also view the world differently than me. Some like it hot, some like it cold. Some listen to Country music, while others prefer Reggae. I like tomatoes in my salad, my wife Tiffanie prefers cucumbers.

Each of us has our own unique view of life and everything in it. We’re as different as our finger prints.
It’s no wonder that we don’t agree on everything in life with a single person. How could we?
Integrity lies in doing what you said you would do. This must always start with YOU. Then expand outward.

To practice self love and respect, we’ve gotta learn how to forgive ourselves and give ourselves a break. Since we do this for other people that we love, it is essential that we take time to do the same for ourselves.

Not too long ago I made a social media post that stated, “Our birthright is to always maintain the right to say “YES, NO, MAYBE SO, & I’VE CHANGED MY MIND”.

The reason I state this and continue to tell this to folks that I am close to is because we all need to learn how to love ourselves. We live in a society where we are taught to do for others and love others. Yet concepts such as “self love, self respect, and taking care of our mental, emotional and physical self” isn’t necessarily understood so well or applied.

I encourage you to utilize your words, your print(type) and your intentions for good.

Do your best to clearly and courageously communicate but don’t get stuck thinking that everyone else must understand.

You’ll likely always be somewhat misunderstood. You’re unique! I thought you knew. 😉 Uniquely you!

 

Follow Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed Hassan on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest!

#GoGreenWithAhmed #TeamAhmedTV

The Season of Abundance

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Everything in life is cyclical. As a gardener, I know this oh so well. Just yesterday my general contractor buddy William Rogers was asking me about the difference between annuals and perennials. I explained that Annuals grow from seed, are established, and live their entire life cycle in a single year. Sometimes they’ll weather over and last for several years. When that happens it is primarily because those plants aren’t true annuals. They are perennials disguised as annuals.

Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed Hassan Bedding Plants

Me giving a demonstration on different bedding plants

Perennial plants, on the other hand, are plants that typically grow, and last, for a minimum of 3 years. They bloom for a season, then survive a couple of more seasons doing minimally okay, but they do last. These are the kinds of plants we typically do our ornamental landscaping with.

Then there are biennial plants. These plants take an entire year to develop, then they bloom only every other year. Plants like Fox Gloves, Trillium and Holly Hocks are all biennial. You might also like to know that cabbage, kale, brussels sprouts, carrots, and even celery are biennials. We typically harvest these plants and eat them in their first season, which is why we never see their flowers.

I share this with you because as a gardening philosopher I see all of life as cyclical. Our moods and feelings shift just like the weather.  I once remember Tiffanie saying that Oregon, with it’s gloomy, wet, foggy, and overcast weather, was the suicide capitol of the US. I thought , yeah, I could see that! Then I Googled it and found this was not actually the case. Oregon was merely number 12, not number 1. How could that be?  All of the rain and overcast gloom, there has to be something to it right? There must be some connection between depression and the weather.  As it turns out, there is. Take a look at this information from Wikipedia…

“Environment variables, such as the amount of sunlight, occurrence of natural disasters, and the inability to protect and shelter oneself, can result in suicidal behaviors”. Parasuicide, which is the strongest known indicator for a future successful suicide attempt, is known to have a strong association with weather patterns. As noted by Barker in their 1994 article on seasonal and weather factors in parasuicide, “A major finding of this study was…the greatest mean daily number of parasuicide episodes in late spring/early summer and a trough in December/January”. Their approach involved developing a linear model to accurately separate any “seasonal effects and seasonally-related weather effects”. Climate factors affect parasuicide differently in women and men. The data indicated that the meteorological factors to account for large parasuicidal effects in women were maximum temperature, rainfall, and cloud cover. On the other hand, rain, cloud cover, poor visibility, and windy days were the most important meteorological factors in men. These findings state that elevated levels of environmental heat have been known to “produce thermal stress causing physiological and behavioral change, which may predispose a person to parasuicidal behavior, or precipitate parasuicide in someone already considering it”.

Translation… weather does affect our mood. Throw in the holiday season and it is affected even more. We need to find a way deal with those feelings. I spend a lot of time thinking. It’s one of the reasons I so enjoy gardening. For me, gardening is a moving and productive meditation. It allows me to float, and allows my thoughts to remain fluid, drifting in and out as they please. It also allows me to move and keep my endorphin production going. I’ve used gardening and landscaping as my medicine when I first lost my dad 20 years ago.

My last blog talked about him and I paid homage in my own way to his memory and legacy. My topic for this week is the season of abundance and I’m talking about how things are cyclical because It’s what I notice in both nature and society. Duhh, we’re all from nature and we all make up this society. I share my thoughts so that others can also relate and know that they are not alone.

Just like the plants that I mentioned have various growth stages and cycles in which they produce , we as humans experience a similar shift according to our environment. I’m no meteorologist or psychologist but I do enjoy researching and learning about the ways in which nature affects us all. I spend most of my life teaching and creating in the realm of beautiful outdoor living spaces.

It has been said that cleanliness is next to godliness and I mean who doesn’t enjoy an aesthetically pleasing space? I know I feel best when things are clean, neat and organized. I also enjoy the process of designing, working, building, and creating so that we can get there. The journey is part of the fun.

So I encourage you in this season of Christmas and abundance.

Take note of what you’re thankful for.

Do something nice for someone else, something that contributes, something that “gives”.

I know it’s cold and snowy in some places, so give thanks that you have a warm and cozy house to call your home.

Maybe you have extra blankets and clothes that you can donate to the homeless or less fortunate. The best way to step up out of your depression during this holiday season is to give to others.

This has nothing to do with shopping at Target or buying people gifts. We all have an abundance. We need to merely skim off some of our excess and create balance with nature. There’s a cyclical time for everything, just look at her.

She is our greatest teacher.

Ahmed

Follow Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed Hassan on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. #GoGreenWithAhmed

I Miss Him So

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Those that know me, and have ever heard me even mention MY father, know that I loved Muneer Hassan Sr. more than any other person on the planet. Today, Dec 14th is the anniversary of his death.

In 1994, when I was just 20 years old, my dad committed suicide.

It was labeled an accidental death, but nonetheless I experienced my real life SUPERMAN lying there lifeless on the floor of his San Francisco home. I had never seen my dad, lifeless. Yet there he WAS quiet, still, and completely done with life. Besides the shock, my 20 year old conscience spoke to me. It was humbled and it said,

“When you die, you do nothing.”

Of course we’ve all got our beliefs and our wishes around death and some of us even have our fears around death.

My dad wasn’t afraid.

As a matter of fact, people that commit suicide aren’t afraid of death; they are afraid of life. Life is extremely challenging at times. Living and creating expectations or trying to live up to others expectations is truly a struggle at times. Unless we learn how to really get to know, love, and respect ourselves; and I do mean on a selfish level, sometimes it’s all about you. If we cannot do that, we will always have a hard time finding true peace and serenity.

OF COURSE I miss my father.

Of course I wanted him to see me get married.

He did, after all, know Tiffanie and he always told me, that if they were friends of mine, they were friends of his. MY DAD was a genius. He understood people and knew how to make them feel special. He was as charming as I am, and a studied man that could speak and teach with such confidence and conviction that even if he was bullshitting you, you’d be buying every wooden nickel he was selling… then he’d smile!

Ahmeds Dad - Muneer Hassan Sr.

My Brilliant Father

My dad was a ladies man and a bigger flirt than myself. I remember he’d get on me for calling him ‘dad’ in the grocery store and be like, “Hey man, call me bro or something, but don’t be calling me dad!” He was kidding of course, but I so loved him for his sense of humor. My dad also taught me so many of life’s secrets and mysteries both with his life and in his death. He taught me that the element of surprise is an awesome game changer, with both your enemies and those you love.

What my dad had the hardest time with was the intimate relationships he had with women, and of course, himself.

He had his first child with Linda, another three with my mom Paula, who raised my half-brother Shakir for a time as well. Then he married Mabel, my step mom, AND raised her daughters Crystal, Evangela and their love child, Malikah. He finally hooked up with Barbara Maguirre and had Melissa; she is my youngest sister that I currently have no relationship with. It saddens me, and it made him sad as well, to have these relationships with women, then go through a shift in emotions and come to a point in the relationship where he had no tools and/or understanding as how to make things work.

My dad was a Leo, he knew very much how to fight or flee. He did both! While I now understand his limitations and short comings as a man, I STILL CELEBRATE HIM because while he’s no Superman, like I thought he was, he was a loving and caring father to all of his kids. A simple man raised in a dysfunctional family just like the rest of us. He did his best and when he couldn’t bear the pain anymore, he checked out.

He shot up a speedball after six years of sobriety and working in recovery. He said fuck it!

Yes, I use foul language like my dad did. I was raised by him primarily and he allowed me to curse as a kid. He also taught me to be appropriate with my energy and actions. I know better than to go into a synagogue, or house of prayer, and be Mr. Potty Mouth. Yet, I’m a grown and responsible man who sometimes chooses to use these colorful adjectives to express my grittiness, and give a bit of flavor to my words.

This morning’s post is really about me celebrating the life of my father.

 

The man that inspired me to operate tractors,…

Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed Hassan - Tractors

My love for these awesome machines came from my father.

…and got me into landscaping in the first place.

Ahmed Hassan DIY Network

My DIY Network days!

 

My dad was a comedian and often acted crazy. He was Bipolar, no wonder! None of these qualities could fully label and explain who he truly was as a person though. The only way to express that, in my opinion, would be to say that he was beautifully complex.

Just like the way that life is.

Life isn’t static. It’s forever changing.

Ahmed Hassan - Clouds Rolling In

Clouds roll into our lives from time to time

The clouds often roll in and bring a gloomy darkness in order to create balance.  Yes, I’m speaking philosophically. I’m a self-proclaimed philosopher, I thought you knew. Philosophy is nothing more than a way of seeing or living life. It gives reason or meaning to life. I live the way I do and I am the way I am because I subscribe to the belief that we’re all evolving. We’re developing and growing, hopefully learning and improving so that we can improve our future lives, definitely our kids, and even those that come after us.

I’ve always thought that the most significant way that I can pay homage to my father is to continue to evolve and take all of the tools and characteristics I learned from him and go a bit further. I want to stretch into the unknown and not allow the demons that ultimately took him out to do the same work on me through my mind.

Again I think back to that December 14th, 1994.

I remember my consciousness acknowledging that when you’re dead you do nothing. I also recall that my next thought was “Well if I’m alive and being alive is the opposite of being dead, apparently I’m supposed to be doing everything!” I have been doing everything ever since.

Ahmed and Tiffanie Hassan

I plan on leaving a proud legacy for my beautiful bride and our wonderful family

I am Ahmed, son of Muneer, the luminous and brilliant one.

I have an obligation to my father and his father and my ancestors that have passed.

I have an obligation to the planet and those people that know me.

An obligation to learn, to teach, to love and then perish.

I consciously choose to harness all of my pain, my internal struggles, and my passion to create the life of my dreams. No matter what, I will stay focused on this as the goal. I may, or may not, be understood. I may, or may not, be accepted; but no matter what I’ll remember to always love myself. I’ll stand in the space to remind others to always love themselves.

I love and miss you Dad and I thank the Universe for allowing me the privilege of coming and learning from you.

ASII (And So It Is)

 

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It All Started a Few Months Ago…

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Hi folks my name is Jason Britt and I serve as the blog editor/manager for AhmedHassan.tv. That’s me in the pic there.  Ahmed asked me to log in and share a few thoughts this week concerning our relationship; specifically, how we met, and how we work together. I think you guys will get a little insight into the world of Ahmed, and my hope is that you can use this post to inspire some resolve and focus in your own life.

Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed Hassan - Jason B freelance

When I’m not writing, I’m outside!

So with that where should I begin. It all started a few months ago when I reached out to Ahmed about his blog. I was a fan of Yard Crashers and kept up with him on Facebook. Every now and then, I would send him a message with a little tidbit about life or leadership, and he would respond. Over time, we developed a friendship that spans the coast. He lives in Sacramento, California, and I myself hail from Savannah, Georgia.

One day I’m online and notice that he has launched his website, AhmedHassan.tv. I messaged him to let him know that if he ever needed help with his blog, that’s what I do. I freelance for people who are literally scattered all over the world and as such, write/manage a lot of content throughout the week. What happened next was a flurry of events! We exchanged phone numbers, and set up a conference call where I was introduced to several other key players on #teamAhmed such as Tiffanie, his wife and business partner; Marie, his friend and author, and Aimee and Lynne, web design and content gurus extraordinaire. I was thoroughly vetted.

They said things like “Do you like his writing?”, “Is he good enough?”, “Be honest guys”, etc. It was a very direct interview. Lesson One… anything you want to do in life deserves to be examined and scrutinized before you make decisions. That is just sound business. Anyway, after that first call, I knew I would fit in well with the gang. I appreciate honesty and am a “get it done” type of guy. So after another conference call, the blog took shape and we launched the ship. What has happened since then is nothing short of amazing. Each week Ahmed comes up with advice on life and landscaping. He is funny, engaging, practical, and authentic. Yet pulling off what is necessary to get a post up in a week’s time is more challenging than you might think. I mean come on let’s be honest, this is not me or you getting up and going to work in our home office. This is a guy who makes a celebrity appearance at a Home Show one weekend, the Today Show two weeks later, Gardening Shows four days after that; the list goes on and on. In a word, Ahmed is busy.

Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed Hassaan - Savannah GA

Life on the Georgia Coast is great!

As such, that means I have received mid flight texts, pictures on the fly from the set of the Today Show, and topics at 5 pm for posting the next morning. He is dedicated to the task and gets it done. If you are a guy, you know how much you appreciate working with a guy like that. No hiding behind emails and no voice mail screens. For all his busy-ness, Ahmed is accessible. I know my job is done when I get a“Thanks brotha Jay”, or “Awesomesauce!” text from him. So now that you see a little bit of the flurry and scramble that is involved with a weekly posting, I will leave you with this…

You can do it!

No matter how busy, how depressed, how ADHD, how happy, or how unprepared you think you are, you can do it. Each week #teamahmed proves this time and time again. No is simply not in our vocabulary and is not how we live our lives. We are all upbeat, positive people who really want to achieve some great things and have a definite course set for our lives.

Speaking of, stay tuned in 2015 because Ahmed has some pretty neat things planned and it is exciting to see them take shape. That is one of the privileges you get when you work with the Wizard of Oz. You get to be the “man behind the curtain” and see ideas take shape as they go from seed to fruit. However, don’t think for a minute that the Hassan’s need a brain, a heart, or lack courage. I have deep admiration for who they are and how they do life. I’m just a guy who is grateful to follow them down the yellow brick road!

With Much Love and Admiration,

Brotha Jay 🙂

P.S. For all the latest updates, be sure to follow Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed Hassan on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest!

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