You flippen piss me off, you ask all the other guys the hard questions and when you comes around to me, there all the easy ones I know the answers too..
-What led you to get into this business? I needed a job, Quit Commercial Fishing, Boat tried to sink on me twice in the past year. Didn't know if any more prayers would be answered, Just moved to Anch from Kodiak, I knew maybe 10 people in that City. Tried becoming a multi millionare like Rich Devos and Jay Van Andle with their products but it just didn't happen. My upline Pearl intoduced me to my DD whom needed part time help doing WD. Never was part time, Infact I was there on my job interview and a big sewer back up called in. I was asked if I wanted to see how it was done, So I pitched in and started to work. every day start at 8AM get off 6-8 at night or later, all would go to the bar for a drink or two and they would invite me cause I had no money. Payday came and all got a check but me, Same thing happened the next week. Their forskin asked wheres Watson's check??
The 2 partner/ owners said we never hired him, so I guess he has been working for free.
The crew got riled up and the forskin quit, so they gave me his job with a big bonus check to start...So I guess you could say I jumped right into upper management.. That night I showed them the fun of drinking in a butt bar instead of a cowboy hang out.
-Describe your best cheerleader and what it took to make him or her so.
We have had many over the years sometimes cleaning for 3 generations the same day.
The best I would have to say were the carpet retailers, some I really pissed off some with my know it all attitude but they still refer us from time to time with us being company #3 of the 3 names given. I have bailed many of them out when they had installer defects or other problems with their clientele.
-Where was your business one year ago and where will it be a year from now?
Same place it was the year before that too, Here in our back yard... In 99 we moved to the country, Sedro-Woolley, we had been paying $1250.00 a month lease payments on our shop and mini plant for the past 6 years, We had decided to get out of fire restoration and agreed to downsize. We fired our landlord and do our stuff at our place now, Hope it will still be here next year too. Things are really getting tough out there.
-Who do you emulate in this industry and why?
I hope that after being a proffessional student of this industry for over 20 years where cleaning supported my habit that I emulate some of all whom I have had the pleasure to learn from.
A couple of my favorites are Dr Edgar P. York, who actualy kicked me out of his class in Fresno, Then Begged me to return, I had him by the short hairs. (Another Story) and Jim Henry from Danuba CA He had the privilidge to teach me and my complete family in the same class Yep, Helen, Jay Christy and Jolene plus 2 employees. Damn I miss him. He came from the early Dura Clean era, Buckets and sponges, on their knees, and we think we have it bad. oh the stories he told.. Keith Williams, wow what a flippen genius and one that could help one out of almost any carpet problem. He was also called a carpet patholigist..
-Start over from scratch, how would you go about it. Edjumacations the way to go, sure there is alot on the internet today, but, it shore nuff don't beat the likes of the Chopped liver(ST) the Jim Pemberton, the new and upcoming instructors in the field today.
Starting small, yes even with the portable, TM as soon as possible, Pay as you go, stay out of det as much as possible, expand when you can pay for it and learn how to sock it away something I didn't learn to do...
-Is Helen deaf? She wants to know why you are asking that??? I know she just ignores me...
But, she just gave me a couple of pieces of hot corn bread slathered with butter fresh from the oven... My Helen Loves me!!!