Getting to know Papa John

Mikey P

Administrator
Joined
Oct 6, 2006
Messages
112,308
Location
The High Chapperal
Since John has been on a posting spree AND is a Life Time Supportive Member here I thought I'd put him in the limelight for 15 minute..

  • When and how did you get into carpet cleaning?
  • Tell us about your Vortex owner's experience..
  • What is the current size and scope of your cleaning business
  • Thailand...? Clue us in on wtf you are doing there all the time
  • If you were to move to another (easier to do business in) city, which would it be and how long to do thing it would take you to get to the point you are at now?
  • Did you realize that you completely blocked off my street that night we had the MF BBQ here with that damn Vortex? My neighbors still razz me about it.
  • Where would you like to see your biz five years from now?
  • Just how far do you take the whole green/Eco business model? Are you a Vegetarian, live in a cardboard yurt, wear only hemp based clothing and drive a mule to work?
  • Best seminars, classes, books, round tables or events you've spent money on to better your business and self?
  • Please describe your daily duties at your company
  • What does MB do for you?
  • So "Papa" are you married, what does she do and how many legal children call you that?
  • Any words of wisdom for the newbs here?

Thanks John!!
 

Papa John

Lifetime Supportive Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2013
Messages
6,587
Location
San Francisco, CA.
Name
John Stewart
Give us the skinny Dad. Mikey missed boxers or briefs?

The Sock!!-- just kidding--Both. I have everything I need so I don't like to bother my family with what to buy me for X-mas.. so I tell them Underwear. its cheap and easy.
I'm not a materialistic type of guy-- except with my business-- we all like new toys/equipment.
 
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Papa John

Lifetime Supportive Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2013
Messages
6,587
Location
San Francisco, CA.
Name
John Stewart
Since John has been on a posting spree AND is a Life Time Supportive Member here I thought I'd put him in the limelight for 15 minute..

  • When and how did you get into carpet cleaning?
I was making a lot of money doing window cleaning and some janitorial in 1989. The salesman where I bought my supplies was very willing to help relieve me of my cash said "The govt is going to take half your money in taxes. because of Section 179, if you invest it in growing your business, then its like everything you buy is 1/2 off. - You should get into carpet cleaning- everybody is doing it. so I did.

My 1st room I cleaned was my 10ft x10ft bedroom-- and took me 2 hours!- I was going to quit immediately!- but I told myself- the key to success is EDUCATION- so I begin looking for one.
  • Tell us about your Vortex owner's experience..
Buying my Vortex was a "Hail Mary Pass"- I was in the same bottom feeder rut as some are --and was thinking about quitting- I said F***it-- success or bankruptcy - so I leased one.-- Owning the Vortex/Aerotech catapulted me out of that rut! I was the 1st to convert my Vortex to run on used Vegetable oil- that lasted about 1-2 years and have since restored the V back to original.
  • What is the current size and scope of your cleaning business...
I have 2 techs, 1 CSR/dispatcher and Me. I'll gross about 475K this year. I have 4 TMs. and a small rug cleaning "plant".
  • Thailand...? Clue us in on wtf you are doing there all the time...
The 1st two years.. I plead the 5th and leave it to your imagination :twisted::twisted::very_drunk::rockon:as for the past 4 years: preparing my "bug-out" home/plan And working on my CC business. When I'm in the states I work 14-16 hour days 5-7 days a week-- so Thailand is where I get to rest, recharge and brainstorm on the Business--- MB really helps with this part!

I have a rice farm that's about 5 Rai in size. My wifes family has about 80 rai. I/wife have a dump truck which is currently on a govt job helping to build a reservoir near Cambodia.
  • If you were to move to another (easier to do business in) city, which would it be and how long to do thing it would take you to get to the point you are at now?
Oh God! My hearts go out to the guys who are just starting in this business and struggling-- I'd Hate to start all over again.-- SO I'd Cheat and move to a city nearby...If I had to start from the ground up in different state and city-- I'd Shoot myself..
  • Did you realize that you completely blocked off my street that night we had the MF BBQ here with that damn Vortex? My neighbors still razz me about it.
Really!? I'm Sorry! Back then I use to Double park my Vortex in SF to clean carpets. we could 2 man 6-8 houses a-day!-- Then CITY started to crack down. I got a $700 ticket which was reduced to $200 after I took a 1day "Sympathy Class".
  • Where would you like to see your biz five years from now?
With my lead guy relived of his EGO and running my business for me. We will be doing more area rugs in a bigger warehouse. I will do like the 1% ers and set up a "shell" business in Thailand where I will siphon off $$ to avoid taxes thereby cheating the American tax payer-- GO Capitalism!
  • Just how far do you take the whole green/Eco business model? Are you a Vegetarian, live in a cardboard yurt, wear only hemp based clothing and drive a mule to work?
When I started this Green thing in my biz in 1996-- GREEN meant a different thing. The term Green has been hijacked and in the cleaning biz- its not what the consumer thinks it is. We are not "Green" now and proud of it.

I tried to be a vegetarian but I felt Weak and I freckin Gained weight!- so quit after about 3 weeks. My Old MB name VegiJohn was because my Vortex ran on Vegetable oil.

Yes-- I DO LIVE IN a Styrofoam Yurt during BURNINGMAN.
  • Best seminars, classes, books, round tables or events you've spent money on to better your business and self?
Dale Carnage classes in the 80's---I know I'll get Ribbed here for this, but Joe Polish had a seminar on a cruise ship that really helped me. The cruise gave me a taste of the "good life" and I wanted more of it-- so I took Joe's advise and raised my prices and fired some clients. I've read A lot of Business books since I was 12yrs old.. but the recent two books that made me understand to world better are: "The Koran" and "Misquoting the Bible"
  • Please describe your daily duties at your company
Pushing the wand, fixing or maintaining stuff, counting the money, spending the money, marketing, planning its future,
  • What does MB do for you?
Gives me new ideas-MB makes and saves me money:rockon:
  • So "Papa" are you married, what does she do and how many legal children call you that?
Married. she is 28 I'm 51-- I'm Hugh Hefner on a budget- haha. She stays on farm in Thailand in small village. so I go back to Thailand every 2-3 months. I have a 26 and 21 year old sons and a 8year old step daughter.

PapaJohn is my "Burner" name given to me by my younger GalPals,
  • Any words of wisdom for the newbs here?
Never stop improving. LOVE yourself enough to raise your prices. Stop making excuses and learn from some of us Old Farts on MB.

Here's something I'll add for extra Credit: When I grow up I want to have the balls to charge what Mikey charges and All my Techs will be like Mark Saiger.;)

Thanks John!!
 
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