Critical Mass.

[Russ T.]

I saw it mentioned elsewhere today so have been thinking about it a lot.

What does it look like in my market?

How do I get there?

Can I evolve into a people manager instead of a carpet cleaning van/wife/marketing manager?

I don't know the answers to these questions but I'm starting to look for another mountain to climb...

 

[hogjowl]

You're a wife?

Never knew.

 

[Russ T.]

You're a wife?

Never knew.

oops, I meant managing a wife.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Uhhh admit or not...she manages you.

Only piglet truly thinks he runs the show. Delusional pork!

 

[Bob Pruitt]

Are you able to manage your wife? The way we do it is whoever cares the most wins...and I stay out of the kitchen.
Making changes starts with changing the way you think about things... much harder than most think, but the future is all yours Russ.

 

[BIG WOOD]

What kind of a mountain (career)
are you looking to climb?

 

[FB7777]

Sorry for my ignorance

What's your question?

 

[Cleanworks]

What kind of a mountain (career)
are you looking to climb?

Managing his wife is his fiirst step. He may not be able to take another if she sees this post

 

[Desk Jockey]

Sorry for my ignorance

What's your question?

I'll excuse you being ig-nerrant, but jus this once.

 

[Russ T.]

Sorry for my ignorance

What's your question?

What does it take to multiply the biz until it needs very little of my attention?

So I can spend all day in here with the multitruckers like Marty...

 

[Desk Jockey]

Managing his wife is his fiirst step. He may not be able to take another if she sees this post

 

[Russ T.]

Congrats Marty.

 

[FB7777]

What does it take to multiply the biz until it needs very little of my attention?

So I can spend all day in here with the multitruckers like Marty...

Well shit, when you get that answered , fill me and Marty in

Chavez is about as close to anyone that's got that figured out

 

[Bob Pruitt]

Instead of Howard Partridge type webinar, we need to do a @Mikey P Webinar with Chavez. I bet he actually answers questions without shouting over to another guy...who isn't even paying attention.
Then a Fred Boyle webinar on basic finances and investments for Carpet Cleaners. I know I wouldn't want to miss either one.

 

[Desk Jockey]

You know what it takes. It takes getting out of your comfort zone. You're going to have to let go a little.

What I would do if I were young and good looking...uhh after her. I would work diligently at finding your replacement. Baby steps of course, 3 year plan.

Find a college kid that wants to work 20 hours part time. Monday Wednesday Friday 1/2 day. Tuesday & Thursday all day.

Then train him to leave him. Its the toughest part but its a carpet cleaning curse. Not owner ever thinks a employee can clean as well as he.

What are you going to do with TWENTY hours off a week? Hang out at the bar on MB? Play video games with the kids? Chill and take a well deserved break. FAT CHANCE!

You get a few button down oxfords with your logo and hit the streets. When you're not out looking for work get on Facebook and Instagram. Start posting before and afters. Market market market!!!

Hopefully the kid is off in the summer and you book solid one crew. Shop for a back up unit and you pickup over flow or book a second truck and find out if the kid has a friend.

Keep hustling work. Find out what they are paying for apartment cleanings and see if they are willing to give you more of the pie. Hire some girls and you check in on them as you are out hustling more work.

Keep looking for more help and keep selling yourself. You can do it!

 

[Desk Jockey]

Instead of Howard Partridge type webinar, we need to do a @Mikey P Webinar with Chavez. I bet he actually answers questions without shouting over to another guy...who isn't even paying attention.
Then a Fred Boyle webinar on basic finances and investments for Carpet Cleaners. I know I wouldn't want to miss either one.

I don't speak English well. Lots of cuss words.

 

[FB7777]

Instead of Howard Partridge type webinar, we need to do a @Mikey P Webinar with Chavez. I bet he actually answers questions without shouting over to another guy...who isn't even paying attention.
Then a Fred Boyle webinar on basic finances and investments for Carpet Cleaners. I know I wouldn't want to miss either one.

It'd be easier to teach blind people to drive, than to teach young people to spend less than they earn


Chavez's session is EZ.... get more work

 

[Bob Pruitt]

Sometimes this board reminds me of the comedy movie Kung Fu Hustle.
Many of the guys here are specialized Kung Fu Masters at their specialty...Restoration, Tile and Stone, Rugs, upholstery...what ever. But they rarely talk about it...except Chris.
I would tell Russ it's not an age thing... it's about staying teachable at what ever age you are... change is the only constant.

 

[Desk Jockey]

I'm here for the entertainment. Work? I have plenty on my desk to keep me busy. I'm trying to escape it.

 

[Cleanworks]

The big guys hire and fire until they find someone who can do the job. The little guys have to adopt the same mentality. Some people can be trained, some can't. Just like pets. No employee can clean like the owner, they just don't have as much at stake. The owner has to realize that and train to an acceptable level of clean. Sometimes you find an employee that comes close and sometimes you have to give them the boot.

 

[Bob Pruitt]

I have plenty on my desk to keep me busy.

And the laundry ...

 

[Russ T.]

Sometimes this board reminds me of the comedy movie Kung Fu Hustle.
Many of the guys here are specialized Kung Fu Masters at their specialty...Restoration, Tile and Stone, Rugs, upholstery...what ever. But they rarely talk about it...except Chris.
I would tell Russ it's not an age thing... it's about staying teachable at what ever age you are... change is the only constant.

Staying teachable is so important.

I'm barely spending anything in marketing. Facebook has given us the best ROI, with Service Monster playing an important role for us too.

I KNOW I can get more work. I know I can.

I've just been awful content for a little while now...

We're meeting with a construction company for the 2nd time, this Thursday. There's a sweetheart deal on a plot of land I've been hawking for a long time now.

I'm scared sh!+less and WAY out of my comfort zone.

I feel like I need coaching through this.

Thanks for chiming in guys.

 

[The Great Oz]

Russ,
It might get beaten to death here, but you're a candidate for a Strategies For Success class. http://sfs.jondon.com/ It will get you started on the right path and open you up to seeing the series of steps/challenges in building your business to the level you want. If you want to talk with someone now, contact your local SCORE office for business mentoring.https://www.sba.gov/tools/local-assistance/score

It makes sense to go beyond seminars and hire an industry consultant at several key points where business changes a lot... say, five employees, 10 employees, 25... as they will assess your business and make recommendations that are right for you.

 

[SamIam]

Flesh out every free listing with pics and weblinks yahoo, google, bing, yelp. Citysearch. Ect,ect. Facebook google places.

Try to get as many online reviews as possible.

Hire a part time kid on call start training.

If you have helper, he can vacuum while you setup, bring in fans help block and chip, back up hoses. And on vacants you can let him start to clean. Using a RE is pretty ease to teach how to use.

Always point out all the warning, tile edges, slip and fall related stuff . Teach teach teach.

Eventually he'll get it and become second nature.

 

[PrimaDonna]

What does it take to multiply the biz until it needs very little of my attention?

So I can spend all day in here with the multitruckers like Marty...

I agree with SFS if you haven't gone.

But you have to systemize your business. Document everything you do down to the minute detail. Write out your procedures for every aspect of your business. Make it idiot prof and duplicatable. Pretend that somownealki g off the street would have to do a process In your business cold only reading your specific step by instructions. Read the E myth if you haven't yet. You need a consistent experience for your customers even if you and Mel aren't involved. (I know , hard to do when you've built your business based in being owner operated and "family owned and operated" like us).

Then one once get that done you'll realize that as you add people or they try to follow it yirubk Doing things and it changed as you scale bigger. But then you are working ON your business and not In it.

And go for the property. "If you build it they more customers) will come" We took the leap when we moved to our dream property/house 7 years ago. And it all worked out.

 

[jcooper]

We're meeting with a construction company for the 2nd time, this Thursday. There's a sweetheart deal on a plot of land I've been hawking for a long time now.
I'm scared sh!+less and WAY out of my comfort zone.

You should be scared, Russ. It's means you are not a dumbass...


As far as critical mass goes... Everything ANY of us need to know is right here. It's all been written at one time or another. It's just a matter of searching enough. And using the info...

 

[Russ T.]

I'll attend SFS, I can only benefit from it from everything I've heard.

I've feasted on the ideas here for a while now, years even. I've invested in the equipment needed and have really focused on developing a SYSTEM that works.

I've learned a few marketing tips that have saved me thousands and lots of time.

It's gotten me busy!

That's great but I'm spending my time focused on cleaning, rather than growing.

It just feels like such a leap...

But I've lept before.

 

[Desk Jockey]

You have everything it takes. You only lacked the desire. If you want it, you can accomplish it.

 

[Russ T.]

You have everything it takes. You only lacked the desire. If you want it, you can accomplish it.

Thanks Richard, you've encouraged me the whole way.

Maybe someday I can order Cimex's by the dozen too.

 

[Lee Stockwell]

I've been sick as a dog for the last two or three days.

Everything went fine without me. I need to get better quick before everyone figures that out.