How Many Years?

[Matt Middleton]

60/40 still love the work.

 

[BradFenstermaker]

50/21

 

[Mike J]

Well. According to this thread I’ve got 35-40 years left of a scrubbing carpets.
That’s awesome. Thanks.
#TheDream

Im getting fired up! This is the best thread yet.

 

[Mike J]

53
owner operator 22 years. one other tech for many of them.

With 4 kids 26,24,19 and 7. Same awesome wife. She really runs the biz, I just work. Didn't miss any of the smaller things like first days of school, halloween parades, etc. Keeps me motivated.
The 7 year old is my prospect for a takeover. Blessed here.

Took my 7 yo daughter to Target and she really wanted these accessories. She is putting her dolls to work now. Im teaching her to delegate.
Cutest thing ever when she walks around with a microfiber hanging out of her pocket.

 

[Kenny Hayes]

I was an insurance man first. I went from the penthouse to the outhouse

 

[KevinD]

I remember that visit, and getting to know Jim Potter too. I was in my second year living on the road when we met.

You had a Hydramaster, and Jim had a Certified truck mount if I remember right.

Close. Jim had the certified but I was looking for my 1st. TM (reason for the prochem demo).
It wasn't until a year or 2 later when I bought a Hydracat from Aram Khalfan (sp) Hydramaster dealer in Brooklyn NY.

 

[Jim Pemberton]

Close. Jim had the certified but I was looking for my 1st. TM (reason for the prochem demo).
It wasn't until a year or 2 later when I bought a Hydracat from Aram Khalfan (sp) Hydramaster dealer in Brooklyn NY.

That was it. Aram was a very nice man too.

 

[LOV3Y]

28, didnt do carpet from like 16-19
went with my dad to commercial bank cleanings at like 14ish. cleaned about every wainwright bank in boston for years. still remember the one next to a fish market.
i went to your shop when you hosted lisas (first i think?) rug cleaning TTP class. learned a lot.
i distinctly remember you explaining fire retardant in upholstery and how you clean it.

i feel young and old at the same time.

 

[Willy P]

66 years old and 42 years in one form or another. I started out pounding tack strip and rolling out pad and installs in general. That dried up and I answered an ad for a bait and switcher and left after 6 months and out on my own. I built the company up until I imploded. I opened a detailing business, lost my shirt and decided a grade 7 was just not getting me there. 53 weeks later, high school diploma with a 4.0 grade average. Who knew? I was going to get scholarships and other funding - BUT - I went out and bought a portable and started up again. I did really well , sold my business and now I'm comfortably retired. I have one little machine and a wand if I get horny to push one.

 

[Mike J]

28, didnt do carpet from like 16-19
went with my dad to commercial bank cleanings at like 14ish. cleaned about every wainwright bank in boston for years. still remember the one next to a fish market.
i went to your shop when you hosted lisas (first i think?) rug cleaning TTP class. learned a lot.
i distinctly remember you explaining fire retardant in upholstery and how you clean it.

i feel young and old at the same time.

Seems like carpet cleaners feel younger as they get older. You can't buy that.

 

[Papa John]

Seems like carpet cleaners feel younger as they get older. You can't buy that.

Well, compared to most of the younger entitled generation, I feel like King Kong at 59.

A 50+ Asian gal pal helped me out a bit, and she was more productive than my 19-year-old Latino nephew!
AND He was California's 3# rank gymnast when he was 6-8 years old.

 

[Clean Rug Doug]

54/15

 

[bob vawter]

Well, compared to most of the younger entitled generation, I feel like King Kong at 59.

A 50+ Asian gal pal helped me out a bit, and she was more productive than my 19-year-old Latino nephew!
AND He was California's 3# rank gymnast when he was 6-8 years old.

I been retired longer than some of yous
Been in bidness.....goin on 13 yrs....
Think about that one!

 

[Papa John]

I been retired longer than some of yous
Been in bidness.....goin on 13 yrs....
Think about that one!

Wow! Bob, I didn't know you'd been retired that long. What are you doing to keep from being bored?

I don't think I could handle being retired for that long.
I get restless after just ten days in Thailand and can't wait to get back to the grind.
I love this job.

 

[darcie smith]

All of you guys’ years of experience is the reason I spend time here. I’m 42, been working for the business for 6 years. The business is 17 years old this year.

 

[Dolly Llama]

What are you doing to keep from being bored?

Judge Judy, Price is Right and Young & Restless


..L.T.A.

 

[bob vawter]

Wow! Bob, I didn't know you'd been retired that long. What are you doing to keep from being bored?

I don't think I could handle being retired for that long.
I get restless after just ten days in Thailand and can't wait to get back to the grind.
I love this job.

Keeping the A6 JUS LIK NEW!

 

[Nate The Great]

Judge Judy, Price is Right and Young & Restless


..L.T.A.

Geezz, you’re not @Raser Hayes or @Jack Zipper Zerkie age..

 

[Kenny Hayes]

Throw Lee Stockwell in there too!

 

[Dolly Llama]

Geezz, you’re not @Raser Hayes or @Jack Zipper Zerkie age..

not ME!!

I was telling you Bawb does
I KNOW this, because he whines like baby if call during any of those time slots
(and I have to hear about the latest Judge Judy and Phyllis

he's in lust with "perky Phyllis"

AND...Rexella Van Impe

fo-reel...

..L.T.A.

 

[bob vawter]

not ME!!

I was telling you Bawb does
I KNOW this, because he whines like baby if call during any of those time slots
(and I have to hear about the latest Judge Judy and Phyllis

he's in lust with "perky Phyllis"

View attachment 116597






AND...Rexella Van Impe

View attachment 116598



fo-reel...

..L.T.A.

You gotta kno Rexellas wig was moving on the Hedboard......specialty after he died...

 

[Mikey P]

All of you guys’ years of experience is the reason I spend time here..

Want to edit a few more paragraphs in the hard surface manual?

 

[icleancarpetz]

One thing is certain…the caliber of ‘hands-on’ instructors is slowly disappearing.

 

[darcie smith]

Want to edit a few more paragraphs in the hard surface manual?

Sure

 

[Mikey P]

One thing is certain…the caliber of ‘hands-on’ instructors is slowly disappearing.

Theres a few

 

[KevinD]

Judge Judy, Price is Right and Young & Restless


..L.T.A.

If that is all I had to look forward to I would Unretire

 

[Chris A]

35 years old, 23 w-2 verified years in the same exact business...15 this year as an owner. Fack!

 

[Steve Lawrence]

in biz 1973 born in 1948. Retired a couple years ago. My 46 yr old son has it now. I'm 73 now. Met Lee Pemberton in 1979 in Fresno at Steam Services--had Lee at our rug clng shop in 1981 to teach us stuff. 16 years here. Okay, I'm gone again.

 

[Trip Moses]

One thing is certain…the caliber of ‘hands-on’ instructors is slowly disappearing.

Another thing for certain. The need for those Mooks is disappearing.

 

[The Great Oz]

66/45.

Don't love cleaning, but I love figuring things out and solving problems, and this industry and the younger generations have provided an ample supply.

Today I researched sport and cargo net for a project that should save us a lot of money down the line, did an emergency repair on some plumbing that had three generations of amateur repair, handled a 21 year old's crisis with being spoken to harshly by another employee he was irritating... you know, an entertaining day.

I'd have to retire to flipping houses using subcontractors.