How old were YOU or your SON when it finally sunk in?

[Mikey P]

that a career of glorified janitor was your path in life?


For those of you who took over a family business, at what age did you evolve from cleaning technician to business owner?

and for those who still run the biz but have sons working for them, Steve Lawrence, Marty, Saiger etc, at what age did or will your son finally see the opportunity and run with it.

My 23 year old man/child is GREAT at cleaning and customer relations but has not shown ANY interest in learning the other side or the business. (working the web, bookkeeping, phone management, schmoozing referral sources, marketing in general, paperwork, maintaining MB so he never has to buy chems or truckmounts ever again and so on and so forth..)


I think he is finally succumbiong to the fact that his dream career of Master Beer Brewer just ain't going to pan out but his current distraction of joining the Pro Frisbee Golf Circuit is taking up his off days rather than sit beside me and watch how I work the magic.





so when can I expect him to pull his head out of his ass?

 

[hogjowl]

I dunno about that last question Mike, but I have been told by several "experts" that 30 is the new 20 in regards to todays boy children.

 

[hogjowl]

I was 28 when I finally realized that my work/school approach to life had finally ended in a firey death. I was actually GLAD that this industry was here for me and the opportunity to build a normal life free of the corporate and scholastic pressures was available. It was a breath of free life that I have continued to enjoy for the past 25 years.

I think it will take my son a few more years to actually reach the point where he feels the same, but I see signs of it approaching as we speak.

 

[Ken Snow]

All 4 of us in the 3rd generation did not plan to make this out career. For me, the in law it was happenstance taking a break from my Junior year of college. I cleaned for 5.5 years during which time I married the Hagopian youngest. We both thought we would still move on to other things in life till I was about 28 or so. By then I was Purple to the core and was Ops Mgr and a few years later President as her father stepped more and more back from the bus. We are now fully operating in the 3 red generation and all of us are in our low to mid 50's.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

[Desk Jockey]

I think I was in my 40's before my father started giving me more office related duties.

I'm still hoping this isn't my life's path.....there has to be more than this.....doesn't there???

 

[Scott Rampage]

I was 12 my dad and I duel cleaned every Job when I was working with him he taught me how to market and we went over the business plan/actual every month. Now I'm 14.

 

[Beeks]

Im not a janitor, im a Home Health Specialist, and it was only a couple years ago i was 27 that this became my calling. Im still looking to grow a few more inches so i can try out for the NBA though.

 

[Art Kelley]

Mikey, the best thing you and Paula could do for Davis would be to just die. That's what my parents did for me when I was in my early 20s. Otherwise I would still be living at home with them like the 30+ y/o's do today. Once I realized I was completely on my own and carpet cleaning was the only thing between me and destitution, I got very serious about running my business properly.

 

[FB7777]

Good advice Art

With 14 and 15 year old sons, its difficult to say if they will have anything more to do with the company other than part time through the years

Both are very good students and as parents we are providing them with all educational opportunities to pursue what they want.

I'd prefer they choose different paths than this racket but the business will be going strong if either are interested in making it a career.

 

[floorguy]

officially or non???

non, well when i was in my 8th grade english class, and told the teacher i dont need this shit....my secretary is going to do that for me.... boyyyy do i regret that...(though i have found i have a "disability" which makes it tough for me to get my thoughts from brain to paper/keyboard...) which is why i sound like a rambling fool most times

Officially....20ish....right when i figured out who i was going to marry....figured i better have some shit together when i asked her dad

And I didnt take over, it is Mine and the wifes biz....my dad and I help each other out....but would kill each other if it came to making decisions...

I have taken it farther then he ever did or would have....even now, he is in "wind down" mode and just hands over jobs he no longer wants or can do....


As far as my kid.....I am think it will be something with computers......he runs a server (soon to be 4) for the wonderful game of minecraft, and in 9 mths has made $3k from it....not a ton, but when you think about it for a 15 yr old... And he is now learning how to "adjust" and fix when someone else screws up...AKA server host keeps going down on him....

Maybe my story will be like swishys...and 1 of my son-in-laws will want to run it....

in theory i have 6ish years at the soonest for that to happen

 

[Jeremy N]

My 21 year old quit and went to become a pipeline welder about 6 months ago. He said he never works as hard as he didn't with me and that he makes way more money.

My son who turned 18 a few days ago will graduate from high school in Decemeber and will have an associates degree in biology at the same time. He leaving for nursing school in Decemeber.

My 14 year old son is planing his own empire and would probably put ,e put of business if he started his own gig. The kid is destined to rule somewhere.

My 12 year old son is a slow moving genius. Maybe him?

My 10 year old daughter wants to do nothing in life other than help her dad.

My 8 year old talks. A lot.

 

[Jim Nelson]

I have ben the Janitor ever sense i went in to the Army at 17. Now at 62 I was coming home from a job with my 13 year old 14 next week. And there was Corvette in front of us I said Joe you like that, yah. I said you can have one if you want he perked up. You can have that and a house be four your 21. I my self an not moved by money ,but a 14 year old . I told him you can have one if you want it your friends will not have one . And you can get it by cleaning carpets. All we need to do is get more coustmers.I am believing by the time he is 16 he will have his own truck. And I have an 11 year old when he is 16 he will have a truck and He will run the biz and his 3 older brothers will work for Him and He will bring me the money.

 

[jcooper]

I'd say it's pretty normal for a 23 year old to be more interested in ladies and enjoying life than work.

At 23, just be happy you two can coexist and work together.

Holy crap Jermey ! That's a lot of kids... Sounds like a great family!

 

[Derek]

as far as the janitor title goes, when you've actually been a real janitor for 10 or more years, you'll then realize that CC'ing is MUCH higher up the food chain. no comparison for me, i disliked jani work. CC'ing is great and, more importantly, much more appreciated.

if you grew up silver spoons or had a family that all ended up white collar, then i can def see why you'd compare it to being a janitor.

 

[floorguy]

my 6 yr old talks more then your 8 yr old i PROMISE

 

[HydroDude]

My son started at 2 years old...he has been on several water losses, gone to trade shows, and helps out in the rug pit...now 5, probably know's more about water damage and rug cleaning then most of you...




View attachment 2526View attachment 2527

 

[Steve Toburen]

CC'ing is great and, more importantly, much more appreciated.

if you grew up silver spoons or had a family that all ended up white collar, then i can def see why you'd compare it to being a janitor.

I agree.

Steve

PS Mikey, I know you are mostly kidding. Even though some view carpet cleaning/ restoration as "humble" most of you make more money than your banker, accountant or possibly even more than your doctor. I was always grateful (and more than a little surprised) to have "accidentally" wound up with a business that gave me money, fun and Personal Freedom while still young enough to enjoy it. And this with little formal education and virtually no start-up funds.

 

[Mark Saiger]

I started cleaning with the family at a young age of about 10 years old. My dad was a band director who went into the carpet cleaning business. Said I would never be like my dad....I became a band director and carpet cleaner....I am like my dad and that is not a bad thing.

To work my way through college, my dad gave me one of the carpet cleaning units and told me here was how I was going to earn my way through college....and I did. That business is still running and owned by my youngest brother.

I ended up getting recruited as a Band Director in Grand Rapids, MN. I said "why not" and was just going to do that for a "few" years. I ended up teaching here for 25 years with National Competing bands (Jazz Bands, concert bands and competitive Field show bands). I took a five year leave of absence and then finally quit teaching. Left my medical and retirement medical behind as well as half my State retirement. BUT....I do make more money cleaning carpets and can get paid for the hours I put in. So, I was teaching and cleaning all the time....that was crazy!

I never had kids of my own and did get divorced (from a ministers daughter) and then remarried about 10 years later (band directing can be pretty tough on a marriage). My current wife had 3 girls...I thought after working with so many kids in my life, taking on a family would be a piece of cake....Oh how I have learned!!!!

My youngest step daughter at the age of 10 would run to the van on Saturdays I would go out cleaning to help me. She turned 16, got her license and I don't think I saw her much again.

Middle Step daughter dropped out of beauty school (yeah we have a Beauty School Drop out) and she came to work with me for a couple of years running the vans, wands, doing water losses....she is pretty tough and maybe weighs an entire 100 pounds.

It came down to the girls not wanting to work with the cleaning biz (or me, not sure) so they brought home boys! Middle daughter got married, I made her husband (age 27) my lead tech and he is fantastic! Basically have told the daughter if she divorces him, I am keeping him! (we do say that jokingly...but also serious)

Our middle daughter can answer the phones, is good with people (has a crazy personality and people like her) and she knows this industry. They are the ones we are working to move the business to in the next 4 years or so. We have been meeting with our lawyer and trying to plan the best transition for all of us with the LLC (s-corp) in the future. We plan to continue to help them to stay successful and enjoy a good living (or even better one) as we have had. Now we also have our first Grandson, so we are looking to the future is he wants to get involved as well (he is only 10 months old now and hasn't really told us his intentions yet...LOL)

My wife just quit her banking (head tellor coordinator job) or retired if you ask her, to stay home and help with the phones and more importantly, take care of that new grandson! She is having the time of her life right now and I am so happy that we can do this!

My oldest step daughter owns her own house (college degree in business) but is the main person for the CEO of one of our area hospitals and really likes it. Our middle daughter and husband also own their own home, so we are working hard to make sure all of our kids are taken care of.

Our youngest daughter is 20, and her boyfriend (19) is also one of our techs. They are still trying to decide what they want in life, but they have some time....

We are taking care of many people (family) with our little carpet cleaning business in this little town. It is a bit of a responsibility, but it is also a great feeling of satisfaction.

We have retirement accounts for me and the wife and also our employees. We still can't get a decent medical plan to help them yet, but we look at many options to help them with other benefits. Some of the benefits we give them also help our business. It just always "research" to find things that can help us all.

I am sitting in the home office this morning, making plans as to what our needs for this year and more future plans are (5-10 years) and set some goals so we can budget monies. I think it is when we forget to set some goals, that we just keep cruising and doing the same thing, and sometimes, that same thing isn't the correct thing....

A ship in the ocean floating without a rudder. The ship will float, but it would be nice to reach an island someday. (A retirement island!)

Don't have all the answers, but I sure enjoy reading and hearing what others are doing so I can get some ideas and help our journey.

Wishing the best for everyone!

 

[Jimmy L]

My 17 year old son Trayvon works with me on the commercial jobs sometimes and he is very good about prepping and keeping a head of me.
But it's the transition he has just like apartment HACKS of going from commercial properties and how he conducts himself in a residential setting that needs more fine tuning.
He tends to wander and I've told him about how these people are NOT our friends and to stay close to me instead of playing with his cell phone or just doing goofy things in front of people. And recently I've discovered his liking of watermelon ice tea combined with skittles and cough syrup that could lead to his DEATH someday.

 

[Royal Man]

LOL!!! Must get hot cleaning in that hoodie. That is why he is drinking all that Purple Drank. Better hope a client doesn't walk up behind him while he is cleaning or at least make sure the client isn't packing. Ps: Check his pockets for jewelry after each job.

 

[FB7777]

OK , Ladwig 's joke was amusing.

Your commentary just illustrates what an inbred, myopic minded piece of shit you really are Brokum

 

[Royal Man]

Too soon?

 

[Doug Cox]

Early twenties here. Getting to the point where I am getting ready to go in a different direction. Probably won't happen since I really enjoy what I do and have a very good life. I think my son would take over but he would want it for free.