The best lesson you've ever learned

[Ron Werner]

Recent posts (incl mine) about bad customers etc got me thinking.

One of the most valuable things I have learned in 18yrs of cleaning is when to say NO and walk away from a job.

What are your lessons learned?

 

[Mikey P]

Don't associate with Carpet Cleaners outside of the Internet.

 

[Brian R]

Anything you can learn from your most unsatisfied customers is golden.

 

[Askal]

A true statement if I have ever heard one: From martin King many years ago "If you want to make friends join a club, if you want to make money do fire and water work." Keeping in mind our satisfaction rate is much higher than the industry average but it stands none the less.
Al

 

[lust1kiddo]

don't use formula 90 on couches...lol.

 

[Steve Toburen]

A true statement if I have ever heard one: From martin King many years ago "If you want to make friends join a club, if you want to make money do fire and water work." Keeping in mind our satisfaction rate is much higher than the industry average but it stands none the less.
Al

Wow, Al. Martin King. I learned so much from Marty over the years. Not a spellbinding speaker in his delivery (he could be a bit pedantic) but almost every word was golden. Toward the start of my career as a restoration firm owner I asked him how and when I should start preparing to sell my business. Marty thought for awhile and said, "Remember that everything you do to make your business easier to sell also makes it a better, more profitable, easier-to-run and just a lot more fun place to work. So why not start now?"

Words to live by. Thanks, Al, for bringing up the name of Martin King- one of the unsung heroes of the cleaning and restoration industry.

Steve Toburen
http://www.SFS.JonDon.com

PS I don't remember the year but I know I was in the third ever class of Certified Restorers Marty ever did. Cliff Zlotnick and Pete Consigli plus my brother Tim were all in the class. It was WILD. (Now we've all gotten old and conservative.)

 

[Ron K]

Be very careful what you put your "thing" or your money into.

 

[Brian R]

Be very careful what you put your "thing" or your money into.

Please don't tell me you tried to put your thing in that thing too? :shock:

 

[rhyde]

You can be popular or honest not both

 

[Ron Werner]

that reminded me of what a client taught me
You can provide :

Best Service
Best Quality
Best Price

But you can't provide ALL THREE at the same time

Knowing that has helped me to be firm enough and confident enough to walk on some jobs.

 

[Brian R]

You can have all three....Until you go out of business. lol

 

[Ron K]

You can be popular or honest not both

If you're not honost you won't be popular for long either.

 

[Royal Man]

that reminded me of what a client taught me
You can provide :

Best Service
Best Quality
Best Price

But you can't provide ALL THREE at the same time

Knowing that has helped me to be firm enough and confident enough to walk on some jobs.

Why not!!!

The word "best" is very subjective.

Best can be all kinds of things to different clients: fastest drying, reasonably fast drying, anal retentive vacuuming, no vacuuming, ease of transaction, uniformed and educated crews, no interaction at all, pleasant personality,crews that don't talk much and get down to business, honest, quickest service, slowest service, lowest price, highest price..................

It's up to your company to define best for your prospect and to show your value.

As an example one person may say a Lamborghini is the best because it is very expensive.

Or an other may choose a Smart Car as the best because it is cheep.


Explain all the good things your company has to offer. Or you leave no choice but price left to the prospect as a way to choose your service.

 

[Chris A]

listen to those who are as or more successful than you want to be, ignore those who aren't (not necc. money related)

 

[truckmount girl]

Find balance in all things.

Take care,
Lisa

 

[Dolly Llama]

learn to figure things out for yourself

don't follow the crowd


..L.T.A.

 

[Becker]

Don't sleep with clients.

 

[Brian R]

listen to those who are as or more successful than you want to be, ignore those who aren't (not necc. money related)

I concur

 

[Ron Lippold]

do it the way that makes you happy......