When first starting asking other window cleaners what to charge.
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Spending way too much time worrying about my competition ( My Turf ! ). It created anger and resentment and a lot of negative energy. I was fearful when others would come to my area or start a business. I have, over the years, totally done a 180 on this. I was sick of having a possessive attitude so, I CHANGED !!
Today I spend zero time thinking or worrying about that. I started approaching ANYONE that I saw doing work and introducing myself and offering to be helpful in any way I could. I began to see them as like me. Just trying to do good and build their business - as people. I am happier because of it and can focus on being positive.
I always thought that their building would be at my expenses. A FAULSE ASSUMPTION. It never came true. Today I am secure in what I do - what I have and being blessed to have a successful company.
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Send Jim…another topic. Bought in and wonder if I blew it. Might be too early to tell.
That is a really great attitude that I want to imitate
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tell me more
Well said insecurities will jack anyone up.
good network with competitors is very very good.
i had a surgery and was unable to work a friend covered for me happens to be a competitor.
we’re a firm believer that a rising tide raises all Ships
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If it works for you or other people, great.
It didn’t work for me, Total waste of money and some of the cards were never delivered.
I haven’t spent a lot on cards, maybe $100 but not a single call from that money. I’ll spend another 100 or so and then move on.
Where do you live in In.? I grew up in the Corydon area, southern Ind.
Northern Indiana.
Tried to evolve my business into a partnership with my brother. It wasn’t terrible, but he is much better suited to just working a traditional job where he can clock in and clock out.
My biggest failure was tied to that. In an effort to grow and open up other services, we put in a bid for a multi-building floor stripping job. I knew nothing about the work, but he has worked for another company doing it. I was totally dependent on him. Long story short, we got in over our head and ended up working ~24 hours over a weekend, all at night. This was the first week of April, which, as you all know, is a terrible time to not get any sleep.
In the end, we got called back by the guy because there were problems and I didn’t have any idea what to tell the guy. It was a mess. Got it all sorted out in the end.
What did I learn? I don’t agree to work that I don’t know how to do. If I can’t take the lead and be confident in a good end result, I won’t do it. This realization led to two positives for my business:
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I learned to focus completely on our core services and stop looking for more add-ons. This has helped us get better at what we do, and I just tell people we don’t do anything else.
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I now have the confidence to walk away from jobs that I’m not confident about. This has saved me a ton of stress, and I believe cost me no money.
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I wish more people thought that way! It would solve a lot of bad situation.
I’m happy to hear you got it sorted out in the end!
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I don’t know whats the deal with April?
@Blue_Ocean_Window_Cl Sending out $100-200 in cards wont get much of a response at all I’m afraid. Did you send out a one time blast or repeat to a specific area? I think you’ll need to set aside a bigger budget for it. Target an area you work in with repeat mailings, do facebook ads that target same area to your ideal customer, do a google adwords campaign to that area, and make yourself visible in that targeted area.
When we are headed into an area we send out cards to the area families saying “we’re coming to your area…want a quote?” then 2 follow up cards after. this is the only use of Send Jim so far and it’s been fruitless
Yeah haven’t heard from you in a while, everyone disappeared that was on here a few years ago except @JaredAI @JfromtheD @windowsrx. I lost interest for a while too.
Ouch, I know those jobs can be mental anguish all day long when you know you can be doing another job for what you are worth. It hurts even more when you think about one of those WFP jobs for $120+/hr and you’e done working by 11am and perfectly happy to enjoy the rest of the day off. I somehow find a way to get rid of those low paying customers through attrition because I’m not good at telling people I can’t work for them at my old prices when others will definitely pay.
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Good to see back.
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I’d say there’s quite a few of us from the early 2010s. Not too many left from before that, though. @Bruce and @Windowman still grace us from time-to-time, though.
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Hey Buddy! Yea, I come back on here from time to time, just been so busy with everything else in Life. Business is still going great, I have 8 guys working for me, and I touch a squeegee or a PW wand every 8-10 weeks, just to work with my guys for moral support, etc.
I just run around bidding, and customer relations.
How you doing?
windowman
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