People getting weird around you as your business grows?

[ChrisTripleC]

@Majestic66

Ya Thats great the guy standing outside the lincoln tunnel with a spray bottle Ha.

I remember there was a time i couldnt even say i own a window cleaning business:D .

I was at a bckyard party at a frinds house Late to mid 90s he had all his kids friends parents were there we were all at table chatting it up … this one guy is a systems analyist, the other guy is a Lawyer the other one a Banker there all talking work im just sitting there listinin . I knew it was coming. “Sooo Mike what do you do . Ya im a window cleaner”… dead silence . I was like you know Professionaly squeegees, an strip washers “LOl " not like the guy at the corner of Pitkin and Pine .”
My girl friend at the time said "why did you get embaressed when you said that i was like you dont know me to good enough yet HUH. I was not embarresed are you kiddin who are those people to me what do i care what they think .

Hahaha I hear ya!

When I first started my biz, I was talking to this girl who just happened to be the bartender at my local haunt.

Her BFF said “I don’t like that *** is seeing a window cleaner”, like I was some sort of scourge.

Luckily, I had about $800 in cash on me from the day’s take. I offered her a shot, and made sure she saw the stack.

Her tune changed quick.

[ProWindowCleaning]

As soon as I say I own a window cleaning business people look at me a little weird like “window cleaning?”

I love what I do, I’m also glad that I don’t sit in the same spot 9-5 doing something so miserable that walking to a water cooler is my idea of fun for the workday. Oh and the fact I wake up and don’t hate Monday’s like the majority of the work force.

Mike
Pro Window Cleaning
Home

Sent from my iPhone using Window Cleaning Resource

[Wagonhound]

Alex, you have just received the award for the most insightful post of the year. Very well said.

@Alex Lacey

And here I was thinking, “maybe the dude’s developing some B.O. from all this physical labor”…

Maybe I’m just oblivious or have become immune to negativity, but I don’t think I’ve ever encountered this problem. I’m fortunate in that many of my closest friends are also gainfully self employed, or at least have had the experience in the past.

I know I need to work on my attitude a little, as far as playing things down. It’s hard not to be enthusiastic when someone asks, “how’s business?”. But at the same time, people seem to be genuinely happy to see me happy. Including the tellers in the bank.

I think it’s important to not let any form of success go to our heads, or define ourselves by it. Financial success will not in itself make one happy, and is not the deciding factor in whether one is truly successful. I also believe it is equally important to celebrate the successes of others. People can tell when someone is truly interested in them, or if they’re being self-involved. Self employed should not equal self-involved. And most of all, I never, ever, want to look down on anyone who has a lesser level of financial success (even in the little thoughts I have to myself, when I gain some insight into someone else’s financial situation). It will not matter in the end who made $8/hr, or who made $80. So it really shouldn’t matter now. We should be just as happy for somone excited about their 50¢ raise, as we are when we’ve doubled our hourly with a cool new tool.

This philosophy works in the opposite direction, as well. By not defining myself by this sort of success, I will not envy those who have more, or find myself “looking up” to them.

These are just my musings on the topic, and some things I’ve been reminding myself of lately. Thanks for listening

[JaredAI]

@Majestic66

Ya Thats great the guy standing outside the lincoln tunnel with a spray bottle Ha.

I remember there was a time i couldnt even say i own a window cleaning business:D .

I was at a bckyard party at a frinds house Late to mid 90s he had all his kids friends parents were there we were all at table chatting it up … this one guy is a systems analyist, the other guy is a Lawyer the other one a Banker there all talking work im just sitting there listinin . I knew it was coming. “Sooo Mike what do you do . Ya im a window cleaner”… dead silence . I was like you know Professionaly squeegees, an strip washers “LOl " not like the guy at the corner of Pitkin and Pine .”
My girl friend at the time said "why did you get embaressed when you said that i was like you dont know me to good enough yet HUH. I was not embarresed are you kiddin who are those people to me what do i care what they think .

See also the book “Millionaire Next Door” by Stanley

Yeah, I get that a lot. Especially among technical people. I get the vibe that they sort of look down on service people and then when something technical comes up and they find out I used to be an engineer and worked on things that are a lot faster than anything they’ve ever worked on, it’s funny to sort of see the mental gears grinding while they figure out what’s up with me.

I was out bidding some storefronts and walked into this one shop and they had a bunch of boards along the wall so striking up conversation went “Oh, so do you lay out pcb’s?” And the guys behind their desks looked up, “No, we just test them. Uh, how do you know about pcb’s?” I designed them, except ours ran at 2.4 Ghz and radiation was a mutha, so would you like a free estimate on your windows?

I’ve been going to a group called “1 Million Cups” and our local group was organized by a buddy of mine who is a certifiable internet genius millionaire type and it’s funny when people go “Oh, window cleaning. Uh. Neat.”

Occasionally he’ll mention to someone that I’m doing web design and internet solutions on the side, because you know, it’s a step down from window cleaning and it’s a nice hobby for when it’s cold out.

Moral of the story: go out and buy “Millionaire Next Door” and take pride in being a business OWNER.

[Majestic66]

Sent from my iPhone using Window Cleaning Resource mobile app.

[WesternReserveWC]

When I first started making some money with this business, I bought a new minivan for my wife, a new Honda Civic for me, and a new pop-up camper. My wife’s friends kept asking her if I had won the lottery or something. I mean, I didn’t buy a Bentley! People who can only make more money if their boss gives them a raise just have a completely different perspective on things like working harder, and smarter, to make more.

I sent my kids to a private school where I was by far the poorest person there. We got financial aid. Half of those people had more money in cars than I made in three years. I was never the least bit embarassed to say I own a window cleaning business.

I like what I do. And my wife and kids like it that I always have time for them.

[Thewindowman]

Continue being YOU, people are meant to come in and our of our lives, your true friends will stay near. Once you start hanging with like minded people, the creative juices just end up flowing, crazy how the universe works

[Davo]

Asked ‘Why do you window clean?’

1. I like it
2. I’m the boss, so no putting up with d**k head co-workers or having to fix other peoples stuff-ups
3. I can and do say ‘no’ to PITA customers - yes I really do turn down the money. I wont be insulted with efforts to buy my soul.
4. I can see my kids school activities, go play golf, goof off at the beach etc whenever I want

“yeah, that sounds good” is the standard response.

Case closed your honor:cool:

[Davis]

Awesome stuff in this thread. I had a rough couple days out beating the bushes this week…actually the bushes beat me. There are some poignant reminders here about the true value of toughing it out and building a business into something that you can be proud of. Thanks for the uplifting messages.