For me the hardest part about running my own window cleaning business has to be… feeling like an idiot! It has not been the finances, the work load or the lack there of. It is the fact that you are trying something that whether it fails or succeeds its all on you. There is no one to blame or hand the phone to when a complaint comes in except you. You are the one who has to call the customer back when you accidently screwed up the estimate you just gave them. When your friends and family constantly ask you, “so how is your business going” and all you can think of is how NOT to tell them you only got one call so far this week. Or when a customer asks you a question that you as the hired professional should know and you don’t know the answer. What i have continued to realize is that although throughout theses 10 months i have had many moments where i have felt like an idiot, i have learned and i am becoming a better window cleaner and better business man! I constantly remind myself that even though i made myself look stupid in front of one customer, i am sowings seeds so that i might learn and look great in front of the hundreds of customers yet to come. If you’re new to the business, stay motivated and be confident and remember there will always be more customers and more jobs so don’t dwell to long on the “failures”. You can do it!
Awesome post. And completely understood.
[COLOR=#333333]I constantly remind myself that even though i made myself look stupid in front of one customer, i am sowings seeds so that i might learn and look great in front of the hundreds of customers yet to come.[/COLOR]
That thought has kept me going on more than one occasion. When times were tough, I could console myself that at least I was learning something and wouldn’t have to make the same mistake again… or at least only a couple more times.
Can’t tell you how many times I have underbid construction clean-up type work - clear silicone caulk can be hard to notice when walking around the house 
The first year is very tough. The phone doesn’t ring enough. You worry the clients aren’t going to be happy. Am I charging too much, not enough?
The second year does get a little easier but you still worry that the phone won’t ring. Am I using the right advertising. I’m not sure you ever stop worrying about something.
i just learned that lesson this past weekend.
should have doubled my prices
If its any consolation, EVERYONE go’s thru it. Nobody knows everything, and really…people DO understand that. You ARE the professional, and what a professional does is do what you do…they are honest about it, and they find an answer and solution to the problem.
That’s appreciated much more than someone who is a fraud. Trust me, I know. Can’t wait to read your posts 10 years from now. Keep up the good work.
Agreed. A good friend and someone I’d consider “Successful” in his line of business says when it comes to building a business, “Fail your way to the top”. Because every “so-called failure” is really a moment to learn how to succeed. Don’t let them go unnoticed.
I know its only Monday night but I really hope i get a call this week and hopefully its for more work.
I can’t wait for football season to start to distract me from my feeling of not working enough.
Use the weeks or days you don’t get calls to pass fliers in new areas or canvas a new commercial area. Use the down time for something positive. I do this most of the time, but honestly sometimes I just read the posts on the forum.
When the sun sets, the day is over and gone. Reflect on yesterday to prepare for today and tomorrow and keep moving forward.
Sounds interesting. Post a picture of the solarium! p.s. How are you? I’m training as a dance leader. Just spent last weekend with Layne Redmond. You need to get to know her. She’s an incredible musician and person living in Ashville! Sending Peace and Blessings for your Success!
I just bought my first squeegee handle, channel, blade and a scrubber and practiced on the solarium where I live. Sure is humbling to think I want to start a business and as of yet I can’t even clean a window properly - either this is divinely inspired or I am an impulsive goofball. Definitely the latter. I really appreciate the post and the comments - y’all put a very human face to this and I feel like I am in a forum with fome good folks that might end up being friends here.
Peace!
