Starting a cleaning business is not easy, but the most comment question new owners ask is, how can I attract more customers and grow my business?

When I have someone state that they want to “learn everything” about the cleaning industry or any other subject, I think of the story of the woman who approached a wizened old man and made the same statement about life. He promptly took her to a cave on the side of a mountain and left her with books and scrolls. The cave was very damp and cold. The woman dutifully read, studied and mediated all day with little time for food or even rest. Each morning the wise man would trudge up the hill on his staff and ask her if she had learned everything there is to know about life and the universe. She would humbly state, “No master”. With this response he would strike her on the back with the stick and then leave without saying another word. This went on for days and the woman grew more and more miserable so she tried even harder to learn everything there was to know.

One day, the wise man made his solitary trek up the hill and asked the same question as before. She again stated “No master, I have not.” As he drew back to hit her again, she raised her hand and grabbed the cane to stop him with a determined glare in her eyes. He looked relieved and she could not understand why until he explained “You have learned two things today. First of all you must take action to stop the pain and secondly, you have learned that life is a journey of learning, not an end within itself.”

Although learning about the art of cleaning may not be as exciting as delving into the matters of the universe, I can assure you that we will all continue to learn and grow in this exciting and very necessary field that brings so much to those we serve. As an old Vulcan once said, “Live long and prosper.”

Your comments and questions are important. I hope to hear from you soon. Until then, keep it clean...

Mickey Crowe has been involved in the industry for over 35 years. He is a trainer, speaker and consultant. You can reach Mickey at 678-314-2171 or CTCG50@comcast.net


posted on 4/26/2016