Consistency is Most Important

This personal business update will be a little different. I do have some updates and it looks like a new client is coming on board as well. I'm combining a few weeks and sharing the highlights. One of the benefits of building a profitable solo cleaning business like I have and being debt-free now is that we can take more getaways as a family. It did NOT used to be like this. We have struggled just as much if not more than many of you listening right now. At the end of last summer, our family rented a house in Ocean City, NJ right after Labor Day with the Pugliese Family. They have 3 boys, which are the same age as our oldest 3 and our families get along so well. We went to the Great Wolf Lodge with them a few winters ago as well. Last year's beach trip was so successful that we did it again last week. We rented a much larger house with 3 balconies with ocean view and a block form the sand. It was awesome. We were on vacation, but we were not idle. ​

Again, this update has multiple weeks of highlights. I mentioned previously that my cousin Seth and his wife Abby invited us to do an estimate for a historic wedding venue. I worked on that proposal at the beach and was able to email it the day we left. Abby was very thankful. The prices I optioned were much higher than what Abby is currently paying, but it really helped her to see the going rate of an experienced, professional company. My friend Shelby Miller from MCBA referred me to Pastor Bruce. He is the president of the board for a local non-profit community center and wanted a professional company to check out the building and give recurring cleaning prices for various frequencies. The estimate went well. During the estimate, I explained many elements on how to disinfect properly. Pastor Bruce was really connecting as he used to sell commercial cleaning products. He was thankful for my advice. I sent the proposal two days later, really impressing him. I also checked in with a church I sent a proposal last month. Jennifer was thankful for my detailed and honest cleaning proposal and recommendations.  Like Abby & Pastor Bruce, Jennifer will let me know once the board meets. As a side note, I want to know if you're paying attention. How did I get these 3 referrals? 

Abby - She's family, but she has seen some of my training videos and my webinar on disinfecting
Pastor Bruce - Shelby referred me from my weekly MCBA networking group. She my co-education chair and we have become friends.
Jennifer - Her boss, the pastor, saw my cleaning profile in an email that went out to all Indian Valley Chamber members. I got that profile because of my service to the Chamber during COVID.

The takeaway is that I am creating a word-of-mouth machine in my new area and solo cleaning business. How did I do it? Well, you're going to have to start with podcast episode 1 and follow the bread crumbs as my new business has built to almost $100,000.

Later in the second week of this update, Pastor Bruce called me hoping to get some time and ask some questions. I called him and answered detailed questions right out of my "How to Disinfect Properly" mini-course. He was thankful for the help and gave me verbal confirmation that he's working to get me into clean monthly once he gets the board to agree. 

Let's wrap this up with 3 lessons from my MCBA meeting.

1. Susan from RealHealthQuotes shared that she has to take 90 tests every year to stay certified just to stay in business, where she serves many Medicare clients. This is staggering and I immediately thought this! "What am I complaining about? I don't have to take any tests unless I choose to."
2. Jackie Silveri from Eastern Diversified Services told me an interesting story how she recently saw someone with glasses with orange arms. It reminded her of me with my white ones. She told me that my glasses make me stand out and seeing the other guy made me top of mind.  I had never considered this element of standing out. It only works because I go to this meeting in person and she sees me weekly. I shared this conversation during my 30-sec and got a laugh that Jackie says I'm the White Streak. If you see a white steak go by it could be me.
3. After the meeting, I chatted with Hugh from Foot Solutions. I've done an episode on him already called "By Appointment Only". I knew that Hugh was an early riser and I wanted to know his routine. His answer shocked me. Here's what he told me. "I went to a military boarding school in Africa from the age of 12 through high school. I slept in a large room with other students and was not allowed an alarm clock. Therefore, I trained myself to get up at 4:30 a.m.. Over time with consistency, I  was able to wake up at 4:30 a.m. every day without needing an alarm clock. I still get up at 4:30. I don't have an alarm, so I don't struggle with pushing the sleep timer. I work out, read, meditate, eat breakfast, get ready for work, and go." I was amazed at this as I told Hugh that I used to be on an early routine, but have slipped out this year and I need to get back. I told him that I'd like to get up early so I can work out 3 days per week, read my bible, pray, get ready, and go like him. His answer is the title to this podcast. "Ken, I wouldn't do it that way. Instead of working out 3 days for 30+ minutes, commit to 5 days for 15 minutes. It's too easy to skip a day when you're running late when you know the workout is 45 minutes versus 15 minutes. The consistency is the most important thing! 

My friend Nick Pavlides of Ghost Writing School, who helped me name my podcast, says this. "Consistency is my secret weapon." Michael Gerber in his book, "The E-Myth Revisited" tells the story of a barbershop that had a consistent service for years and Michael loved it. But all of a sudden, the barber removed a piece of the expected service here and another one there. Even though the haircut was still great, Michael stopped going because the barber stopped being consistent. There is a theme emerging here. What do you need this secret weapon for in your life? Do you need to get up early and have a great morning routine? Do you need quiet time before you start your day? Do you need to be consistent everyday in your cleaning business with keeping top of mind or marketing or serving your clients or posting on social media? Do you need to be more consistent with one-on-one time with your kids or date nights with your spouse or getting to bed at your desired time? The ISO Model might be the best system for solo cleaning but it will require consistency. If you don't get consistent and start the process of small wins now it won't work for you