[richard jagger]

I have been on this forum on and off for 5 years. Ome of my problem I constantly have is the advice often given and were it comes from . It has come to my attention that there are many different types of window cleaners.
WE have the owners of large companies taking a much more hard nose  business approach and if you have anyone of them giving advice it will reflect the nature of there business.
And on the opposite side you  the windie carrying his ladder not owning a car leaving his ladder at a mate`s place between calls on customers.
 Then in between you have every thing one could  dream of and yet all would like to think they are professionals in a business. The exact same question to these diverse group would get a different response. Surely we should all be walking the same road and just at different positions and yet I find some that seem to be going on there own mission as if we don`t have  the same aims and goals as any of the others.Does anyone out there find this just a little puzzling.
 

[H2GoKent]

I think the answer is No we do not have common goals.

Window cleaning is different things to different people. From the guy wants to suppliment his pension/dole money/firemans or postmans wage to the guy who wants to make a million and have lots of vans on the road.
I think most of us are somewhere in between, so no we don't have common goals, but this forum can be useful for discussing methods and means of acheiving our goals.

[Smudger]

Good post sparklebright

the only 'loosely' common goal is we do this to earn a living ( i feel fairly confident that no-one would call it a vocation/dream job - thats not to say it isn't a great job with regards to time/money  )

the same could have been said of my old engineering trade there were people working for themselves in a garden shed
right upto companies like British Aerospace.

all make components but with different equipment all professional in their way,  it may simply come down to
oppertunities and the skills of the owners on how the biz developes,  and some are more than happy just
earning what they need without creating an empire

Darran

[James archell]

The only common denominator worth defining is that we all have some level of interest in cleaning glass and various other bits and bobs. Apart from that I wouldn't want to have any association with some of the guys businesses on here, them or anything else to do with them. There are some on here though who's work ethic I admire and try to replicate myself. It is because of a window cleaner that I am one myself so they cant all be bad eggs IMO.


There are also plenty on here who are not professional in any way shape or form; how can those who are trying that little bit more have the same common goals as the thieves and fly-by-nights?

[Ian101]

no matter the size I rekon the common goal is to make as much profit from as little an effort as possible - not laziness just the quicker you are the more you can do.

[Johnny B]

My aim is simply to create and maintain enough business to fund the needs of myself and my family.

Others are seeking to build a million pounds plus empire.

The common goal to make money (obviously). The difference is how much we want/need in order to be satisfied.

John

 

[richard jagger]

There are some extremely interest answers from the few who have take the trouble to answer.Its a little early to draw any conclusions from this thread as we can see we are a ragtag bunch aren't we.I would of thought we do have a lot of common ground all serving the same market.Thanks to those who have taken the time.

[Jim Waugh(Albright & Shiny)]

Im about to start out and whether or not I survive in the game is yet to be seen. Having spent 20+ years on shifts in a fairly high pressure job. I simply want a simpler life, however during that 20 dd years I have largely been allowed to do it my way. And if I went shelf stacking I would end up punching some snotty little manager into oblivion. So I have to continue doing it My way.
I know its not an easy game. But it can be what I want it to be.
If I only want to do 5 a day on a 3 day week , and if I can afford that. and it suits me.
I dont want 10 vans and 20 lads. causing me grief..
I want time to chat to curtsies, or anyone else for that matter and make a shilling at the same time..

[sean mcc]

Hi
  Yes i agree,i only want enough to keep the wolf from the door,any more is a bonus to me,i am trying to pick and choose my jobs to be honest with you,anything i consider to be a ball ache i do not go near,i want nice steady work and am at an age now where i do not want to be killing myself every day.

[robbo333]

I think it's great that there are all sorts of different people on here with varying expectations. It makes it more interesting with different viewpoints and different ideas. Some big and some small. It shows us that we can be what we want. With hard work we can either 'just earn a living' or 'build a huge business'. It doesn't mean one is better than the other...just different. Not many other occupations offer such a great spectrum of opportunity.

[Paul H]

The common goal to make money (obviously). The difference is how much we want/need in order to be satisfied.

John

Couldn't put any simpler...maybe add a nice work life balance ito the mix too