Hey dudes:
How did you begin your business? As we all know, we love our trade or we would not persue it. I'll bet there are many stories of why and how.
I will begin by describing my why's and how's.
I attended college to become a teacher. While I was waiting for my first teaching job to begin, a friend of mine owned a jewelry store, and she asked me if I would clean the windows for $15.00.
Since I had no luck finding a decent paying job( I had been to college for 4 years), I said "sure". So I went to my local janitorial supply store and bought a couple of squeegees, a bucket, some cleaning solution, a scrubber, and a pole. I used some old towels I had laying around. I remember specifically I spent $ 47.00.
I have always enjoyed physical work and used to be an athlete and a cheerleader (5 years) so I liked it. Instantly. It was rough, and I had no one to teach me, so it took forever, but I liked it.
The drugstore next door asked me to do their's. Another store asked me to do theirs. I made enough money to pay for my investment and had $10.00 profit. The First day!
So the next day I had business cards made up and began pounding the pavement; door to door business areas. Wow!
I was on my way.
Now don't think it was easy. I marketed my services every day; worked 7 days if I needed to, and more or less set my goal and went for it.
I beleive you "reap what you sow" so I tried to sow lots of "seeds".
It was a lot of work; a lot of trying to pick up new clients constantly.
It took a few years before I could survive completely from the business.
I had a decent life style so that was awsome to be able to be entirely self employed.
There is something to be said for beginning with one client; no training, not much money, and a crappy car, and making it to this point.
It was worth it. I am very thankful. Any advice I would give anyone would be that if you do nothing to grow your business you will not grow. You will get out of it what you put into it.
Now I have over 300 accounts and a crew of 5 . It can be done! It depends entirely on what you are willing to put into it, and you need to be patient and focused. I am pleased with the size of my business because it is a decent income and I can manage it myself.
Anyway, How about you all out there, Chaps? Share your motive for beginning and also how. We are all blessed that have been able to make it. If you are making it, you are successful.
Take care! Grab life by the horns and go for it! What have you got to lose?
