Transcription
So from your business background, is there anything in particular that you've tried to take forward to apply to your business, your new business?
What I would say one thing I've really learned in my uh office-based days is I used to work in customer service and I realized how important that is, the the image, the presentation of the company. You're representing this huge entity, this huge company. That's all they see. So I realized I knew early on brand recognition is really important and again, I think in some of your early content you were saying about having the uniforms, having, you know, having something that recognizes that that professional um look and standard and that's something I took into it, but particularly around the customer service to uh be able to help them have confidence in me and trust me, what I'm doing and talk through what I'm going to do, what this work entails and what it'll hopefully look like at the end and, yeah, explain it like that. So, yeah, that was an area from my sort of office space days I wanted to bring into it, knowing how to to deal with customers.
Yeah. And I think that can sometimes be underestimated by people in the industry. Just it's not just about the equipment that you've got that makes your business, but there's other aspects to it as well. Yeah, like you've said, um having a professional image, how you deal with the customers, that's half of it really, trying to put forward um as if you're a professional trade, like many of other trades out there, like plumbers, definitely, electricians, you put yourself in that kind of category.
Absolutely. I think so. I think it's you don't have to go through as much training as as they do. I know to get to that point. Yeah, of course. But I think it's just as essential. Tra I really do and I think it's starting to build up a lot more. More and more are realizing how this is it is a proper trade, what you're doing, window cleaning, not just window cleaning services, especially when you get into pressure washing, roof cleaning as well and render washing, you've got to know what you're doing. You learn for almost from every job, don't you? Like like every new job you quote and then do it, you think, oh, certain things could have gone better. I think next time and you take that forward to the next learning curve. It really is. You you've learned how to do things, how to quote, you've learned you how to do a certain job more efficiently and and better to a better standard and I'm taking all of that into my work now and moving forwards.
So, um, you have to be a bit disciplined with yourself, your ruling as well and things like that.
Definitely. I think that was one of the things I knew as self-employed, you had to be disciplined. I had a few friends who were electricians and plumbers and they they had been self-employed for years. Okay. They said it's great because yeah, you have got flexibility with your work. You can choose when you want want to work. But they kept reiterating, but you need to be disciplined when you work because if you want to earn, you've got to go to work. You've got no one paying you when you're not there. So, so I realized, yeah, I've got to be disciplined with what I do. I've got to be on schedule. When I say to a customer, I'm back in 8 weeks time, I usually do a four or eight week schedule. Yeah. That's how I my work works. Now and again, I've got six week ones, but often it's four or eight weeks. That's what I offer. And those that I say it's 8 weeks, almost to the day I'm on on the dot. And I've even said to them, look, if I'm a day or so either side of that, it's because something's come up or the weather's not been good and we had to skip a day. It's just and they understand that. But even now, I have customers, they will send me a message say, "I thought you were coming today." And I'll say, "No, no, I've got you down for tomorrow because it's a day later than they expected." But that's brilliant. They know I'm that, you know, on clockwork that they're expecting me and they put it in their calendar or their diary and they they know I'm coming and if I don't for that day, they contacting me to see if I'm okay.
Yeah. Yeah. Which is it's a nice place to be in.
Yeah, definitely. Yeah. That's great, isn't it? That transition then from your career, your previous office job in a secure office environment um to what you're doing now. What would the comparison be like?
Now in this industry, I'm realizing the harder I work, the more effort I put in, the more I can earn from it. Yeah. And I feel so much more rewarded from it. Less stressed. I absolutely enjoy what I do. I do three days a week win the cleaning and cleaning services. Sometimes a little bit more than that. Um, depends. And that's how I've always wanted it to be. And it gives me a bit more time to do other things and spend time with my family. And I'm probably better off financially than I was when I worked for that company. So for me, yeah, definitely the best move I've ever made.
Fantastic. But that's one of the great things about having your own business, being your own boss, is that you can take it in whatever direction you want, at whatever pace you want. Already over these three years. I I wouldn't change this for anything. I absolutely love what I do because it does give that flexibility. Uh, like last week, I took my kids to school and I'll just move my work around and I'll have that day off and it's just or an afternoon off or a morning and it's just absolutely love it. I'm not I don't have to answer to anyone.
So, um, I really appreciate you coming on and sharing your experience. I'm glad things are going well.
Thank you.