I wonder??

[Phoenix]

Old? Nahhhhhhhhhh....

Geez, Im 49, and just getting into this, Jon is right about taking care of th ol bod, and it taking care fo you, there is a mind set to it as well, and I like it, Im gonna stick with it, and Im happy..

Bigboy, where in Arkansas are you? Im in the SE part of th state, I gotta get to meet you someday soon, maybe wet a few lines or something.. ya know ya can drop me a line if ya want..

galaxyrider1@yahoo.com

 

[Dave Olson]

Hi Dan,

Email me your address and I will send you copies of some of the flyers that we have used over the years. May give you some ideas.

I will try to post a picture of the set-up that we used to pick-up water.

Dave Olson

 

[Michael T]

how long , how long

I gotta chime in here. I guess Im in the senior league almost. But not in the Geritol league like bigboy, jon and dave. Just kidding..... Im 49 like Phoenix. I like to work smarter not harder. Im into economy of motion. Dont get the idea Im lazy, I just dont like spinning my wheels. Im on my 15th year in business. Like Jon I couldnt buy a job after a back injury. I had to start my own business. I really love all the perks of owning your own business. I would probably not want to go back to work for someone. I do almost 98% commercial work and Im so busy Im about to go nuts. So thursday early am Im off on a fishing trip to the salt h2o and Ill be back saturday late.
All work and no fish makes Mike a dull boy......

Michael T

 

[Dan S]

Thanks Dave...........here is my address>>>>>

Dan Shannon

RR#1 Box 533 Woodland , PA 16881


>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>



So for the most part Mike H is the youngest And Jon is grand-pa .........


It is so great to come here and read all the replys ................
Thank you guys for all the advice you guys are the best ...................

Pounded the streets yesterday seems like im spinning my tires fer nothin . No-body wants to spend the green.BUT IM NOT GIVEING UP!!!!!!!!!

There has to be something that should work .............I know that the prices are low low low ........... the salesmanship is TOP KNOTCH ...lol........
I dont dress like a bum ...
my trk. is all one color.
I wear deoderant.
I brush my month.
I comb my hair. Yes i still have hair)
I even wear a sign around my neck >> it reads will work for $$$ ..........GOTCHA...........
I will stop my ballin before i bore ya........thanks again for all the help Im just in a downhill summer and things will pick -up ...............thanks to all your help and advice .......GOD Bless ya all !!!

 

[Scott Stone]

I know where you are coming from. I am 41 and have been in business for 13 years.

I have thought at various times of selling out. I get tired of a few things.
1. Employees
2. Being tired
3. Being sore
4. Not being able to walk
5. Chasing all over town
6. Having people dangle a carrot, and then not following through.
7. Equipment breakdowns.
8. Employees again.
9. Drivers trying to hit you while you are working, or worse yet just pulling the truck out while you are washing it.
10. People not staying on the schedule that they agreed to.

Etc. Etc. Etc.

So I sit back and think of the positives.
1. No boss, other than my customers.
2. A really good income.
3. I really don't work "that much"
4. I can take a break anytime that I want
5. When I am done I get the check in the mail.
6. I can delay going to a job for an hour or so if there is a family thing.
7. I live in a nicer home and neighborhood than I could if I didn't powerwash
8. I can spend money helping others that need help.
9. I can give employees a positive work experience by treating them well, so that they can always say they know what a good boss is.
10. When I go to sleep at night, I sleep well.
11. I am not required to be anywhere at an exact time.
12. I like to figure out the unusual jobs.
13. It is such a rush to land a new account.

Now to get the new accounts. Most of it is repetition. You will not get the account on the first call most of the time, or the second, or the third. You keep going back. You find out who the person is that is in charge, you find out their needs, you address the needs, and go back again. Everytime that you go in the door you plan on selling. Everytime that you walk out the door you make notes on what you talked about and anything that might be pertinent. Remember to call the person by name. They see hundreds of so called salesmen in their offices. You want to stand out in a positive manner. The ones that are really successful are the ones that keep going back until they are kicked out of the office.

Scott Stone

 

[Dan S]

Great points Scott,

I know whatcha mean about being no-where << having time to do what-ever ........... I love being self employed .there is nothin better .. except for a few down spells ..but hey that can happen even when you work fer some one , Maybe even worse .

I need to just keep pounded away and heed the advice.thanks ...........

 

[paul-uk]

keep pluggin dan

hi dan keep at it and things will improve i am sure,

we all have bad days like i only asked these girls to move thier bike so i could get some gear out of my car......

 

[melsmobile]

SCOTT,

IAM 42 , 16 PLUS YEARS IN THE BUSINESS, YOU SURE NO HOW TO GET A GUY PUMPED UP, COACH! LOL......................

DAN S.

THERE MONEY OUT THERE, AND LOTS OF IT!

IVE WORKED 20 DAYS IN ROW!

I CLEANED PRE-FAB FORMS TODAY, I ALSO CLEANED THEN ON SATURDAY, OR EVERY TIME THEY CHANGE COLORS , TWO HOT WATER WASHERS , NO CHEMICALS $100 PER HR IT TOOK 5.5 HRS TODAY.

I ALSO ACID WASH THE CONCRETE FEANCE AFTER THEY PUT THEM UP AND THE TRUCK AND EQUIPMENT EVERY 2 WEEKS.

 

[melsmobile]

HERE THE REST OF THEM!

 

[Clean County]

Dan,
One more thought on this topic. Everything almost always seems greener on the other side. I have friends with different kinds of businesses and when listening to them talk about it I feel like starting a business just like there's.

Why?? Because its almost always seems greener on the other side.

And Vise a Versa. When I tell them I can book jobs and pretty much do them when I want to and also I can powerwash in the rain were there businesses can be shut down for the day because of that....you get the picture.

Its really no easier to do most any other business because it all comes down to the same common denominator which is"How much effort you put into it".

All you can do in life is give it your best shot. IF you truly believe you gave it your all and its not working out then either try to change your strategy or move on. Usually changing ones strategy to find out what works is the answer.

Good Luck

 

[Larry L.]

Your just getting older is all,worrying more,,,growing old may be fun

 

[Dan S]

Thanks J.T ..


Mel.................. I know there is ## out there but believe me when I say this nobody in my area wants to spend it....

Now if I go outa the area a bit farther then I would probably so busy that I would need 12 more units ... well maybe not 12 ...................So it's off to another area..........

 

[reedsterstl]

Into my third year full time, 47 going on 27, but by the end of the day, I am 47 and feel every bit of it.

Reed

 

[David Saulque]

Have owned my company for seven years, it was founded in 87. My age is 57 and have been with the same wife for 35 years & no kids.

David

 

[Dan S]

Yep same wife here too David ................ 18 years and got 3 of them thar boys ..18 16 13 ,,,,,,.....wheeeeeeeeeeee.......... I love that part of life..................

 

[Marv]

Great Post! at the right time.

I am 40. Just getting business going. My wife has stuck with me for 20 years now, and our children are girls 21 and 18 and my son will be 17 in Aug. He is part of why I decided to start business. The girls have graduated now onto college and adulthood, I tease them that I quickly went from hero to zero. Lately I seem to think more in terms of quality of life.

I probablly should have been a High school teacher and coach, but made a few decisions along the road otherwise. After 13 years in Navy, then 7 selling cars and manger, and after a whole lot of reading, watching, contemplating.... I think it is true that JOB stands for Jackass Of the Boss.
The only security and freedom is self employed.

 

[melsmobile]

DAN S.

GOING TO CANTON SUNDAY EVENING TO DO TWO RESTAURANTS , CANTON IS 100 MILES FROM MY FRONT DOOR , CHARGING THE GUY $140 PER HR PLUS SOME TRAVLE TIME. TAKING 2 HELPERS WITH ME!

STEPPING OUT OF THAT LITTLE CIRCLE IS NOT A BAD THING!

WENT TO FORT WORTH TODAY 40 MILES EACH WAY!

BUY YOURSELF A PARKING LOT STRIPER , STRIPING GET ME EXTRA JOBS , IT GOES HAND AND HAND WITH THE PRESSURE WASHING!


MEL R.

MEL'S MOBILE WASH & STRIPING

 

[Dan S]

Great advice Mel where is the best place to check on those striper's? how do you market them . and I take it you also do hoods? how did you get that business that far away ?

Marv,
weloome to the bb I know you probable posted before but welcome again . and keep wet!!!!!!

 

[melsmobile]

DAN S.,

I GUY IAM DOING THE STORES FOR IN CANTON HAS A STORE IN CLEBURNE . I DID THE CLEBURNE STORE FOR HIM ABOUT 7 YEARS AGO, EVEN THOUGH THERES 6 OR 7 POWER WASHERS IN CANTON,TX HE DOSE NOT KNOW THEN OR THE KIND OF WORK THEY MAY OR MAY NOT DO, THIS GUY OFFICE IS IN IRVING, TX.

I DO VENT-A-HOODS , DONT LIKE THEM , BUT IAM ON A LIST WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT , HERE IN CLEBURNE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS IN CHARGE OF MAKING SURE THE VENTS ARE CLEAN.

MY STRIPER WAS $4,200 ITS A GRACO 3900 LINE LAZER, THIS IS ALL YOU NEED , MY MIN IS $275 TO STRIPE, BUT THEN AGAIN IT DEPENDS IF ITS A REGULAR CUSTMER , IF BUSINESS IS SLOW ETC, GO TO parkinglotplanet.com YOU LEARN ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW, WILL NOT EVERY THING THERE NOTHING LIKE OTJT.

ME AND MY SON CLEANED 3 EARTH SCRAPERS, 1 GRADER , 1 D9 AND 2 SIMIS BEFORE NOON, THE GUY I CLEANED THE EQUIPMENT FOR I SENT HIN A FLYER ABOUT 6 YEARS AGO.

MEL'S MOBILE WASH & STRIPING
MEL R.

 

[melsmobile]

ALMOST THROUGH!