Welcome to the Piranha Marketing Money Map!
The purpose of this site is the sentence you see up at the top of this website – Cash Creation Strategies for Small Business.
What we want to create for you, all of you, is simply this: more CASH, more ENERGY, and more CLARITY for your company.
It can be tough being the “creator” and rainmaker and decision-maker of your business day in and day out. Especially in today’s kinda anti-business climate.
(More correctly, just the government seems to be anti-business…the American public actually ranks “small business” as the #2 best institution in terms of trust – right under #1, the military. While “big business” ranks all the way at the very bottom of the list, just above the dead last institution of trust – Congress.)
The good news is, your public likes and trusts you.
The bad news is, policy and tone for the country is being set by those in last place.
What We Are Going To Do About It…
Until we get better, more entrepreneurial small business leaders in charge here, we are going to have to do what we can – ALL that we can – on our own local level.
Starting with…our own businesses.
As you grow YOUR business, you not only grow your own financial reserves, but you also create more local jobs, create more supply purchases with your vendor partners, and create an opportunity and positive energy in your own town.
You become a beacon of light in the middle of a lot of negativity.
And…you start enjoying your business more as it gets more ELF (easy, lucrative, and fun).
Whether you are struggling right now, or are doing well, but want to strengthen your company’s reserves – this website will have something to help you.
In fact, based on your COMMENTS and INTERACTION here…the site blog and resources will develop according to your needs as far as marketing insight, sales strategies, planning guidance, elegant ideas, and implementation how-to.
The more engaged you are – the more this will literally be EXACTLY what you need.
The more you contribute through your questions, and your own experiences, the more you will also help other small business owners.
This Crazy Idea Of Mine….
This site came about when I was talking to Joe Polish, frustrated at the lack of support and real leadership coming from the “powers that be” and telling him that I was going to DO something about it.
I don’t like to just complain about things…I like to FIX things.
Joe thought I was nuts. But…he knows how stubborn I am, so he gave me the okay to give it my best shot.
And this will be it – my best shot. To help all of our Piranha Members, all of our past Members, any cleaner or restorer who stumbles upon this site, and any small service business owner who is referred here by a friend.
(These marketing strategies and guidance can apply to ANY business – whether it is carpet cleaning, home remodeling, pet grooming, or wedding planning. The examples may be specific to a certain business type, but the concepts are UNIVERSAL. Feel free to share the site with ANY small business owner you know who could use a place to go to ask questions and get support.)
How This Is Going To Work…
I am NOT going to cram a bunch of content here, and hope that you figure out what you need to use.
I’m a marketing and business strategist….I always have the end-game in mind. So this site has a plan behind it in order to get you EXACTLY where you need to go.
You get a LOT of email, and other noise in your life. Calls, texts, visits, messages, bills, news, blah blah blah. It makes it hard to hear yourself think.
I do not want this site to be more noise.
I want it to be a HEALTHY BUSINESS HABIT for you. Something you do regularly, at a set time.
As something becomes a set HABIT – it takes very little energy. (When was the last time you were exhausted by brushing your teeth?)
The blog posts will go up on WEDNESDAYS and SATURDAYS weekly.
You will get an email that let’s you know the post is up. The entire post will be in the email, so if you want to jump right in and read it (or print it out and sit back with coffee and read it…), you can. You won’t need to log in.
Posts will be NUMBERED. This way if you are coming here and do not know where to begin…you can follow the numbers. 🙂
If you have an URGENT need, then you can search posts by CATEGORY, which is organized by marketing and business topics.
If you ever have a question on anything at all – you can post them in any COMMENTS area, because I am notified by all posts. If it is a personal message that you do not want to share on-line, then you can email me at lisa@joepolish.com (just please be aware I travel often and cannot always reply on the same day).
If you just HATE TO TYPE – then I am still here for you. Write out your questions or feedback and fax them to me at 480-907-1508. This goes straight to my email, so you send it anytime 24/7.
As ideas and strategies are addresses there will be TWO paths at the end of each post: 1) Quick action steps to take and 2) Additional resources for those who want to go REALLY DEEP with a strategy.
All I Have To Help You.
I have not only my eleven years of experience as a coach and strategic marketing consultant for Piranha Marketing in my arsenal to help you…but I also have the intellectual property from Piranha’s entire 18 years in existence at my fingertips.
No matter what challenge or struggle you are having right now – there is NOTHING I have not seen…and there is nothing I have not seen handled.
If you felt you were all alone in your business – you are NOT alone anymore.
You are going to find that you are part of an entrepreneurial army, and that we are going to be the catalysts that help turn things around for our own communities.
And I’m going to encourage you all to contribute your ideas and successes, because the collective wisdom is going to be enormous. I’m very excited. I hope you are too.
So thank you for coming to the site. Go pop over to CASH CREATION NOW! to begin with the first post.
I look forward to learning more about you, and working with all of you to do some great things together.
Now…let’s get to work!
Keep it ELF,
Lisa Wagner
CEO – Coordinator of Elegant Opportunities (Piranha Marketing Inc.)
P.S. While I have your attention – again, please BOOKMARK this page. This way you can come back directly here and not have to log-in again. Also, in the right hand column on this page, you can see a little “subscribe” button for reminders. If you want a note when the posts go up on Wed.’s and Sat.’s …just so you remember to come here and get great business ideas…then click that. Sometimes we all need a reminder now and then.
P.P.S. If you are a current Piranha Member – then the Category “Members Only” will have your specific content from the Money Map print issues, which will now be being posted digitally rather than mailed to you, along with additional in-depth exercises for you here on this site and other Member-related announcements on educational events and Buyers Group network updates. Any Member questions, call our office at 480-858-0008 and ask for Victoria.
Cash Creation Strategies for Small Business 
HELLO Small Business Owners!
This area here “COMMENTS” is on every post here on the Money Map and will be a VERY important place for everyone here.
This will be where you share your input. Your answers to my questions, your challenges you want to find solutions for, your success tips, your appreciation or your frustration.
This is the place for ALL of it.
Please let me know you have come here. Say hello or whatever you want to. Just let me know you have been here.
Thanks! 🙂
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
Okay, I have my cape on. Let’s get going. I stumbled onto the “Cash Strategies,” site and I was glad to have found it. I’ve been frustrated and stalled. I feel like the faucet is wide open and all I get are drops. I have a good work ethic and consider my company aimed towards high end customers. I take pride in quality of work and customer service. When I am done with a job I leave my customers, a small bottle of spotter, a brochure on how to care for your carpets, and a thank you card. I also have my receptionist do a follow up call. I’ve done some of the things you have written about. Most of what I learned and where I received training came from Bill Bane and his company. Yet, I feel stalled and frustrated.
I do send mailers to high end homes and I get some results, but most people who call are concerned with prices, rather than quality and a service. I would like to see it change from how much you are paying to what you are getting. I think this site will help, starting with the “First Accidental Industry.” I will be posting and do the work.
Thanks for caring, sharing and your help. I love this industry. Let’s leap tall buildings.
Tim
Hi Tim – welcome to the site. I’m glad you found us.
For some quick cash strategies you can jump on right away, take a look at http://www.QuickCashTraining.com – those are some simple modules I put out there to help all of our members and past members. Easy to implement – some are covered more in depth on posts here.
The format here is going to shift some, to help blend together several sites we have out there helping small business owners. But there will be continued help throughout 2011. In fact Joe and I and dozens of our most successful Platinum Members will be in Los Angeles next week for a marketing training event on Jan. 11th. Even if you are not able to attend in person – you can get the recordings for next to nothing. Here’s the event info ==> More Cash Creation in 2011!
The post today is on setting up your marketing plan for the year – hope you enjoy it.
Lisa
P.S. The way to get out of the “stalled” place is to identify what IS working in your company, and what is not – and simply make little changes. It’s no different than with cleaning – you add a little enzyme to give the solution a “kick” – you add a little heat to “push” better performance – that all businesses need, quick SMART adjustments. And the best way to learn what works is from others who have been where you are at, and got out of it.
Hey Lisa, thanks for all you do for the industry. I look forward to seeing what you come up with. Dont give up on me I will be there with you guys soon.
Randy, happy to have you here…and I don’t give up on ANYONE. 🙂 We always say “when the student is ready, the teacher appears…” and so I know for some of the thousands who got the CD and invitation to come here, some will be ready. And the others? Well, I’m not going anywhere for awhile – so I’ll be ready for them when they come. So Randy – be sure to read the “Lisa’s Birthday Gift” post, give me your insights… and when you are ready for the next step – pop into #1 “The Accidental Industry”. That is GOOD thinking for your business. And when it goes from an idea in your head to typing words out – it reinforces the strength of the plan mentally…and it makes it much more likely to happen.
If for any reason it’s easier for you to scribble out words on paper instead of typing them up (I know A LOT of one finger typers…like my mom for one… then you can scribble – and you can FAX me your comments.) My fax number is 480-907-1508. Those faxes come to my email too. I just want to make this as easy to get involved as possible. Have a great weekend! Lisa
I purchased your CD package at the start of the year and let me tell you about 1 campaign I have used. JOINT VENTURES: How I turned .90 cents into $5237.97
With joint ventures My first letter was to a Carpet Retailer and he was very skepitical as most of the Carpet Retailers are. My background was in Carpet Installation so when we met to clean his store for a Free cleaning I was able to speak his language. Well its been 6 months and we are mostly a referral based company and what a return on investment. Not only is the carpet retailer referring clients but the clients are referring friends and family. This is only 1 techniuqe of many we have used and our business is now up 300%. Ive listened to the CD package probably 10 times in the first 3 months but have not listened to it since. Well because of this email im going back and starting all over and seeing how much more money I can pull out of these cd’s. Another bright spot in my business is google, last year we made 2735.89 total on google and with the help of J.P. we are already at 16,073.76 for the year. Sometimes I get so focused working in the business I forget to work on the business so thank you for the reminder!
Steve, thank you SO MUCH for sharing that nugget with the group here. I am always amazed at how few tap into the power of a really good joint venture. And your example shows how just one can reap some great rewards. Just think what it could be if you added a few dry cleaners, a few realtors, a few designers, a few contractors to your network. Wow! That’s what I love… to see something that is WORKING, and then figuring out “how do I multiply that?”
Let me know how the CD-revisiting works for you. Is that the Piranha Marketing Kit, or another set of CD’s? Also happy to hear about your Google results – this is definitely a topic I will be posting the latest how-to on here. That area keeps innovating and innovating … but it’s funny that some of the good old staples – like retailer JV’s – keep working great in the same old way. Foundational strategies – we will be covering those also. Thanks Steve! – Lisa
Hi Lisa,
I did not get your yellow envelope so I am here to find out all about it. I always look forward to reading anything from you or Joe.
Thanks,
Greg
Heaven’s Best Carpet Cleaning
Greg – welcome to the site! I’ve been told that half of the 6,000 pieces dropped late Wednesday – so I hope that group will see them on the weekend.
Kinda funny how as technology gets faster and faster… the post office seems to stay at the same slow pace. 🙂 A clear example of needing some more competitors! Have a great weekend, Lisa
Lisa, by the way I did not receive the yellow envelop yet.
Thanks,
Tom
This sounds great, Lisa, thank you! I’m very much looking forward to seeing what great ideas and content you post.
Eddie – welcome to the site – I’m looking forward to working with you. Be sure to go to the “Lisa’s Birthday Gift” post, listen to the audio on the CD I sent you (or the audio is in the post also…) – and share your insights and actions from that. We are going to exercise our mental entrepreneurial muscles here so we grow everyone’s business. Enjoy your weekend! Lisa
Hi Lisa, The pigeon hasn’t crossed the Atlantic yet with my envelope. I can’t wait to see what you’ve got planned, but i’m sure it will be ELF
Martyn – the internationals dropped yesterday. You can listen to the audio in the “Lisa’s Birthday Gift” post if you get impatient. I am looking forward to hearing the insights from some of our savvy marketers from the UK. It may be time for me to teach a rug class over in the UK – I’ll let you know if I end up taking a trip that way. All my best, Lisa
Lisa,
We look forward to seeing you in Vegas next week and are anxiously awaiting what knowledge that we can absorb from it.
Mike – thank you. We sold out that workshop in 2 weeks, which was incredible…and shows me that we’ve got some interest in more real specialized training in rugs and fabrics. So many training classes these days are memorizing facts for a test – when people want to learn just HOW TO DO IT, and the tricks of the trade that the best use. That’s how I teach. And that’s how I’m setting up this site here too – showing best practices, and the JUST DO THIS type of instruction. And getting to know the audience, to see what they know, what they don’t, and what they really need. So that’s what I’m doing now here – trying to learn more about you and everyone else. Looking forward to seeing your input on the other posts. And I’ll see you next week! – Lisa
Hey Lisa,
ward to exciting things on this site. I joined many years ago but like many put things on the shelf when we got busy. I really need to start working on the business and not just in it.
Tim – it is a pleasure to have you here. Let’s make a commitment to “meet up” here just a few times a week, and we can get things moving ahead for you. The steps are simple. The hard part is just getting it MOVING. What do they say, that 90% of the fuel is used in lift-off, and then the rest in maintaining and cruising for the rest of the flight? That is such a perfect analogy, because it does take a lot to get MOVING…but you came to this website – THAT is a lot compared to the thousands of others who have not even done that yet. PLUS, you actually posted a comment! I can see on analytics here that over 400 people have been here in 2 days, and yet only about a dozen of you have posted comments. So you have already shown me that you have more juice that a lot of others do. OR…they just don’t know how to type. 🙂
By the way – if you, or anyone else, would rather WRITE OUT comments instead of type (because I do know not everyone types as much as I do…) then you can FAX me 24/7 to my computer fax number at 480-907-1508. I just don’t want anyone’s excuse to NOT get engaged and connected to be that they can’t type easily. Now NO excuses – haha!
Thanks TIm – I am happy to have you hear and taking action already. -Lisa
didn’t receive my yellow envelope yet. but I am looking forward to it keep up the good work Lisa
Jim – several thousand dropped end of Wednesday, so hope it reaches you this weekend. Thank you for coming by, I’m looking forward to working with you. – Lisa
Hi Lisa,
Looking forward to sharing and hearing ideas. Being in Australia I guess the Yellow envelope won’t arrive for about 2 weeks. I will listen to the audio.
Cheers,
Cassie
Cassie! How are you? And the baby? I hope all is well. Please let me know what ideas you gain from the audio. Any business can benefit from having “more theatre” in what they do. I am sooo happy you dropped by here, and hope to see you often. Take care, Lisa
Hi Lisa
Wierd that I was reviewing some of the stuff from the 2000 Boot camp Stuff for some A4 Pink Flyer Inspiration and what happens, you pop through the door – uncanny!!!
I personally put out 600 last month and got £560.00, not bad eh! The old stuff still works.
Best regards
David
David – so great to see our overseas Piranha clan popping in. Thank you for coming here, and I hope you share the “old stuff” you get rolling again, and how it’s working for you…and some new changes as well. When you get a chance lay out your 3 things that are working for you in the ACCIDENTAL INDUSTRY post. Then I can give you some specific ideas on building on what is working for you. Thank you again for joining the group, Lisa
Hi Lisa,
I received the yellow envelope. Read through the four pages and plug the cd in today. I realized I was on that call like two weeks ago. I got even more out of it listening the second time around. Only thing that sucks is it’s not broken down into tracks on the cd. I was listening in my truck and then stepped out for a bit. Had trouble finding my spot again. Is there a way for you guys to break them into 5 or 6 minute segments so we can remember where we are if we need to stop listening? Thanks
Greg Ducati
New Jersey..
Hi Greg, I guess I was in such a rush to get thousands of CDs out that I didn’t think to space out the audios. I asked Rachelle to see if she could do something with our audio file on this website so maybe an mp3 could have it in sections for you. Joe and I were just talking last week about how great it used to be to have cassettes, because you could always start up right where you left off. 🙂 Thanks for the suggestion though, and thanks for coming to the site. Hope you keep coming here, Lisa
This is GREAT IDEA! I love having the ability to share the information with other business owners. I will be adding this info to my August newsletter … is there an insert available?
Respectfully,
JoeV
Hi Joe – was great seeing you this weekend at the training event in Vegas! You know, I had not thought about creating an insert for this blog, to share with your clients… but that’s a good idea if you know you are mailing to business owners. Maybe at a BNI meeting you could share, or any other networking opportunity with business owners. I’ll see what I can come up with. For now – just send the http://www.marketingmoneymap.com site link – that will be easiest. Thanks for all you do to contribute and help others! – Lisa
Lisa,
I love what you guys do. I am in the people business. Building relationships and businesses and helping and educating others. Cleaning happens to be the vehicle that lets me do it and I am so grateful to be plugged in to all that you and Joe and everyone else in this group has!
Hi Lisa, Just wanted to let everyone know about one of our best “free room” strategies we use. We have done this several times before it do well every time. We are members of two Chambers of Commerce and you can get their mailing list as part of your membership. We send a 3-step letter to the members who are not currently out clients with a “free room” offer. This year this gave us $4000+ revenue with approximately $600 worth of printing, postage and stuffing envelopes. That is a 6:1 return. Now the secret is to keep them in the funnel and get them to clean again. Prosperity to all, Jane
http://www.catamountcarpet.com
Lisa,
This is another great idea and I believe it will be very helpful to many of us. I don’t know where you find the time to write so much. I wish I was in Vegas with you, but maybe next time. Thanks for all that you do. You are an inspiration to me and I’m sure many others.
Take care, Jeff
Thanks Jeff!!! Jim Pemberton and I are talking about doing some multi-day intensive rug and fine fabric training courses across the US – and I’m sure we will end up in your area – I’ll let you know. Hope you can make it to this year’s Cash Creation Conference (Oct 13-15) in AZ … you will LOVE it. Thanks for coming by here, and for all you do to help your fellow Piranha Members and cleaners. – Lisa
Lisa,
Thanks as always for the value you specifically, as well as Piranha, give to our industry. If anyone cared to pay attention there’s enough information that you give away for FREE to subtantially help most cleaning businesses. Imagine if they were actually clients. Years ago, a Piranha member mentored me out of the kindness of his heart and completely changed my life and my family’s future. You folks are impacting this industry and people’s futures in a multitude of ways. Thanks again for all you do.
Thank you Jeff – that means a lot to me.
Lisa
Hey Lisa, thank you for the inspiring website & the free CD! I feel like ive been “Out of the loop” with Piranha marketing since the recession hit, but now I feel I want to start implementing some of the strategies again and get back on the horse…If it wasn’t for Joe I probably would of been out of business 2 yrs ago because here in Florida many CCr’s have gone out of biz – they had no marketing strategies in place, but thanks to piranha I had a decent client base to work from.
Thank you for your help!
Joe
Joe – welcome to the site! Since you already have a good client list, you already know that the “I Miss You” letter campaign is the BEST to use to reactivate those clients you have not seen for 18 months. And of course your monthly client newsletter – Piranha’s has been the #1 marketing tool for repeat and referral business for the past 7 years. Here’s a blog post on our Piranha site on the things that make a newsletter successful. Enjoy!!! Lisa
Hello Lisa,
The CD was great! My business has been super slow, creating a very tough year, this is exactly what I needed. I desperately needed to get re-energized and re- dedicated. Three things i will be implementing immediately are:
1. The news letter. I have gotten away from sending out the newsletter and went just a post card. I did this cause i have been low on funds (bad mistake)
2. 3 step letter. i will be sending this letter to at least 2 areas a month, this is always such an involved process for me because we have to stuff all those envelopes and get the address, but they have always worked in the past.
3. Joint Venture. I have allready done some joint ventures with carpet stores around my area, but i could do alot better and will start getting this done this week.
Thank you again for the CD and this site
Matt
Matt – thank you for your 3 ideas – I’ll send you some thank you goodies for taking the time to share here. Glad to see you dropping by – come back often!
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
Recently, I was cleaning blinds at a large sorority house and two people drove up in back of the house as well as pulled around to examine my licence plate.
A few minutes later they came knocking at the door only to ask if the house mom was the decision maker. There were two people in the car and one was using a laptop when they originally pulled up. Probably Google d the plate.
Regardless, the one knocking lit in to his spiel and it was about carpet cleaning and Tile and Grout cleaning. Now I have a pretty well marked truck and of course, had to ask him why he looked at my plate and typed into the laptop (yes, I was working at the back window). To which he replied, “computer, thats ridiculous”. Rather than be controversial in front of the house mom and salesman, I simply proceeded outside with my phone and took a photo of the person with the laptop. Turns out a rather large company called Cintas has entered the carpet cleaning business. Must be money in it. Say.I’m going to be listening closely now and if I make a little sumpin sumpin you can bet I’ll spin some your way. No xo to sin toss.
Hi Gary – welcome to the site. I think with Cintas, and other large organizations that are taking revenue hits, that they are simply looking for new services to add to their invoice averages. It’s what we do when we want to add things like hard surfaces, or rugs, or blinds! 🙂 It’s also why you see BIG organizations like CRI (the carpet and rug institute) creating programs like their Seal of Approval program, which charges manufacturers high fees to try to pass some not-so-accurate tests to get “approval” – which creates revenue for CRI, but gets passed down to all of us in HIGHER prices for our products. (I write about this in another blog I set up to fight this at Real Dirt for Real Cleaners – helping the industry to combat this big bully.) We will see how long Cintas lasts. They are hit and miss with their uniform service (I switched to G&K Services) – so I will be surprised to see if they can get more consistency in the carpet cleaning – which is a bit more to handle than uniforms. We will see! – Lisa
Hello Lisa, Opp”s last post, I appreciate the recent CD You mailed. Sometimes it takes someone like you,that’s been cleaning business to gave us a kick start. I been in the carpet industry the past 30 years past 30 years from an installer to retailer and now cleaning in small amount of restoration. We’ve had good times, as well as many years of struggles this year we’ve had our share of struggles. I have been part of piranha marketing for the past four years, starting with gold than bronze. One quarter of platinum back to silver, but currently I am cut off. As I mentioned, its been a tough year. I have always follow piranha marketing program had good luck with the newsletters, networking and voice blast. One of the things we have had good success with in the past was sending confirmation letters and offering discounts on additional work, as well as explaining and offering Scotchgard since your letter. I have reworked my confirmation letter, and we will start sending them out on each job. Recently, I have taken a different approach even though it’s important to create larger ticket jobs. I’ve decided it’s time to create a plan and get the hell out of debt. So unfortunately, this year, I probably will not be attending piranha marketing boot camp instead. I will be applying the money to outstanding debts. If I stay on track I will be debt free and approximately 38 months using my existing income. But I will of course always tried to stay a part of your great organization.
Thanks again for the cash creation CD
Hi John,
Thank you for posting. I’m sorry to hear about the struggling – but you sound like you have a PLAN – and that is always good motivation to keep going in the right direction.
Take a look at the most recent post on the “I Miss You” strategy – that is a good one to use for quick cash, and to reconnect with past clients who have not used you recently.
Please post here when you have questions – we have LOTS of resources to help. Brand new post goes up tomorrow (always on Wednesdays and Saturdays). Take care, Lisa
Hi I am wandering if you haveany new cds out. I too didnt get an envelope.
Hi Perry, I actually uploaded both the letter and the CD audio on the post here called “Lisa’s Birthday Gift” – click there to get access. The CD was of a recent Call-in Day with some really valuable marketing information on it. I hope you enjoy it, put the ideas to work, and make money from it. Let me know what you think! And thanks for coming to the Map here. – Lisa
Lisa, thank you for the cd, just got to it today – I’m a one man operation and up till now have been book up – any way, very good content – thanks for all you do – the exercise Joe talked about is very good and thought provoking, sometimes we need to get ourselves out of the way and just focus, one sentence, one word solution. Looking forward to any content geared towards the 1 man operation – I will eventually have to get full time help – for now 2 of my sons help on bigger jobs. I do carpet, upholstery, ceramic/grout, water damage & duct clng. I’ve been in this industry since ’77, I’m 48 now. Decisions will have to be made, grow and get off the truck or continue with limited help – not sure what I want to do yet – I’m healthy but getting tired – or maybe lack of excitement (burn out) still like what I do – theres more to this story but for now that’s it. Again thank you!
Robert, Welcome to the Money Map site – I’m happy you dropped by. Wednesdays and Saturdays for new posts, but you can ALWAYS post questions and get feedback and resources any time. I’ll tackle a bit of the “energy” part in today’s post – sometimes that comes from needing to have something exciting up ahead to aim for, instead of the same routine thing. We all tend to work longer hours than most humans (that don’t OWN businesses…) – and tend to be harder on ourselves… and that can get a little tiring too. So I feel where you are coming from. Stay connected, and I promise, you will get some elegant ideas that will charge you up. Even if it’s just knowing you are not alone in feeling that way (it’s good to know others “get” you). 🙂 Have your sons check the site out also, we have some super successful family businesses within Piranha – in fact, that’s a topic I want to tackle, the impact and influence (and FRUSTRATION) of the second-generation sons and daughters in the family business. I experienced this myself first hand! Great lessons to share. Thanks again for coming by, Lisa
Hi! I am a newby from Australia working in pressure cleaning not carpet cleaning. I have just started (5 minutes ago) on some of the material that you have sent. Fantastic so far. If anyone has used this stuff for pressure cleaning I’d love to communicate as mine is also a breand new business!
Thanks
Jeff
Jeff – welcome to the money map blog – we are very happy to have you here. We just ended our big Conference, I’ll be posting some highlights here which I know you will get value from. I’ll also keep an eye out for things pressure washing specific. Take care, Lisa
Lisa,
I want to do the things you say, I know they are right it’s the right thing to do, the proper ways to go. But I work all the time trying to make a buck!I need to apply some of these strageties on my job. But when you are a one man show most of the time you have to do everything. What can I do to be a successfull one man show?
Hi Bob – thanks for posting, it’s nice to see you here. You have a challenge that I’m sure others here can relate to…you are wearing ALL of the hats, and you want to get more things done, but you can’t figure out how. Well… you are going to have to let go of some of those hats – or dedicate specific time to get marketing done. I would choose a certain day, just half of that day, EVERY week dedicated as your marketing “getting things done” time. You book it and treat it like a super important appointment, because it is. And on this day you FOCUS. Take a look at post #10 – on focusing and also post # 3 – on hiring.
So the short answer to your question “how to become a successful one man show” is – you need to hire someone. =) It is impossible for one person to do everything excellent, there are always strengths and weaknesses. Now you may not want any employees – and if that’s the case, then you need to hire contractors/vendors to complete the tasks you are not strong at, whether that’s bookkeeping, rolling out marketing campaigns, etc. But the fact is… at some point you will want to get off the truck – and holding on to “one man” companies is usually more a fear of becoming more than one man. Usually it’s not knowing how to hire successfully, or how to train what you do to others, etc. Most one man operations are simply glorified JOBS. But if that is all you want to truly do – clean every day and deal with clients – then you might love managing a cleaning division for a larger company, and not having to worry about the parts of the business that usually fantastic craftsmen hate to handle – the paperwork, the filing and organization, the hiring and team building, the regulations and taxes.
You don’t have to be a BIG operation. But you can move from one-man show to one-van operation, and have a couple extra hands to help build your profits and production, and have a thriving business.
But first things first… block time to clear your head and think about what kind of business you really want, what strategies you truly want to implement, and taking the action to get it done. And that starts by learning to flex your focus muscle (#10 post) and setting up the weekly time to focus on marketing, and hiring (#3 post) when the time is right. It is simply a weekly habit to form, that’s all. It will feel weird at first – and you will have a learning curve that will feel uncomfortable… so read the post on taking action and crappy times – and this will remind you that things need to feel really uncomfortable before they start to go smoothly. That happens with EVERYTHING new.
Okay… give it a whirl, and report back!!! =) I know you can do it…and so do you. You’ve done much tougher things in the past. – Lisa
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