Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: jay moley on March 11, 2021, 12:02:14 pm

Title: Completely hit the wall
Post by: jay moley on March 11, 2021, 12:02:14 pm
Terrible week.

Barely done anything.

Can't face the job. Just sick of it.

The business is growing which is what I want but I'm not at the point of employing so all these new jobs are piling up. First cleans taking ages. Id be happy if I was off the tools but a long way to go.

Any advice?
Title: Re: Completely hit the wall
Post by: zeusjazmin on March 11, 2021, 12:54:36 pm
keep going,every window cleaner i know goes through stages like this,other times you will be thinking its the best job in the world,
Title: Re: Completely hit the wall
Post by: simon w on March 11, 2021, 01:14:32 pm
Money is a very good motivator, just think about the money.  8)
Title: Re: Completely hit the wall
Post by: Always shining on March 11, 2021, 02:37:31 pm
Where are you based Jay?
Title: Re: Completely hit the wall
Post by: Lee Pryor on March 11, 2021, 03:20:43 pm
I get times like this Jay, even now.

Its times like this that separate the men from the boys. Push on with the goal of getting off the tools. If it were easy everyone would be doing it. Truth is its not easy. Its tough and a lot of hard work and time to break through to the other side.

It does get easier. Trust me I know.

You can do it.  Now get off your arse!
Title: Re: Completely hit the wall
Post by: jk999 on March 11, 2021, 03:25:53 pm
Everyone has days or weeks like your having ,think about the good weeks you have ,I do and that's why I like the job I couldn't earn the money I do in any other job and think of the freedom you have with this job 🙂👍
Title: Re: Completely hit the wall
Post by: NWH on March 11, 2021, 04:01:42 pm
Get some money behind you first like a years wage that  you’ll have to pay someone less pressure for the first 12 months.
Title: Re: Completely hit the wall
Post by: TomCrowther on March 11, 2021, 04:03:45 pm
It's hard. You need to get help with the windows this Spring. Don't put it off. Advertise and see who comes along. Ideally you will find someone who wants part time to start and then full time as you have enough work.
However, the first guy might be exactly what you want but he needs full time work. Take him on, even if it means less cash for you short term. You will fly through the work {after a week or two training} and then you are away.
Title: Re: Completely hit the wall
Post by: NWH on March 11, 2021, 04:06:03 pm
Nick someone that can do the job from day 1 from  someone else 🤣🤣 💰
Title: Re: Completely hit the wall
Post by: dazmond on March 11, 2021, 04:13:02 pm
Terrible week.

Barely done anything.

Can't face the job. Just sick of it.

The business is growing which is what I want but I'm not at the point of employing so all these new jobs are piling up. First cleans taking ages. Id be happy if I was off the tools but a long way to go.

Any advice?

ive picked up 12 jobs in the last few weeks....im loving it still.... :)

i can honestly say ive not felt the way you do today for a VERY LONG TIME..........i have done but it was in my trad days over 11 years ago now....

what works for me is always the same

1.short days and weekends off
2.best equipment(hot water,xtreme poles,decent electric reel)
3.no more than 5 or 6 hours a day actually cleaning
4.working through all but the worst of weather to stay on schedule

i can honestly say i find this job so easy these days...it was a lot harder work years ago when on the ladders all day then collecting 4 hours a week!

i have to pinch myself how great ive got it....ive felt like this for years now.....also i love my bluetooth earbuds!i put some music or an audio book on and away i go!it helps having some really great customers too who make me brews and get the biccies out occasionally...

ive had a great week....one 5 hour day tomorrow then off until monday..itll be the best earning week of the year for me....
Title: Re: Completely hit the wall
Post by: jay moley on March 11, 2021, 04:26:47 pm
Thanks for the responses.

Im sure it's just an off week. Some weeks I really like it, others are ok, others I struggle through but this week has been the worst ever.

Will just keep going. Going to have a real go tomorrow.
Title: Re: Completely hit the wall
Post by: jay moley on March 11, 2021, 04:27:13 pm
Where are you based Jay?

South East
Title: Re: Completely hit the wall
Post by: NWH on March 11, 2021, 04:30:08 pm
You get used to earning good money doing this take a breath look around at other people’s situations it’s terrible for some,we are colouring in glass for more than white colour [Mod note: He means white collar; please tell me he means white collar  ;D] workers or people that have been to studying for years dream of earning.
Title: Re: Completely hit the wall
Post by: Gringo on March 11, 2021, 04:31:43 pm
Another record Daz, legend, there surely is no glass ceiling at Dazmondos, how you keep raising the bar is truly amazing
Title: Re: Completely hit the wall
Post by: Forum Admin on March 11, 2021, 04:42:40 pm
All those who succeed will go through these stages, if it's worth having it will be tough at times - but there will be a reward - just keep going mate, keep your head up and smash it! (not literally)
Title: Re: Completely hit the wall
Post by: dazmond on March 11, 2021, 04:43:22 pm
Another record Daz, legend, there surely is no glass ceiling at Dazmondos, how you keep raising the bar is truly amazing

i charge more for new jobs....even if they are identical to the houses im cleaning next door.....i usually just offer a longer frequency from the off and charge more...also i seem to be picking up  nice larger domestic jobs lately as well as the odd office job.....i do dump some jobs though too from time to time and lose the odd one due to death or moving.....

the more nice domestic jobs i pick up the more i pick up if you know what i mean....ive literally got loads of bigger jobs dotted about here,there and everywhere now  within a posh 3 mile area so its easy to schedule them into good earning days when their due......i have been window cleaning for 28 years  in this area though!
Title: Re: Completely hit the wall
Post by: NWH on March 11, 2021, 05:19:27 pm
Steady Daz that 5 hour day will soon be 8 and I know how easy that can happen “Just when I think I’m out they pull me back in “ 🤣🤣,that’s the trouble with easy money it’s hard to say no.
Title: Re: Completely hit the wall
Post by: NWH on March 11, 2021, 05:50:20 pm
Of course it’s  hard you need to have worked hard to get to the point you are at 2 people WFP should squash most routes of work except mine 🤣🤣.
Title: Re: Completely hit the wall
Post by: AuRavelling79 on March 11, 2021, 06:18:28 pm
You get used to earning good money doing this take a breath look around at other people’s situations it’s terrible for some,we are colouring in glass for more than white colour [Mod note: He means white collar; please tell me he means white collar  ;D] workers or people that have been to studying for years dream of earning.

Modded that for you Nigel!  ;D
Title: Re: Completely hit the wall
Post by: NWH on March 11, 2021, 06:20:49 pm
Thanks Mod you know what I mean 🤣🤣 you know the people that look down on you coz they earn a grand a week 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Title: Re: Completely hit the wall
Post by: dazmond on March 11, 2021, 06:32:20 pm
Steady Daz that 5 hour day will soon be 8 and I know how easy that can happen “Just when I think I’m out they pull me back in “ 🤣🤣,that’s the trouble with easy money it’s hard to say no.

no it wont!i value my time off mate,im not bothered about working longer for more money.it doesnt interest me.....

THATS THE WHOLE POINT!

i simply dont reach the stress levels some other window cleaners do...ive finished,filled my tank up,printed slips and invoices and downloaded worksheets by 4pm most days..... :)
Title: Re: Completely hit the wall
Post by: Stoots on March 11, 2021, 08:18:10 pm
Terrible week.

Barely done anything.

Can't face the job. Just sick of it.

The business is growing which is what I want but I'm not at the point of employing so all these new jobs are piling up. First cleans taking ages. Id be happy if I was off the tools but a long way to go.

Any advice?

You have to decide what you want and why you are doing it, im exactly the same i work myself to death and feel stressed, knackered and fed up a lot. I cant be arsed most days.   Oddly for me this is going to be a record week, a mixture of having just put prices up and being so far behind ive just smashed it this week....But ive not enjoyed it, its been a hard slog, im aching all over and had enough.

The thing is you say you want to be off the tools and employ.

If you truly want to do that and expand then you might as well set someone on now, if you are the point of had enough just do it now. Sooner you do that the sooner you can concentrate on growing the round and looking to employ the next one. You cant grow the business whilst killing yourself on the glass, you just wont have the energy after a hard day.

But you actually need to question if you truly want to employ , now i know when you dont like cleaning windows its easy to imagine having someone else out there doing the work, but that can actually be more stressfull. You will have to train them, deal with complaints and equipment damage. You need to pay them regardless of weather and your van being off the road. You have to put up with them turning up at your house everyday to work blurring the lines between business and home life. You have to sort their pension and sick pay cope with them not turning up when you book work in. You will spend time and money building the round for them to leave a few months down the line dropping you in the poo. The extra work to organise things on an evening...the list goes on.

In your head you imagine a couple of guys going out doing the work whilst you switch off and go play golf...except you cant switch off, they ring up... cant find this house, vans broken down, equipment failure, someone texting you saying a window has been missed. They become like a parasitic leech sucking and draining the life out of you. Its like having a child or a dog, you are responsible for everythimg and taking care of them. You cant get a break from them apart from when they are on holiday.

So think carefully what you actually want, rather than just growing for the sake of growing, do you want more money or more free time ?

If its the latter, perhaps put your prices up and reduce your days down to 3 a week. If its money you chase then you will never be satisfied anyway.

For me personally im getting fed up of the window cleaning business, its very boring and tiring working 5 days on your own and employing is just as bad... when you crunch the numbers it just doesnt scale very well at all, most service businesses dont. Im seriously thinking about selling work off and going down to 3 days a week to free up some time to look at other business opportunitys and take bit of a break from it, im sick of thinking about cleaning windows it takes over your life.... i think we work so hard and get blinkered into thinking because we want to grow a business it has to be window cleaning as thats all we know, but theres a big world out there with lots of opportunitys to explore so maybe think outside the box.

It doesnt help ive not had  a week off, a holiday or a break for a year now apart from christmas its just relentless.
Title: Re: Completely hit the wall
Post by: NWH on March 11, 2021, 08:42:59 pm
If you want to employ relatively stress free you need some capital you will stress and work yourself half to death trying to work with someone and build at the same time,give yourself 6 months for him to know most of the jobs or at least have an idea.
When he can do days on his own you can then try and build on what you’ve already got and if you have money in the bank his wages and waiting for money to come in won’t be a nightmare,a lot of good businesses go to the wall because they have no cash and you know what they say cash is king.
Title: Re: Completely hit the wall
Post by: jay moley on March 11, 2021, 08:52:32 pm
Terrible week.

Barely done anything.

Can't face the job. Just sick of it.

The business is growing which is what I want but I'm not at the point of employing so all these new jobs are piling up. First cleans taking ages. Id be happy if I was off the tools but a long way to go.

Any advice?

You have to decide what you want and why you are doing it, im exactly the same i work myself to death and feel stressed, knackered and fed up a lot. I cant be arsed most days.   Oddly for me this is going to be a record week, a mixture of having just put prices up and being so far behind ive just smashed it this week....But ive not enjoyed it, its been a hard slog, im aching all over and had enough.

The thing is you say you want to be off the tools and employ.

If you truly want to do that and expand then you might as well set someone on now, if you are the point of had enough just do it now. Sooner you do that the sooner you can concentrate on growing the round and looking to employ the next one. You cant grow the business whilst killing yourself on the glass, you just wont have the energy after a hard day.

But you actually need to question if you truly want to employ , now i know when you dont like cleaning windows its easy to imagine having someone else out there doing the work, but that can actually be more stressfull. You will have to train them, deal with complaints and equipment damage. You need to pay them regardless of weather and your van being off the road. You have to put up with them turning up at your house everyday to work blurring the lines between business and home life. You have to sort their pension and sick pay cope with them not turning up when you book work in. You will spend time and money building the round for them to leave a few months down the line dropping you in the poo. The extra work to organise things on an evening...the list goes on.

In your head you imagine a couple of guys going out doing the work whilst you switch off and go play golf...except you cant switch off, they ring up... cant find this house, vans broken down, equipment failure, someone texting you saying a window has been missed. They become like a parasitic leech sucking and draining the life out of you. Its like having a child or a dog, you are responsible for everythimg and taking care of them. You cant get a break from them apart from when they are on holiday.

So think carefully what you actually want, rather than just growing for the sake of growing, do you want more money or more free time ?

If its the latter, perhaps put your prices up and reduce your days down to 3 a week. If its money you chase then you will never be satisfied anyway.

For me personally im getting fed up of the window cleaning business, its very boring and tiring working 5 days on your own and employing is just as bad... when you crunch the numbers it just doesnt scale very well at all, most service businesses dont. Im seriously thinking about selling work off and going down to 3 days a week to free up some time to look at other business opportunitys and take bit of a break from it, im sick of thinking about cleaning windows it takes over your life.... i think we work so hard and get blinkered into thinking because we want to grow a business it has to be window cleaning as thats all we know, but theres a big world out there with lots of opportunitys to explore so maybe think outside the box.

It doesnt help ive not had  a week off, a holiday or a break for a year now apart from christmas its just relentless.

Good post.
Title: Re: Completely hit the wall
Post by: Richard iSparkle on March 11, 2021, 09:10:04 pm
don't really agree with the 'separates men from the boys' school of motivation, though if it works for you thats all good.

maybe its an age thing too... that work harder and harder approach can work wonders when you're younger or for certain personality types. its not for everyone

i would recommend you make sure you are taking some time off. have a long weekend and just get away from work.

work smarter... daz always has a good approach to business for a solo operator

think like an athlete.. they build rest periods into their extreme performance. they know that you need to have down time to be able to keep up their top performance.

also obviously as a few on here go on about... nutrition, fitness, laying off the beers, and getting some sleep all help (whilst allowing the odd treat when you want them)

Title: Re: Completely hit the wall
Post by: OnPoint on March 11, 2021, 10:06:13 pm
Where are you based Jay?

South East

You got an email Jay?
Title: Re: Completely hit the wall
Post by: dazmond on March 13, 2021, 02:13:54 pm
Terrible week.

Barely done anything.

Can't face the job. Just sick of it.

The business is growing which is what I want but I'm not at the point of employing so all these new jobs are piling up. First cleans taking ages. Id be happy if I was off the tools but a long way to go.

Any advice?

feeling any better jay?
Title: Re: Completely hit the wall
Post by: jay moley on March 13, 2021, 03:45:52 pm
Where are you based Jay?

South East

You got an email Jay?

calebmorley@yahoo.co.uk

Cheers
Title: Re: Completely hit the wall
Post by: jay moley on March 13, 2021, 03:47:43 pm
Terrible week.

Barely done anything.

Can't face the job. Just sick of it.

The business is growing which is what I want but I'm not at the point of employing so all these new jobs are piling up. First cleans taking ages. Id be happy if I was off the tools but a long way to go.

Any advice?

feeling any better jay?

Thanks for asking.

I got out yesterday and did a full day.

I felt a bit better. Had numerous hose tangles tho!

Feel a lot better now the weekend is here. Think I need to recharge mentally.  Going to have a better week next week.