Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Davew on September 24, 2007, 08:36:39 pm
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Do you find it stress free?
I don't but the difference is the ability to dump most of the people that cause it. :D
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No stress at all, i have never had a job like it!!
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There's always some form of stress in anything....the trick is how to manage it....but I'm damned if I can find that chapter in the book ;D
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I get stressed when im behind (so thats most of the time) ;D
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I find myself really stressed all the time. Mainly because I have put together my company bought all the stuff to get going, employed someone and can't for the life of me get a full workload together. I mean its not that I've got no work its just that I constantly got just enough to tick over and could easily handle double. Saying that since going into business I've never dreaded Monday coming or got up for work and dreaded it. I absolutely love window cleaning and I love working for myself, just wish I was a year or 2 down the road.
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I find myself really stressed all the time. Mainly because I have put together my company bought all the stuff to get going, employed someone and can't for the life of me get a full workload together. I mean its not that I've got no work its just that I constantly got just enough to tick over and could easily handle double. Saying that since going into business I've never dreaded Monday coming or got up for work and dreaded it. I absolutely love window cleaning and I love working for myself, just wish I was a year or 2 down the road.
why not but some more work stress over....or is that when it begins
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I can't find anyone who will sell me work. If you remember my posts a few months ago I've been working one day a week with an older guy hoping he will sell me some. Plus I've been offered work to buy but when getting to the point of going to see the work its fell through.
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Last week a friend of mine went to a seminar called *Stress and Disease by Dr. Nickolas Hall, an expert in psychobiology. He gave an example of a coping skill for job stress that I would like to share with you.
When you have had one of those TAKE THIS JOB AND SHOVE IT days, try this. On your way home after work, stop at your pharmacy and go to the section where they have thermometers. You will need to purchase a rectal thermometer made by *Q-Tip. Be very sure that you get this brand.
When you get home, lock your doors, draw the drapes, and disconnect the phone so you will not be disturbed during your therapy. Change to very comfortable clothing, such as a sweat suit and lie down on your bed. Open the package containing the thermometer and remove the thermometer and carefully place it on the bedside table so that it will not become chipped or broken.
Take the written material that accompanies the thermometer and as you read it you will notice in small print the statement that *every rectal thermometer made by Q-Tip is PERSONALLY tested.
Now close your eyes and say out loud five times, ‘I am so glad that I do not work in quality control at the Q-Tip Company ;D ;D ;D
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Lol :o.
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Last week a friend of mine went to a seminar called *Stress and Disease by Dr. Nickolas Hall, an expert in psychobiology. He gave an example of a coping skill for job stress that I would like to share with you.
When you have had one of those TAKE THIS JOB AND SHOVE IT days, try this. On your way home after work, stop at your pharmacy and go to the section where they have thermometers. You will need to purchase a rectal thermometer made by *Q-Tip. Be very sure that you get this brand.
When you get home, lock your doors, draw the drapes, and disconnect the phone so you will not be disturbed during your therapy. Change to very comfortable clothing, such as a sweat suit and lie down on your bed. Open the package containing the thermometer and remove the thermometer and carefully place it on the bedside table so that it will not become chipped or broken.
Take the written material that accompanies the thermometer and as you read it you will notice in small print the statement that *every rectal thermometer made by Q-Tip is PERSONALLY tested.
Now close your eyes and say out loud five times, ‘I am so glad that I do not work in quality control at the Q-Tip Company ;D ;D ;D
Hahaha. I was wondering where that post was heading Jeff.
Made me smile.
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I thought about this today, after my own stressfull day and it made me smile to ;D ;D no more stress ;D ;D
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Colley, why not go out marketing in your spare time instead of "hoping" that someone will sell you some work. Much better getting your own work in, than relying on other peoples unwanted list :) If you are paying your employee for his time too, take him with you, if he gets any in give him a bonus, so that in the future you have him as an option too for further marketing The thing with having your own business, is that you have to wear lots of hats.
Marketer
WC'er,
Accounts/bookeeper,
employer
salesman
maintainance person
coffee maker
office junior
the list is endless! ;D
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nice one jeff!that made me laugh!!!
Mrs scrim ;D
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Arghhh!!! it's raining again!!!! >:( >:( >:(
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Arghhh!!! it's raining again!!!! >:( >:( >:(
Get a Wfp set up & work. ;)
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Stress with window cleaning is predominatley higher in the earleir years because of various reasons:
The need to get work
The worry of the weather.
The worry of collecting your money
The worry of complaints
The worry of losing customers
The worry of other w/c companies leafleting/canvassing
Tax
Equipment costs
the list goes on.
As you become more established and more settled you will be able to deal with each issue in a more calmer way rather than generally worrying and stressing about things.
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I get stressed when im behind (so thats most of the time) ;D
Why? ???
The customers don't care.
Not unless they're 4 weekly, and you've been 6 or 7 weeks.
That's absolutely nothing to worry about at all.
I'd rather that than be on time.
I'm on time at the moment, and I can only do what's due.
If I was behind I could do more work if I want.
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I am never caught right up with all my work and i work quickly,squeaky you can`t have that much work that`s all i can say.
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I am never caught right up with all my work and i work quickly,squeaky you can`t have that much work that`s all i can say.
No, I've only got about 14 or 15 days a month.
I need another week's worth to have enough to do all month.
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So if you worked on a 6-8wkly schedule you would need loooooooads more work.
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I can't find anyone who will sell me work. If you remember my posts a few months ago I've been working one day a week with an older guy hoping he will sell me some. Plus I've been offered work to buy but when getting to the point of going to see the work its fell through.
go out and leaflet, then do a little door knocking a day or so later, you will be suprised what you pick up even with just a leaflet.
works for me
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I can't find anyone who will sell me work. If you remember my posts a few months ago I've been working one day a week with an older guy hoping he will sell me some. Plus I've been offered work to buy but when getting to the point of going to see the work its fell through.
go out and leaflet, then do a little door knocking a day or so later, you will be suprised what you pick up even with just a leaflet.
works for me
Lucky you.
I knocked and leafleted 200 houses and got 1 yes and 2 maybes.
Now that's stress. >:(
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I can't find anyone who will sell me work. If you remember my posts a few months ago I've been working one day a week with an older guy hoping he will sell me some. Plus I've been offered work to buy but when getting to the point of going to see the work its fell through.
go out and leaflet, then do a little door knocking a day or so later, you will be suprised what you pick up even with just a leaflet.
works for me
Lucky you.
I knocked and leafleted 200 houses and got 1 yes and 2 maybes.
Now that's stress. >:(
just hoping you dont look like that pic lol, 200 houses and 1 yes ???? do you think maybe you was doing something wrong or leaflet has bad design?
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I can't find anyone who will sell me work. If you remember my posts a few months ago I've been working one day a week with an older guy hoping he will sell me some. Plus I've been offered work to buy but when getting to the point of going to see the work its fell through.
go out and leaflet, then do a little door knocking a day or so later, you will be suprised what you pick up even with just a leaflet.
works for me
Lucky you.
I knocked and leafleted 200 houses and got 1 yes and 2 maybes.
Now that's stress. >:(
just hoping you dont look like that pic lol, 200 houses and 1 yes ???? do you think maybe you was doing something wrong or leaflet has bad design?
No, most of them I spoke to personally.
I'm a born salesman, but if people have already got one or don't want one, there's nothing you can do.
The problem is, I live in an area where within miles there's only about 10,000-odd people.
And we have about 15 window cleaners... >:(
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A pleasure to read your posts at times Roger.
Despite your finally giving in to wfp, for a young man you have retained your slightly sardonic candor!
Don't lose that.
Pj
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A pleasure to read your posts at times Roger.
Despite your finally giving in to wfp, for a young man you have retained your slightly sardonic candor!
Don't lose that.
Pj
Sorry Pj, I'm having a bit of a senior moment here.
I can't remember what that means. :-\
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Sardonic = humorous though slightly sarcastic
Candor/Candour = frankness, honesty
sardonic candour.
Senior? No, junior moment methinks 8)
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i think stress is part of life .cant seem to get away from it .
im a bit of a stress head .
thats why i do a 10 mile run every other day ,calm me down ,clears my head ,and keeps me fit . ;D
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I am constantly stressed.
I am a procrastinator through and through, and it is a stressful hobby.
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No, most of them I spoke to personally.
I'm a born salesman, but if people have already got one or don't want one, there's nothing you can do.
Maybe it's the salesman in you that puts people off? If a "salesman" turns up at my door then I tend to say no straight away.
The problem is, I live in an area where within miles there's only about 10,000-odd people.
And we have about 15 window cleaners...
Maybe travel a bit further to get some new work?
Andy
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a very wise man once said "who of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his life span?........so never be anxious about the next day, for the next day will have its own anxieties."
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a very wise man once said "who of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his life span?........so never be anxious about the next day, for the next day will have its own anxieties."
So true. The version that I heard was "Today is the tomorrow that you worried about yesterday." Another one goes "If you have one foot in yesterday and one foot in tomorrow, you p all over today."
It's funny but 99% of all the things I have ever worried about never actually happened. The 1% that did happen I got through anyway (somehow).
Billions of people worried about WW2 starting and it still never stopped it.
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I think every way of making a living has stress involved.... if it didn't, it probably wouldn't pay very well! :P
The beauty of our profession, though, is that if something is causing you stress, it can usually be sorted. For example, I get stressed when I fall behind, but the answer to this is to work more hours or drop some low paying/hassley (is that a word?) accounts until I can find time to replace them.
If you lose some customers, then they can usually be replaced.
The one thing that is hard to deal with is the weather, but even in the worst of patches, I've usually found I can get through most of my work. And it never lasts forever! :)
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I knocked and leafleted 200 houses and got 1 yes and 2 maybes.
Now that's stress. >:(
I phoned Squeaks on Wednesday morning and offered him an account which turned out to be £110 for the first clean, £85 for subsequent three-monthly cleans (about 1 hrs work with a van mount WFP system; easy access all round apart from one dodgy bit by a swimming pool) and the customer owns two old-folk homes (worth about £300 a clean together; but ONE tough days work) and he made all sorts of excuses why he couldn't do the job; which had to be done then and there; because the scaffolding that the decorators used was being taken down.
Squeaks said he couldn't do the job because he had an inside and out client booked and couldn't cancel because:
His phone was low on battery.
He had no credit on his phone.
He'd done a lot of squeegie work the day previously.
Martians had landed on the B1425 and the army had blocked the road with two Challenger tanks.
I tried to talk Squeaks into doing the job; initial clean tough, but no ladders (it was all scaffolded) and the chance to get a couple of other big jobs, but he wasn't game. Wor Lass, after listening to our phonecall, 'said, 'Oh, come on, just go and see and stick a good price in'.
So we did.
And I honestly find it difficult to believe that anyone can canvass 200 houses and only get one response?
Maybye he knocked very quietly and no-one answered the door?
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Martians had landed on the B1425 and the army had blocked the road with two Challenger tanks.
:o :o :o :o Why haven't I heard about this?! :-\ :-\ ;)
I phoned Squeaks on Wednesday morning and offered him an account which turned out to be £110 for the first clean, £85 for subsequent three-monthly cleans (about 1 hrs work with a van mount WFP system; easy access all round apart from one dodgy bit by a swimming pool) and the customer owns two old-folk homes (worth about £300 a clean together; but ONE tough days work) and he made all sorts of excuses why he couldn't do the job; which had to be done then and there; because the scaffolding that the decorators used was being taken down.
I'll have the jobs! ;D ;D Well I would, if I didn't live 200 miles away :-\ ::)
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I knocked and leafleted 200 houses and got 1 yes and 2 maybes.
Now that's stress. >:(
I phoned Squeaks on Wednesday morning and offered him an account which turned out to be £110 for the first clean, £85 for subsequent three-monthly cleans (about 1 hrs work with a van mount WFP system; easy access all round apart from one dodgy bit by a swimming pool) and the customer owns two old-folk homes (worth about £300 a clean together; but ONE tough days work) and he made all sorts of excuses why he couldn't do the job; which had to be done then and there; because the scaffolding that the decorators used was being taken down.
He had an inside and out client booked and couldn't cancel because:
His phone was low on battery.
He had no credit on his phone.
He'd done a lot of squeegie work the day previously.
Martians had landed on the B1425 and the army had blocked the road with two Challenger tanks.
I honestly find it difficult to believe that anyone can canvass 200 houses and only get one response?
Maybye he knocked very quietly and no-one answered the door?
Well done Tosh
You only have to read past posts, and a lot of the guy's on here, would have bitten your hand off for that Job. ;)
very friendly thing to do
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I had prior arrangements which I didn't have the number on me to cancel, and it ended up a £150 day.
A first clean I didn't know, and one I'd have to do by hand, when I'm still suffering the RSI?
Not worth it I think you'll find.
If the job was any good Tosh wouldn't have been palming it off.
Think about it...
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Stress! Hell no, having 20% more work than you can do in a month works better than Prozac. Do your best, don't take any crap from awkward customers.
The only stress is getting the books done in time for the accountant. dai
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If the job was any good Tosh wouldn't have been palming it off.
Think about it...
Good point! I didn't have much of a clue about the job - it could've been really naff - because I hadn't seen it when I phoned you; apart from it was scaffolded and had to be done that day; 'cos the scaffolding was about to be removed.
I just wanted a day off to do some DIY; all the bills are covered and I've cash in the bank;
But it is a class job, which is why I'm going to make a BIG effort to get the conservatory roof looking like new. Once that's sorted, I honestly reckon it's an hours job for £85 and about a 20 minute drive.
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You two having a tiff?
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You two having a tiff?
Dave,
Are you new here?
'course we're having a tiff! We always do, in a professional manner though. The window cleaners in Chepstow are a good bunch, but we're still allowed to whinge at each other, aren't we?
Squeaks and I are local window cleaners to each other and take pleasure in having the odd dig; though he started it. It's almost tradition on this forum.
I did say to Squeaks when he said he wouldn't do the job, 'Right, I'll get a proper window cleaner to do it', and Wor Lass suggested we go and do it!
Anyway, I like Squeaks, he makes me larf!
I also can't be that bad, a Jon G (hopefully a new member here) has just dropped off a load of beer and crisps (he knows I'm partial to both) to say 'thank you' for helping him with getting set up with a backpack for a few awkard jobs he has.
And what a compliment to me also; he's been window cleaning for about 10 years longer than me.
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Rog,
you really should make more effort to follow up on leads like this, you are always moaning about how you don't have many big domestic accounts, and how you never seem to pick up any new work.
Instead of finding reasons not to do it, you should have been finding ways to take it on.
Before I went WFP I had shaved my work down to the absolute minimum, only had about 20 hours a week...tops...you remember how fed up I was.
But now, 3 years later I have work galore, and a great many domestic acounts well in access of £25, all very good payers indeed.
And I haven't had to canvas once.
In fact, the new work I picked up was what paid for the payments on the van, the next £300 worth of new work per month is going to pay for a new lexus (well, you gotta have targets ;D)
So you can't put all the new work I've picked up down to a sign written van!
so you could have done the job you were booked to do, and then gone up and done the house with the scaffolding up.
Ian
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Rog,
you really should make more effort to follow up on leads like this, you are always moaning about how you don't have many big domestic accounts, and how you never seem to pick up any new work.
Instead of finding reasons not to do it, you should have been finding ways to take it on.
Before I went WFP I had shaved my work down to the absolute minimum, only had about 20 hours a week...tops...you remember how fed up I was.
But now, 3 years later I have work galore, and a great many domestic acounts well in access of £25, all very good payers indeed.
And I haven't had to canvas once.
In fact, the new work I picked up was what paid for the payments on the van, the next £300 worth of new work per month is going to pay for a new lexus (well, you gotta have targets ;D)
So you can't put all the new work I've picked up down to a sign written van!
so you could have done the job you were booked to do, and then gone up and done the house with the scaffolding up.
Ian
Christ Ian, you're as bad as Tosh. ::)
I wasn't making excuses, I couldn't do it that day.
If it was possible, I wasn't going to a big trad job anyway, as my injury has flared up painful this week, from too much squeegeeing.
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You two having a tiff?
They are married to each othere. ;D