[Paul Coleman]

We had a long debate with someone years ago about the definition of "success" and everyone has their own definition of it.
As you progress your definition will probably change as does your business.
We think we are successful in what we have achieved over the years, as we have set goals and targets and reached and maintained them. We live comfortably, work less hours than when we were employed by others and are not so stressed. To us that is success. The other party argued with us saying that this is not success and we had no ambition!! Ok his point of view so fair enough
The other party debating with us said that "no-one is successful until they have many staff working for them and have work coming out of their ears which they can't cope with and can call themselves a large organisation"
Our point of view on that is that is not success that is stressful

So what is your defintion of success?

I think I would guage it by how happy I feel.

[Paul Coleman]

The saying a busy fool is so true,if you spend alday having to run your doing something wrong.Get rid of the deadwood or pass it on,lots of WC`s out there and a lot of busy fools.

You make a good point there.
Although my workload is much higher these days and the financial rewards are ever creeping up, I do sometimes wonder if I've just become a busy fool at a different level - if you get my drift.  I'm not ready to drop work at the moment (with the exception of troublesome customers).  Indeed, I feel that this may be a good time to have more work than totally necessary in case the economy starts making bigger downward lurches.
Hard to know which way to go at the moment.

[mr D]

ther is a moto the british army use.

BE THE BEST!!

if you are the best at what you do people/work will come to you.

aim high but realistly.

likeabilty! if you are the kinda bloke who can walk in to a pub you have never been in before on your own for a quiet pint and 4 hours later been chatted up 4 times and made friends with almost every one in there then your likely to be sucessful in business. you dont need to be a sales man to sell your 'self'. you just need a 'self' people will want to buy!

there are loads of other things but those are fundermentles.

[Paul Coleman]

ther is a moto the british army use.

BE THE BEST!!

if you are the best at what you do people/work will come to you.

aim high but realistly.

likeabilty! if you are the kinda bloke who can walk in to a pub you have never been in before on your own for a quiet pint and 4 hours later been chatted up 4 times and made friends with almost every one in there then your likely to be sucessful in business. you dont need to be a sales man to sell your 'self'. you just need a 'self' people will want to buy!

there are loads of other things but those are fundermentles.

As you say, I'm sure that if you are a likeable person then business will be easier.  Mind you, I wouldn't adopt a motto just because the British Army uses it     .  Personally, I'm happy to be pretty good at something but maybe that's because I've never been in the forces.

[Ravensford]

One thing I don't think has been mentioned & that is to occasionally review what you do.

Even when I was trad I would review my methods, work route etc. Now & then I would realise that because I had a new customer that changed things, or a new bit of kit, actually I could do a single job or a whole days work a lot quicker by changing something, however small that might be. It might save double handling of ladders or another journey.

You would be amazed at time savings & cost savings that can be achieved or how an easier method or system of work can impact on your business. It might make a horrible job a bit easier to bear, so you keep it or a low earning job more profitable.

As they say you might have all the best gear but it's what you do with it that counts.

Just my thoughts - hope it helps.

Dave

[Helen]

One thing I don't think has been mentioned & that is to occasionally review what you do.

Even when I was trad I would review my methods, work route etc. Now & then I would realise that because I had a new customer that changed things, or a new bit of kit, actually I could do a single job or a whole days work a lot quicker by changing something, however, small that might be. It might save double handling of ladders or another journey.

That's a very good point except don't just make it occasional reviewing, it's so easy to just fall into that trap of "oh it was ok last time, so no bother!" Always look to improve your work in whatever way
You would be amazed at time savings, cost savings that can be achieved or how an easier method or system of work can impact on your business. It might make a horrible job a bit easier to bear, so you keep it or a low earning job more profitable.

As they say you might have all the best gear but it's what you do with it that counts.

Just my thoughts - hope it helps.

Dave

[ronnie paton]

the brittish armys moto is b******s they are not the best when i was in there arounf 35% couldnt pass the fitness test the equipment is poor and they dont get paid enough so if thats what class you put your business in god help you1

[Kentish Poleman]

The saying a busy fool is so true,if you spend alday having to run your doing something wrong.Get rid of the deadwood or pass it on,lots of WC`s out there and a lot of busy fools.

You make a good point there.
Although my workload is much higher these days and the financial rewards are ever creeping up, I do sometimes wonder if I've just become a busy fool at a different level - if you get my drift.  I'm not ready to drop work at the moment (with the exception of troublesome customers).  Indeed, I feel that this may be a good time to have more work than totally necessary in case the economy starts making bigger downward lurches.
Hard to know which way to go at the moment.

All I would add to this thread would be not to go in to undercut other companies; other Window cleaners that I know are all complaining about a bloke who is hand-mailing his flyers to houses, offering them all a full service for some £10.00 under all the others. So their customers call the bloke in, only to find that his price excludes things like Conservatories, Velux lights etc, simply because the fool only viewed the property from the front, not bothering to knock and try a cold call [probably been peed off too many times I expect]

But, the Customers will immediately think to themselves that they are being ripped off by their existing company, so they then become suspicious, which is complety unfair and unjustified. My firm has now begun to leaflet all existing customers, warning them about such 'loss leaders' so that they know how things stand, with the coda that should their new man honestly be so much cheaper, then they should accept his price because he will be out of business sooner or later anyway, at those figures.

I should also add that this person is believed to be running a franchise too, using a hot wash system. So how the **** he is affording to do it all at such a low price is beyond me. No doubt the marketing people who sold him the system will have told him how to win work in this fashion, but omitted to mention that he too has to pay for his operating costs/franchise fees/tax/diesel/leasing fees and all the rest of it. Busy fools are alive and well in darkest Kent it would seem!

[gordonswindows]

Thats all true poleman but what about the airlines who advertise flights from a penny that actually end up costing £50.00?

The established airlines said "nah they cant do it , they will soon be out of business, the customers wont put up with it"" but i think one of the low cost budget lines carried the most passengers last year and made the biggest profit.

Not saying its right just saying how it can happen

[steve.ternent]

So what is your defintion of success?

  I like that question! 

The answer is simple... Happiness!
Happiness... Pure and Simple! 

If your happy doing what you do, you enjoy what you do!
That's called "Job satisfaction" find this your Successful 

If however you find yourself...secretly wishing you had a better job a more important job, one where people look up to you and respect you
...and not turn their nose up when you say "cleaner" whatever "Window Cleaner" so you specialize, your a cleaner! 

I am a fully skilled Carpenter & joiner advanced C&G's with distinction!
I say I'am a carpenter...
I say I'am a Window Cleaner...

I have noticed the difference!

I say "Sod em all" I prefer to be known as Window cleaner... No stress and I am very happy   

Sucsess?   "Be Happy, enjoy what you do!    :

Sorry once again my brother in laws been using my computer and didn't log off...SORRY this quote above is mine  :

as above my quote Ideal!   

[steve.ternent]

the brittish armys moto is b******s they are not the best when i was in there arounf 35% couldnt pass the fitness test the equipment is poor and they dont get paid enough so if thats what class you put your business in god help you1

Right on tell it as it is!
I concur!
To much bull**** also!
The American Army maybe more undisciplined, but at least they have the kit and Naffi wagons in the field!     

[Clive McDonald]

I'll just have to take your word for that ideal- the polishing I mean, you must have tried it to be so definite.

The key to a successful window cleaning business is earning a lot of money.

And of course to do this you have to invest and follow the well trodden path of succesfull people in all businesses. So by thinking that WC is somehow different or that some guy who's got a mondeo with ladders on the top and not a care in the world has all the answers is probably not the way to go.

[mr D]

the brittish armys moto is b******s they are not the best when i was in there arounf 35% couldnt pass the fitness test the equipment is poor and they dont get paid enough so if thats what class you put your business in god help you1

what reg were you?

[Paul Coleman]

the brittish armys moto is b******s they are not the best when i was in there arounf 35% couldnt pass the fitness test the equipment is poor and they dont get paid enough so if thats what class you put your business in god help you1

what reg were you?

King Harold's Archers by the sound of it.

[Clive McDonald]

 Ewan If you want to be judgemental the bar for a sole trader would be at least one k a week, below that would be total ignominy.

When you get to that point you are still at the bottom of a pretty big pile of what ideal likes to spend his time trying to polish.

[Clive McDonald]

That has to be the best first post i've ever read.

you're a tryer sprocket nothing wrong with that, ink or windows, somehwere there's a lot of money with your name on it.

[elite mike]

Most interesting topic i have ever come across on this forum. When asked what u do, the word cleaner makes u cringe. U know what people think. U clean their windows 4 **** sake.
I had very succesfull round, went wfp 3 years ago, lost the plot and decided to open an ink refilling business. Opened 2 shops, with rent rates wages etc. Have dcided 2 go back 2 windows.
The reason, success is measured on how you feel when u wake in the morning, end of.
If u wake up depressed coz u r classed as cleaner, u r wrong.
I have new van arriving soon and am having hot wfp fitted, ready 4 the big adventure.
Problem, due to stress of trying to make myself a shop proprietor as opposed to a cleaner, i was found hanging outside my car, 4 times over the limit, outside a girl of 18, who i have been having an affair with. I am in a lot of trouble, but have never drink driven. I just want 2 clean windows. Do not feel ashamed u r a cleaner. ever

hi sprocket

very intresting post,

dont forget to register for vat   

[Clive McDonald]

How long on average would it take?
Well there are people posting that have or are achieving it after ten fifteen or twenty years. They see themselves as tremendous success stories, I don't.

There is no avergage though, otherwise we would all be a success and that can't be. I would say within two years of starting from scratch and without buying work. If buying work is allowed then within 6mths of starting.

Anyone not measuring up to this I would fail (in business terms not as a person).

[Ravensford]

Don't know who it was attributable to but someone once said success is being able to live the life you want to lead (or words to that effect). The subject, however, is the key to a successful window cleaning business. This is entirely different.

Success could be measured in the maximum return whilst retaining 100% customer satisfaction which is why I mentioned about reviewing what you do.

BTW Helen I always review what I do but I said occasionally for the people that don't. I agree with you that it should be regular/often.

Personally I don't give two hoots who earns what but I do want to get the best return for the work I do. I also, genuinely, want the customer to be happy with what they get.

Dave

[frames to panes]

Discount, you don't half spout some rubbish! So anyone earning less than fiftytwo thousand a year can't be a success? (1000 a week - the bar you set). I would imagine that by your own figures you have very little chance of being classed as a success yourself. Where do you get this mumbo jumbo from?