[NWH]

Yes it's not something that makes you feel good, but you've added balance shiner. What about my point? surely on the better paying days you have to use a bit of brain power too. I know you don't have George either, but i'm telling you the juggling and flexibility is made easier if you have.

I think Rog may be falling down on this planning side.

I don`t think he has a plan.

[Paul Coleman]

Yes it's not something that makes you feel good, but you've added balance shiner. What about my point? surely on the better paying days you have to use a bit of brain power too. I know you don't have George either, but i'm telling you the juggling and flexibility is made easier if you have.

I think Rog may be falling down on this planning side.

You're right that I don't have George but if you saw how I've got my database set up, I think you would agree that it can be very flexible.  It can't do everything that George can but I think it can do a few things that George doesn't (not certain as I only experimented with George briefly).  Basically, someone viewing my database/spreadsheet system from outside could easily be baffled until they had used it for a while.  However, I didn't set it up for others to use but just to meet my own requirements.  It doesn't have a user friendly front end but that's the sacrifice I've made to keep it flexible for myself.  I can print off a nice list of work due over the next few days (can adjust the number of days to suit) and a list of all customers who owe me.  I can print out any commercial invoices with a mailmerge document from my word processor (I keep a separate database of jobs that have invoices issued). If I put my mind to it, I could even get it to run off George style reports (or similar) but I don't have the need to see every detail about work that's due.  I would hate to revert back to a paper book like I did many years ago.
I know this might sound funny but I do sometimes struggle with software written by other people (not just George).  Ironically, I believe it's because the programmers try too hard to make it easy.  I'm not trying to lay claim to any special expertise but I was brought up on peeks, pokes, and machine code on a Commodore 64.  I used to write my own simple routines sometimes once I got a feel for it (not raw machine code though - it was a slightly simpler thing called assembler language which was compiled by an assembler and sometimes I stuck with the slower Basic if speed wasn't an issue).  I didn't have a computer for quite a few years.  I went straight from an Amstrad PCW to a PC running Windows 95.  I switched the windows PC on for the first time and wondered why there were funny little pictures on the screen.  I phoned a friend to ask where the command line was LOL.  Didn't mean to digress but perhaps you see now why I prefer to sort things out the way I do.  I had already been using my own methods for some time before I came across George.  If that hadn't been the case I may have persevered with it.
As for organising my work, I tend to travel out a bit because my home town is full of long terraces of houses where the only rear access is through the house.  No good at all for making decent money (I tried it at the beginning).  Therefore, I find I need to work in blocks of "areas" rather than cherry picking the highest paid work for particular days.  If I did it that way, I would be running around all over the place and, of course, there would be a knock on effect for subsequent cleans.  I find it better to be pretty strict doing an area at a time in order to avoid the round becoming chaotic.  There is about 25 - 30 miles between the furthest reaches of my round (I'm in the middle). Obviously sometimes I will deviate from routine to get an urgent first clean done in order to win a new customer but I do tell them that the gap until the next visit will not be my usual 6 weeks as I've done it out of synch with my other work in the area.  Also, a regular customer may have a special function on and I don't mind putting myself out a bit for a good regular.

[Sir Squeaky]

Why the hell would I get more work done because of writing it in a pocket computer list? :

Come off it, some people fall for the gadgets every time.

I bet the same people if they played golf they'd have a little "clicker" to keep track of how many shots they've taken.
Makes you a better player you know...

What about a compass/altimeter on the dashboard of their Vauxhall Astra?

[L.J.Thorpe]

Why the hell would I get more work done because of writing it in a pocket computer list? :

Come off it, some people fall for the gadgets every time.

I bet the same people if they played golf they'd have a little "clicker" to keep track of how many shots they've taken.
Makes you a better player you know...

What about a compass/altimeter on the dashboard of their Vauxhall Astra?

i wonder about this as well

[supernova77]

Why the hell would I get more work done because of writing it in a pocket computer list? Roll Eyes

Come off it, some people fall for the gadgets every time.

I bet the same people if they played golf they'd have a little "clicker" to keep track of how many shots they've taken.
Makes you a better player you know... Wink

What about a compass/altimeter on the dashboard of their Vauxhall Astra? Grin

“The narrow-minded who undertake any work will never be satisfied. They cannot understand the actions of those who are large hearted and broad-minded.”

[Sir Squeaky]

Why the hell would I get more work done because of writing it in a pocket computer list? Roll Eyes

Come off it, some people fall for the gadgets every time.

I bet the same people if they played golf they'd have a little "clicker" to keep track of how many shots they've taken.
Makes you a better player you know... Wink

What about a compass/altimeter on the dashboard of their Vauxhall Astra? Grin

“The narrow-minded who undertake any work will never be satisfied. They cannot understand the actions of those who are large hearted and broad-minded.”

Eh?

[windowwashers]

I've been thinking about this today- why rog can't make a go it, and i've come to a conclusion.

Every day that I earn well involves a lot of mental flexibility on my part. I've come back off holiday so have an eight page list. I hit the list hard trying to earn as much as I can each day. Many of you must do the same thing, you choose the jobs to maximise the earnings. I might do a job on page one, then page seven then page four.

I think on my feet and I like to think I am very good at it.Many of you must do the same.

And my point is?

Well my point is that if am at pretty much full stretch mentaly, and i have a list provide by george( computer) then the guy who has a pen and pencil can't really compete.

I've got no work, he has he just doesn't know it. He'll spot a job tonight and think, I could have done that if only I'd known.

I know for a fact Rog hasn't got George because he's mentioned it before. Without this you lack the flexibility to even attempt to maximise earnings.

My apologies to those that think this is so obvious that it makes you sick, but some people genuinly don't know this.

I do not have george either, I do not lack flexibility, I used pen and paper for many years and still do to a degree now, George is not the be all of window cleaning management software, if you think it is your barking 

[chris@c.m.s]

Still its not a bad bit of software for the money 

[windowwashers]

Still its not a bad bit of software for the money 

I agree it is very good for the money 
Just gets to me when people think that it makes there business run better than others that do not use it

[prestigeclean]

monday £149.00 mispriced a gutter clean , tuesday £160.00 finished at 1pm , wednesday 230.00 , thursday £336.00 good compact work , friday £118.00 battery packed up and spent all day yesterday getting a new one ready for monday regards alan

[matt]

i am the most gadget loving man around, i love them, from PDA's to PC's to every game console out ( except the PS3 )

i find my round is my round, i start at point a and work till i cannot work anymore for the day, then i go onto my next day and so on, then 6 weeks ( sometime more ) i arrive back at point a

its all in a little book, 2 lines under each house, 1 tick to say its ben done, 1 P next to it to say they have paid, the 2 lines means i have space for aprox 3 years work in the book, well its 2 books now, as i have too much work

i allways do the round the same route and it works well

im afraid george has passed me by, and i even have it on CD here  :

[NWH]

i am the most gadget loving man around, i love them, from PDA's to PC's to every game console out ( except the PS3 )

i find my round is my round, i start at point a and work till i cannot work anymore for the day, then i go onto my next day and so on, then 6 weeks ( sometime more ) i arrive back at point a

its all in a little book, 2 lines under each house, 1 tick to say its ben done, 1 P next to it to say they have paid, the 2 lines means i have space for aprox 3 years work in the book, well its 2 books now, as i have too much work

i allways do the round the same route and it works well

im afraid george has passed me by, and i even have it on CD here  :

I agree with that,george is no good to anyone if you get rained off and need to bring work slightly forward say a day or 2 to make up for a whole day lost.I can`t see the point of it,you can`t beat pen and paper most of the time.

[Oakley Windows]

i am the most gadget loving man around, i love them, from PDA's to PC's to every game console out ( except the PS3 )

i find my round is my round, i start at point a and work till i cannot work anymore for the day, then i go onto my next day and so on, then 6 weeks ( sometime more ) i arrive back at point a

its all in a little book, 2 lines under each house, 1 tick to say its ben done, 1 P next to it to say they have paid, the 2 lines means i have space for aprox 3 years work in the book, well its 2 books now, as i have too much work

i allways do the round the same route and it works well

im afraid george has passed me by, and i even have it on CD here  :

Just like me pretty much. My records are on cards, they dont need to be on a computer or software. I do them every day, its 2 minutes. It doesnt mean I earn less because of it. The amount i earn is dependant on how many hours I put in per day essentially, nothing else.

[NWH]

George window cleaning software is a lot better than pen and paper to run anybodies round no matter how small or large with few limitations. Paper based system will enable you to work your round but will ultimately limit you.

May not be needed for some but that doesn’t mean it’s not better just because your work can be done with pen and paper.

No amount of reasoning or justification will change that.

 

How`s that going to earn me more money it dosen`t clean windows for you,i know what work is due from a page a day diary and that enables me more flexibility without needing to use a pcket computer.

[Oakley Windows]

George window cleaning software is a lot better than pen and paper to run anybodies round no matter how small or large with few limitations. Paper based system will enable you to work your round but will ultimately limit you.

May not be needed for some but that doesn’t mean it’s not better just because your work can be done with pen and paper.

No amount of reasoning or justification will change that.

 

How`s that going to earn me more money it dosen`t clean windows for you,i know what work is due from a page a day diary and that enables me more flexibility without needing to use a pcket computer.

You bugger    thats exactly what I was going to say. Ewan if you cant run a window cleaning round effectively on brain power and a little bit of nouse and intelliegence alone you shouldnt really be trying to inform others how to do it.

[Oakley Windows]

Ewan, youve been cleaning windows using your George system for how long?


Youve cleaned windows using pen and paper system for how long?

[Clive McDonald]

Shiner explained it fairly well although he hasn't got George.It's to do with bringing order out of chaos, and It's one of those things that you either get or you don't. I knew rog didn't but i'm surprised at you two.A  big pointy hat with the letter D on it comes to mind.

How Matt diy explained it I agree that he doesn't need it. It's probably for people like myself or shiner who have 15 mile footprint, take holidays, and have varying 4,6,8 week frequencys.

Many reading this thread will know exactly what I mean by thinking on their feet feet.

[peter holley]

I've been thinking about this today- why rog can't make a go it, and i've come to a conclusion.

Every day that I earn well involves a lot of mental flexibility on my part. I've come back off holiday so have an eight page list. I hit the list hard trying to earn as much as I can each day. Many of you must do the same thing, you choose the jobs to maximise the earnings. I might do a job on page one, then page seven then page four.

I think on my feet and I like to think I am very good at it.Many of you must do the same.

And my point is?

Well my point is that if am at pretty much full stretch mentaly, and i have a list provide by george( computer) then the guy who has a pen and pencil can't really compete.

I've got no work, he has he just doesn't know it. He'll spot a job tonight and think, I could have done that if only I'd known.

I know for a fact Rog hasn't got George because he's mentioned it before. Without this you lack the flexibility to even attempt to maximise earnings.

My apologies to those that think this is so obvious that it makes you sick, but some people genuinly don't know this.

i dont use george, and i surpass the figures in question easily , and get home buy 2pm.......i have my own way of organizing things... its called a brain

[Oakley Windows]

I haven’t bothered to use the pda version (yet) and sometimes I go to work without any kind of list as I can remember what I have to do that day.



So I utilise memory, pen & paper and software. Like wise you shouldn’t inform others not to use software if you are not using it yourself!

Im not telling them not to, I just resent others telling me how to run my busines when they dont know my business.

You wanna use it then use it, but dont assume its right for everyone.

By the way Ewan, please dont avoid this

Ewan, youve been cleaning windows using your George system for how long?


Youve cleaned windows using pen and paper system for how long?

[Clive McDonald]

P Holley, the reason for bringing it up was for cleaners who not only can't earn a days wages but don't believe some of the figures others mention. It came to me that as the guy has an established round, wfp van mount, and has been doing it for ten years plus, that not being able to organise his work could be a reason.