[geefree]

I made the move on purpose 3 years ago, my earnings are ok, not brilliant but not poor,

but i have no area manager breathing down my neck,

I still have targets to meet, but i dont get worried or threatened with the sack if i dont meet them.

i am free to work my own hours, without hassle,
it gets a little lonely sometimes, but i am free.


The only downside is , when i tell people what i do, i get a shocked , disbelieving look,

I feel i have to explain quickly that im very busy and happy in the job.... because of the way they think about window cleaning.

The stigma attached to this job will always, i feel....be the same.


Other than that , i am happy ..and i would never do anything else now 

What job did you leave to become a window cleaner, and are you happy?

Gary.

[Clive McDonald]

I don't like the work, it's too hard. I don't like some customers allways trying to get the better of me or some of the demanding phone calls.

I do like the challenge.

I can only speak for myself but people do look down on me for what i do.I help out in my other business occasionaly and if i leave my jumper on that says window cleaner they(customers) would much sooner deal with someone else.They even take the word of a kid over mine.If i take the jumper off i'm okay again.

If you look at it the other way, and i were to put a policemans uniform on, people would respect me, ask for directions and accept anything i said without question.

[Dean Taberner]

Gazza,

Its a shocking job!!!!

The reason I asked if you are from ossett is that I have a mate who cleans up that way 100% commercial though.

Hes ticking over at the mo though but may have a fair bit on soon fingers crossed.

Dean

[concept]

I don't like the work, it's too hard. I don't like some customers allways trying to get the better of me or some of the demanding phone calls.

I do like the challenge.

I can only speak for myself but people do look down on me for what i do.I help out in my other business occasionaly and if i leave my jumper on that says window cleaner they(customers) would much sooner deal with someone else.They even take the word of a kid over mine.If i take the jumper off i'm okay again.

If you look at it the other way, and i were to put a policemans uniform on, people would respect me, ask for directions and accept anything i said without question.

I hate the physical side, but love the canvassing side, well, not the no's but the yes's, and going home with a sheet full of customers, great feeling.

My peers respect me for going for it on my own, but anyone who I regard as outside my close circle, seems to belittle my profession and look down on me a bit, but maybe thats down to the way i put myself across, however, do I care?! No.

I held a very high profile job previously, working in football, meeting and mixing with many stars and celebrities, earning people a lot of money except myself. Not being narcassistic in stating that, but when you are out with Premiership stars one month, and cleaning a dog poop ridden 2 bed semi and not getting paid for it the next, there's a marked difference!!

I chose window cleaning as a means to getting my own business and being my own boss. I don't intend to be on the glass all my puff, as it kills me, I aspire to the heights of Windowwashers, Steve CM etc etc, and hopefully in a few years, thats where I will be.

Currently, I love the challenge of building a round, motivating myself to get up early, to go out and get work, to do my paperwork etc, as I have always had people to do that for me.

So, 5 months in, is it my best job? Well, I love plugging my ipod into my lugs, and cracking on, but I dont love getting aches and pains....roll on the slx! lol

[cozy]

I like the money and I like the contact with the custies. I also like working for myself. It's good knowing that every hour extra that I put in is noticeable as soon as I look at my bank balance. I enjoy working outside too.

I know there is a stigma attached to it, but I couldn't give a toss. I enjoyed truck driving when I used to do that, but only because that was pretty much being your own boss too.

I wouldn't like to work with other people in an office or factory. There are some moments when I realise that this job is stress free to a certain degree. Me and Mrs Cozy were stood at the counter in a cafe waiting to pay for breakfast. Some bird was in a hell of a rush to get her takeaway coffee and get through as fast as possible, all flustered etc.

We don't have all these little stresses and hectic crap. Nobody to shout and threaten us if we aren't bang on time etc, that's one of the best things about it. No boss.

I'm not saying it's the best job in the world, but it's better than what some people have to do to earn a crust. Some people will be going to bed on Sunday night, dreading Monday morning. Not me.

[Craig 72]

Can't say I enjoy the actual work,if I'm honest.My round seems to be broken into two types of work.Bigger rural type houses and smaller less lucrative houses in a more traditional round.I much prefer the bigger houses and that's the area I will concetrate on from now on.I love being my own boss and working what hours I choose.I'm rarely home later than 3 o'clock.Like other people it seems,I'm not overly eager to tell people my chosen career path but I'm earning enough now to pay all the bills after only 8 months so I'm quite proud of that really.

[krave]

For me it is. Being 21 I obviously havent really had any other job that I have been in long enough, So I dont have a lot to compair it too.

From a very young age I couldnt handle school. I was very intelligant and had a high IQ etc, But could not cope with being told and having to do as others wanted. I also found this to be the same when I tried collage and a few jobs.

I like the independence, the self motivation, the choice to do things how I wish and not as someone else does. The thing I really dislike is the way in which alot of people look down at you. Think that window cleaners are one level up from the dole, No matter how proffeaioal I try to make my business look.

But all in all in my little experiance it is for me. As things stand I dont see me doing anything else. I am trying to expand, Got a sign written van and a new Wfp set up. I see my mates on jobs they dont enjoy and see this is comfortable and works very well for me.

[pingu]

I worked for Lloyds Of London as a computer contractor running 1 of the 2 Y2K test labs ...In total they were billed for 9 months work when I actually did 3 weeks work ....now that was great...spent 6 months whilst in the army skiing, was paid to help sail a yatch from Gibralter to Gosport in the army..that was a nice 2 odd weeks....spent 3 years teaching diving in Thailand..that was colourful to say the least...so I have had a couple of nice jobs before...

But now I am here doing this...I do like it somedays an others I hate it beyond measure....jeeeeeeeeeees what happend?

I do sometimes feel ashamed to be a window cleaner..it's just the way I am...

[Dean Taberner]

If you look at it the other way, and i were to put a policemans uniform on, people would respect me, ask for directions and accept anything i said without question.

Slumpy,

Im a part time policeman aswell so I get the best of both worlds,

When im in my window kit on domestics people look at me as though im goin to rob them but when im out bobbying ive been known to see the same people who think im going to arrest them.

Crazy world!!

Dean

[martinsadie]

certainly is 

[Mike55]

I think what we all feel is that nothing beats being your own boss......albeit window cleaning

So what if it doesn't turn heads at a dinner party.  Earn enough money to do what you want to do outside of the work and your doing well.

Oh and you don't have to answer to anyone, get to listen to your fav music all day and can knock off at 3pm.

Stuck in rush hour or boring meetings....not for me thanks.

[jonnyald]

i was a mechanic for donkeys years ,but the sheer slog of getting crusty old cars thru the m.o.t. day in-day out  in the end wore me down .
 i started windowing on a whim  , its drawn me in  mainly cos its very friendly and people are happy to talk and  chat ,thats the part i like most

[daniel worgan]

I worked for Lloyds Of London as a computer contractor running 1 of the 2 Y2K test labs ...In total they were billed for 9 months work when I actually did 3 weeks work ....now that was great...spent 6 months whilst in the army skiing, was paid to help sail a yatch from Gibralter to Gosport in the army..that was a nice 2 odd weeks....spent 3 years teaching diving in Thailand..that was colourful to say the least...so I have had a couple of nice jobs before...

But now I am here doing this...I do like it somedays an others I hate it beyond measure....jeeeeeeeeeees what happend?

I do sometimes feel ashamed to be a window cleaner..it's just the way I am...

LOL...pingu i worked for lloyds of london as a junior underwriter before moving to thailand...this world is so small.I worked for a small syndicate called frank barber 990,in thailand i lived in appartments along jomtien beach road.
Window cleaning is not a bad job,just boring sometimes,but what job can most working class people say they really do enjoy all the time.

[jr windows]

Hello all,
I used to a Fraud Investigation Officer, but when I moved to Wales I could not transfer as not being able to speak Welsh. It's true, people think you are thick / stupid being a window cleaner.
In the summer I love it but in the rain not earning it's poo.
Anyway keep shining boys 'n' girls.

Cheers jay

[TC1]

Well I'm in my 2nd month now and I love it. I was a sales engineer before making the jump following both of my older brothers who have made a great success of their  w/c busineses.

I hated all the driving I did (40-50K per year) and all the poxy traffic jams that went with it and love being my own boss.

 I do feel a little un easy to tell people what I do now, but am sure this will fade with time,and just think of my brothers and how they live their lives  .  Strange really as I never looked down at my old w/c before he dissapeared. My family and friends are proud of me, so who gives a $hit what anyone else thinks I suppose

I am now earning 1/2 of my previous salary but only working 9 days  for it, not including canvassing and hope to be earning as much as my best mate who is a director for a large holiday company with 18 months

When I look at the high profile members on here, I have nothing but admiration for them and their obvious entrepreneurial skills!

Tony

[Mike 108]

Pingu/Daniel

Why didn't you stay in Thailand?  -  What on earth brought you back to this damp/grey/knackered island (or Holland)?

Mike

[Londoner]

Well, sometimes I love it and sometimes I hate it. It does have its advantages though, independence being the big one.

Having worked for a big multinational for many years and then getting made redundant I could never go back into that pressure cooker again.

You have to think very seriously what the alternatives would be if if you weren't doing this job. I pay my bills , I feed my kids, its not so bad.

[daniel worgan]

Pingu/Daniel

Why didn't you stay in Thailand?  -  What on earth brought you back to this damp/grey/knackered island (or Holland)?

Mike

Mike i moved from Thailand to Australia back in the late eighties where i married and then decided to come back to the UK to visit family....that was fourteen years ago.
Thailand is not the best place to bring up a family,paradise it may be for many but as a family man it is just not the right place for me.Saying that neither was Australia,so it looks like i am just stuck here untill i win those 6 numbers...

[Martin-Swinscoe]

Everytime the going has got tough weather/non payers etc. i always cast my mind back to been a part time postman £170 take home pay for 30 hours work. A quick window cleaning culture shock brings back a smile to my face.
  I've never been ashamed to say i'm a window cleaner. when in conversation with people and i've mentioned i'm a wc many a time they have said "ooo can you come and do mine for me?"
When i mentioned i was on the post all that they would say was "i don't want any junk mail through my door and can you keep off my garden !!"

Be proud it's called networking

[Blue Frog Systems]

I started window cleaning as I couldn't get a job anywhere (even maccys)

I'm earning more than any job I've had before and I'm not ashamed to tell anyone my business

I love window cleaning