On a scale of 10 how do you rate?

[Bob Foster]

Ask yourself this question. Considering the big picture how would you rate your skill level as a carpet cleaner (carpets and upholstery only)?

1 (Carpet cleaning looks like a good business so I think I will go in this store over here and talk to someone about getting into the business)

to

10 (I only come here to laugh at the folly of others...because well, I'm the greatest)


What would it take to kick your score up a couple of notches?

 

[Out of Character - 0]

I'm a 9.8, my techs are 8.5-9's

 

[hogjowl]

Most of us would benefit from hanging out over on another board some.

We're a bunck of inbred stalkers around here.

 

[ruff]

Now, that is a loaded question Bob.

You know that all of us on this board think that we are 12 and "only come here to laugh at the folly of others...because well, we're the greatest."

As any organization, we are only as...........as the person who at the head. Now you read Mikey's posts Bob and I trust you can reach a conclusion.

What would it take to kick your score up a couple of notches?

No doubt. Humility!

 

[Larry B]

5

I dont get complaints but you can never know everything. Thats why this board works so good if you dont know just ask!

 

[B&BGaryC]

8 to 8.5 if I got my poop in a group...

I don't think it's as much about jedi skills as it is about caring how the job turns out.

Master yoda is only a 2 if he's in a bad mood and in a rush.

A complete dunderhead can be at least an 8.5 if he really pulls to get results.

However, it doesn't matter how well you clean as long as you clean the customer. You can do the most perfect job in the world, better than Ron Werner, and have the customer think you are a lousy cleaner because you didn't have good customer service skills.

You can do a splash and dash and leave the carpets dirty and wet for 3 days and have the customer singing your praises to anybody who will listen if you know how to work with people.

 

[Greenie]

With the exception of rookies still learnin' the basics, I think most are 6-8 cleaners, but 3-4 businessmen, if they weren't they would have 10 trucks and be reading Inc. instead of cleanfax.

You only have to be an average cleaner, but you have to have an above average personality to really be successful in this biz, that is why I'm a supplier/mfg. I don't need much of either...lol

 

[Doug Cox]

Thats what I'm talking about Greenie.
Personally I would rate myself a 10 locally compared to my competition and probably a 7+ nationally because as a carpet cleaner I realize I don't know everything. In fact I probably know way less than I realize.

 

[Jtuseo]

im a 7

 

[renegade_cowboy]

With the exception of rookies still learnin' the basics, I think most are 6-8 cleaners, but 3-4 businessmen, if they weren't they would have 10 trucks and be reading Inc. instead of cleanfax.

You only have to be an average cleaner, but you have to have an above average personality to really be successful in this biz, that is why I'm a supplier/mfg. I don't need much of either...lol

Good post and very true.

:mrgreen:

 

[Chads]

To be honest I think I'm probally a 6 just because I cant get everything clean as I want, and my cofidence is not always there because I dont have the most superior equipment to get me those awesome dry times. I feel that I have to use products like my airpaths to just get the same drying times as the big machine then of coarse there come the heat that my machine lacks ,Yeah I get constanly 140 to 150 degrees that is just not hot enough for me. I need to be able to disolve that gum with no special products and break that grease down with out all the extra boosts. I feel that I could be a more little organised, especially in planning scheduling custys and my calandar of events. I still just feel a little like the underdog in the scale of things, but I know with perserveirence I will suceed how I know this is if competing with the big dogs and take there custys from them with no more than a glorified portable. what is going to happen when I roll up with a Judson Or one of my own machines. I do wish I could get more educated and equipped at getting every stain or spot out that could possiably be removed.

 

[TimP]

I'd rather not choose what I would rate myself. I do the best I can and constantly try to learn how to do the best I can. And that's all I can do as far as cleaning ability. The most important thing for me is to find more business....getting the business is the hard part. Keeping it is the easy part with my cleaning ability. I'd say the most difficuilt part of growing my business is that people are unwilling to pay what I ask to clean when they have had mediocre or poor results in the past, as my area was run by bane clean machines and a carpet cleaners who hacked it out the best he could with little or no formal training.

So I'd have to agree that what kind of business person you are makes the difference. I constantly advertise and donate money for advertising. And I constantly am looking for an angle to get into the door of a customer. In fact I've been trying to figure out how I'm going to change my advertisements. My wife and I talked about SFS today and probably are going sometime next year after she finishes school.

 

[Doug Cox]

You're a 3 LOL.

 

[Scott S.]

5

 

[bob vawter]

Stamina aside......i would go up against anyone here in wand ability and technique....im a Wand God....# 10!

Using an unbiased.... fair and impartial observer......i would bet anyone of you $100...they would chose ME as the wand pusher they would want to clean their home!

 

[Steve in Omaha]

Had a customer Thursday almost in tears on the phone, thanking me for the restoration of a couple of pieces of upholstery and some carpet cleaning. Not many slow pays here.

 

[ACE]

I think Greenie said it all. There are allot of highly skilled people who barely get by in this business. Competition in my area is intense and average price per sq. ft is about the same as 10 or 15 years ago. We have to do allot more to keep busy then most other skilled trades. I will take the Pepsi challenge with the average cleaner any day, but money is the only reason to be in this business. If you want to make money in this business get a MBA not IICRC Master Cleaner Certification. As a cleaner I would say I’m a 8 as a businessman its closer to 3. If I could turn back time, I would have never got into the cleaning business.

 

[Desk Jockey]

I've always thought I could out clean anyone.......kinda of still think it. (Figured it was just a carpet cleaner's ego to think he was the best! :mrgreen: )
When the guys have a problem I always want to try and see if I can remove, correct it, or clean it better.

8-as a cleaner/restorer
6-as a businessman

 

[XTREME1]

Chavez guess what number I would rank myself at?

 

[Greenie]

wow...I must admit I wasn't necessarily expecting many to agree with me given human nature and all. What's that they say about the first step in recovery...admitting there is a problem?

So what can you do to be better business owners?

 

[Desk Jockey]

Greg
I'm afraid to hear the number! :shock:
15?

Oh wait were not talking about your IQ,...10?

 

[Doug Cox]

To be honest, you just need to step away from the van and do the other things occasionally. In the summer, I just have the hardest time getting the office work done. I fthe invoices don't get billed, money doesn't flow.I work on referral, so that would be my only weakness.

 

[Brian R]

With the exception of rookies still learnin' the basics, I think most are 6-8 cleaners, but 3-4 businessmen, if they weren't they would have 10 trucks and be reading Inc. instead of cleanfax.

You only have to be an average cleaner, but you have to have an above average personality to really be successful in this biz, that is why I'm a supplier/mfg. I don't need much of either...lol

I concur
Maybe a 6 as a cleaner
But a 6 as a businessman and growing.

 

[Jim Martin]

Clients love me.......Dirt fears me............7

 

[sweendogg]

And Jim Rarely wears underwear.. 8) Alright Vankmen.

6-7 Cleaner
8 Install
5-6 Business

 

[Brian R]

I wear my underwear on the outside of my pants when I need to be a superhero.

 

[steve r]

i suck as a business man and just ok as a cleaner but people love me.

 

[Numero Uno]

Way the (f) up there...Solid 9.plus here...

But if a ten is laffing at others then nope...

 

[Brian R]

i suck as a business man and just ok as a cleaner but people love me.

People loving you will raise your score at least 4 points in each catagory

 

[Larry B]

Now that I spent a day reading stuff from a year ago on MIKEYS BOARD I am now an 8+