Hey Everyone, I am new here, but have been in business full-time since 2004. After the frustration of dealing with employer who rarely followed through on promises and passed the buck constantly, I quit my job and started roof cleaning but ended up full-time residential power washing soon after starting. I was off to a good start and had record growth month after month. I never really knew about how to run a business. In my arrogance I just thought I could do better than most. The winters have been tough since the Real Estate crash and I am getting into commercial now for stability in recurring services. Commercial is completely new territory for me. Before power washing I was a residential contractor for our local cable company and I was a DISH Dealer for many years. Residential power washing was a natural fit and I was comfortable working in and around people's homes. I have always been technical minded and mechanically inclined so getting the job done has never been a problem. I had lurked around some forums off and on over the years, but never really followed the ongoing dialog. I just searched for the info needed and being dedicated to doing my best, things have always worked out. That being said, there was no reason for me to post since I really had no knowledge to add and after intense searching I usually found what I was looking for. My agenda has been to get on, find what I am looking for and go back to work.
I live and work in Nashville, I have a wonderful wife named Jennifer and twin daughters Ashlyn and Layney who will be nine end of this month. We have 3 cats (RC, Moonpie and Oliver), one dog (Wrigley after the ball field), two dwarf hamsters (Jellybean and Gumballs), a Venus Flytrap (Seymour) and some dirt and seeds which should grow a Venus Flytrap soon! I am actively involved in my church through volunteer work and my girls go to a Christian School here in Nashville which we are active with as well.
When I got into residential my confidence level was high, because I was familiar enough with houses and a homeowner's perspective, but in commercial I do not have that advantage. I like to do new things, but always take time to manage risk and proceed with caution. I have made many mistakes in my business over the years and very few of them have been discussed openly in the forums. Some people will charge a fee to teach these things which is okay with me, but it is hard to know who to give your hard earned money to and trust with the livelihood of your family. I don't expect that to change, but change is welcome as far as I am concerned. You hear people say, "You only get out of something, what you put into it", well that is half true. It always one person saying that to another. Why do you have to do it alone? Why is it one persons's job to put into something? My girls, when told to do something, will both hesitate while waiting for the other to act first. That is manipulation, not cooperation!
I am looking forward to growing with all of you and on behalf of the struggling contractors trying to find their niche, I humbly ask for the support of the ones who are truly "making it" in this business and have the time to volunteer. Find someone who is lost and point them in the right direction!
Have a good day! ;-)