We have all heard it said that it is not what you know but “who” you know. While there is no denying the fact that to start and own a successful home cleaning business or any business for that matter, you have to know “stuff”, and continue to learn more all along the way. But, there is some truth to that statement, no one can do it all on their own. You have to attract and connect with the right people to make your business a success.

That’s a start, but it goes beyond that. Not only do you need to attract and connect with the right people, you have to continuously work at those relationships. A few weeks ago on a live industry call we discussed professional networking and how important it is to develop relationships with other owners of home cleaning businesses.

These types of connections can be the most valuable to you. What better way to learn than from fellow service owners? The Home Cleaner Magazine

(In picture Avid industry networkers and ARCSI members pictured are left: Liz Totter, April Lane, Teresa Ward, and Stacie McMillan)

Linkedin Discussion Forums are a great way to directly connect with others in the industry. I encourage you, or rather challenge you to reach out to them individually, strike up a relationship you can     perhaps take “offline”. You will see that if you make this effort, the return will be HUGE! While the focus of what we do at Home Cleaner Magazine is to help you connect with the maid service industry in general, it is important to note that there are several types of connections you should not take for granted. It is important to make strong lasting connections in these areas:

1. Customers

2. Employees

3. Other Service Owners

4. Yourself

All too often you are caught up in the day to day duties of managing your business, and we forget to stop and focus on the relationships that not only make it possible, but if cultivated, will be the vehicle that allows you to grow beyond what you first imagined for your professional home cleaning company!

Take time out often to reflect on who you have working for you, do you have the customers you want, what are your employees like, and most importantly, are you doing what you set out to do?

In most circumstances, failure to spend the time needed to focus on surrounding ones self with the right people, and  constantly being mindful of what you are doing and if you are being the person you want to be, is the reason for burnout and goals not being met, or worse, abandoning the plan all together. All too often we get complacent and give up our own personal power. It gets easier to say, “all of this is happening to me”, or “I am stuck with the people around me that are holding me back”.  The truth is you have COMPLETE control over this. It is up to you to take responsibility for what you want your business and YOUR life to look like.

Once you release yourself from the “victim” way of thinking, your business will begin to take on a life that you may not have imagined before. It all starts with the right connections that lead to the right relationships!

Get out there and get started, change your life!

Perry Phillips, Publisher of Home Cleaner Magazine