Less Work/ More Pay

I had a trainer many years ago (Leo Powell) who kept instilling in us that the only person stopping you from getting more money for what you do is yourself.


Mick

Seek advice from someone outside of this industry. In any field, most of the guys selling expensive programs are ex working stiffs who have "made it" and think they can sell you their business plan.

If you're gonna spend the money find someone who has always been just a marketing pro, not an ex cleaner. Anyways, most of what they tell you is stuff you already know but are too scared to do.

Just as we would scoff at an old retired guy who rents a Rug Doctor to clean people's carpet for a quick buck, a trained marketing pro with an MBA would probably think these industry specific marketing courses are laughable.

Ross nailed it ............


You have 2 choices........

you can spend your money wisely and find someone who specializes in marketing for your area.....who is outside of the carpet cleaning industry
who's main goal is to promote YOUR company.........

OR

Throw your money away... and line the pockets of others who blanket market carpet cleaners as a whole and supply you with a whole lot of nothing....

you chose

Um,

As a student of marketing I have exhaustively explored marketing and I think you guys are talking out your hats, no offense intended. The marketing guys that used to be cleaner are actually quite good. The business programs that Jon Don and Bridepoint put on are very effective programs.

In the immortal words of my wise old mother... "all education is good education."

With that little bit of rambling out of the way I must admit some marketers are better than others, a lot better. However some of the best ones are former cleaners.

Ken Raddon.

Marketers who don't know our industry can be a waste of time and money. The experienced insider can help with what you need.

There are guys who seem to hate Joe Polish. I found that some of his ideas made me good money. I felt uncomfortable with others. They just were not my style.

I also bought some of Howard P's programs. They also made me some money, when I implemented them.

A friend really grew his business in a big way using some of the programs from Bridgepoint. I did not really look at these closely until I came to work here.

I also know companies who have been helped by Scott Rendell, Mack Clark, Shawn March, Doug Heiferman. The key is to find something that suits your style and that you will feel comfortable implementing. Then do it.

Having someone checking on you to hold you accountable may be the motivation you need. That extra push, whereever it comes from can help overcome the inertia that stops us from getting outside our front door.

Scott Warrington

This is not 100 % true.......... Howard partridge........Joe Polish ...etc.....can be found anywhere ....and it is nothing but what I call blanket marketing....why would I want a program that is going to benefit all the other cleaners out there as well.....IF you are aggressive enough and find the right marketing person that sets YOUR company and yours only apart from all the others....then it is money you will get back over and over........The experienced insider is giving all the information that they are giving to me to another company's and we are all going out and doing the same thing.....where are we benefiting ???

"Having someone checking on you to hold you accountable may be the motivation you need. That extra push, whereever it comes from can help overcome the inertia that stops us from getting outside our front door."
Scott Warrington

My buddy Scott is right on. Most people will invest in training and then the battle of what I call "the urgent versus the important" kicks in and they never truly implement (or sometimes even read) what they have purchased.

That is why last year in Strategies for Success seminar we implemented our "Action Plan" concept. Towards the end of our five days together we force (OK, genty plead with) our attendees to list out just ONE new thing they plan to implement every two weeks for the next six months. Then a member of our SFS team checks in with them periodically to see if they are living up to their "commitment". Just like Scott says, all of us do better when we are held "accountable"! (Sorry, Scott, that we didn't have this Action Plan concept in place when YOU attended SFS in the "pre-Utah days". But if you want to send me your business Action Plan goals for the next six months I'll be happy to help Doyle hold your feet to the fire!)

Another part of our Action Plan asks SFS members to write down exactly where they want there company to be in five years. Then our job is to give them the support and resources to help them get there.

Charles: Re: your question- "I am considering getting educated on targeting a different audience to establish new high end customers with higher pay for services rendered and doing less work per day. Resulting in less fatigue, better business organization, and a happier self being." Please understand, Charles, that our five day "Strategies for Success" seminar is much more than a "marketing program". And if I understand your post above correctly you are looking for much more than a "quick fix" marketing scheme, but rather a total business makeover and strategy. (I think our thread has veered off into only focusing on marketing.)

Obviouslly I am prejuidiced on the subject, Charles, but very honestly I do not know of another seminar in the industry that gives you the targeted procedures and systems (over 1,000 pages) that SFS does AND the followup support to make your goal a reality. But instead of me rambling on I would invite you to post your questions about "Strategies for Success" (Not "Secrets to Success" even though that is a catchy name!) on any of the internet discussion forums and listen to what people who have actually attended have to say.

Steve Toburen
Director of Training and nostaligic instructor of great SFS students like Scott Warrington.
Jon-Don's Strategies for Success

PS Charles, Strategies is so difficult to describe in writing (even someone who writes as long-winded posts as I do!) that we've produced a free 30 minute "orientation DVD" on the management concepts behind SFS. For your free copy just send me your mailing address at stoburen@homefrontsuccess.com and put "Free DVD" in the subject line.

Steve is correct. Besides, Yeadon taught him everything he knows and that is good enough for me.
Steve can teach you............but you still have to acheve it yourself.
Attitude = Altitude.

Totally agree with this, but you can educate yourself for free is all I'm saying. I hope I didn't step on any toes.

Personally, I will pay to learn techniques, but I wouldn't pay to learn concepts. Consider how many people pay to lose weight. The success rates are abysmally low. Concepts are about changing your behavior. It's why fat people can't lose weight, even when they have paid for help--they won't change their habits. Check out this link if you get bored enough: Diet Plan Success Tough To Weigh, Data On Weight-Loss Programs Is Slim, New Research Shows - CBS News

Marketing and sales training is behavior training. Behavior training relies on teaching concepts. You can change your own behavior for free.

I would go to the library and borrow Rich Dad Poor Dad, Total Money Makeover, and Guerilla Marketing.

Again, these are just opinions, sorry if I came across as a jerk in my earlier post. Heck, what do I know? I'm just a Hoosier rug sucker

You could spend Thousands of Dollars, and walk away with lots less than you get from a SFS class! LOTS LESS !!!

The result of your sucess or failure is you!!, Many can point you in the right direction but it ultimatly ends up being you!!