Perplexed new starter

[Ryskviking]

Alghough it is nice to read elsewhere here on this site about people starting with nothing and doing well after all.

Here, by laddergarder:

"I started the same place your at now, only seven years ago with nothing, very little money, and no customers. Just allot of persistence. When I started I had borrowed my girlfriends car, had no ladders, or roof rack to put them on. Just about £30worth of cheapo stuff from homebase."

He has 700 customers now. Splendid.

 

[Aqua]

Well if it makes you feel any better I feel your pain as im having the same problem. Just starting out myself and been out canvassing 3 times now and got precisely zero.

Was starting to think what am i doing wrong.

 

[cheapncheerful]

funny thing was....in my small enclave where i live.....around fifty percent are really bad dirty windows....and i do see...apart from me, at least three different window cleaners around here...

some people just dont care i suppose...

 

[Ryskviking]

Well if it makes you feel any better I feel your pain as im having the same problem. Just starting out myself and been out canvassing 3 times now and got precisely zero.Was starting to think what am i doing wrong.

In a way it probably does. I guess with canvassing is like with that gold - lots of pointless digging until you hit the vein.

 

[Ryskviking]

funny thing was....in my small enclave where i live.....around fifty percent are really bad dirty windows....and i do see...apart from me, at least three different window cleaners around here...
some people just dont care i suppose...

Not as funny as to knock on a door of a house with a crust of everlasting dirt on its windows and its owner says - thank you, we have a window cleaner. I genuinely hope they visit cleaner's grave at least once a year.

 

[Aqua]

ha i was just going to say the same thing. You look at the filthy windows and frames feeling you have a chance here surely and they tell you they already have one. Feel like saying I dont think he is actually cleaning your windows love.

 

[SolarPanelCleaning]

I'm finding loads of people aren't in. Then it's back in the van stop start to the next place. Too many second homes here too. But when you get one it's like a cocaine high!

 

[Ryskviking]

ha i was just going to say the same thing. You look at the filthy windows and frames feeling you have a chance here surely and they tell you they already have one. Feel like saying I dont think he is actually cleaning your windows love.

Probably they are just too embarrassed to admit that they can't afford one.

 

[Ryskviking]

I'm finding loads of people aren't in. Then it's back in the van stop start to the next place. Too many second homes here too. But when you get one it's like a cocaine high!

Yes, so much needed moral boost.

 

[windowsurfer]

I have just tried to look smart, but casual, workboots, jeans and fleece jacket, tidy haircut, To the point-"HI sorry to bother you, Do you require a window cleaner" Oh welcome as well

 

[Ryskviking]

I have just tried to look smart, but casual, workboots, jeans and fleece jacket, tidy haircut, To the point-"HI sorry to bother you, Do you require a window cleaner" Oh welcome as well

Goodness knows what people really want from any window cleaner to accept his services. I doubt those w/c who do their house for a fiver come with all these visual and verbal pleasantries.

 

[Scottie]

Welcome to the site Ryskviking - Well what can I say, you have done one massive right thing and joined this group. The guys here are awsome and will keep you inspired. I took a life changer last year and recently took another and started my own round, its not yet kicked off but I have booked in 11 customers now and a conny clean. I have had a such a bad year and well wont go into that, I am starting my life from scratch and well I am lucky to be here doing it. I was nearly in tears on wednesday, thinking I am letting everyone down, skint and having to build up slowly and its really hard, but it does work, I got 11 customers out of no where, well facebook, and flyers, lots of hard work on FB sittign putting ads on and joining groups, the hours I have put in you would think I should have 50. When I am out I see endless windys and it gets me down seeing them as I think look at me, I got nout and they have a round I will feed the scraps. But I have got two clients now where there windy has just vansihed and one where he is just **** and not on time or any good. Also customers where the road is tied up bar that house that slipped through the net.

There is work, it gets better and I can see that now as when you get some, people will recommed and people will see you out and about and come over too you. Hit FB a lot and flyer like mad and door knock. I get so down but lift myself and say I am in this for the long haul, i want to make it happen. If it was not for some of the people on this very site I would have gone, but I am going to push on and not stop and re pay there advice and time.

Try not to get deflated, I do try to stop and turn it in to positive vibes and say F U K em I am going for it!

Best of luck, I wish you every sucsess mate, I really do and no where your coming from.

 

[Ryskviking]

Scottie,

Thank you for your extensive share of your thoughts - it is very kind of you.

Yes, starting a new round, especially this time of the year is a rather challenging task, not so much physically - walking from door to door is somewhat fun, but having motivation for knocking is what we are after.

I keep on telling myself how unwise it was of me to sell my round few years ago (although I've sold it for £3000 with £1000 monthly income worth after having it for 18 months).

But maybe I had to step aside to appreciate what I had and view window cleaning from a different perspective. Besides, for all reasons unknown (probably utter ignorance), I didn't realise that if I applied myself I could earn four times over that amount.

Well, regrets counted, homework done - now it's time to act upon my new experience and conclusions.

Even though I still would love to do something more intellectually challenging (not degrading anyone here, nor myself), I think unless you do intellectual job being self employed - the freedom and lack of mentally challenged boss over you are completely irresistible in this line of work.

And yes, there are plenty of people who earn much less, and if to be down to my basic logic I would rather walk into the shop and buy what I want for myself, family and friends with my money earned cleaning windows, than just going window shopping while at my lunch hour in my office, dreading being fired. (*fill the blank with your own version)

Life is too short to sacrifice its comfort on the altar of your personal deluded ambition, especially when your family is involved, so conforming to the fitness of things is not the path I am willing to take. I had enough share of it already and am more than willing to leave it behind.

Perhaps, that would help if I worked in more grander circumstances, but I do not think that I need to be so prim. In the end, somewhat good salary that would afford me things I need (£50.000 should cover my needs) would be my consolation prize.

I am acutely aware that it will take a lot of hard work to reach this level, but I believe that gains overwhelmingly exceed the hard graft and that's what keeps me going.

This life is not a training run and we won't get the second bite of the apple, so I better do my best to use it the way it benefits myself and others.

Reading posts here proves being quite educational and sometimes amusing. I hope we all will continue doing well and much better as time goes.

P.S.

I find this account exceedingly encouraging:

http://windowcleaningforums.co.uk/threads/my-canvassing-story-i-want-£2000-p-m-in-4-weeks.9462/

 

[boarcity]

i remember about 4 yrs ago on the forums a new guy up near Lincoln posting "iv put planes in the air &ships on the sea " in a quality career path.

and this is the latest ,Easiest challenge. first day out on the ladders he sh/t himself and posted about it [ i personally told him to carry on,dont give up,such lovely ladders too Trade Titans if my memory serves me right]

but oh no, he ditched the ladders , then got lots of great advice from wfpolers and bought all the gear. then the gear played up, then he stopped posting.

he gave up.

this is a job where you must dig deep, keep on no matter what -first couple of years are really tough-but thats the apprenticeship phase, all apprenticeships are designed to weed out the weak.

plough on lads !

 

[Ryskviking]

i remember about 4 yrs ago on the forums a new guy up near Lincoln posting "iv put planes in the air &ships on the sea " in a quality career path.and this is the latest ,Easiest challenge. first day out on the ladders he sh/t himself and posted about it [ i personally told him to carry on,dont give up,such lovely ladders too Trade Titans if my memory serves me right]

but oh no, he ditched the ladders , then got lots of great advice from wfpolers and bought all the gear. then the gear played up, then he stopped posting.

he gave up.

this is a job where you must dig deep, keep on no matter what -first couple of years are really tough-but thats the apprenticeship phase, all apprenticeships are designed to weed out the weak.

plough on lads !

Agree. That happened to my friend who left his structural engineering job to become a window cleaner (so not him), only to leave a few months later. He is back doing engineering job and frankly - this is where he thrives and should be as he has all intelligence, talent and skill that would go unused if to clean windows.

I had a job with a company which overhauled civilian jet engines, but after hard work, love and commitment they cut the number of employees as they could not sustain the amount they had due to mismanagement and lack of orders, and this is when I realised for the first time I need to be in charge of my own life - as much as I can. Window cleaning is not a life of some glamour - but at least it is highly unlikely that you'll wake up in the morning and all of your window cleaning clients are gone.

I like that.

 

[Whizz-Bizz]

I think some people are just born to be window cleaners, your showing the right signs to be able to make it, and when the penny drops with the door knocking Im confident you'll do well.

 

[Ryskviking]

I think some people are just born to be window cleaners, your showing the right signs to be able to make it, and when the penny drops with the door knocking Im confident you'll do well.

Hope so, hope so. I have done it for 18 months 4 years ago and stopped as I fell into a trap of intimidation by the harsh winter we had back then.

Oh well.

 

[boarcity]

Agree. That happened to my friend who left his structural engineering job to become a window cleaner (so not him), only to leave a few months later. He is back doing engineering job and frankly - this is where he thrives and should be as he has all intelligence, talent and skill that would go unused if to clean windows.
I had a job with a company which overhauled civilian jet engines, but after hard work, love and commitment they cut the number of employees as they could not sustain the amount they had due to mismanagement and lack of orders, and this is when I realised for the first time I need to be in charge of my own life - as much as I can. Window cleaning is not a life of some glamour - but at least it is highly unlikely that you'll wake up in the morning and all your window cleaning clients are gone.

I like that.

what was the structural engineers first name? the lincoln area guy had a wife who ran a recruitment firm and she had suggested him becoming a windie. i cant recall everything but i bleve he was ex RAF . I always follow any new starters on the forums and help with advice [or put my oar in depending how you look at it ]

 

[TolishAPurd]

Hope so, hope so. I have done it for 18 months 4 years ago and stopped as I fell into a trap of intimidation by the harsh winter we had back then.
Oh well.

I love trad, but if I was doing the window cleaning full time, I would definitely have a WFP setup of some sort, its a no brainer when the weather turns bad if nothing else.

 

[Ryskviking]

what was the structural engineers first name? the lincoln area guy had a wife who ran a recruitment firm and she had suggested him becoming a windie. i cant recall everything but i bleve he was ex RAF . I always follow any new starters on the forums and help with advice [or put my oar in depending how you look at it ]

Oh no, he wasn't ex RAF, he was probably 20 years old back then and single (I believe 6 years ago). I will not divulge his name either to save him from everlasting shame as he is somewhat embarrassed of his short window cleaning stunt that have folded almost at once.

And thank you for contributing. I am absolutely convinced that there are many more people right here who appreciate your caring input.

 

[Ryskviking]

I love trad, but if I was doing the window cleaning full time, I would definitely have a WFP setup of some sort, its a no brainer when the weather turns bad if nothing else.

Of course. And that is my plan exactly once I have my base of customers. Doing windows in a traditional way I would hit financial plateau ever so fast.