Professional Cleaners

Those of you who have read my blog in the past realize one thing.  I believe that we as cleaners are an under recognized bunch.  I often mention the story from my youth of when I was 19.  Young and foolish I guess, I mentioned to my grandfather that I didn't want to be a salesman.  His career of 58 years was all spent in sales in one capacity.  So I am sure when I heard this from him that he might have just been a tiny bit offended.

In what was definitely a teenage moment I said to him. My father has told me that if I want to take over his business some day that I will have to learn to sell.  By learning to sell he meant doing so for 10 or 12 years before I started to learn the intricacies of management.  In my infinite wisdom I countered with.  I always wanted to own my own business or be a professional.  

Immediately I knew that I had ruffled feathers by his response.  "Chris, what do you mean by professional?  Are you saying that you want to be a lawyer?"  Yes I said.  Or a Chemical Engineer or maybe an Architect.  "Chris you have it all wrong!" He told me.  "No matter who you are, no matter what you do, as soon as you receive a paycheque for your work efforts.  YOU ARE A PROFESSIONAL"  A little surprised but clueless nonetheless the conversation faded off into his aches and pains.  

A few years later as I was training a group of cleaners I heard a voice say, "If we are expected to do this we are going to have to get paid a lot better.  What do they think we are doctors and nurses?"

The moral of the story:  If you like what you do.  You will make more than just great money as any professional should.  You will make yourself and those around you incredibly happy.

Self Education.... Where do you and where should you get the answer?

If you're like me, you look to the web.  There is no doubt in my mind that the answers to most of the world's problems can be found at the click.  I have on a multitude of occasions looked to the web for recommendations of ways to solve my home repair issues.  As a hobbyist furniture maker, I have created better work simply because I could locate specialized processes to give me the results I strive for.  This blog proves that you are just like me. 

Here is my issue:  Manufacturers and Distributors claim falsely that they are the only solution to the problem.   99 percent of us know enough to look elsewhere when we need something.   It's the other 10 percent.   (We all know I have been generous in my estimate) Old world solution is the space age solution of today!  It can be I guess. 

My caution.   Know your teacher. Research the researcher.