Life as a Rug Scrubber

By John Downey

July 26, 2012

No Comments

Print / Reprints /
Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on linkedin | Share More

GO TO: http://www.janiservu.com/ for related articles.
Advantage Cleaning Services offers rug cleaning and restoration in Hornell, NY 14843!!!

Years ago, I took a three-year executive/entrepreneurial development course called The Strategic Coach Program (www.strategiccoach.com). One of the key concepts I learned in the program was something they call “Unique Ability.”

According to the course creator, Dan Sullivan, successful entrepreneurs are uniquely and highly gifted in a certain way. That “gift” is largely responsible for the entrepreneur’s success.

Over the term of the course, participants identify their unique ability, refine it, and develop strategies that enable them to utilize it more frequently and effectively in their businesses. The result: Higher levels of success.

One of the challenges of life as an owner-operator is that by design and necessity we wear many “hats.” We are cleaning and/or restoration technicians, marketers, receptionists, salesmen (or women), bookkeepers, customer service reps, product performance evaluators, maintenance and repair technicians, and even, occasionally, inventors.

Obviously, nobody is highly gifted in all these diverse areas. Consequently, the challenge is to structure our businesses in a way that utilizes our core strengths (Unique Ability) more, and minimizes our deficiencies.

First, of course, you have to determine what your core strengths are. Most people have an idea (although self-deception is not uncommon). In Strategic Coach, you are taught to identify activities that bring you passion and energy as Unique Ability activities. Conversely, activities that drain energy, and those things you find yourself putting off, are things you want to minimize or outsource.

For example, “strategic planning” was identified as my Unique Ability. What I do really well is envision and create products, services and businesses that are somewhat unconventional but connect well with customers.

When I created Cleanfax, when I created the Steamin Demon sales organization, and when I created Downey’s Carpet Care of Granville, my Unique Ability was being utilized. Each was/is nonstandard fare that fills a marketplace need in an unconventional way.

What I’m not good at is selling, especially the belly-to-belly variety. Some people, when you put them in a room of prospects, light up; not me. Unfortunately, I’m a slow learner and it doesn’t keep me from trying. The result is drained energy and mediocre results.

To make up for this deficiency, I develop marketing strategies designed to do the selling for me. It works pretty well, not great, but I’m not great at everything. When I recognize and accept that fact, my life gets better.

So too with you. Do what you do well, more — and eliminate, delegate or find alternatives to as much of the stuff you do not do well as possible. You’ll be happier and your business will be more successful.

John Downey is a fourth-generation carpet cleaner and owner-operator of Downey’s Carpet Care of Granville in Granville, Ohio. When he’s not scrubbin’ rug, his wife, Cecilia, lets him serve on the board of directors of the IICRC or assist Dr. Michael Berry in his efforts to bring science-based environmental management practices to the cleaning industry. John can be reached at jdowney@johndowneyco.com.