Living the dream/ Phase 1 - The first crossroads

[Ali]

Check-in:
Toughest day so far!
Was stacked with jobs so I started off with the traditional method until my resin refill arrived.
Got the resin and carried on but noticed some streaking in the windows - tested the ppm of the water and found it had gone way too high again!

I think the issue is the container uses these refillable cartridge style sacks that gave a mesh in the top. This way they make you way way more to refill by having to buy a new cartridge.
I opened the bag up and refilled it myself to save money so I can only think it was due to some resin getting out of the bag and into the water.
I'll trouble shoot it properly on friday.

Before that I wasn't enjoying the work too much and just wanted it over and done with.
I enjoy the work but not the speed aspect of it where to make good money you have to go from door to door and do everything really quickly.
I find this quite frustrating as I like attention to detail.

I'm also very aware if how badly I'm doing in the sun all day. I think as I'm looking up at the sky or getting light reflected off of windows all day it's aggravating things.
This is something that I will draw a hard line under as it moves me away from my bigger goals of being healthy.

I went home after the water filter failed and just couldn't be bothered. Felt quite irritable today too and my mood crashed which is quite rare.

If the equipment had been working well and I wasn't feeling the elements I'm not sure how much I would have enjoyed today.
I don't want to shelve this business model just yet but I'm gonna do some thinking and see if it's right for me.

 

[Ryval]

I'm also very aware if how badly I'm doing in the sun all day. I think as I'm looking up at the sky or getting light reflected off of windows all day it's aggravating things.

What gear/clothing do you wear? I'm assuming you've got the basics down of a hat/maybe some sun cream, but you could look at some UV sun protection sleeves for your arms/legs that still allow you to wear shorts and a t-shirt and won't restrict your movement, but covers you up.

I went home after the water filter failed and just couldn't be bothered. Felt quite irritable today too and my mood crashed which is quite rare.

Happens to the best of us. I'm still impressed you quit your job and have pulled this off full time. Very cool

 

[Ali]

What gear/clothing do you wear? I'm assuming you've got the basics down of a hat/maybe some sun cream, but you could look at some UV sun protection sleeves for your arms/legs that still allow you to wear shorts and a t-shirt and won't restrict your movement, but covers you up.


Happens to the best of us. I'm still impressed you quit your job and have pulled this off full time. Very cool

Thanks dude, I'll look into those sleeves for sure, I'm basically gonna have to mummify myself on hot days if I'm out there for hours.

 

[Ali]

Check-in:

Had a good day today jet washing the mansion. Should all be finished tomorrow but it's a big job.

Thought through some stuff and particularly talking this job today. In order to be efficient and enjoy the work I really need a van. This way I can mount a pure water system in it with pumps (and backup pumps) and go from house to house simply open the door of the van, run the hose out on a reel, switch the water on, do the windows, wind it up and onto the next one.
That way I'll be as fast as possible while also not having to rush around because the equipment setup time is minimised as much as possible.

I've found the ultimate solution for high UV days: it's a visor but with UV film that blocks 99.9% so there's no way I'll burn from the sun reflecting off the windows or from spending hours looking up.

After today I'm going to keep building a window cleaning round but find ways to emphasise the bigger high ticket services that I can offer as well.

For the van I'm gonna need to move back home for a bit to bring it in my budget.

I'll also get an instant social life back with my old friends.

I can test the market and go hard trying different marketing avenues at home and if it works out well in that area I'll probably set myself up in Oxford.

I don't want to live at home for too long but I think it will be faster overall.

 

[Ali]

Check-in from yesterday and recapping the week:

-Most of the work on the mansion is done, just waiting for the rain to stop so I can finish up. Probably do this early on Monday.

This week:

-I can get enough leads to where I'm struggling to actually deliver the service
-Anyone can do a service business but it takes time to be able to do it well and efficiently

Improving my business:
After a frustrating day Wednesday I've put together a plan to improve every aspect of my business.
1. Service delivery.
I need a van to supply my own pure water and to keep all of my equipment for the different services I offer.

Services:

Gutter cleaning: I started with this one I and it's the easiest by far. This is because the equipment I have is overkill for most domestic jobs.

Jet washing: I can do small and medium sized properties quite effectively. A lot of people are put off by the price of this service but it's very labour intensive and requires petrol and chemicals which have to be costed in. I think more photos and videos to show the type of results I can get will help convince people that its worth it.
The mansion is the first job where I've been able to sell this service as an add on from windows, but a property this size really pushes the equipment to its limits.

Windows:
Everyone is very pleased with the results but I need to find ways to make it more efficient: this involves cutting equipment setup times as low as possible, not having to use ladders, having the optimal brush and water flow rate to remove dirt.
1. Van mounted pure water system cuts setup as low as possible.
2. Water flow rate controlled through van mounted pump
3. Upgrade brush head

That will have me as efficient as possible.

 

[Ali]

To do:
The fastest way to do this is to move back in with my parents, get some work. Go canvassing after work to test the market in the area and supplement my income.
Try Google and Facebook ads in the area, get some video content. Use all my cards and leaflets as well as all local connections. Put flyers in public places. Free cleans for community buildings.
Build the van system.
Depending on wether I'm getting enough work in the area set up in Oxford or move back to Nottingham with a few months cash saved up.

 

[Ali]

Had a great workout for the first time in a couple weeks, felt very willing to push into the pain.

The mansion job:
My attempt to find a cheaper way of if refilling the resin failed big time as now water is leaking out of the top of the container instead of going through the hose.
Was really close to throwing it through the air but I think I can find a solution.
Told the customer I wouldn't be able to do the windows but could finish everything else.
They're still very happy with the job.
I have to re-sand the front driveway tomorrow but that will only take 30 mins.

I'll make my first trip back tm and take some clothes and equipment down. Probably sign up to a recruiters and try to start some temp work next week.
That will let me buy a van end of jun/July and I'll go from there.

Been thinking more about the gutter cleaning and why it's so easy compared to the other services:
1. Ease of access using a vacuum
2. It's almost overpowered for domestic cleaning so it just rips stuff out really quickly.
3. There's no need for really detailed cleaning - it's about function rather than appearance

This will be the philosophy for the rest of my equipment.
The jet washer can be upgraded to a far more beastly machine.
The windows will be done with a van mounted system and my own water supply.
Gutter, fascia and soffit cleans can be done with a pressure washer and an extendable lance so I don't have to scrub away for ages.
Cleaning chemicals can be used in strong concentrations.
I can block out all the sun with a UV visor, long sleeves and a high collar.

Re-watched some window cleaning training vids and the guy emphasised that it takes time to get fast and to just focus on doing the job well at first.
I think without having to worry about running out of money I can put more time I to actually getting good at each service. It's not complicated work but there is still a massive aspect of experience for this type of work.

 

[Ali]

Move is almost done, here's my schedule/to do list for this & next week

 

[Ali]

It's Monday!

Had a solid weekend recharging.
I've done 3.5hrs door to door today around my parent's house and got two people so far.

Mot for the car is booked tomorrow.
The weather is really hot today so keeping hydrated as much as possible.

I've slept pretty badly as I've got a lot of anxiety about the future and moving back home feels pretty grim even though I think it's a good decision for the next few months.

I also feel like if this business isn't the one for me I'll have been spinning my wheels for the last 6 months. But I will have learnt a lot about how a business works so that's not really the case.

Still moving forwards through!

To do:
Update FB page and website location.
Run some Facebook ads in the new area
Clean car (it's been used to store my equipment for the last few months.
1.5 hrs of door to door this eve
Eat healthy
Skincare

I've going to shoot my first video tomorrow cleaning windows to put on Facebook, I'll start an Instagram too.

Have a good week everyone!

 

[Ali]

Went back out and landed 7 customers today! This equals my best day in Nottingham but I'm near Oxford and quickly realised the prices are very different so it'll be over £200 next Monday for me if all goes well.
At this rate making 1k in my first week of being here is actually in sight.
I think the cards and leaflets plus uniform is working pretty well too as well as telling people I live around the corner.

I've launched a Facebook ad too to see how it does in a different area.

Diet is coming together very nicely too and I'm picking up momentum at the gym.

 

[Ali]

Everything done for today!
Only did an hour and a half door to door as I had to pick up my car and the weather is so hot.

Got 3 more monthly customers, one 6-weekly and two probables.

Door knocked my first window cleaner as well!
Ended up talking, he said he charges £23-25 for 4 bed detached while I quoted £18 for his.
Guy has 4000 customers!! Five vans on the road doing windows, gutters, jet washing. I've actually seen his leaflets come through the door in the past.
Said good luck and keep going and that if I ask for more money I'll still get plenty of work. And also if I want a job come back and knock on the door haha!

I'm going to view a van tomorrow and will get more door to door in

 

[Bman]

Crushing @Ali! We are watching a self-made man be born right before our eyes.

 

[Ali]

Rinse and repeat today.
I picked up 5 more customers in 1 and a half hrs which is very cool!

No-one has batted an eye when I've given my higher quotes either.

Tomorrow I'll be picking up the last of the equipment from my flat but I'm on track to hit 30 new customers this week!

 

[Ali]

Everything is moved!

I've ordered another window cleaning backpack so now I have a back-up one.

Someone rang me for a clean every 12 weeks starting august too.

 

[Ali]

I've got the pure water, costs about £1 per house so when I have a few hundred customers I will look into getting my own filtration system.
Had a good workout, ate healthy and got 2 (hopefully 3) more customers.
I took longer going door to door today as I ended up talking to people for a lot longer when giving quotes and handing out my details, I'll see if this helps.
Ran into a painter-decorator today who is clearly making big money, he took some of my leaflets to give out and shared my fb page, even thanked me for knocking on the door (he already has a window cleaner).
Went to the tyre shop with my mum's partner on the way to pick up the water this morning (using his van) and the guy offered to put a few of my leaflets up in the shop which was super cool as well.
Had a sauna and a cold shower this eve instead of going for a walk.

 

[Ali]

First full day of cleaning!

Got through all the jobs, much quicker using the pure water with the backpacks.
Theres quite a bit of side admin to do and I need to refill my water later this eve.

Would have easily trimmed an hour off of today with a van!

Another pretty full day tomorrow.

 

[Ali]

Everything done today.
Was starting to get impatient towards the end of the day feeling like I wanted to get to the end of the jobs.
Even with a decent set up I feel like I prefer spending hours working on one thing in great detail which is not a good way to run this as a business.
I'm pleased I've basically got a week of cleans though to see how I'd like to do this full-time.

 

[Ali]

Check-in:
All cleans done for today.
Was really sleepy after dinner so just took it easy for the rest of the day.

So far I'm thinking I could make good money with this business but I'd like to try something different, either get some trade training and go self employed with higher ticket work or try something location independent.

I don't enjoy moving from job to job all the time to make a good hourly rate and am finding the cleaning a bit boring using the pure water system

Will continue to the end of the week and make a decision moving forwards.

If I had a load of cash I'd probably go back to focussing on getting laid again and I'm feeling pretty restless.

I've learnt a lot this last year and I have a way better idea of what I want out of life and how to get there so will spend some time deciding what I want to do.

 

[Ali]

Forgot to post yesterday:

A full week of cleans completed!
I've enjoyed this week and found some good success.
Went for lunch with my old department when I was working down here and was very good to see everyone, might have actually picked up a lead for a house clean too haha.

Going forwards i want to learn more high paying skills than I can leverage better. The window cleaning model is ok but I really want to gain trade skills as well and complete more in depth tasks that require some technical understanding and actually use some brain power with what I'm doing.

I'm going to move my existing customers onto the weekend (I can do two Saturdays of each month's to get them done) then I'm going to find some trade training to do more high ticket work.

Had a great workout and diet is on point, very good to get a social life back too (I'd been missing this sorely) going out with friends tm and rock climbing with another group on Sunday which will be really nice.

Women/ looksmaxing:
I've booked in a consult for fractal or a CO2 laser with a dermatologist. I think this will push me into elite territory as I've got pretty rough skin texture and an improvement here will be high leverage. It's also non-invasive and good for the skin.

There was a hot girl at the work lunch that I managed to rizz the shit out of, she had a bf but was giving me the goo goo eyes and standing super close to me. She would be hotter than the girls I've slept with from OD
I think going out at night solo will be a good path forwards and I have the looks to get solid results.
OD is pretty boring but I'll get back on it.
My logistics will suck but over half my od lays were from getting invited over to a girls place so it might not be too bad.

Other things:
Get another ear ring - the stud I had fell out
Fake tan - gonna try and follow the gll guide and get a good complexion without the sun damage. I tried melanotan last year but it wasn't effective, possibly a bad batch but the nausea isn't worth it.

 

[Ali]

Monday check-in!
Can't believe I've made it to 30 haha, very grateful for the journey so far.

Spent Friday through till last night hanging out with friends so was an amazing weekend.
Tried bouldering for the first time too and enjoy it even though I'm about 110kg.

I've got some basic work lined up starting tomorrow so will have a stable income to work off of. I also have Fridays off so I'll put my cleaning jobs onto the Friday.
Completed two cleans today and got a jet washing job lined up on the 20th.

I'm not sure what to do for now. I might explore some different business ideas/ look for a better job back up north or get a trade qualification.

Today:
Gym
Having dinner with family but will get back on my diet tm
Journal and work out what to do next