When I started

Started 1980.
Equipment a portable with a 50 psi pump. Stainless steel wand. A very rudimentary upholstery tool.
Detergent of dubious quality. Training none available. Well the sales man did his best but we all know
that his objective was to sell the machine and a dream. I was going to be rich and retired in 5 to 10 yrs.
I was in my early 20's. Incredibly survived all those years and not too many stuff ups. Just one rug that
bled a liitle. Mind you the customer was warned that this might happen. I sometimes reflect on those years and wander
how lucky I was really cosidering that only God knows what we were running through those pumps. I know
that I had to replace seals often.
Things have really changed for the better. Thirty three years later we can get a detergent to clean wool, one to clean
nasty polyprop, greasy restaurant etc. The equipment that we use these days. Portables with high pressure pumps, multiple vacs., truckmounts etc. In other words great choice. Tools. You name the challenge and there is a tool for it. Best invention in my humble opinion is the glide. Gee it has made my life easier. Do a days work and feel pretty good at the end of it.
Other improvements such as the internet, forums like this where there is a wealth of information on just about every topic. Like I said before there was no training in those days so basically I am self taught. I had to do a lot of reading, trial and error etc. Bit by bit my knowledge improved and yes the internet really changed things.
So in summary things have changed and improved a lot since my humble begginings. No I did not get rich and retired
as promised by the salesman, but the industry has been very good to me. But then again I have a passion for it and I have no trouble getting up in the morning to go to do another job. I enjoy what I do. And no I can't see myself retiring, may be just slowing down a bit.
Cheers
George

Funny how we end up just loving the work and money profits are just a fun thing to use as encouragement to push the wand a few more times. Good insight on the last 30 years thanks.

I was just telling a cleaner from Michigan how I wished I'd had some of the things you guys have today.
He was saying he'd used the sample of SOO to end cat urine smell in his garage.
I remembered doing a dog pee job once -no carpet, all concrete - I tried everything, enzymes, bleach, Quats, nothing.
Carpet store even stopped referring me cuz I failed.

Only shortage we really have is RCs like you all that hang out here, including you George: honest, humble, appreciative ... and still passionate.

PS sorry for the high shipping on the last one.
You Aussies gotta quit ordering one box of Lil' Better at a time and start doin it like the Kiwis and lemme float a pallet over to you.
Marcus is onboard.
So is ej54. I cram-packed his box so full. couldn't have gotten a toothpick in there.
And to think, some old blokes still buy liquid red removers.

I could not imagine cleaning with the stuff you guys had 20-30 years ago. I have only been at it for 6 years and started out on day one with a truckmount.

I keep telling my guys they have no idea what the equipment and cleaning agents was like way back when. Every now and then I will find some old pics or equipment and show them. They have never even had to clean without using a glide. Told them I have been tempted to just one day let them try old school.

Mark Saiger
www.saigers.com

I started with a prochem 150A great machine when the diesel heater broke I just took it out and put a little giant. Sold it for more than I paid for it

When I started I bought the Joe Polish silver program big mistake I did the free room offer send out a bunch of mailers. for weeks all I did was clean free rooms for the rich.

I found out that the rich loved that more than trailer trash. Most asked question I got was how much more can you do for fee. ( no shoot )

Yes I did pick up a few good jobs from it but not enough.

Every week your getting mail from polish. Did not take me much time to figure out Polish knew the real money was mining the miners.

I pull the glide off every now and then to keep me humble.

"Real money was mining the miners" (Odin)

So true!! Just look at Vegas, the gamblers aren't getting the gold as much as it's the Casino.

When you can wake up and do something you love to make money you are Rich just in a different way

Joe Bristor wrote:I was just telling a cleaner from Michigan how I wished I'd had some of the things you guys have today.
He was saying he'd used the sample of SOO to end cat urine smell in his garage.
I remembered doing a dog pee job once -no carpet, all concrete - I tried everything, enzymes, bleach, Quats, nothing.
Carpet store even stopped referring me cuz I failed.
 

Preach on Brother, Joe!!

So true, up until the last few years I use to talk my way out of most
pet odor jobs, because I knew it was literally impossible or just more work than the money earned and cheaper to replace the carpet.

But now days, I welcome odor removal jobs and can guarantee 100% odor removal!! Heck with the modern chems, I've successfully removed pet odor from hardwood floors, Brick fireplace, wood wall paneling (a couple times), and leather furniture several times now, not to mention, many times from the usual textiles we clean.

Now as I put my hand up to rest my chin on while I proof read my ramblings, I smell Joedercide from an earlier job today.....ahhhhh the smell of success!!  

This is one of those examples were I don't long for the good old days. I wonder if the profit margins in those days was better?

Mo wrote:This is one of those examples were I don't long for the good old days. I wonder if the profit margins in those days was better?

factor in tax rate on it and yeah. it was a better time. life was much slower too for it.

I love this post! I started 5 years ago with a TM and the guy I bought my van and TM from didn't use a glide so for the first while I had no idea what one was. I started out with large commercial jobs running my wand literally dying after a days work. Then I found the glide and couldn't believe the difference. Ohhhh my gosh it was amazing. In fact, I got a buddy started in the business and he came to train with me in his new Van and TM and didn't have a glide on his wand. I was wondering why in the hell he was sweating so bad when we were just cleaning a restaurant. I looked down and instantly had nightmares about when I didn't have a glide. Great invention indeed! Not that my hard knocks are anything comparable to you guys that started 20-30 years ago. I really love RC's like you guys and this site. I have met great people on these sites and have been able to go to their businesses and work for them to learn etc. Keep it up RC's!