LeePemberton.com

“ the only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
. . . Steve Jobs

Don’t miss this 15 minute video of Steve Jobs giving an absolutely incredible commencement address, or download the print copy. It is too powerful to even paraphrase – just watch it or print it out & read it.

Jobs just stepped down as Apple CEO, and overnight Apples stock value dropped 7%, or in the neighborhood of 15 Billion dollars! (bounced back in two days!) What an reputation – often referred to as “Modern Day Edison”!

Video version
Steve Jobs’ 2005 Stanford Commencement Address
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF8uR6Z6KLc

Text version from Stanford for print
http://news.stanford.edu/news/2005/june15/jobs-061505.html

comments from Lee Pemberton

Solutions to problems are something Jim and I find our customers looking for on a daily basis. If you can solve a troublesome problem, for one of your customers or for yourself, you might simplify your daily business pressures, or even help yourself avoid a financial loss.

I use the word “problem” because it reflects the effect of something negative that is holding you back, (Or you could also use the term “issue”).

Solving customer problems or “issues” is something we at Pembertons work toward continually!

Simple E-courses can be one effective tool . . .
E-courses are proven learning tools that can help adults to learn. People have problems & issues and need help from a trusted resource to overcome them, but have very little available time.

Maybe you have an problem or issue regarding how to do something, or how to make something, perhaps you don’t understand something, etc. Each of these are situations where an E-course can potentially help provide a reliable solution.

Jim and I and several valued associates intend to develop each E-course with the goal of solving an issue or problem per course.

Over the years I have had the privilege of working with a number of excellent instructors in our industry. Without a doubt the most down to earth, easy to follow and caring carpet repair guy I have ever known is Mark Violand!

Mark has put our first E-course together dealing with very basic, easy to do carpet repairs!
The course is divided into six parts that will take you step by step through the basic repairs that you need every day.

Learning these basic skills can add thousands of dollars in cash flow into your business with a nominal investment in tools and materials. Probably in the neighborhood of a hundred dollars or so.

Initially, I plan to publish each of the six sessions in upcoming CleanTip’s, and will alert you when I have it finalized as an email course, with sessions to be delivered every 3 or 4 days.

Here’s a dose of harsh reality. . .

Nobody really cares about your services (except you)!
People (customers, friends, even relatives) only care about themselves, solving their own problems, being liked, and so on. But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. This reality simply requires a shift in your thinking from “service pusher” to “trusted resource” – and that shift creates your big opportunities.

This doesn’t mean your services are NEVER mentioned or promoted by you, it just means, in a manner of speaking, that when you shake someone’s hand online or in person, you don’t lead with your service! Your services must come later as a part of the recommended solution to their problem.

By far, the number one mistake that business persons like us make and then repeat over and over when marketing and promoting in person or online is to talk on and on about ourselves … and how amazing our services are.

This is why most business-related blogs or web sites don’t do a very good job. Businesses aren’t sharing information that is focused on the consumer, whether business or residential. Instead, they just dump information that is all about themselves and what they do.

Before you get caught up in this seductive trap of self praise, ask yourself why people consume online content such as the articles, videos, audio, photos, etc as well offline content such as brochures, mailers, seminars, speeches, and workshops? Usually they do it to:

• Solve a problem.
• Be entertained.
• Learn about something they are interested in.
• Get a little inspiration.
• Pass the time. (Hey, we all get bored. You know it’s true.)

It’s time to embrace this reality! This simply requires a shift in your thinking from “service pusher” to “trusted resource” -

Your success in today’s marketplace truly lies in your ability to become a resource for customers, prospects and your very local community on the particular subject about which enables you function as a “Cleaning Professional”.

I recommend that you check out the following article regarding getting your business house in order, and the 10 area’s where we get into trouble. http://leepemberton.com/blog/mistakes/

—————————- Original Message —————————-
Subject: Re: Pembertons CleanTip – Down and Dirty Commercial Carpet Cleaning
From: “Mark Violand”
Date: Sat, July 30, 2011 6:00 am
To: lee@pembertons.com
————————————————————————–

Hello Lee,

Down and dirty? Sounds pretty darn practical, if it can be managed. But that is what I have been doing all along and I use portables, they don’t get tired either. Since I started the maintenance division at D&R I have used part time people. Guys who have other part time jobs that have predictable hours compared to mine that are not so predictable, they load trucks for FedEx. I know I can’t keep them out late sometimes and I can’t have them on a  job at 8AM. Some are still taking college classes.

On another note, I take issue with John Braun regarding some of the reasoning one should use direct mail instead of cold calls. I know he is trying to sell a product but nothing beats toe to toe selling any time. Using direct mail one uses a shot gun unless it can be focused but how? I like what you/Jim wrote about targeting, that is exactly what one does, but sorry, I am not going to target restaurants, talk about slow pay and hard work I get the creeps just thinking about all the restaurants I have cleaned in my life time.

All the best,
Mark Violand

IICRC Certified Senior Carpet Inspector
IICRC Approved Instructor
CFI Inspector/Technical Certification
ITS HardSurface Inspector (wood, laminate and resilient)
CTEF Ceramic Tile Inspector
330-807-2255

It Doesn’t Come Easy!
Most new carpet cleaning business owners start out with the idea that new commercial business is going to be a lot easier to come by than it actually turns out to be.

You will soon recognize that business people don’t change their habits easily, even when the service they have been receiving is not all that good, because yours could be worse, regardless of your promises.

There is currently an increase in interest in commercial carpet cleaning among current carpet cleaning professionals, and I plan to continue this string of informational articles about the business side of this very interesting segment of carpet cleaning. My particular niche interest is one I refer to as “Main St. USA”. More on this later . . .

For complete article, please visit…
http://www.ecleanadvisor.com/public/850.cfm

For those of you looking for improved advertising, I strongly recommend that you follow this link for information about a fresh, new advertising program just released by John Braun, the “Infamous Hitman” of advertising in our industry! http://www.hitmanadvertising.com/commercialcleaning.html