Needing Some Quick Cash…

An email recently received:

Yes I went to Calgary today (I live about an hour south) to see if I can find a job fast and even the skilled positions like plumbers etc are only commanding $30 to $40 and hour and thats after 3 years experience and certificates etc.
 
At my "unskilled" level its crazyness, I dont know how anyone can live on $15 and $20 an hour with a wife and son + mortgae etc to support. No wonder mum and dad has to work these days. Sad.
 
Anyway, the point is I REALLY REALLY need to make this work fast. Tomorrow I'm getting some flyers done, and I'm going to try to put out 1000 with the help of my wife. We'll see on that one. If you can suggest any other tips that could put some work my way fast, I'm all ears.
 
I will keep you posted.
 
- Mark

My Response:

Hi Mark:

Good morning and that sounds great that you're hooked up.  Right…I did see your name come through as being in my database now.  So we're good to go.

I know what you mean about needing experience for many trades and jobs.  That's where window cleaning will come in and save the day.  :o)  No certificates, essentially no training, and good profits from day one.

With that said though, it does take a little time to gain the speed necessary for the average pay to reach the $40 to $50 per hour mark.  So I always tell window cleaners when they first start out not to worry so much about what they make per hour.  Just get your techniques right while you're doing the first few jobs.  It'll all fall into place. 

Speaking about time, I understand where you need this to work today.  And it will. I see it all the time.  But a word of advice though.  Some prospects will hold onto your marketing pieces for  weeks or months.  That's just the way it is.  They'll call when they're ready.  It'd be nice to distribute 1000 flyers and get 10 calls within 24 hours, but that's not the way it works unfortunately.  I talk about this in chapter 7 in my manual and how it important it is to keeping the pressure on and being consistent. 

With all this said above, you will most definitely get calls right away though.  Absolutely.  Just "do the numbers". It's like I had a call the other day from someone who says he pops out 20 flyers a day.  That's not even close to good numbers.  That equates to receiving a fraction of a phone call a day and that fraction may come today or it might come in 2 months.  So just get out enough numbers and the calls will come.  Whew..I sound like some new age philosopher. :o) 

If I can say one more thing. I hope this is a business you can really sink your teeth into long term.  I know of course that you need cash now, but after that requirement has been fullfilled, I hope you stay with it.  It's a profitable business as I see every day.  And there are so many other things you can do for your customers besides window cleaning. The potential is huge when you consider the variety of services you can offer!

As far as tips, I have a bunch. I would first recommend that you dig into all my newsletters.  And then tap into my blog. And reread chapter 7/chapter 8 a few times.  You'll learn something new each time you go into the manual. 

Take care for now and please keep me posted.

Regards,

Steve