Take a look at the guys who are off the wand. What do they have in common? Most of them specialize in 1-3 things and don't mess with much else. That keeps is simple and makes it easy to train employees.
Looks like I might be getting off the wand pretty soon. Yesterday we stopped at a hot springs swimming pool and I tried to make it from one side to the other swinging on some rings and grabbed one while falling and apparently tore some tendons in my wrist/forearm. I can't close it all the way now. That will certainly limit my wand use when I get back.
Fortunately I have specialized and even if I have to bring in a couple of new temps to take my place I can have them up to speed in about half a day.
Tony is absolutely right. I could never imagine doing all that say Russ and Nick do, from shopping centers, homes, condos, roofs, hospitals, fast food and not be washing and supervising. I use to do that when I washed myself and was lucky to have another guy that were self starters. I could do it all, people say its just spraying water, but you have to be smart to know all the different applications, what to watch out for etc etc etc. Not many employees are that smart and even when they are pretty smart, they are not YOU.
Why do I specialize in multi unit properties....
repetition My foreman Derek can do just about anything I was able to do but he still has to call me on occasion and ask what I think are sometimes from smart to stupid questions. Plus, I am the one that looks at all the jobs and write up the proposals and contracts, so they dont have 100% of the knowledge of what and how I bid it.
I would go nuts if I did like Russ & Nick doing so many types of washing services, I would have to be on every job, darn close to every minute.
I enjoy being off the wand, want nothing to do with actual washing.
In my earlier posting I talked about how I do office , sales etc caveman style. The reason I explained it is because people are right YOU have to have systems in place to get off and stay off the wand. You have to stream line things. Like I said if I was better at office stuff, my business would be bigger and better. I you want off the wand and you want to keep growing, you need TIME, you can't be wasting your precious time, you get off the wand and then find yourself still working 6-7 days a week, not enough time for family & fun. I was getting like that and I did get some systems that helped me, not what I know they could be, but some time saving things
There's a reason I call myself the Condo King, its because I never with employees be the Condo King, Shopping Center King, Roof King, Residential King. Like Tony said most guys specialize and its for a reason. Very, very few employees can do the job like you do and remember that.
Good luck all.....I understand not getting off the wand because you like doing the work. me I like doing all the other work and I don't get wet LOL. I like sales, you get infront of the customers, which doesnt happen a ton, but if I do get in front of them, I usually get the job, do the job and they want to use JL Pressure Washing