There is a steep learning curve to this industry, a huge threshold. Because of the consistent innovation and discovery, word of mouth seems to be the best way to learn. The truth for many can be a matter of perspective. As far as slapping, offending, and hurting: the same rule applies. Ty, I'll quote a post you made on 6-8-13 that really helped me out a couple months ago when I was new to this forum:
The crazy part is I read this thread and liked it so I got excited and I tried to answer all your questions 1-4. But all of these questions are based off of your fears. I am not trying to be negative on your post. It is obvious you are trying to learn and that is great! This is a great thread! And these are regular questions that most people think about. I remember thinking questions like this before I started becoming my own boss. But all of these questions are based off reasons that you are intimidated on starting your business and hoping veterans can persuade you otherwise or give you advice so you never have to deal with these situations. But no matter what we tell you about the road we went through to get where we are at, you will still face obstacles in the road you take to be where you want to be in this business. So I can not even answer these questions the way you would like them answered. My answers are going to be too vague. I don't feel any of the 1-3 questions above apply to me. I will answer them anyway, but #4 is the only question I feel I can answer that might help you.
Answers:
1. I don't believe I faced any challenges. I face things that need to be taken care of to get where I want to be in life with my business on a regular basis. I don't believe they are challenges. And I feel anyone can accomplish these daily tasks to go where you want to go. You just have to decide that you want to be there and are willing to go through what you need to go through to arrive there.
2. I can't think of any mistakes I have made as a business owner. I have learned lessons on my road to success but those are just helping me get to where I want to be. They were placed there for a reason to teach me not to do them again. The crazy part is I can't think of any mistakes I have made because I can justify the reasons I decided to take those actions at that time. The only thing I can say is that you should do what you feel is right and eventually you will learn whether it was right or wrong when you have completed it.
3. I don't feel I would have done anything differently because everything that I have done has lead me to the point I am at today. So there was nothing that I have done wrong because everything I have done right or wrong has lead me here. And I am happy where I am today, so I have done everything right.
4. My advice to you is to decide whether you want to dedicate yourself to this profession for a long period of time. If the answer is yes, then learn everything you can about this profession. And PWI is a great place to start! Absorb as much knowledge as you can about the industry, test many different methods of cleaning, pricing, organizing, and managing your business as possible. Find out what works best for you and pursue that with 100% dedication on a daily basis. If you put your heart and soul into this business you will reap the benefits from hard work and dedication. Since you are putting your mind into this business and envisioning where you want to be in life you will end up there. You have to wake up everyday dedicated and want to be the best at what you do. If you do that and work hard at it you will be very successful in this business and any other business you wish to pursue in your life. There is a law called the Law of Attraction. So Like Attracts Like. That means if you think about being successful and follow the path of being successful by imagining you will be and surrounding yourself with things in life that bring success. YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL!
All of this is just my opinion, and hope you got something out of it because I did not write it for NO reason. But I can tell you this, I am everything I think I am and have thought I am. And if you believe you will be a successful power washer and try to be, you will be.
Good Luck in this business!
Equipment selection is one of the most sensitive issues because it involves the most risky investment. When we all begin, it's a gamble. In hindsight, we've all experience "learning decisions" that we remember to avoid in the future. I believe a large part of your disgust and "bitterness" with Northern Tool and their NS products comes from an investment you feel could have been more productive if made elsewhere - but like you said,
2. I can't think of any mistakes I have made as a business owner. I have learned lessons on my road to success but those are just helping me get to where I want to be. They were placed there for a reason to teach me not to do them again. The crazy part is I can't think of any mistakes I have made because I can justify the reasons I decided to take those actions at that time. The only thing I can say is that you should do what you feel is right and eventually you will learn whether it was right or wrong when you have completed it.
3. I don't feel I would have done anything differently because everything that I have done has lead me to the point I am at today. So there was nothing that I have done wrong because everything I have done right or wrong has lead me here. And I am happy where I am today, so I have done everything right.
Steven, hearing someone express their opinion about something you spent hard earned money for isn't comfortable or easy to receive, but it's one of those things I like about this forum - and this country for that matter: Freedom of speech and opinion. As long as our NorthStar equipment pays for itself, as far as I'm concerned it didn't cost me a dime!
After refusing King Saul's armor - what worked best for King Saul, knowing his skill, ability and most importantly his relationship with God, David killed Goliath with a rag and a rock. As a matter of fact, the reason he chose 5 smooth stones wasn't in case he missed - the other 4 stones were for Goliath's relatives in case they felt froggish.
We do the best we can with what is available at the time. No one can change what happens in the past, we can only learn from it. Knowledge isn't power, USING knowledge is power. It's what we understand from our knowledge and experiences that turns into wisdom.
