Hello.
I have over 11 years experience window cleaning. High end Residential, regular residential, commercial, store fronts, CCU. You name it, I have cleaned it.
I have been employed for 10 years with my current boss. I have been patient in learning (I learned from a friends father, then worked for 3 other guys before), but I am beginning to feel I am wasting the prime of my working life working for someone else.
How do I go about letting my boss know I am interested in doing some side work and building up my brand...without offending him? I am not talking about taking any jobs from him, I have had many opportunities and just let them go or gave my boss the heads up for the job.
I did this about 4 years ago, got 1 job in this retirement community from a friend window cleaner, and I turned it into 50 accounts within 2 years of zero advertising and just word of mouth. It got to be too much for me, and I ended up shutting down because I could not balance my work and NOT let it interfere. I don't feel I was ready to "take the plunge", and I felt like I was betraying my boss (Keep in mind though, I purchased EVERY single supply for MY business, borrowing the ladders from whoever would loan them to me or just using my boss's ladders when I bring them home for the weekend like I always do) I regret doing this, I feel I could have 200+ accounts 10 minutes from my home..........but I know nobody else is in there still, the only guy there is a drunk (Not to put him down, I know him personally he has a problem).
My question guys....how do I explain this to my boss. I want to do it right, I am NOT a snake and go behind someones back. But....I feel if he is not okay with me doing some side jobs, he is not looking out for what's best for me. I have to look at what's best for me, because that is all I have. I don't want to quit, I am his only employee and I do get along with him (Although we have a 50+ years generation age gap). But the truth of the matter, he only charges around 30-40 an hour and has been for the last 40 years in business. My hourly wage is 14 an hour, I have gotten 1 raise in almost 10 years. I understand it's because of his prices (He is what you guys call a low-baller on the forum, not a "bucket bob", but close) ...but the cost of living is going up, I am making what I made when I was 20 years old guys.
Any advice, please let me know. How would you react, I am NOT looking to step on anybodys toes, but I feel if I keep accepting what is going my way, I am being taken advantage of. I know I am worth 50+ an hour, I've seen the competition and worked with many of them in the past. I am not getting any younger, I have a family to support now and I need to get myself in gear while I am at my top working prime. I enjoy the paycheck every week, but I am finding I am losing the joy of working, crawling home after a 9 hour day, working all the holidays, 1 week off a year......there has to be a better way.
Thanks,
TheOneWhoCleans
I have over 11 years experience window cleaning. High end Residential, regular residential, commercial, store fronts, CCU. You name it, I have cleaned it.
I have been employed for 10 years with my current boss. I have been patient in learning (I learned from a friends father, then worked for 3 other guys before), but I am beginning to feel I am wasting the prime of my working life working for someone else.
How do I go about letting my boss know I am interested in doing some side work and building up my brand...without offending him? I am not talking about taking any jobs from him, I have had many opportunities and just let them go or gave my boss the heads up for the job.
I did this about 4 years ago, got 1 job in this retirement community from a friend window cleaner, and I turned it into 50 accounts within 2 years of zero advertising and just word of mouth. It got to be too much for me, and I ended up shutting down because I could not balance my work and NOT let it interfere. I don't feel I was ready to "take the plunge", and I felt like I was betraying my boss (Keep in mind though, I purchased EVERY single supply for MY business, borrowing the ladders from whoever would loan them to me or just using my boss's ladders when I bring them home for the weekend like I always do) I regret doing this, I feel I could have 200+ accounts 10 minutes from my home..........but I know nobody else is in there still, the only guy there is a drunk (Not to put him down, I know him personally he has a problem).
My question guys....how do I explain this to my boss. I want to do it right, I am NOT a snake and go behind someones back. But....I feel if he is not okay with me doing some side jobs, he is not looking out for what's best for me. I have to look at what's best for me, because that is all I have. I don't want to quit, I am his only employee and I do get along with him (Although we have a 50+ years generation age gap). But the truth of the matter, he only charges around 30-40 an hour and has been for the last 40 years in business. My hourly wage is 14 an hour, I have gotten 1 raise in almost 10 years. I understand it's because of his prices (He is what you guys call a low-baller on the forum, not a "bucket bob", but close) ...but the cost of living is going up, I am making what I made when I was 20 years old guys.
Any advice, please let me know. How would you react, I am NOT looking to step on anybodys toes, but I feel if I keep accepting what is going my way, I am being taken advantage of. I know I am worth 50+ an hour, I've seen the competition and worked with many of them in the past. I am not getting any younger, I have a family to support now and I need to get myself in gear while I am at my top working prime. I enjoy the paycheck every week, but I am finding I am losing the joy of working, crawling home after a 9 hour day, working all the holidays, 1 week off a year......there has to be a better way.
Thanks,
TheOneWhoCleans
from Window Cleaning Resource http://ift.tt/1FmN0WK
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