Cleaning Up In Texas

Speed Cleaning Conference In Dallas

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Sardone) — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 23:31:00 +0000

People ask me all the time, "Debbie, how do I speed up my staff so I can make a better profit without quality going down hill?" This is a struggle many cleaning businesses have. The balance of speed, quality, and consistency. We have to satisfy customers and we have to be efficient. So what's the answer? Here are a few things I've learned over the years:

Quality comes from good training, not from genetics. No one is born with a "cleaning gene". When hiring, stop looking for people who "clean good". Hire job candidates that you believe are teachable and have a verifiable job history. Try to hire people you can train to follow your system and policies. Just because someone is a "good cleaner" doesn't mean they'll make a good employee. A good employee can be trained to follow your program, your rules, and your methods. The end result will be quality and consistency long term.
Recognize that speed doesn't come from hurrying. Rushing will only cause breakage, and mistakes. When your staff rushes they miss things, especially in the dusting. Speed should come from following a proven method and developing a routine. Speed comes from learning and using a system of cleaning that works every time, in every house. Speed Cleaning For The Pros teaches this systematized method of cleaning.
Speed comes from familiarity. First time cleans will always take longer than maintenance cleans. That's why you should charge more for the first visit. You are dealing with build up. Layers of dirt and grime that take extra time to remove. In a maintenance cleaning you have the advantage of establishing a routine, and maintaining areas before they get out of hand. Forget "rotation" cleaning. The Speed Cleaning method teaches you to clean everything, every time. This achieves a perfect maintenance cleaning.
Require that your staff wear and use the Speed Cleaning Apron. This one single tool alone can shave 30 minutes to an hour off of most jobs. That adds up house after house, after house. Time is money in the home cleaning business

These are just a few suggestions, to get you thinking. I am so excited to announce the Speed Cleaning For The Pros 2-day conference in Dallas, Texas August 26, 27, 2011. Don't miss this owner's training for residential cleaning businesses. Invest in your business and your future. You could save thousands of dollars in lost profits and missed revenues from inefficient cleaning staff and unproductive teams. Learn the secrets of a million maid service, and change your business forever.

One of my coaching clients sent me an email this week and said she had followed my advice on barter (from my book Barternomics, www.thebarternomicsbook.com) and was able to come to Dallas for the conference because she has traded airline miles for maid service with a customer! She is registered and will one of only 50 people who will be able to take advantage of this industry specific training. Space is limited, so don't put off registering!

Speed Cleaning Saves Time For Other Things

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Sardone) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 17:52:00 +0000

Quote from Jayme at the Speed Cleaning Headquarters: "A Speed Cleaning girl is highly fashionable because we have all that free time to go shopping and style our hair!" So true.....

If you want to have more time to do the things you love, read Speed Cleaning by Jeff Campbell. You'll cut your cleaning time in half so you can spend the rest of your time doing.....whatever!

The Speed Cleaning Starter Kit

makes a great wedding gift. The new bride and groom will have to clean sometime, why not help them out! We weren't born with a cleaning gene, so without a system to teach you how to clean, most people are utterly lost. We all want a clean house, but we don't naturally know how to get it that way with little time, energy, and frustration. Speed Cleaning changes all that. Spotless results in half the time!

Interview: Debbie Sardone, Author of Barternomics

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Sardone) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 18:42:00 +0000

Interview: Debbie Sardone, Author of Barternomics

By sue on Apr 22, 2011 with Comments 0

Book Title:
Barternomics

Website URL:
http://thebarternomicsbook.com

Social Media Links:
Facebook: http://facebook.com/barternomics

What is your book about?

Barternomics is the most entertaining and insightful book you’ll read on how to fund your business start up, pay those business bills or fund your expansion project. I’ve had Lasik eye surgery on barter, I funded my daughters beautiful wedding on barter, and given my employees benefits using barter. So easy you won’t believe it!

What inspired you to write your book?
I wanted to share my story of how barter rescued my failing business when tough economic times threatened to undermine all that I’d worked for. Barter paid for my marketing, printing, the CPA, employee perks and more when there was no other way possible.

How did you come to do what you’re doing today?
I’ve owned one of the largest maid services in the country for nearly 30 years, but success did not come easy. Starting the business out of the trunk of my car I quickly graduated from the school of hard knocks. We now gross over a million dollars in annual sales and have more than 40 employees.

Can you describe a typical day in your life?
As an absentee owner, I spend my days working from home as a full time business consultant (to other maid service owners). I also have the privilege of speaking at conferences and holding my own seminars and conferences (on how to grow your residential cleaning business). But I’m most proud of the nonprofit I started 5 years ago that has gained unprecedented attention nation wide and has been mentioned on Oprah, ABC, NBC, CBS, & Fox News. At the Cleaning For A Reason foundation, we recruit maid services all over the country to give away free housecleaning to women battling cancer. In less than 5 years we’ve recruited over 850 cleaning companies in all 50 states. Over 4,000 women have received our help, totaling over 1 MM in donated services!

These are my businesses, all still in operation:

www.cleaningforareason.org
www.themaidcoach.com
www.bucketsandbows.com
www.thecleanteam.com

What do you most enjoy about what you do?
I love helping others in business and in life, sharing and teaching what I learned the hard way. I love solving problems, creating systems, and inspiring others to believe they can achieve.

Are there any people and/or books that have inspired you along your journey?
Many, too many to do justice, but here goes:

People:
My father-in-law Ron Sardone
Oprah Winfrey
Benjamin Franklin

Books:
E-Myth
Good To Great
Blue Ocean Strategy
Developing The Leader Within
Get Booked!
Leap! (of course!)

Can you share some business tips for our readers?
Marketing is 100 times more important than you think
Perfectionism in business is dysfunction, not quality
Never solve the same problem twice, create a system for it
Read good books on business continually
Working hard does not guarantee your success, but working smart will

Can you share something that people might be surprised to learn about you?
Even though I work long hours with so many businesses, I love sailing with my husband of 33 years, and we both have a motorcycle!

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Sardone) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 01:46:00 +0000

Did you know you can use Red Juice from http://ping.fm/lo64q as a vegetable spray? Spray, set for 60 seconds, and rinse away those pesticides!

Spring Has Sprung Tips To Cut Cleaning Time By Half

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Sardone) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 20:50:00 +0000

8 Essential Tasks for Spring Cleaning

The crocuses are budding and the birds are singing. That can only mean one thing: It's Spring. And time for spring cleaning! The best source for learning how get your home ready for spring is the Clean Team's best seller, Spring Cleaning. But for the cheap-sheet version, here are the eight essential tasks to take you from dark and dusty to sparkly and new this spring.

1. Clean and/or replace filters If your furnace filters aren't removing dust because they are dirty and old, guess where all that dust is going: Right back into your house. When you are busy replacing your filter, make sure you fully dust and vacuum in and around your furnace. Our flexible microfiber duster and ostrich feather dusters are ideal tools to make dusting a cinch - just swipe the area and the microfiber grabs the dust.

2. Wash your windows - and window treatments Now that the sun is shining more brightly, it's a lot harder to ignore the dirt, rain, snow and fingerprints that have wrecked havoc on our window pains all winter long. Make your window cleaning job easier by investing in the proper tools, including our cotton cleaning cloths for a streak-free, lint-free finish.

3. Wash your walls and ceilings This is a big job, but it's a lot easier and less expensive than repainting! Save yourself time and steps by working from the ceiling down, first vacuuming with the brush attachment on your vacuum. Prevent streaking by drying the walls as you go with lint-free cleaning cloths. If your walls feature wood paneling, you will love washing them with our Sh-mop - that long telescoping handle makes reaching to the ceiling a cinch. Don't forget scrub your light switches and outlet covers. These seem to be magnets for grime - and germs.

4. Move it, move it - the furniture that is! You don't need to move the couch, dresser and dining room table every time you clean the floors, but once or twice a year is a definite must. Remember, this is deep cleaning. The Sh-mop is ideal for tackling tile, ceramic and wood or laminate surfaces. (When using your Sh-mop on wood floors, remember the sh-wipe should be just barely damp.) Now is also a great time to consider having your carpets professionally cleaned - or renting a steam cleaner and doing it yourself. If you have wood floors, you may want to look into having them resealed this spring.

5. Vacuum and flip your mattresses Once you finish with your floors, it's time to carry your vacuum into the bedrooms and power clean those mattresses. Suck up any dust - and dust mites - to help prevent allergies and prolong the life of your mattress. Unless you have a new no-flip mattress, this is also an ideal time to flip and rotate your mattress. Do it twice a year, with the clock change, so you don't have to wonder when you last did it. (need Big Vac bags? Order more here!)

6. Wipe down the inside of kitchen cupboards and drawers It's amazing how much dust and food debris can wind up inside those cupboards and drawers - after all, we are (theoretically, at least) storing clean dishes and silverware in them! Nonetheless, spring is a great season for removing everything and thoroughly wiping down the surfaces. Don't neglect your cabinet faces and hardware. If you can find a buddy to help remove the items while you quickly spray, wipe and dry the cabinets, you will be done before you know it! If you're working solo, strap on one of our cleaning aprons - that way all your tools will be right where you need them. No more wasting time climbing up and down the step ladder to get more cleaning spray, paper towel or sponges!

7. Deep clean the deep freeze If you have a manual defrost freezer, this is the perfect time to unplug it and let that ice melt away. Once it's completely defrosted, clean out any crumbs and scrub any food-born stains before returning the contents. You may also want to set in a small dish of baking soda to absorb any lingering odors.

8. Refresh the Refrigerator Once you finish your freezer, it's time to tackle the fridge. Take everything out, toss expired or questionable items, and wash all shelves and drawers with lukewarm, soapy water. While you're at it, don't forget to clean your refrigerator, too. By removing that dust and debris, you are prolonging the life of your fridge and saving yourself some money. A clean coil means a more efficient refrigerator - definitely a bonus. Once these eight tasks are completed, it's time to pour yourself a tall glass of water and enjoy some of that sunshine! Happy Spring!

Smart Women Maid Rich Club

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Sardone) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 04:57:00 +0000

Smart Women Maid Rich Club Still Accepting Applications - ONLY 13 SPOTS LEFT!

Only 13 spots left. Is this going to be your year to really make huge changes? Will you be running your business next year while you flit off for a 3 week vacation? When I ran my cleaning business I used to take 6-12 weeks of vacation a year, and revealing the tools that I used to do so is just one of the benefits of being a club member.

I have heard about the cruise, will you be doing another one?

In May of 2010 Renee O'Brien and myself hosted the first ever Smart Women Maid Rich cruise and professional conference, and it was phenomenal ! Since then people have wanted to know when will there be another Smart Women Maid Rich cruise and conference, and until recently we were unsure ...but it is official that there will be another cruise and club members have first dibs. Not only will they have a guaranteed spot, but also for club members who are cruise alumni (those that went last year) they will get registration for the next cruise absolutely FREE, and those that did not get to attend last year will get registration for the conference at half price (of course cruise and travel fees will still apply, but WOW what a savings). Holy Smokes!

What do I get for joining?

To get the complete list go to www.SmartWomenMaidRich.com , but here are a few.

Two monthly amazing interactive sessions per month for a whole year $2500 value

Free Smart Women Maid Rich Professional Skills Conference 10-session DVD set valued at $597

Complete set of Coffee Talk Audio series $297 value

Discount and/or FREE registration for the next cruise $500ish value

Official Smart Women Maid Rich Club card entitling you to some special industry discounts

Is it a Good Value?

Absolutely! It is the best value around. I can't believe that we were able to offer you well over $4000 in value for a fraction of that price. The DVD series alone is half of the cost of the course. And, if you just pick up one idea that brings you JUST ONE new recurring customer you will make back more than the value of the club for the whole year.

What is the price and do you have payment plan options?

There are many payment options. Please go towww.SmartWomenMaidRich.com for more information. And, a quick hint that there is one payment option that was revealed only in the "Double Your Business Formula" sneak peek call so go listen to the end to read about monthly payments here: Double Your Business Formula.

Who can join? I heard that you are limiting membership to one business per state?

Any woman owner (or manager) of a cleaning business can join. Because we want this to be a close nit club that we have time to be thinking about each and every member we need to limit the size, and so we are only accepting businesses one per state. If you go to apply and the website says that your state is taken, please go ahead and continue to apply since we have a waiting list and our goal is to limit the size, but there may be some situations where exceptions can be made. We have only 13 spots left!

Are you still accepting applications but not for much longer for the Smart Women Maid Rich Club! The first official meeting is Wednesday March16th 4:00 pm Central / 5:00 pm Eastern. You must be a club member to attend. Here is what you need to know.

To sign up go to www.SmartWomenMaidRich.com

To listen to the sneak peak call "Double Your Business Formula" be sure you listen all the way to the end!

Sign up today!!

BONUS ADDED: Next Level Think Tank

I am adding another bonus to the Smart Women Maid Rich Club. For those looking for "next level" strategies I will be offering at least 4 special 2 hour clinics for club members on topics like "Franchising Game Plan", "Managing Your Managers and Developing Leaders", "Adding on New Profit Centers", "Accumulating Money for Your Next Big Venture", and "Extracting Maximum Profit from Your Sales".

To sign up go to www.SmartWomenMaidRich.com

Don't be left out!

Free Teleseminar for Cleaning Business Owners

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Sardone) — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 21:09:00 +0000

Free Teleseminar today! March 2, 2011 4:00 CDT / 5:00 EST

Join us TODAY in one hour for a FREE Teleseminar: "How Successful Women Think" by Debbie Sardone with SMART WOMEN MAID RICH. To register for this free call and to receive the dial in info, simply register Here.

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Free-Seminar-On-Wednesday-at-4-00-CDT---5-00-EST-For-All.html?soid=1101653092401&aid=6uUnpFyGe84

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Sardone) — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 05:01:00 +0000

Free Teleseminar on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at 4:00 pm CDT / 5:00 EST.

Please join us!

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Free-Seminar-On-Wednesday-at-4-00-CDT---5-00-EST-For-All.html?soid=1101653092401&aid=6uUnpFyGe84

Free Seminar From Smart Women Maid Rich

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Sardone) — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 12:56:00 +0000

Two BIG Announcements Today! Free Seminar & The Clean Team News:

#1 Debbie Sardone and husband Steve Sardone are the proud new owners of The Clean Team Catalog and the Speed Cleaning brand! Watch for exciting details about specials, new products, and services! The Clean Team Catalog and all the amazing products are MOVING TO TEXAS! March 1, 2011 will be our first day in business in Texas. There could be a few glitches with the transition, but we've been working hard to make the transition seamless and hopefully you won't notice a thing!

Steve and I have been in California training and packing the truck to move our first load of inventory to Lewisville Texas. All toll free numbers and website will be the same, but watch for our GOING INTO BUSINESS ANNOUNCEMENT & SALE coming soon!

#2 Back By Popular Demand From

Smart Women Maid Rich

You have heard the rumors, you wished you were there…AND maybe you were one of the lucky ones to be there. In May 2010 the Smart Women Maid Rich Professional conference and cruise was a slam dunk success with attendees coming back and making some of the biggest changes ever in their business. Many told us that this was the best, most focused, business training and conference that they had ever been to…and “when do we get to do it again?”

Last spring for the first time ever Debbie Sardone and Renee O’Brien teamed up to deliver one of the most unique and powerful conferences. The women that came knocked our socks off!!! They were dedicated, creative, inspiring and eager to take their place as women leaders in the cleaning industry. The VIPS, Cindi Bermudez, Liz Trotter, Lanette Richmond, Deanna Hains and Carrie Kiser were outstanding!...And, their stories of success moving beyond words. Sharon Cowan, our mystery guest speaker was also impressive, and all together Renee and I would like to give them a big “thank you” for giving such a kaleidoscope of examples of successful women.

The requests have been coming in for the group to continue and go to the next level, but if you know Renee and myself, you know that we wanted to wait until we could really do it right…and deliver far more than asked for. So, Renee and I have cleared our calendars (easier said than done) and have something even bigger planned for you! This Friday, we are going to give you a sneak peak of what we have planned, and YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS IT. Register now for our sneak peak event “Double Your Business Formula” and you will…

Hear a complete session that will be a glimpse of the type of high quality, business impacting content that you can expect from the Smart Women Maid Rich brand. Smart Women Maid Rich is about YOU, YOUR BRAND, AND YOUR SUCCESS.
Find out about the next Smart Women Maid Rich live fun business event, and how you might even be able to go for FREE.
How you can be invited to be part of Debbie and Renee’s exclusive club and develop a real bond with people that are becoming the leaders in the cleaning industry.
Get your hands on the newly released 13-part Complete DVD course with workbooks, Powerpoints and even added bonus audios for listening on the go…AND how you may be able to get this $597 value for FREE.
Learn how you can be a card carrying member of the most valuable professional club of your career, for women only and exclusively for the cleaning industry!

“Double Your Business Formula”

Register for Free Seminar

2011 is your year! Tired of just reaching for survival? Do you want a real game plan for doubling your business in just 5 easy steps? Increase your salary, eliminate your cash flow headaches, and have enough money to attract great staff through this simple game plan. No pie in the sky theory, just concrete steps taught by my friend Renee, a 20 year seasoned veteran. Register now for this FREE tele-seminar. Seats will be limited to 75. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Friday, February, 18^th 4:00 pm CDT / 5:00 pm Eastern Time

Everyone is welcome to this sneak peak event…women, men, alumni, non-alumni. The information is relevant for every cleaning business no matter how large or small. REGISTER NOW it's this Friday!

THE DIGITAL STORY OF THE NATIVITY

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Sardone) — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 04:51:00 +0000

Victoria Snee to Speak At Cleaning For A Reason Conference

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Sardone) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 05:01:00 +0000

Are you registered for the CLEANING FOR A REASON Edu-Sational Event? Every maid service is invited! Author of "The Beauty Buzz", Victoria Snee will be one of our speakers on day two of the event (January 21, 22 2011):

Radio/TV broadcaster Victoria Snee has done countless interviews with celebrities and their make-up artists, and now she's sharing their secrets to becoming camera ready (along with personal stories about the stars themselves, including Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Lopez) with you.
She's just finished a tell-all book that will help us all go from drab to fab and be ready for Prime Time!

If you own a residential cleaning business you won't want to miss this best practices business-building conference and banquet! http://cleaningforareason.org/conference

Julie Ziglar Speaks to Cleaning For A Reason

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Sardone) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 03:52:00 +0000

I am thrilled to announce that Julie Ziglar will be our keynote speaker at the Cleaning For A Reason Edu-Sational Event in January! Every maid service is invited, whether you are a Cleaning For A Reason Partner or not, to participate in our first every Best Practices conference. It's January 21, 22 2011 all day Friday, all day Saturday, and a special Appreciation banquet Saturday night to honor and recognize the special people that make up our organization. We have top notch speakers lined up for both days. You'll be inspired and instructed and leave with a greater advantage to go home and grow and promote your business. Don't miss out on this spectacular event, come to Dallas, Texas and learn how to take your business to another level. Early registration means you save money and have a chance to win a free Hoover vacuum!
http://cleaningforareason.org/conference

Entrepreneurship And Mentoring

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Sardone) — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 04:41:00 +0000

Someone recently sent me an email request, and I thought I'd share it here and my response. He wrote:

"Debbie, Weekends are good for reflection and this weekend made me realize something that I have known, but I can now put into words better. I enjoy starting and growing businesses. I wouldn't say I am a serial entrepreneur, but that would be okay to be there some day. We do have plans to start a 2nd biz in the Twin Cities soon. Plans are still in the works.

So, the reason for my email is this... You are the best and closet serial entrepreneur I know. One of the best things that I know in growing in life, period, is having a mentor, or a coach. I am not asking for a commitment on your part and I would bog you down with emails or phone calls.

I am just asking for a solid place to turn to or advice about how to answer all of these questions and "feelings" about wanting to start another business.

Here's the 1st one...

What books or courses or do you recommend specificity on serial entrepreneurship?
What podcasts/ speakers do you recommend specificity on serial entrepreneurship?
What websites you recommend specificity on serial entrepreneurship?
Obviously, I have more questions than answers and I don't want to take all your time. Thank you for all you do and being a great friend."

AND MY ANSWER:

wow, it's good to see you are realizing that we all need a mentor, at each and every stage of business. I have two that I tap into regularly. Those who go it alone and do not have someone who is more successful than they are at business to bounce off ideas and rein in thinking, usually end up wasting time, money, shooting in the dark. So, I am glad you are thinking in this direction.

It's hard to answer your specific questions, so I'll do my best. Most of the books I read do not provide NEW information that I can honestly say "wow, I never thought of that before, I am so glad I learned that". A few books that have provided that type of info was:

1. "The E-Myth" (I read several years ago, learned a new way to approach my business and set out to make changes in my business)
2. Some of the Leadership books by John Maxwell have taught me new insights I didn't have
3. The 4-Hour Work Week had some new ideas I didn't have

but, for the most part, most of the business books we read tend to reinforce what we already know, or inspire us to put into action things we intended to do but never have done. I still read them, and love them. I pull out my Brian Tracy books often and refer to them about Time Management, especially when I'm feeling overwhelmed and not keeping up. Do I learn something new? Rarely. But I need the guideance, reminders.

One of my favorite books about entrepreneurialism is the biography of Benjamin Franklin. I love that book. There are so many examples of businesses he started (first fire department, library, printing press, business networking group, etc.). I get so encouraged because he launched these successful businesses and made a fortune during some of the most economically depressed times ever!

As far as mentoring and getting specific, technical answers to business delimmas and ideas, I think that is best done live and not so much with books. I think you find someone who knows more than you do on that topic, and you discuss the business regularly. I have a non-profit coach that can answer every quesiton I have about building and operating a non-profit. He's on the Board of Lance Armstrong foundation, and he's just smart! The problem-solving calls are an enormous benefit to me, that no book could substitute for.

Online podcasts? Well, I've only used those for sermons in the past. I have not tapped into great business podcasts. I have taken advantage of some online internet marketing courses, since my coaching business is an online business. Those have been FABULOUS for my consulting business and I've learned a lot! Those sources come from:

Yanik Silver, Mike Filsaime, Armand Moran, David Newman, etc. I have subscribed to Mike Filsaime's internet marketing monthly magazine, and a few courses online. All vaulable if you have an internet business. Not all applicable for a maid service.

Here's what I believe when it comes to "serial entrepreneurs". They're a dime a dozen. We all know people who keep starting businesses. The reality is, they keep QUITTING businesses. So, don't fall into the trap of becoming a "Jack of all trades and master of none", make your businesses sound and profitable and then start another one. I still own all four of my businesses and ALL of them make money without my daily involvement (including my consulting business). I have good friends who have sold successful, profitable businesses for a good profit. A good mentor is WHERE you want to be or HAS been where you want to be.

P.S. Here are some of my favorite books (in no particular order):

The E-Myth Revisted
Pour Your Heart Into It
See You At The Top
Good To Great
4-Hour Work Week
The Tipping Point
Blue Ocean Strategies
Selling The Invisible
Raving Fans
10 Clowns Don't Make A Circus
Eat That Frog
Guerrilla Marketing Excellence
Why She Buys
Pain Killer Marketing
The Magic of Thinking Big
Profits Aren't Everything, They're The Only Thing
The Sales Advantage
Benjamin Franklin: An American Life
Rich Dad, Poor Dad
The Tipping Point
Developing The Leader Within You

These are just a few I've read in the last 3 years! Hope this helps!

Cleaning For A Reason Milestones & ISSA

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Sardone) — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 20:13:00 +0000

The cleaning conference was a huge success. I've been wanting to update everyone about Cleaning For A Reason and the success of the ISSA Convention. We reached some very exciting milestones this year and passed some tipping points. First, the MOST exciting news all year, is Cleaning For A Reason tipped the scales on over 1 million dollars in donated house cleanings to women with cancer! So far, our generous Cleaning Partners have helped over 4,000 women with cancer get their homes cleaned for free. I salute our giving Partners that are helping women everywhere. They deserve your support, so please only consider using a maid service that is Cleaning For A Reason! We grant a free cleaning every 90 minutes to a women battling cancer. This is only possible because of the generous maid services that are a part of this great program.

The next milestone, or tipping point was the ISSA show this year in Orlando, Florida. We hosted a Cleaning For A Reason Appreciation Reception at the Double Tree Hotel for nearly 100 Partners and guests. The evening was spectacular. We heard heart-warming stories from 5 prominent C4R Partners: Teresa Ward, Shirley Perlinsky, Lanette Richmond, Liz Trotter, and JoAnn Dipierro. Several sponsors donated great prizes and folks left with free vacuums, books, business training materials and products! Our GENEROUS sponsors made the entire evening spectacular and free to all attendees. Thank you to Jean Hanson of MyHousecleaningbiz.com, Debbie Richter of RF Monolithics, and Mike Julo of DirectMopSales.com. Direct Mops also provided a $25 Gift Certificate to every guest!

Lastly, and this is really exciting, the ISSA show was a tipping point on the tradeshow floor. Out-going ISSA President, Bob Stahurski accepted our offer to join the Cleaning For A Reason Board of Directors. He will be added to our Board in December. Bob was so impressed with Cleaning For A Reason, that he brought incoming ISSA President, David Holzman over to meet us. David was immediately enthusiastic and wore the "Ask Me" pin on his lapel all day. He also had it on the next day while introducing the keynote speaker, Prime Minister Tony Blair. David shared the Cleaning For A Reason story with Tony Blair at the executive breakfast that morning and presented him with the "Ask Me About Cleaning For A Reason" pin as well as a black C4R logo shirt! David Holzman and Bob Stahurski are two powerful, well-respected men in our industry and they are very excited about Cleaning For A Reason!

We made great contacts at the ISSA Show this year, and now we are working feverishly on our upcoming MAID SERVICE Best Practices Conference, which is January 21, 22, 2011. If you haven’t registered for this amazing event, you don’t want to be left out. We think it will be largest event of this kind in the history of the residential cleaning industry. We’ve lined up top speakers, maid service specific topics, lots of surprises, and tons of value and benefit! Don’t miss out, the early registration is extremely low cost: http://ping.fm/5Nmie

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Sardone) — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 19:35:00 +0000

I finally made the time to link my Twitter, Facebook, and Blogger accounts together. Now I just need to remember to use it!

Tamara Lowe at Christ Fellowship

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Sardone) — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 01:49:00 +0000

Worth Watching

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Sardone) — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 01:29:00 +0000

No Excuses

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Sardone) — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 01:19:00 +0000

Precision and Practice

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Sardone) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 01:00:00 +0000

Get good at what you do, practice!

Hoover Vacuums Sponsors Cleaning For A Reason

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Sardone) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:09:00 +0000

Big announcement! Exciting times! Hoover Sponsors Cleaning For A Reason.

in reference to: cleaning for a reason hoover - Google Search (view on Google Sidewiki)

In Honor of Black History Month

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Sardone) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 02:05:00 +0000

In honor of "Black History Month" I would like to present some of my favorite entrepreneurs and icons. These people have inspired and moved me with their talents, abilities, and achievments. Enjoy:

Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is living proof that the American dream is alive and well. The illegitimate daughter of a Mississippi sharecropper, she overcame poverty, parental neglect, sexual abuse and racism to become one of the richest and most powerful women in the entertainment industry. Through sheer force of her personality and by simply being herself, she reinvented the talk show and still reigns as the undisputed champ of daytime television. (from entrepreneur.com)

Martin Luther King, Jr.

And being in the service industry I can't help but get inspired by this MLK Jr. speech:

J.C. Watts

Congressman JC Watts was born the fifth of six children to Buddy and Helen Watts on November 18, 1957 in Eufaula, Oklahoma . He attended the University of Oklahoma and earned a B.A. in journalism in 1981. He was first elected to represent the fourth district of Oklahoma in the U.S. House of Representatives in November 1994 and won re-election in 1996, 1988 and 2000. Fellow congressmen quickly recognized his leadership qualities and elected him chairman of the House Republican Conference, the fourth-highest position in the House, in 1998 and again in 2000. Watts earned a solid reputation in Oklahoma and throughout the nation as a perceptive and passionate spokesman for redeveloping communities, exercising fiscal discipline, strengthening education, restoring values, and bolstering national defense.

Sinbad! And on a lighter note, my favorite male comedian of all time!

I've Committed the Cardnial Social Media Sin

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Sardone) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 01:02:00 +0000

Well, thanks to my friend Ron Holt of Two Maids & A Mop, I've removed a video link that became a dead link while I was not paying attention! Sadly, it was about social media--and if you know anything about social media you know the cardinal rule is not to let your blogs, twitters, and facebook pages grow cold! Thanks Ron for snapping me back to responsibility. If I'm going to have a blog I have to use it. Ron sure is good at that, I guess I need to take a few ques from him! Anywho, I tend to be an all-or-nothing perfectionist sometimes, so when I don't have the time to "give it my all" I end up doing nothing. That's just plain stupid, and I know better.......

So, here's some catching up and I'll do better! I'm reading a book right now that I find very interesting. I don't agree with everything he says, but I wholeheartedly agree with his emphasis on profits. Most of the cleaning businesses I consult with put profits last, behind employee payroll, customer needs, and operational non-essentials. Then, they're miserable because they work so hard for so little. If you fall into that category you need to read this book:

Profits Aren't Everything, They're The Only Thing! By George Cloutier

Now, I modify his philosophy to fit my spiritual convictions, but I do believe there is a time and a place to put your business, it's viability, growth, or crises FIRST--above everything until you fix what's broke or stop the bleeding! That's not an excuse for a long-term pattern of neglecting "quality of life" (i.e. family, god, health....), it's a short-term solution that can reap the necessary results. If you need to grow your business quickly or if your sales and operations are in trouble, or you've been doing without a decent profit margin, there is a time and a place for remembering that PROFIT is why you got into the business in the first place, and a lack of focus on PROFIT might be why things are such a mess today!

It's a good book, I highly recommend it.

Also, have you registered for my Coffee Talks on Thursday mornings? They are completely free! 30 minute power bursts of business instruction perfect for anyone in the cleaning business, but especially women-owned operations. You can register here, for free: REGISTER NOW

If you are a women in the residential cleaning business, or any cleaning related business, I'd like to invite you to join Renee O'Brien and me for the very first ever Smart Women Maid Rich Business Conference Cruise. We have an amazing line up of women-centric topics that are perfect for the CEO or upper management of any cleaning business. The guys will be glad to endorse this trip because the ladies will get serious business training along side mega-fun opportunities. And, they guys can come too. Spouses or even kids can hang by the pool and await our dismissal from the conference workshops. My husband Steve will be there as well as several others. So, check it out, Thursday is the last day to sign up and make payments. The last payment is in June, and the total for the cruise and conference is only $799!

If you have questions give me a call: 404-585-0461

Interesting Links

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Sardone) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 04:59:00 +0000

Here are a couple links on this page about the most influential business thinkers:

-- http://www.forbes.com/2009/10/13/influential-business-thinkers-leadership-thought-leaders-guru.html

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Sardone) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 22:25:00 +0000

Quick Upate on the Cruise:

What an incredible launch of the SMART Women Maid Rich Conference and Cruise! At one point there were orders coming in 5+ per minute. I've been meaning to update you, but its been crazy and I didn't want to pester you with too many emails. Couple of things --

I know many of you have already secured your spot, but in case you didn't catch it, many of initial incentives (first registrant gets the cruise absolutely free, the first five registrants get one free upgrade or $125 spa/shopping bucks and the first 25 registrants get the DVDs for free) - all gone! BUT, we have another great incentive that you can still get in on, and that is that if you sign up for the Conference/Cruise before October 9th then you will be invited to attend the private wine tasting on the boat with Debbie Sardone, myself, the VIPs, and our surprise guest.
And, because the rush to sign up early was such hand to hand combat that Debbie and I have decided to allow everyone who has signed up so far, and 5 more people to receive the complete DVD set ($597 value - perfect for training your team) absolutely free - Heads up - only a few spots left. Something to think about if you are sitting on the fence.

Also, we have decided to add a NEW PERK for you social bees, and here's the scoop. Invite someone who has not signed up yet to sign up for the Conference/Cruise and you will not only secure a spot for your buddy before we sell out, but you will also receive $50 value fun-bucks-goodie-pack (on board drinks, photos, spa, shopping) - AND sign up 5 people and get the fun bucks and $250 off of your own conference cruise fee. The person you refer does not have to be your roommate; those decisions are separate. And, I don't know how long we can do this for, so take advantage of it before we have to end the incentive.

We are still trying to secure more cruise rooms, but we don't know where we are at with that yet, so if you want to find out check back here or on our website: http://smartwomenmaidrich.com and we will post any updates on there about any additional spots.

Second, I forgot to mention in my previous email, but I don't know if you noticed that the starting price that we settled on for the launch of this conference is $200 less than what we had originally discussed. That launch price is going away soon, and if there are any remaining seats of the original 74 then prices will go up.

http://smarwomenmaidrich.com

Registration Opens Tonight at 8:00 p.m. EST

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Sardone) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:14:00 +0000

If you have not already signed up for a username and password on Renee's shopping cart, you can do that now, and then when registrations opens up you'll already have one! Just a quick step to being faster than anyone else.

So, go here now:

http://www.sharpchip.com/shop/

sign up for her shopping cart and THEN when registration opens at 8:00 p.m. EST you'll be ready to just REGISTER!

Can't wait, I hope you get in the first 25!

debbie