"
The more you learn
enough to live on and was flexible
enough to work around his school sched-
"
ule. Ever the entrepreneur, he discovered
the more you earn.
that a window cleaning business fit the
bill nicely. "I started out cleaning store-
According to Aaron, diversification is a
experience wildly above and beyond
fronts and homes and this led to fixing
necessary evil when it comes to seasonal
what the customer ever expected!"
broken window screens."
businesses. "In addition to cash flow
A huge proponent of Michael Gerber's E-
nightmares (if you have any significant
myth practices, Aaron's enthusiasm is
A more profitable business service in and
overhead costs), the headaches and sheer
undeniable. He adds, "In America, there's
of itself, window screen repairs and
expenses associated with re-training a
a myth that people who start a business
replacements turned out to be big busi-
seasonal work force every year are over-
are brave entrepreneurs. In reality, most
ness for Aaron. "I created a mobile trailer
whelming -- especially when it comes to
are very good technicians who for a
with borrowed tools. Every time I
a technical service with high liabilities
moment think they are entrepreneurs.
cleaned my customers' windows, I was
like the chimney sweeping trade.
But, in today's marketplace, you must be
prepared to repair their window screen if
Because we wanted to ease these season-
a good technician and business manager.
they needed it," recalls Aaron.
al ups and downs, we developed a winter
They're two completely separate disci-
plines."
Aaron didn't want to stay in the window
continued on page 24
cleaning business because of the low bar-
riers to entry. "Anyone can get into the
window cleaning business with little
money or few skills. I didn't want to build
my business around something so easy
to get into," says Aaron. A business owner
by the age of 23, Aaron prefers tactical
work over technical work: "My first love
always has been, and always will be the
business of business. It doesn't matter if
the technical work of the business is
chimney sweeping, window cleaning or
window screening, I just love master-
minding and tweaking a business that
works! My dream is to improve and
Aaron always encourages customer participation
streamline our systems until we have cre-
during an inspection.
ated a business that is profitable, runs
smoothly, and delivers a product and
23
AUGUST 2003 SWEEPING