In Episode 2 of Polishing Profits, hosts Mark Anderson, Sharon Cowan, CBSE, and Ed Selkow tackle one of the most common problems in the cleaning industry: growing without a plan.

Most business owners start by reacting — putting out fires, chasing every opportunity, and hoping to “figure it out” along the way. But growth without strategy is rarely sustainable.

This episode shows you how to stop winging it and start building with intention — even if you’re running lean.

Whether you're a solo operator or a multi-million-dollar company, strategic planning is your competitive edge.

💥 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• ✅ The top 3 pitfalls of reactive growth (and how to avoid them)
• ✅ Why your first plan doesn’t need to be perfect — just written
• ✅ The SMART goal framework and how to apply it in your cleaning business
• ✅ How Sharon saved her operations by creating a backup staffing plan
• ✅ The questions every janitorial owner should ask: Where am I? How did I get here?
• ✅ What it means to build a sales roadmap, not just chase accounts
• ✅ Ed’s brutally honest story of running his first company without a plan

📌 This Episode Is For:

• Janitorial business owners who feel like they’re “winging it” every week
• Operators who want to scale sustainably and avoid burnout
• Owners ready to lead like professionals — not just doers

🧭 Episode Breakdown

• (00:00) – Why most business owners grow reactively
• (01:30) – The million-dollar myth: scaling without structure
• (03:00) – Sharon’s early chaos without a staffing plan
• (04:30) – What SMART goals actually look like in a cleaning business
• (06:00) – Weekly strategy check-ins: how real companies adjust
• (08:00) – Ed’s story: building a business with no roadmap (and paying the price)
• (11:00) – The questions that reveal where your business really stands
•  (12:50) – Final challenge: pick a problem and build a SMART goal around it

🔗 Where to Find Your Hosts

• Sharon Cowan, CBSE – LinkedIn 
• Mark Anderson – LinkedIn 
• Ed Selkow – Janitorial consultant & industry veteran
• Cleaningprophets.com – Where this collaboration began
  
  

🎙️ About Polishing Profits

Polishing Profits is hosted by three of the most experienced and respected leaders in the janitorial industry: Mark Anderson, Sharon Cowan, and Ed Selkow.

With over 160 years of combined experience, they’ve built, scaled, and advised some of the most successful cleaning companies in the country. This podcast gives you direct access to the systems, strategies, and stories that create lasting growth.

Produced by The Profitable Cleaner Network.

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