True Grime Stories

"My goal wasn't just a million-dollar business. My goal was freedom." – Theresa Kolbus

Sign up for a FREE call with Jeannie. Click the link here: https://debbiesardone.com/coachjeannie. Ready to turn your grime story into a success story? Get a free strategy session with CBF Coach Jeannie Henderson and learn about how Cleaning Business Fundamentals will give you the proven strategies you need to grow a thriving, profitable cleaning business. 

Episode Summary: In this exciting episode of True Grime Stories, we dive deep into the journey of Theresa Kolbus, the inspiring owner of Dust Devils, a cleaning business based in Indianapolis. Theresa shares how she went from juggling two jobs as a bartender and cleaning business owner to transforming her business into a thriving, remote-operated company. She now lives a nomadic lifestyle, managing her business from the road in her RV. Join us as Theresa reveals the pivotal changes she made, particularly in mastering her business numbers and implementing systems that allowed her to achieve true freedom, both financially and personally.

Key Topics:

• In 2018, Theresa joined Cleaning Business Fundamentals (CBF), which gave her the systems and confidence she needed to grow her business and hire staff.
• By 2021, Theresa was successfully running her cleaning business remotely while living a nomadic life, traveling the country in her RV.
• Theresa emphasizes the importance of tracking key business metrics, or as she calls it, the "snapshot" system, which helps her stay on top of daily operations even while on the road.
• Creating systems for everything in her business, particularly for managing staff and tracking financial numbers, has allowed her to achieve freedom from day-to-day operations.

Guest’s Information:

• Learn more about The Dust Devils at http://indydustdevils.com
• Cleaning Business Fundamentals (CBF): A program that helped Theresa grow her business. Learn more about CBF and its benefits for cleaning business owners.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

1. Theresa’s early struggles of balancing two jobs and how she managed to scale her cleaning business over the years.
2. How joining CBF helped Theresa shift from cleaning in the field to becoming a business owner focused on growth.
3. The power of having a structured system to track daily numbers such as job capacity, technician performance, sales, and more.
4. How tracking business metrics consistently can prevent unexpected challenges and help address problems early on.
5. Why removing guilt and empowering your team to take ownership of their roles can significantly improve your business operations.

Subscribe to True Grime Stories and be sure to click the links below to learn more and connect with us on social media for more tips and insights

Connect with Jeannie:

• Website: jeanniehenderson.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JeannieHendersonConsulting/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanniehenderson
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanniehenderson

“Setting an actual standard and expectation for them [employees] made a big difference because they knew what they were supposed to do.” - Carissa Spinner

Sign up for a FREE call with Jeannie. Click the link here: https://debbiesardone.com/coachjeannie. Ready to turn your grime story into a success story? Get a free strategy session with CBF Coach Jeannie Henderson and learn about how Cleaning Business Fundamentals will give you the proven strategies you need to grow a thriving, profitable cleaning business. 

Episode Summary: In this insightful episode of True Grime Stories, host Jeannie welcomes Lyana and Carissa Spinner, the dynamic duo behind All Seasons Cleaning in Ludington, Michigan. Since starting their business in 2014, the Spinners have experienced both challenges and triumphs, but it was their decision to implement systems that truly transformed their business. In this episode, they share their journey, the struggles of running a cleaning business without proper systems, and how adopting Cleaning Business Fundamentals (CBF) led to explosive growth.

They dive deep into the specific changes they made, the initial pushback they received from their team, and the ultimate success that followed. This episode is packed with actionable tips for cleaning business owners and entrepreneurs who want to grow their business without sacrificing their personal lives.

Key Topics:

The Importance of Systems:

• Lyana and Carissa discuss how, in the early days, they had no clear systems for their cleaning business, which led to inefficiencies, burnout, and high employee turnover. Implementing processes, including speed cleaning techniques and proper documentation, helped their business become more efficient.

From Burnout to Breakthrough:

• The Spinners share how they were working 12-15 hours a day, unable to take vacations, and often feeling overwhelmed. By adopting systems and delegating tasks, they were able to regain control of their time and grow their business.

The Role of Leadership:

• A key step in their transformation was learning to empower their team and trust them to take responsibility. This shift in leadership style helped improve employee retention and company morale.

Resistance to Change & Overcoming It:

• Initially, their team resisted new systems like the use of aprons, but Lyana and Carissa handled the pushback with a clever strategy: they asked their staff to try it for two weeks, and no one wanted to go back after that.

Phenomenal Business Growth:

• Since implementing systems, All Seasons Cleaning saw their revenue nearly double in just over a year. In July 2023 alone, their revenue was almost 3X what it was in July 2022. This was made possible through CBF and disciplined application of business fundamentals.

The Power of Mentorship:

• Meeting industry experts like Debbie Sardone and connecting with fellow cleaning business owners, like Kathy Merchant, was instrumental in their business's success. They emphasize the value of having a business coach to provide guidance and accountability.

Guest’s Information:

• Cleaning Business Fundamentals (CBF): A system that helped Lyana and Carissa transform their business.
• Speed Cleaning Seminar: Where Lyana and Carissa learned new techniques that improved their efficiency. https://speedcleaning.com/
• Learn more about All Seasons Cleaning LLC at https://www.allseasoncleans.com/

Subscribe to True Grime Stories and be sure to click the links below to learn more and connect with us on social media for more tips and insights

Connect with Jeannie:

• Website: jeanniehenderson.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JeannieHendersonConsulting/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanniehenderson
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanniehenderson

"I was like a hamster on a wheel, going nowhere until I learned to let go of control. Once I did, my business doubled, and I could finally focus on what mattered most." – Joanne Braccio

Sign up for a FREE call with Jeannie. Click the link here: https://debbiesardone.com/coachjeannie. Ready to turn your grime story into a success story? Get a free strategy session with CBF Coach Jeannie Henderson and learn about how Cleaning Business Fundamentals will give you the proven strategies you need to grow a thriving, profitable cleaning business. 

Episode Summary: In this episode of True Grime Stories, we chat with Joanne Braccio, the award-winning owner of Made to Order Florida. Joanne shares her transformative journey from working 80-hour weeks in her cleaning business to becoming an absentee owner. Through delegating responsibilities and letting go of control, Joanne found the freedom to focus on her true passion: her nonprofit organization, Love Thy Neighbor Florida. Joanne discusses how implementing systems and trusting her team helped her business grow from $500,000 to $1 million while also allowing her to give back to her community. Learn how Joanne’s story can inspire cleaning business owners to embrace change, delegate, and achieve both personal and business success.

Key Topics:

• The power of delegation in business growth
• How letting go of control leads to freedom and success
• Using systems and processes to scale your business
• Balancing business ownership with living your purpose
• The importance of having a coach and community for support

Guest’s Information:

• Love Thy Neighbor Florida: Joanne’s nonprofit organization dedicated to giving back to the community through various outreach programs.https://www.lovethyneighborfl.org/
• Learn more at http://maidtoorderfl.com
• Cleaning Business Fundamentals (CBF): The coaching program that helped Joanne implement systems and scale her cleaning business.

Subscribe to True Grime Stories and be sure to click the links below to learn more and connect with us on social media for more tips and insights.

Connect with Jeannie:

• Website: jeanniehenderson.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JeannieHendersonConsulting/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanniehenderson
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanniehenderson

"We assume nobody really understands our unique challenges. And we're incorrect. Thankfully, there's so many ways that you can find help and you should." - Debbie Sardone

Sign up for a FREE call with Jeannie. Click the link here: https://debbiesardone.com/coachjeannie. Ready to turn your grime story into a success story? Get a free strategy session with CBF Coach Jeannie Henderson and learn about how Cleaning Business Fundamentals will give you the proven strategies you need to grow a thriving, profitable cleaning business. 

Episode Summary: In this episode, we sit down with the inspirational Debbie Sardone to discuss the power of confidence and community in growing a successful cleaning business. Debbie shares how being "three feet from gold" applied to her business in its early years and to cleaning business owners who may feel stuck or on the verge of giving up. She talks about her personal journey, the importance of building a supportive community, and how taking action, even when it's uncomfortable, can lead to explosive business growth. Learn how to harness the confidence to push through challenges and embrace the support of others who understand your unique struggles as a cleaning business owner.

Key Topics:

• Finding the confidence to grow your cleaning business
• The power of community in business success
• Strategies for getting unstuck and moving forward
• Overcoming obstacles with the right mindset
• Why persistence is key in the cleaning industry

Guest’s Information:

• Learn more at debbiesardone.com
• Cleaning Business Fundamentals (CBF): A program that has helped countless cleaning business owners scale and succeed. Strategies for improving business systems and team management.

Subscribe to True Grime Stories and be sure to click the links below to learn more and connect with us on social media for more tips and insights

Connect with Jeannie:

• Website: jeanniehenderson.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JeannieHendersonConsulting/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanniehenderson
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanniehenderson