Ah...the dreaded "P" word. I see window washers bring procrastination into their window cleaning business quite a lot, and it's unfortunate because it'll seriously slow down the success of your business.

This problem certainly doesn't extend to only the window washing business. People naturally lean towards putting things off because it's the safe thing and the easiest thing to do. I saw it a great deal when I was in the insurance biz. If I had a nickel for everytime someone said "I'll think about it", I could own an island somewhere.

Many people are simply afraid to make a wrong decision or make a mistake, so they make no decision. Their fear causes them to procrastinate themselves into inactivity.

Or...in the case of the window washing business, some window washing business owners will work real hard initially in the preparation stage of their business, but then not take the next logical steps.

And those steps are to take the information learned and tools provided and put them to use in the field. One little step at a time, and before you know it, you'll have a successful business.

And speaking of fear leading to procrastination, I see some window washers delaying the start of their businesses until that absolute "perfect time" arrives.

For example, I got an email more than a month ago from someone who purchased my program quite a few months ago. In the email, she was asking me my opinion on when she should start her business. She mentioned that since the summer was almost over (this was still June), should she wait until next summer.

In the nicest way possible, I wrote back and urged her to start NOW! Why wait? Why lose all that income by putting off the start date. That makes no sense. In other words, she was waiting for the "perfect" time. And there isn't such a thing.

One of my most successful system owners is a guy in a very cold climate. He started last November. Just hitting the cold season. But instead of using that as an excuse for delaying his business, he grabbed the bull by the horns and ran with it. Now he's sitting on a business with 93 customers the last time we spoke...and growing!

I've also spoken with window washers who try and have everything set up just perfect before they mail out one postcard, distribute one flyer, or talk to anyone about their business. "Being perfect" doesn't put any money in your pocket.

You just have to get started and then adjust during the journey.

When I started selling my program back in April '03, my website looked nothing like it does now. It's a constant, steady work in progress. Always evolving. If I would have procrastinated until it was perfect, it still wouldn't be ready.

Here's what Jeff Zalewski, a six figure a year income earner with a network marketing company, wrote recently about challenges, constant motion, and not being perfect:

"If you look around you and study the success stories of people from all walks of life, you will find that everyone faces challenges. Everyone experiences failure and defeat. The key to success is to know when and how to learn from our failures.

You are where you are because of you. Therefore, it is only you who can make progress by learning from your failures and defeat. Move yourself forward one step at a time. Stay in constant motion forward and work toward continued improvement.

Do not worry about being perfect because it will never happen. Only improvement can happen.

Never blame others for where you are today. Accept responsibility for where you are and then be accountable to improve and make progress in your business."

So if you're new to the window cleaning business, I urge you to take whatever time is needed to set the stage like ordering supplies, learning squeegee techniques, getting some signage, outfitting yourself with a company shirt, etc. It's all spelled out in my manual How to Start Your Own Residential Window Washing Business. But once this is all in place, get out there and expose your company to the many prospects who need your services. Eliminate the tendency to procrastinate, and at the end of the day, your business will grow because of it.

If you've been in the business for a few weeks, months, or years, and you find yourself constantly doing what needs to be done to grow your business, and prospects are jumping on board, congratulations!

If on the other hand, you find yourself not exactly where you want to be, or you find that the growth of your company has stagnated a little bit, take a hard look at whether some procrastination has taken over and you've "settled" for an average business. Are you still venturing out there every day and talking up your business? Don't put off 'til tomorrow what you can do today.

Best Wishes,

Steve

Steve Wright is the author of How to Start Your Own Residential Window Washing Business, and has started hundreds of individuals on the path to success in their own window cleaning business. Mr. Wright has also developed a revolutionary online web-based system called The Customer Factor to assist all window washing business owners in maintaining and growing a successful business. Using both of these resources provides the one-two punch needed to catapult anyone from zero to six figures per year in the window washing business. For more information, give Mr. Wright a call at 256-546-2446 or visit either of the websites posted.