We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Emily Rhodes. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Emily below.

Alright, Emily thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Before we talk about all of your success, let’s start with a story of failure. Can you open up about a time when you’ve failed?

I was driving to an expected meeting, and pass by a gas station under construction, I stop by the jobsite and ask if they had someone contracted for the cleaning; to my surprise that was still available. I get the information for the person of contact and pursue them for weeks. We agree on a price and are set to perform the cleaning. I, with great ambition, have my team on site and perform cleaning, as we thought was best.
The customer walked the jobsite and was so upset at the small details missed; he walked out of the building.
I had never felt that level of disappointment with a customer and was at a loss of words.
I had two options, defend what would what was done, and demand money for the long hours worked, or humble myself and take this as a lesson for not only myself but the Company overall.

I first, prayed and asked God for guidance.
I second, met with my team and went over all the things myself and the customer discussed. We corrected the areas, all night. Customer walked back on the same site the next day and was pleased. I was very nervous to call the gentleman again, with that same ambition; but with Gods help, I did. With hesitation, I asked him about future work, and he said, Emily you now understand what’s expected from our organization. Now over ninety projects later, I am grateful for the moments of growth that come from humility.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Emily Rhodes, and I am the owner of Upright Cleaning, LLC. My corporation focuses on janitorial services, make ready cleaning for buildings under construction, pressure washing, as well as window washing all for commercial properties.
As a teenager, to say I had a natural zeal for business, was a known factor for everyone who had an encounter with me.
I loved to study any business, in any industry and learn their structure. What caused the owner to get into that industry, does it make financial sense, and what is the true bottom line. I was intrigued.
Because there was such a passion for all things business, I could not pinpoint which industry was truly for me.
So, I prayed.
As a Christian woman, that desires to put God first in all things, I was not sure what was the best for me. God directed me, in the coolest way. Through prayer, He told me to trust Him; while trying to get a job for the holidays as well as find out what industry to dive into. I found a job, that let me go within (2) days, posted an ad on craigslist for house cleaning and made $200 in one day.
I didn’t think much of it, but a friend of mine began to share the big industry, that was silent in cleaning. So, I started to study it and before I knew it, I was operating in what fit me.
Over ten years later, Upright Cleaning, LLC is now a Corporation that has cleaned hospitals, fire stations, resorts with the Hyatt, data centers with Microsoft, downtown campuses with the University of Houston, McDonalds (over 20), Taco Bells, and so much more!
To say it has been a process, is an understatement, but I absolutely love it. I love the relationships I have developed with customers over the years. I love the relationships with the team members, and to see their families grow up and to see their own success stories. For me business is a ministry, and to share the love of God, while operating business day to day, is so much fun and Im grateful for it.

Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?

There was a gentleman I met at a marketing event, and he was very down to earth but also to the point. I knew he has a business and had connections to many Customers, I wanted to connect with and would love a referral. I met him for lunch and asked for referrals or connects, but nothing was concrete.
So, I would message from time to time, and he was passive to the say the least.
One day, I get a call from him. He seemed a bit concerned but I was listening to all he was willing to invite me into the situation.
He has a small office that he was moving out of, and the building needed some work, and he was not sure if he could get the cleaning and detail needed in the short amount of time, he needed it in.
I walked the small building, provided an honest price and moved forward. I knew there was not much money in the project but have always stood on the Scripture Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, do it as unto the Lord.
So, I went to work. I deep cleaned the facility, cleaned the carpets, deep cleaned the restrooms, the entire area. When we finished, he was surprised. By the time I got back to my office, he emailed me all the customer connections, I had been asking for within the past year. I smiled and thanked God.
I learned that the small opportunities, are really the open doors we have been asking for.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I started my business focuses on residential services. I had a plan mapped out and saw myself with the small economical cars with the logo on the passenger door. Indirectly there was a fear of stepping into the commercial world, because it seemed so big and vast; that I just didnt know where to start.
In prayer, I kept hearing God urge me to move into commercial. I heard the urgency but didnt move with the same urgency.
Until my residential customers began to cancel services for either moving away, budget cuts and so many similar reasons. I felt the devastation but also knew it was time to shift things in my business.
So, I did.
I started certifying the business with the City and State, met with City representatives for work within the City and have never looked back. I love the commercial industry, and now turn down residential customers. Im glad I took the leap of faith, there was definitely pastures waiting for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.commercialcleantexas.com
• Instagram: https://wwww.instagram.com/uprightcleaning?igsh=d2Qydm9mM3Yxd201
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UprightCleaning
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/uprightllc