We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Interstar Salaam. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Interstar below.
Interstar, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Often outsiders look at a successful business and think it became a success overnight. Even media and especially movies love to gloss over nitty, gritty details that went into that middle phase of your business – after you started but before you got to where you are today. In our experience, overnight success is usually the result of years of hard work laying the foundation for success, but unfortunately, it’s exactly this part of the story that most of the media ignores. Can you talk to us about your scaling up story – what are some of the nitty, gritty details folks should know about?
You get tested the most when the next steps is greater than the one before. The key is walk with your head high, remind yourself your prepared for this and move like it daily. I’ll be lying to myself and whomever is reading this article that business comes easy. That is far from the truth it takes major investment. You have to constantly cultivate a way to stand out from your competitors. You have to understand you are the brand. You are the business card’s you hand out daily so first expressions is everything. I’ve always made it my business to be extremely transparent with each client I meet. It’s the intentional personal experience from the start you must be in invested in when conducting business. With my 12 year anniversary approaching I always find myself reflecting on the wins but the losses is what truly made me. Whenever I’ve experienced a not so good transaction or a job I felt like I could of got paid more for. I ask myself what could I have done better? For me it’s about knowing your self- worth and how you would like your future clients to view you. I realize with time all money is not good money and sometimes it’s OK to decline business.You dont have to take every single offer that comes your way. It’s taken me a few hard hits on certain bids coming up in business to learn this. I like to call them the good lessons. I was learning as I was growing so it was necessary for those exact experiences. It took me underbidding myself and not feeling so good after a job was completed to learn this lesson. When I first started out I just wanted the job. I wasn’t really thinking about the quality of work I bringing to the table. That was the viable lesson I had to learn. It taught me at the beginning stages what not to do moving forward. Once I let go of that mindset business started to change for me. At the end you and the consumer have one end goal and that’s quality service and you pay for what you get. It’s not always about the money it’s about the outcome and how much are you willing to pay for it to be done correctly. Once I implemented that thinking I changed my clientele and what type of accounts I wanted. With growth over the years I know exactly how to bid because I know my worth and I never short change myself for a job. When conducting business you have to bring your capabilities & knowledge to get things done efficiently and effectively. It took years to gain this knowledge it didn’t happen overnight it took me bumping my head a few times literally. My business grew each year because of consistency, work ethic, patience and remaining humble along the way no matter how much a job was paying me. In the end you will gain the fruits of your labor if your willing to work hard for it. I started out cleaning 800 Sq.Ft homes to now being in residential homes over 17,776 Sq. Ft. and commercial account’s over 60,000 Sq. Ft. I’m thankful for the good lessons because I truly taught me everything I needed to know in business.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I got in the industry back in 2006 not too long after I got out of the Marine Corps 2004. I started cleaning carpet for a carpet cleaning company in Virginia. At the time my boss Pete who is now my mentor, friend and what we call each other all the time family. He taught me everything I needed to know in the carpet cleaning industry. From the art of cleaning oriental rugs, smoke damage, carpet installation, commercial and residential carpet cleaning and upholstery cleaning you name it I did it all. He taught many viable tools that utilize till this day. Outside of cleaning carpet his house was the first residential house cleaning job I took on. I started out cleaning and organizing his house first.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
My most effective strategy has been Google. In order to make money you have to be willing to spend money and invest in yourself. Google has been my main source to bring in new clients.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Set Boundaries, Find Peace By Nedra Tawwab
This book has been extremely helpful for me to cultivate not only a helpful mindset for myself but also a healthy lifestyle surrounding business.
Contact Info:
- Website: interstarcleaningservices.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/interstarcleaningservices/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/interstarservices/photos/a.115300826633836/142206123943306/?type=3
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/interstar-salaam-33456941
- Twitter: @interstarserv
Image Credits
Charismatic Filmz