We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Thomas Dawson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Thomas, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
The idea for my businesses really came out of a need I saw in the community combined with a deep desire to create something lasting and meaningful for my family. I started noticing that, in the cleaning industry, there were often gaps in service quality and reliability. Too many companies were quick to offer basic, impersonal solutions, but they didn’t build relationships with clients or prioritize the long-term impact of their work. I wanted to change that, to create a business where quality, trust, and a genuine care for the community were at the core.
The journey began with Dumpster Intervention Patrol. It wasn’t just about cleaning dumpsters; it was about transforming a routine chore into a service that genuinely improved people’s lives. Seeing the relief and appreciation from clients after their bins, solar panels, gutters, and more were expertly cleaned made me realize this was more than just a task—it was an opportunity to provide a service people could count on, one that made them feel valued and respected. I knew there was a need for this level of commitment, and I saw it as a chance to solve a problem that few were tackling with a personal touch.
This vision expanded as we launched Turf Intervention Patrol, specializing in artificial grass cleaning. People love artificial grass for its convenience and aesthetics, but few companies offered specialized care to keep it looking pristine. We wanted to change that by offering a service that maintained not just the appearance but also the durability and hygiene of these surfaces. And then, with R&R Clean Co., we brought our quality-focused approach inside the home, offering reliable, detailed cleaning services for residential and commercial spaces.
What got me most excited was the idea of building something more than just a business—it was about creating a community impact, a place where clients felt cared for, respected, and part of something larger. I knew this would work because people appreciate quality, reliability, and a service they can trust. The logic was simple: if we provided exceptional service, treated clients with respect, and built a reputation based on trust, we’d naturally grow. And that’s exactly what’s happened. Our clients don’t just hire us—they stay with us because they feel the genuine care we bring to each service.
As all of this unfolded, I was inspired to start capturing the principles that were driving me—values like purpose, resilience, and bold choices—and those became the foundation for my book, Choices: A Journey to Uncharted Purpose. Writing that book opened my eyes to the importance of sharing stories, so I founded Creative Unified Publications to help other authors bring their unique voices to the world. The response has been incredible; I realized that there’s such a hunger out there for authentic, purpose-driven stories that speak to people on a personal level.
This journey has also led me to a new path in public speaking, sharing the experiences and lessons that have shaped me. I’m launching a podcast called Talking Trash, Keep it Clean, where I’ll dive into everything from personal growth to business insights. And, as my businesses grow, I’m expanding into acquisitions, looking to support owners ready to step away from the daily grind by carrying forward their legacy in ways that align with my vision and values.
For me, this isn’t just a career—it’s a mission. I’m here to uplift, inspire, and empower others to find their own path to purpose and impact. Seeing the ripple effect of this work keeps me going every day.
Thomas, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’m Thomas F. Dawson, also known as Awesome Dawson and Thomas D DumpsterIP. I’m an entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker, but at the core, I’m someone who believes in the power of purpose-driven work and making a positive impact in people’s lives. My journey into the cleaning industry began with a desire to create a business that put clients first—one that would offer services built on trust, quality, and genuine care for the community.
Alongside my wife, I co-own three specialized cleaning companies. Dumpster Intervention Patrol was our first, focusing on external cleaning services like bin cleaning, solar panel care, gutters, roof maintenance, and windows. We realized early on that many people need these services but want more than just a quick job—they want reliable, high-quality solutions. We brought a personal touch to these services, ensuring that our clients felt they could count on us to make a difference in their homes and businesses.
From there, we expanded to Turf Intervention Patrol to meet the unique needs of people with artificial grass. Artificial turf is low-maintenance but still requires specific care to stay looking fresh and lasting longer, so we stepped in to fill that niche with specialized cleaning and maintenance. Finally, with R&R Clean Co., we extended our services to in-home cleaning, offering detailed residential and commercial cleaning with the same high standards we apply to our other services.
What sets us apart, I believe, is the relationships we build with our clients. We’re not just a service provider; we’re a trusted partner in maintaining their spaces, helping them enjoy their homes and work environments. We don’t hold clients to contracts; instead, we focus on delivering quality that keeps them coming back by choice. I’m proud that people stay with us because they know we genuinely care about the work we do and the communities we serve.
But my work extends beyond these businesses. I recently published my debut book, Choices: A Journey to Uncharted Purpose, which shares the lessons I’ve learned about making purposeful life choices. Writing this book inspired me to start Creative Unified Publications (CUP) to help other authors share their voices. I believe stories have the power to inspire and connect, and I wanted to create a platform that gives new and experienced writers the chance to impact readers deeply.
I’m also launching a podcast, Talking Trash, Keep it Clean, where I’ll be exploring topics like personal growth, business insights, and life purpose. Through this podcast, I want to inspire others to make bold, intentional choices that create a meaningful impact in their lives and the lives of those around them.
One of the things I’m most proud of is that I’ve created businesses and ventures that align with my values—integrity, purpose, and a commitment to excellence. I’m not just in this for the profit; I’m here to uplift others, whether it’s through our cleaning services, my books, my speaking, or my upcoming podcast. I want potential clients, followers, and fans to know that everything I do is guided by a passion for helping others and a belief that together, we can create positive change.
Through our services, our publications, and our message, my team and I aim to bring people peace of mind, inspire them to live with purpose, and show that success comes from genuinely caring about those we serve.
We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
Reflecting on my journey from side hustle to full-time business owner brings me back to a few pivotal moments. My business journey started with a leap of faith and a vision to provide specialized cleaning services to our community. Before I launched my business, my primary focus was supporting my family and building something meaningful from the ground up. The early days were challenging, especially when I lost my previous income due to the pandemic. That period of uncertainty turned out to be a key motivator for me, fueling my determination to create a successful, lasting venture.
My wife and I invested everything we had, not just financially but also emotionally. We tapped into our personal savings, borrowed funds, and relied on every bit of support from each other. A major breakthrough came when I discovered networking groups and organizations like Business Networking International (BNI), which helped me understand the value of building strong professional relationships. The realization that networking could amplify our business’s reach gave me confidence and broadened our vision. This step was instrumental in growing Dumpster Intervention Patrol, Turf Intervention Patrol, and R&R Clean Co. Each venture became more than just a service; it was a solution tailored to real needs in our community.
As the business grew, so did our understanding of customer needs and the range of services we could offer. One of our turning points was introducing in-home cleaning through R&R Clean Co., which added another revenue stream and brought a significant increase in income. Each small step, each new service, each sacrifice of time and effort contributed to scaling up our initial vision into a fully-fledged enterprise that now supports our family and serves our community in multiple ways.
Beyond the cleaning business, this journey also ignited my passion for sharing my experiences through writing, eventually leading to my book Choices: A Journey to Uncharted Purpose. It captures the values, challenges, and lessons from this journey and is a means to reach others who might be struggling to find their purpose. This book, along with my new endeavors in publishing, podcasting, and public speaking, all represent extensions of that initial drive to create something impactful that serves both family and community
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
I started this journey after losing my main source of income, with no savings to rely on and limited options for building something new. My wife supported us the best she could, but I knew I needed to create stability and opportunity for our family. With limited funds, I took a bold step and pulled together $150,000 through high-interest-rate credit cards and other loans, paying a broker a 16% commission to secure the funds and clean up my credit. It was a big risk, but I believed deeply in what I wanted to create. That initial funding was more than just startup capital; it was an investment in reaching people, building a brand, and setting a foundation for something impactful.
Out of that amount, I dedicated $75,000 to marketing, trusting a friend’s firm to help me establish a strong outreach strategy. Launching during the challenges of COVID wasn’t easy, but that investment helped us reach clients and build brand recognition from day one.
One of the most valuable steps I took early on was joining Business Networking International (BNI). Through BNI, I formed relationships that became instrumental in growing the business, giving me a network of support and resources that made a real difference in those critical early days.
For me, funding this business was about more than covering expenses—it was a testament to my commitment, resilience, and vision. That calculated risk allowed Dumpster Intervention Patrol, Turf Intervention Patrol, and R&R Clean Co. to grow into reliable, trusted services in our community. It showed me that sometimes you have to bet on yourself to build something that truly matters.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.ThomasFDawson.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/invites/contact/?i=13pqtjlr5df0v&utm_content=7f9zm6j
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/DumpsterIP/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dumpsterip
- Twitter: @DumpsterPatrol
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@dumpsterip?feature=shared
Image Credits
Self produced by me, Thomas Dawson