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

Yon, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

I am very satisfied with being a business owner. There are many pros and cons to the position though. With being a business owner, you are allowed to adjust your own schedule which allows more freedom and time for family, appointments or etc. With owning a business.
I’ve always looked at making a living wage and not a working wage. Meaning when I own a business, I am allowed to quote and make as much as I want to. When you work for a job, you will always be working for that wage. I want to live comfortable and not constantly work to achieve that.
When you own a business, you’re allowed to. You can take it as far as you want. As long as you keep your clients and your employees happy. Keep the employees happy first and your clients will stay and grow. Word of mouth travels farther than paid marketing.
Not everybody. Will be satisfied, so that is a con. Because you have to deal with these things yourself rather than the company that you work for but I like criticism and I ask for feedback because. It allows you to fix or change and to better yourself or the business.
If you lose a client. Hey pro is that you don’t lose your whole business or just? As if you were to get fired working for a business you lose your whole job.

The cons are that you accept responsibility, lots of it and the business can live with you through out the day dealing with things.

I have thought about working at a regular job, but the favorite part for me is being able to make what I want and have time for my family. I’ve been able to home school and move my schedule as needed.
I can’t see myself working a 9-5 and allowing someone else to be my manager as I am use to being the leader.

Let me explain me using the word manager and not the word “boss”
A manager is someone who helps to manage and grow the business and its employees/clients. A boss is someone who likes to boss people around. Dictate what’s what and keeps the environment hostile.

I left Merry Maids after 6yrs as their Sales Consultant. I reached #2 in the nation with a daily sale of over 20k for a government contract. That day has yet to be beat. It was a 8-4pm schedule. For me it ended up being 70 hrs a week with a set salary of only $725 a week plus bonus. (That daily sale, they only gave me a pair of construction work boots for my bonus…let’s not go I to that) now if I’d owned my own business at the time….

It took a lot of time away from me seeing my son. I did not feel like I was making what I should because I was constantly trying to work for what I wanted to make. My sales were 100% closed.
80% the week of and the rest I closed the following week.

I also went to college full time during the night so that I could further my career. One of the Instructors taught me the biggest lessen of my life. How to work for yourself. I learned how to create a business, billing, marketing ect. This was an AC/DC class, but the instructor was an entrepreneur and had a passion to share knowledge with his students on how to start their own businesses.

I’ve owned several businesses. Yonny’s Bakery, Xstr33m Clean LLC, FYC Landscaping and Painting, Xstr33m Academy.

Currently running Xstr33m Clean LLC which us residential and commercial cleaning, interior and exterior.

I am working on opening a Tooth Gem & Whitening business named Iced Teeth as well as another bakery, “Butters Nomnoms.” This bakery will support our 501c named Butters Exchange which is based off of the Ye Old Barter and Trade System.

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?

I’ve always had a creative mind and I am very persistent when I want something. Setting goals that are actually written on paper have always been fullfilled for me.

My current succesful business, Xstr33m Clean LLC started in 2014. I have been cleaning professionally since I was 15. My mom has always encouraged me to keep moving no matter what. Never settle for less. My grandma, her mother was a stubborn and sometimes ornry mean lady, but we all learned to work hard and appreciate everything we got or accomplished.
My mother also taught me how to give with out expecting anything in return. She said “You’ll never know if you don’t try and the answer will always be no if you don’t ask.”

These valuable lessons have given me an appreciation for everything I work for or that I’m given. To be a better person with other employees and clients.

With clients I am always open to any feedback or criticism. If they never say or mention anything, than you’ll never have the chance to fix or change the situation.

With myself or employees I also welcome the same because if we never hear criticism we can’t better ourselves to exceed.

I’ve always been a leader as well and being a quiet people person and someone who youll naturally trust when meeting. I was always the one chosen to fire employees or to hear complaints. I welcomed it because it gave me an opportunity to help better the person or situation. To change or fix and its always left on a positive note.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy is asking for referrals of your current clients or asking for feedback and reviews of your business.

Referrals and word of mouth creates a trust bond with new clients and they are more willing to give your service or product a try when their family or friends tell them all about it.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

The best advice is that everyone is a team and together they are one. Each serves a different role to help support and build the business.

I only hire managers and not bosses.

Be kind, listen and patient with your team. Spoil them and show appreciation. When they feel appreciation, that brings loyalty and with loyalty that keeps your clients and quality of service or product at top knotch.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm14878764/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yon.potter?mibextid=ZbWKwL