Just doing the little things every day and being consistent with it. When you’re doing the consistent things that other people may not want to do or may not do on a daily basis, I think that helps.
Cloyd Thomas Jr. is the founder of Clean Hands Ohio, a Columbus-based commercial cleaning company dedicated to providing excellent office cleaning services. He started Clean Hands Ohio six years ago, and in those six years has worked with Scioto Down Casino, Aldi, The Color Run, and various other companies around the Greater Columbus area. Aside from running Clean Hands Ohio, he has ten years management experience in the banking, finance, and healthcare industries. Cloyd holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from The University of Toledo, as well as a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Ohio Dominican University.
Where did the idea for Clean Hands come from?
It actually came from a family member. One of my cousins in Atlanta started up his own commercial cleaning company and it was doing so well. He gave me the idea of starting one here in Ohio, so that’s where the idea sparked from.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
I work a regular nine to five, so it’s trying to do all I can between my lunch time, before and after work, and whenever I can find free time.
How do you bring your ideas to life?
I just write them down and I just try to focus on each part. I think just doing little by little on the daily basis and just being consistent and making it happen.
What’s one trend that excites you?
One thing that excites and scares me is artificial technology. It seems to be growing, but I think it’ll be beneficial because it can help come up with ideas and think better, faster than the normal human brain can. I think it’ll help in that aspect maybe curing diseases faster or helping with treatments.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
I think consistency. Just doing the little things every day and being consistent with it. I think that’s one thing that’s kind of overlooked. When you’re doing the consistent things that other people may not want to do or may not do on a daily basis, I think that helps.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Save and invest. I think that’s everybody’s. I mean even though my mom always told me growing up to save money but you never really listen to your parents when you’re young.
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.
I’m really big into like astronomy, space, and time travel and things like that. And aliens and things–but I don’t know, I guess we don’t know if it’s true, but I’m really into all that.
As an entrepreneur, what is the the one thing you do over and over and you recommend that everyone else do?
I try to be creative and I try to come up with ideas of needs that may be out there that maybe aren’t being satisfied.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?
I think what really helped us, search engine optimization was huge. Honestly that’s what really helped us.
Usually when you’re dealing with a cleaning company you do contracts, we make it where we have an agreement but it’s not really a contract. We have one year agreements where the company can cancel at any time…well within a thirty day notice, but I think that makes the companies more comfortable that they know they’re not stuck in the contract.
They know that they can get out anytime. That also makes us live up to what we say we’re going to do because we know they can get out at any time. So it holds us more accountable to do a good job.
What is one failure you have had as an entrepreneur and how did you overcome it?
Oh gosh, the one thing that really hurt us the first time around, but it was a good experience, was trying to help friends out. So we had friends that we were trying to help out and it came to bite us in the butt. Friends and money and business just don’t mix. So, that was a big lesson that we learned.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
It’s not a new business but I think real estate investment, that’s something I did as soon as I got out of college.
I bought a house and I rented it out. It was big, it is always going to be a profitable business if you start right away. I think real estate investment is huge and I mean most millionaires in the U.S. are real estate investors.
What is the best $100 you recently spent?
My little cousin, he lives in Atlanta, Georgia, I bought him a bunch of Buckeye gear. We turned him into a big Buckeye fan even though he lives in Atlanta. So I think that was the best hundred dollars I spent.
What is one piece of software or web service that helps you be productive and how do you use it?
The app that I’ve been using lately is Robin Hood. It lets you do stock investments with no fees and you can just do it from your phone. Not really tied to business necessarily but I like that app.
What is a book that you recommend that everyone should read and why?
I’m big into audio books. The book I’m into now is The Power of Now, just living in the moment and not letting things from the past and things from the future affect you and stress you out. It’s just living in the moment, living in the now.
What is your favorite quote?
It’s a quote from Eric Thomas, he’s a motivational speaker.
Sometimes it’s not about being the most talented and sometimes it’s not about being the smartest, and it’s not about always working the hardest, but it’s about the consistency.
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Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.