reposted from an article I wrote on reddit.com: https://www.reddit.com/r/EntrepreneurRideAlong/comments/27n66h/dont_tell_anyone_my_secret_advice_for_success

Don’t Tell Anyone

Seriously, don’t…

When I first started Dallas Maids I didn’t tell anyone exactly what I was starting, not my friends, not my family, no one. Oh, there were rumors, some thought the worse because it was a secret. “Starting a naughty site?” A friend once joked BUT this EXACTLY why I told no one… To avoid negativity.

You see, people are highly susceptible to suggestion. You may believe yourself strong headed, but subconsciously what is said sinks deeply into your mind, providing input your subconscious uses to guide your actions. Negative feedback is detrimental!

So understanding this psychology, my operations were top-secret until I became established. No chance for folks to advise me to get a “real” job or others to openly wonder why I gave up a promising career in high tech for mopping floors. And I’m SO glad I did is because starting Dallas Maids along with my other businesses have been the BEST decision I ever made.

Avoid Negative People

…like the plague.

In the process of starting and growing my businesses I’ve gladly de-friended a few in real life. Negativity is a downer. For many it is instinct to secretly despise friends that have had more success, even try to sabotage their success. Mind you, this is NOT consciously done, they do not know they are saying and doing certain things to sabotage your work. It is a subconscious programming in place through both ones environment and genes. On a side note, I highly recommend you fellas to read up on psychology. Books such as “Influence: Power of Persuasion” or “Secrets of the Millionaire Mindset: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth” are invaluable.

Negative people suck…

…sometimes it’s hard to avoid them. As you know, there are some serial negative suckers on reddit. Get an unwarranted negative comment on your thread or post? Look through their previous posts. Sad how some are addicted to negativity. Though don’t get defensive because 1) it’s them, not you and 2) be glad they are not in your real life!

You could avoid reddit entirely but maybe that’s not an option because of the value you get and give here. That’s why I’m here: I’ve been blessed to know the freedom of having your own business and want to share my experience with you because you deserve to have this, too. We are lucky to experience this sliver of time between two great eternities, so make the most of it! Experience and do good.

Ending tangent. Let me get back on track…

So don’t tell anyone when starting a business, continue de-friending negative people and befriending positive people, and learn a little about psychology. Lee Iacocca attributed his success to his psychology degree. Understanding people and motivating them are key. I’d recommend his autobiography, too, good book.

This advice is my own derived from what I had known of psychology. It is one of my secrets on how I started my first business and having it wildly successful. Strangely, it’s advice absent from any business related book I’ve read at the time – though in the May, 2009 issue of Psychological Science is an article confirming my “don’t tell anyone” strategy I used in 2004: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/ulterior-motives/200905/if-you-want-succeed-don-t-tell-anyone. Anyway, I hope this helps you, especially if you are just starting out. Know that you already have everything within you to do this. And each day you are becoming better and better.

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Celebrating Dallas Maids’ 10^th year anniversary this month, I was thinking about how I got started. Starting a maid service was originally an idea I had for my girlfriend at the time and her friend. They were wondering what to do with their lives so I suggested a maid service.

Though it was not on a whim; it was an idea I KNEW would work because I had all the things within myself to make it succeed. A determination a year in the making. Here is how I arrived at the idea of starting a professional house cleaning service.

1) Focus on wanting to start a business

During the past year or so I REALLY wanted to do my own thing. It was a thought that was engraved in my subconscious, giving my mind a direction, a goal.

2) Write down all your ideas

One day I decided to write down every idea I could think of. Though this is not the end… over the next year ideas popped in my mind, I might be driving in my car or on the toilet, if an idea popped in my head I wrote it down immediately.

These ideas are the best because thoughts that “randomly” materialize are straight from the subconscious. You’ve given it a goal, now it’s working behind the scenes making numerous of calculations you would not normally be able to do consciously.

3) To find a good idea, have many ideas

After a year or so I had a long list of business ideas. I sat down and looked over them, picking a few that I felt had promise. Though the idea of a maid service appealed to me because I KNEW I would not fail. It’s this feeling you must have because if you know it won’t fail, it won’t.

As Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can or can’t, you’re right”. If one does not pop up immediately put the list down and take a look at it a few days later. If THE ONE appears, you will know. Though if it doesn’t, don’t worry, keep adding ideas over the weeks, months, until you find it.

4) Jump in 100%

When you find your idea, as I did, ACT! Quit your job and jump in 100% If you hold onto your current job you will have a crutch that will be too easy to fall back on. After you quit and take the plunge you will be forced to sink or swim… and you will find swimming easier than you had thought. You will not fail.

After my ex-girlfriend deciding not to start the cleaning business was the catalyst to get me to ACT because it was an idea I knew wouldn’t fail, an opportunity I could not pass up.

Succeeding With a Cleaning Business

This is how I succeeded with Dallas Maids. The method outlined here is a similar method I read in a book years (can’t recall the book) after I started. This method is successful because you are using your subconscious mind to do most of the work.

When you initially focused on the problem (such as finding a business idea) you are giving your subconscious mind a goal. So as you go about your daily cleaning business your subconscious works on the tedious details of making your goal happen while you enjoy your day. The solution that “spontaneously” “pops” in your mind is usually the correct one.

In summary, after a year you will have many ideas; to find THE idea, you need MANY ideas. The BEST idea surfaces in your thoughts, an idea you should FEEL it cannot fail. And there you go.

Then it’s only a matter of time, persistence, and fun for success.

I hope this helps aspiring business owners.

P.S. Check out What Set Us Apart, especially the “Note to the aspiring maid service entrepreneur” at the end.

P.S.S. A video we produced on how to start a house cleaning company:

P.S.S.S. You may also want to read a blog post on how to start a maid service:
 

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