Don M.

I just watched the very first episode today! I want to stay up all night and watch the rest of the 1st season.

Jarrod, I need to get caught up. My wife got me the first season of 24 and I have never watched it. It wouldnt take me long. When Sopranos was in its 3rd season, I watched one episode and I was hooked. I was off of my fulltime job for three days so I bought season 1 and 2 and devoured them over 3 days. I'm a Soprano freak. I've got a room in the basement thats my Soprano room.

Don, if you dont have at least a 5.6 gpm or higher machine I would skip the surface cleaner. I bought one for my machine (a 2.8). Needless to say its in storage until I get a bigger machine. Yes to the extenion pole and the turbo nozzle.

Jeff, I live in the county were this is all took place. When the news broke in today at 4:30, the newscaster dragged his feet and said that Ben had been found...............alive! 5 minutes later he was back on the news saying in a weird twist that Shawn Hornbeck had been found with him as well. This kid has been missing for over 4 years. Unbelievable!I tell you what, if this country would follow Iraq and hang these guys as soon as there found guilty, I dont think this stuff would happen.

I've tried a kazillion things not to brush, but I have always went back to brushing. I think the only "brush free"deal is using hot water to rinse with. I've got a hot box buts in the PITA to get it going I would rather brush.

I could be totally wrong, but I thought I read somewhere that you didnt want to get TSP on windows because of etching? Is that true?

Tony, In some long ago, forgotten post, I called it the Midwest Marketing Meeting. Thats probably going to be the name of it, and probably will be here on out. Jarrod, thanks. Your not kidding though. Its like a kid reaching for candy for the first time and gets his hands slapped with a ruler or something. :)

I know Jon, I was going to edit my post because it sounded like my response was towards you. It was not.

Jon, I know I dont have the credentials, that why I have put the effort into getting people to speak at the RT that does. You know something, here is the facts. I've listed the speakers, and if you feel like they dont have the knowledge you are looking for, thats fine. This is MY event. I have decided on who is going to speak, and what the topics are. This is a free country. No one is going to dictate to me who is qualified and who is not. It is your choice if you want to attend or not. I talked to another contractor today, and he feels this has all stemed from the PWNA. He explained it to me basically that the PWNA feels these roundtables are taking money out of their coffers, and now they are on the defense because someone can come to my roundtable for 30 bucks, for some gas money and a hotel room and learn how to market their business. If (or it might exist, I dont know) the PWNA offered something like this, than the cost to get this same kind of info would be in the hundreds of dollars. I forgot where I read it, but somewhere I read that Henry Ford was on the witness stand being grilled my some hotshot lawyer asking him questions Ford didnt have the answer to. Finally, Ford said something to the affect of Dont you know I can push a button and summon x amount of people that would know the ansewers to these questions? Thats the way I feel. I posted this before, but I feel I have several people that are only a phone call away. I am new to this business, I am going into my 2nd year full time. From my first year to my 2nd year I grew my business by 400%. With that being said I feel like I struggled in marketing my business. My goal is to have my wife quit work at the end of 08. In order for that to happen something has to change. So in my mind I decided to put this event on and the speakers that I asked to speak more than graciously accepted. Am I going to speak at the RT, yes. Am I going to lead discussions about any topics, no. I dont feel like I am "qualified" to do that. But I do know that I am "qualified" to put on one heck of a event. Come if you want, stay at home if you want. But I feel this is the way the industry is going. New guys like me are coming on the scene and saying the old way is not working, something new has to happen. So, does anybody want to join the "NWO" of the pressure washing industry? (for all you old wrestling fans out there) I can have Keith from KBK design us a cool logo.

Me personally, I am not trying to "guide" anything. Look, I personally got so fricking tired of reading post on "If your a downstreamer your an idiot" and "if you use an xjet your a retard". I dont care if you use your mamas bleach from the laundry room and fill up water ballons to rinse. I DONT CARE! What I do care about is how to grow my business through marketing. This is what I felt like I needed the most help in. So call me selfish, but I grabbed the bull by the horns and I am hosting this roundtable. Since I am hosting it and laying out the initial cost on everything, I feel like I get to call the shots on how its run, who speaks, the format, so forth and so on. With that being said, my personal opinion is the speakers I have lined up I hold in high regards, and I give them the utmost respect. Now through all of this, and this aggravates me, one speaker has decided he would rather find someone else talk about his topic. Thats fine, and I dont have a problem with that, but I feel like this B.S. has possibly instilled some fear in him and he's gun shy. But I respect his decision and I still consider him a good friend. Listen, take this for what is worth to everyone, and if I come off sounding like a jerk, I aplogize. If you want to come to the STL roundtable and listen to some good guys about how they do their marketing for their business, then come. If you dont, then dont. I put together the list of people I want to hear because I want to learn. BTW, I did a lot of research on Ken Fenner. I like Ken very much. I dont really know him, and he really doesnt know me. But I read in one of his old post that he did 5 figures in one month, and it was more than I made in a whole year. So someone like that "qualifies" him in my opinion.

I am no where an expert in anything, and I really want to learn. Thats why I decided to host a roundtable so I can learn. Like I told you on the phone Tony, some people dont want to be in the room with others. So when this happens we all lose out. I wish it wasnt that way but it is. By the way, you've been the only one to call and voice concern about these issues. I wish you would have brought it up to me in a different way, because A. I dont know who the heck you are and B. you called me riding on your high horse about Barry. I have full faith in Barry and the information he is working on. But, It's a cool now, but next time before calling a stranger I would be careful on how to bring up different issues. I am no expert on anything dealing to pressure washing. But I have the contacts that if I run into a situation I know I can get it resolved. Steve Rowlett, Bob Williamson, Paul Kassander, Ken Fenner, etc., are only a phone call away. So even though I have only been in business two years I feel like its been many years because of guys like these and bbs boards like this one, Bob's, and Steve's.

Okay, here we go. The date is Feb. the 24th. That is on a Sat. Starting time is going to be 9:30 A.M. I will have all the speakers finalized by Wed (hopefully). I will list those speakers then and the format. Keep in mind, this roundtable is geared towards marketing your business. I'm sure there will be some tech talk, but that will be kept to the minimum. I do know that Barry Maddux will be speaking on the subject of "Marketing Roof Cleaning in the Midwest". As far as vendors go, I have two for sure. I will contact the other two tomorrow via phone and get a firm commitment. This will be a catered event. There will also be soda and light snacks available. I am also working on a goodie bag for each attendee. I will have everything detailed out on this event on Wed. hopefully by 7 P.M. Please pm me if your going to attend or email me at marlerspressurewashing@charter.net Looking forward to meeting you all Don

Hi Aaron Go to www.grassrootsevents.org/marlors_rt.htm. You can register through there for the round table. You can also call the hotel to make reservations, but I would hold off until Feb because they might have a better deal on hotel rooms. Thanks! Don

If you were going to buy 12,000 in new equipment, and you had the cash, would you pay cash or lease it?

Here is Emma after picking out her first christmas tree. :)

My opinion is they shouldnt be doing this. Why are they putting the logo on a box that a homeowner is going to by. What, does people think that John Q homeowner is going to buy a dewalt pressure washer, take it home, start using it and takes him all day on the lower parts of the house, realizes he cant reach the higher parts, notices the PWNA logo, goes to their website and finds a local contractor? I dont think so.

Just a 25 gallon tank Jarrod?

Is there a solution for exterior problems on vinyl besides a wax coat?

Well, I havent left the house since Monday morning. Its going to be nice to get out ( I guess). The wife is wanting to go to the mall. To be honest, I dont want to go. But I think it will help me clear my head.

Jon, I will buy it today. Jeff, yes I have been reading a lot. I've already started to mail my pm list and faxing them as well.

They may have had their wires crossed. We'll talk at the RT. :)

No Jon, just bummin. I've listened to SO much marketing stuff on the internet and I've took so many notes...I think I'm going to start running a infomercial overnight and sell the stuff for 3 easy payments of 19.95. :) I plan on making Ken's speech at the roundtable into a 8 CD package that will be available for people that cant make it. All people will have to do is call 1-800-Line Dons Pockets and listen to a free-prerecorded message to find out the link to a website for a money saving coupon! At the website they will be able to purchase other products at huge savings. :)

Okay, now I feel better. I just went to the grass roots site and saw his name all over it. :) Looking forward to the teleconference. I've got to go out and get a speaker phone now. I forgot to add something. I think all this stuff is GREAT! So many times I've read 200 post on xjetting vs downstreaming. I am really glad to see somewhat of a shift towards this kind of material.

Roger, I went to it. There was no mention of Cujo anywhere (I'm not sure of his real name). It looked like a site that he may have bought the rights too and just named it powerwashsuccess.com. Interesting stuff. Don

Scott, I agree your equipment will help you with your dollar per hour increase. I know Jarrod will be touching on that subject at the St. Louis Roundtable the end of Feb.