Michael Ahr

I sponsor a team in my sons league but it is not the team he plays on. It's kind of a funny story. My son moved up from the minors to the majors, to a team that already had a sponsor, so I continued to sponsor his old team (I was the coach of the old team and am assistant coach on the new team). This year the new asst. coach of the old team won't agree to let me sponsor the team this year, why? He owns his own power wash company and couldn't/wouldn't wear the competitions logo. We are friends and often work together/refer jobs etc. and he knew I would use it (jokingly) in my advertising. "See sir, even abc power wash wears the Aqua Blast Uniform". So this year they gave every kid in the league a string back pack with my comp name on it for the same $300. I love to see the kids have fun, it's what life is all about.

Chris, try using a soda blast syastem. This will remove the carbon and clean up concrete and wood without harming the substrate. Mike

Subject: Fw: The Little Red Hen > >> >>> >>> Once upon a time, on a farm in Texas, there was a little red hen who >>> scratched about the barnyard until she uncovered quite a few grains >>> of wheat >>> She called all of her neighbors together and said, "If we plant this >>> wheat, we shall have bread to eat. Who will help me plant it?" >>> "Not I," said the cow. >>> "Not I," said the duck. >>> "Not I," said the pig. >>> "Not I," said the goose. >>> "Then I will do it by myself," said the little red hen And so she >>> did; >>> The wheat grew very tall and ripened into golden grain. >>> "Who will help me reap my wheat?" asked the little red hen. >>> "Not I," said the duck. >>> "Out of my classification," said the pig. >>> "I'd lose my seniority," said the cow. >>> "I'd lose my unemployment compensation," said the goose. >>> "Then I will do it by myself," said the little red hen, and so she >>> did. >>> At last it came time to bake the bread. >>> "Who will help me bake the bread! ?" asked the little red hen. >>> "That would be overtime for me," said the cow. >>> "I'd lose my welfare benefits," said the duck. >>> "I'm a dropout and never learned how," said the pig. >>> "If I'm to be the only helper, that's discrimination," said the >>> goose. >>> "Then I will do it by myself," said the little red hen. She baked >>> five >>> loaves and held them up for all of her neighbors to see. They >>> wanted some >>> and, in fact, demanded a share. But the little red hen said, "No, >>> I shall >>> eat all five loaves." >>> "Excess profits!" cried the cow. >>> "Capitalist leech!" screamed the duck. >>> "I demand equal rights!" yelled the goose. >>> The pig just grunted in disdain. >>> And they all painted "Unfair!" picket signs and marched around and >>> around the little red hen, shouting obscenities. >>> Then a government agent came, he said to the little red hen, "You >>> must not be so greedy." >>> "But I earned the bread," said the little red hen. >>> "Exactly," said the agent. "That is what makes our free enterprise >>> system so wonderful. Anyone in the barnyard can earn as much as he >>> wants. >>> But under our modern government regulations, the productive workers >>> must >>> divide the fruits of their labor with those who are lazy and idle," >>> And they all lived happily ever after, including the little red >>> hen, >>> who smiled and clucked, "I am grateful, for now I truly understand," >>> But her neighbors became quite disappointed in her. She never again >>> baked bread because she joined the "party" and got her bread free. >>> And all the Democrats smiled. 'Fairness' had been established. >>> Individual initiative had died, but nobody noticed; perhaps no one >>> cared.....as long as there was free bread that "the rich" were >>> paying for. >>> Bill Clinton is getting $12 million for his memoirs. >>> Hillary got $8 million for hers. >>> That's $20 million for memories from two people, who for eight >>> years, >>> repeatedly testified, under oath, that they couldn't remember >>> anything. >>> IS THIS A GREAT COUNTRY, OR WHAT?

Scott, this may seem like a silly question, but how do you address the envelopes/postcards. Last year we tried "To our neighbors" trying to build on the fact that we are a local/neighborhood company so we care how where we live/work looks. Any ideas or suggestion? Thanks Mike

Hugh, I recieved one as well. Am just starting to read through it,it is long. Does anyone have experince, good or bad, with Wal-Mart ? Mike

Sorry to get in to this late, but here is what we did. We bought an existing business 2 years ago. We filed all the Fed. paperwork(EIN #,reincorporated, even tweaked the name abit-kept the same phone #). With the business we got a past client list of approximately 500 mostly residential customers who look to have work done every 2-3 years. It was up to us to establish ourselves with the past customers and ensure them they would be getting the same high quality work they were accustomed to. Did it work with everybody, no, but we kept most customers that we serviced. Some decided to try another company and we have gotten calls back from them because the other companies work wasn't to our standards. As far as commercial work, we have 1 PM around here that covers most of the HOAs and we are his company. We have been able to provide quality work at a reasonable price and have stayed busy. The lines that have worked best for us is" no, Joe is not with the Co. any more but he trained us before he left and here is how we are going to do your.....". The customer then usually replies"That's the way Joe always did it" and is happy. I guess what I am trying to say is, if the old owner isn't with the co. any longer, an upfront approach is best. I wouldn't want to be jerked around and so I won't jerk around my customers. Just my opinion. Mike

317.1

I was wondering if anyone used this service and if so, how was the response? They are an internet/book company that markets to the property managers and claims adjusters (for insurance jobs). Any input/experiences would be appreciated. Mike

Nice pictures John, I had the pleasure of meeting Pete King a few years ago at one of our Housing Police functions. Very down to earth guy. Mike

Scott, have your son hold the bat straight out with one hand for 30 seconds, if he can't hold it the bat is too heavy. Mike

Rod, hope you get better soon. As far as the cost of running a buisness, well........I am still learning that one. I retired from my previous job (City and Union) and had to look for another. Power washing kind of fell into my lap. I am learning now how hard it is to run a biz. We are doing o.k. for a second year in a row and are growing work wise as we go along and learn.Thanks to the people on this and other boards we have learned what it takes to do the work the right way. For that I say thank you. I have to agree that time is the biggest investment. In my old job I would work 60-70 hour weeks and think nothing of it. Nopw it's 24/7.But, I love working for myself and have to agree wholeheartedly with Rod, I will never (with the grace of God) work for any else again. Mike P.S. Brian, I may take you up on your offer as I am still trying to figure out all the #s.

I e-mailed it to my wife.

I've read a lot of info about oxalic cleaning rust from concrete, but how aboout brick? I have 15 new houses that have rust bleeding through the brick. Has anyone tried oxalic on brick and if so, what were the results? Thanks. Mike

Deck Sealer Overspray Looking for a little help. I have a customer who had her deck cleaned and sealed by another contractor who sprayed seaer on her house. It is the older aluminium siding type. I am goin g to look at it tomorrow but would like any ideas from someone who has dealt with this in the past. Thanks, Mike

I just finished my 1st year of power washing and can say I was a real busy prt timer. I could have been considered full time , but I am caoching a couple of my kids baseball and soccer teams and that comes first. I want to thank all the old timers for their willingness to share , it's made my learning experience easier. Now that I have a better idea of what I am doing I hope to double my work next year and get it done in agout the same amount of time. Again, thanks for the help and I hope everyone has a great New Year.