June 23, 2024 • 25 mins
Building a business with your spouse is rewarding, but it’s not always easy.
Jessica and Alex share their candid journey from burnout and 80-hour workweeks to thriving as married entrepreneurs in the janitorial industry. From not knowing how to write a proposal to landing a long-term client on day one, they reveal the four biggest lessons they’ve learned in business, why mentorship matters, how systems create freedom, the power of consistency, and why you don’t need to be an expert in everything to succeed.
Tune in for inspiration, laughs, and real talk about what it takes to run a business as a couple, without losing the love in the hustle.
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Alex & Jessica Fortis
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Alex (00:02):
1, 2, 3, 4.
Welcome to Married to theHustle, the podcast where love,
faith and business come together.
Jessica (00:14):
I'm Jessica, and with me is my partner in life and
business, alex.
Together, we're diving into thewild world of entrepreneurial
couples.
Alex (00:37):
Each week, we'll bring you real stories hilarious moments
and valuable insights fromcouples.
Jessica (00:46):
Welcome to the show.
We are so excited to be hereand, you know, being this is our
very first episode, I thoughtthat it would be great to be
able to share a little bit ofour story and share a little bit
on things that we wish we knewwhen we first got started.
How does that sound, Alex?
Alex (01:02):
That sounds perfect.
I think some of us are afraidto start right, Because us as
human beings, we want everythingto be perfect and kind of laid
out for us before you start.
But the entrepreneurial life istotally different and we've
learned for sure.
Jessica (01:20):
Yeah, for sure.
And just so you guys know thereason why all of this got
started is you know anyone thatasked Alex so what made you go
for business?
You know, go in business foryourself.
And he always says, Jessica asJessica.
Alex (01:36):
You were my coach.
You know patting me on the back.
You can do it, you can do it.
Jessica (01:42):
Yeah.
So you know for those of youthat don't that, don't know us I
I'm an executive coach and abusiness strategist and when we
started our business, it waskind of like getting tired of
the hustle and bustle of workingfor someone else and having our
hours being dictated andworking very long hours.
Specifically for Alex, Iremember there were a week that
(02:05):
he was like well, I can't exceed80 hours.
What in two weeks?
No, in one.
And I was like are you serious?
So it was just a matter of timebefore he especially
experienced some really severeburnout and we knew that we
needed to do something different.
Why don't you tell the story onhow we got started in the
(02:28):
janitorial industry?
Alex (02:29):
Yeah, it's funny that you said total burnout right,
because, as business owners isstill, you know a lot of stuff
falls on your shoulders, right?
So you have to answer toeverything that's going on.
You have to make sure your teamis aligned right with your
vision and your goals.
So it's still really hard work.
You know running a business.
Jessica (02:52):
And.
Alex (02:52):
I remember I was working in the concrete business.
I started out in New York.
I was born and raised in FarRockaway, New York, and I was
working out there for a readymix concrete and everything,
mostly everything, especiallywhen it has to do with
construction.
there's all union jobs out thereand I was part of the union and
(03:15):
got a little spoiled by that, Imust say, but it was a good
experience.
And then I came here to Floridain 04, originally moved to
Kissimmee, worked for anotherconcrete plant and my last job
was a family-owned ReadyMixconcrete, which has taught me a
(03:36):
lot.
Number one hard work does payoff.
Even though they were longhours, they gave me the
opportunity to continue growthwithin the company, so I was
always very, very grateful forthem.
Jessica I don't know if she wasthat grateful for that because
all the long hours that I wasputting in, but one day I was
(03:58):
already close to about 80 hoursa week, and this time I was
running a one of the newerplants here in orlando, florida
and I was always one that whenwe had something important going
on in the company, or in thatplant I I wanted to make sure
that I was there rightjust to kind of make sure
everything was going smooth andstuff like that.
But one day came home andjessica tells me we need to make
(04:22):
a change.
I mean, you're just putting inway too many hours right for
someone else.
And I remember back in the dayI don't remember who told me,
but it was definitely someonethat was close to me back in New
York and he tells me as long asyou're working for somebody,
you're living somebody else'sdream.
Jessica (04:43):
Sure.
Alex (04:43):
Right, you're living somebody else's dream, sure,
right?
So I said, you know it, alwaysthere's a lot of things that, as
as we're growing and goingthrough life, that there's
people or mentors that putthings into your, into your head
, and it makes you think aboutthings differently.
Right, and what was it?
March 2018.
Yeah, decided to get the LLCgoing and got the cleaning
(05:08):
business going.
We didn't have any customersyet, but we sure, you know, had
everything going.
And then in probably June,right, we landed our first
customer and Jessica was away.
Jessica (05:21):
May November.
Alex (05:23):
The call, the call that you got for me.
What was it like?
Jessica (05:27):
So I was in New York for my best friend's graduation
and I actually got this call andwe remember that we didn't even
have a proposal.
We didn't know anything aboutpricing Right, we didn't know
(06:07):
anything about pricing.
We just didn't know what ascope of work was.
I mean, there were so many assuch, we needed to be prepared.
So when Alex called me, he waslike, oh my gosh, what am I
going to do?
And I was like, don't you worry, we will figure something out.
So we put together a proposal,which we still have a copy of it
and it looks terrible.
But we put together a proposaland we sent it out on its way.
(06:28):
We did that through MicrosoftWord.
It wasn't anything fancy oranything like that.
We already had some of ourbranding, but we just didn't
have like an official letterheadand like there were a couple of
things that we just stilldidn't have.
And we send it on its way.
And I want to say, within thesame day she closed, she sent it
back, signed, sealed, delivered, and wanted us to get started
(06:49):
the following week.
And so we did it, and we did itscared, and we were so excited
and we celebrated that first winlike you wouldn't believe.
And, by the way, that client isstill a client today, six years
, and so that's been very, veryexciting.
But I would say for ourlisteners, one of the things
that we started chatting aboutwhen we were putting together
(07:11):
our podcast suggestions, likeepisode suggestions on content
and what to share we wanted toput together for this first one
and share the four things thatwe wish we knew when we started
our business, and so you know weeach have two because you know
we had to split right throughthe middle, because otherwise
(07:32):
I'll take everything.
Alex (07:34):
I remember, pastor, the other day when the sermon,
remember we were talking aboutrelationships right and
marriages, and it's not 50-50.
Jessica (07:44):
Right, we both have to be all in all in all or nothing,
all or nothing.
That's right.
And so, Alex, why don't you goahead and share the number one
thing that you wish you knew?
Alex (07:55):
The one thing that I wish I knew before we started this is
that it's not as easy aseveryone thinks.
But, with that being said, itdoesn't mean that you can't
accomplish your goals, right?
These bigger companies, let'sjust say like coca-cola, right,
you think when they firststarted, did they know
(08:16):
everything?
Probably not right.
So they, they worked at it,they made mistakes, but they
continued to be consistent,right and what?
What the ultimate goal was,what the vision was?
And to this day, we're in it'ssix years now and there's still
things that we learn every day.
Every day, I wish that peoplewould be authentic with you and
(08:39):
tell you hey, no, this is what'sgoing to happen, because I feel
almost all the time we're on arollercoaster ride, right?
So there's there's times whereyou know things are just flowing
nicely, you know your team ison board and then, all of a
sudden, you get a drop.
Right?
So things start to change andyou learning to adapt to
(09:00):
different situations, and I'malways one.
Okay, there's a problem, what'sthe solution?
It should always be thesolution, right, instead of the
problem.
So back to your point.
It's not as easy, but it isdoable.
Just staying consistent, notgiving up.
And what the goal, the ultimategoal behind entrepreneurship.
Jessica (09:24):
So good and so rewarding too at the same time.
Alex (09:29):
Right, and then going off of that right because I know
we're still learning.
Going off of that right becauseI know we're still learning.
Do you think we have to beexperts in all things that we do
, or is it something that youknow?
You go with the flow, and Itell you this because you're
more of the implementer right?
Jessica (09:53):
The integrator.
Alex (09:54):
Integrator, integrator.
I always say implementer, butit's the integrator, integrator,
integrator I always sayimplementer, but it's the
integrator.
So I'm more the visionary andfor anyone who's read traction,
it bases on visionary andintegrator.
And I'm definitely thevisionary and I come to jessica
with my big vision goals.
Right, and jessica, if you wantto share, do you think we have
(10:17):
to be expert in all the thingsthat we do in our business?
Jessica (10:20):
No, no, not at all, not at all.
And that's funny because thatwas our number two we don't have
to be the expert in all thethings and that, for me, that
was a big aha moment, becausewhen I initially left corporate,
when I left corporate, we hadalready been in business for a
little over a year and we werethriving, we were growing and
(10:43):
you know, we we met our firstgoal about six months after we
started the business in 2018.
And so Alex quit his job, firstbecause it made the most sense.
He was working, you know, 70plus hours a week and and when
he did that, then he started tocheer me on, jessica, yes, we
could do it.
Come on, let's go.
And I struggled with.
(11:03):
I don't know anything about thejanitorial industry, I don't
know anything about chemicalsand equipment and pricing, and
like there was just so manythings that I just felt like I
was not an expert in.
And it wasn't until that bookthat Alex mentioned Traction,
where it started to break downthings like, you know, the
(11:26):
visionary what does this persondo?
And the integrator what doesthat person do?
And it wasn't until then, then,when we started to really work
within our strengths, within ourrole that things really started
to move forward in the business, because prior to that we were
all doing all the things.
(11:47):
If I was doing invoicing, alexwas doing invoicing too.
If I was calling customers, hewas calling customers too.
If I was responding to an email, he would respond to the emails
too, and we were both kind ofdoing both things at the same
time.
But what I wasn't doing Iwasn't doing walkthroughs, I
wasn't doing proposals, I wasn'tdoing pricing, but Alex was
always kind of like tapping intomy side of the role, and it's
(12:08):
because we discovered that hecan be both.
I had the opportunity to askGino Wickman a question in the
old clubhouse.
They remember those and I saidto Gino Wickman what happens
when you work with someone who'sa visionary and an integrator
Because both his scores werepretty even at that time and
Gino said that if I wasintegrating he could not
(12:29):
integrate.
He needed to take off the hatand sit in the visionary seat,
and that was hard.
I remember a couple of times Iwould say to Alex take your lane
.
He would get so uptight aboutit.
But it is one of the things thatreally helped us propel the
business forward because, yes,although I did not know a lot of
(12:51):
things about the janitorialindustry and I'm just going to
be real, I still don't, I stilldon't.
But what I was good at wasoperations and systems and
strategy and workflows.
And as long as we worked withinour strengths, then the
business started to feel like itwas moving somewhere, like we
(13:11):
were growing, like we werethriving.
And so, to answer that question, no, we don't have to be the
expert in all the things, butdefinitely surrounding ourselves
with the right people so thatwe can push through that vision.
It's just as important thanbeing an expert in all the
things.
So that leads us to our numberthree Alex, tell our audience
(13:36):
about what it means when you sayvision without execution is
just a dream.
Alex (13:42):
Starting out.
This is the first time I'vebeen in business by myself.
Well, not by myself, with you.
But starting a company fromscratch with no help, you know,
just you and I and our team, youknow going day by day and I've
always, since we started, I've,since we landed that first
(14:03):
customer, and I was like, wait,this just seems so easy.
Right, we landed our firstcustomer, and it's not as easy,
by the way.
It's not as easy, but it givesyou it automatically gave me a
vision for bigger and betterthings.
Right, how can we scale thebusiness?
Right?
Because until this day, I stillI enjoy going out there with
(14:27):
our team.
I enjoy helping out, lending ahand, motivating someone,
listening to someone I enjoy allof that.
The vision is one thing.
Someone listening to someone Ienjoy all of that.
Division is one thing.
But we have to execute.
And that's where kind of Jessicacomes in a little bit as well
on that question, because shehelps me execute this right.
So she's the one like I tellher sometimes.
(14:48):
We just had an industryconference for the janitorial
and I've never attended one andI told her man, I would love to
go there, and she's the onemotivating me.
And then all of a sudden I findout, here I am, I have a ticket
now, because Jessica went andpurchased a ticket for the
conference, which was a greatexperience, right.
So I think Jessica and I wemake a great team together.
(15:12):
She helps me execute my vision.
I'm the peanut butter and she'sthe jelly, so yeah, the vision
is definitely important, but Ithink execution is definitely
more important than the vision.
Jessica (15:28):
Yeah, yeah, because you know, and that's why I had
coaching clients where where wetalk about the vision boards,
right, I love vision boards, Ithink they're so cool.
I think, especially in thebeginning of the year, it's just
a great opportunity to gettogether, whether it's with your
friends or with family, just tobe able to kind of craft a
vision.
But what I don't believe inteaching an entrepreneur about
(15:53):
vision boards because it's notthe vision, it's the strategy to
execute on that vision.
And and and you know I loveproject boards I love, you know,
creating a vision board thathas an actionable, clear
strategy that can be executed,with measurements, with goals,
(16:13):
because what doesn't getmeasured doesn't get done.
And so for me, that's why theexecution is so important.
And you know that leads us alsoto number four, which is we are
as good as our systems.
And you know I will tell youthat many times, when we sit
around the table and we'retossing ideas, and we're tossing
(16:34):
and sharing our vision withothers, there's no plan behind
it.
That's just talk.
It's just talk, and that'swhere systems come in.
There's this book called AtomicHabits that James Clear talks
about, and he says in the bookyou do not rise to the level of
your goals.
You fall to the level of yoursystems.
You fall to the level of yoursystems, and that is so true
(16:56):
whether we're building abusiness, whether we are growing
our relationship, whether we'regrowing our faith because even
with that there's a system.
Right?
Are you crafting time aside tosit in the quiet, to read, to
meditate, to pray, to listen, toworship?
What does that look like as yougrow?
(17:17):
But it's in all avenues of ourlives, whether it's business,
whether it's personal, whetherit's professional development,
whether it's faith.
There's so many areas in ourlives that are impacted by the
level of our systems, and so theonly reason why we have been
able to execute at the levelthat we have is because we've
(17:40):
surrounded ourselves with reallygreat people, and our people
are the ones that help us reallyexecute on the vision.
And, number two, it's been oursystems.
Alex (17:51):
Do you still remember that question, when I came home to
you and I said we need systems.
Jessica (17:59):
And I said which ones.
Alex (18:00):
Right and I said all.
Jessica (18:03):
And I was like here we were right, we were talking
about we don't have to be anexpert in all the things.
Here I was already feeling andhe probably didn't realize this
because we didn't talk aboutthis until now I don't think he
realized that every questionthat he asked me, I felt like I
was not the expert and like Ifelt like he was expecting an
(18:25):
answer.
And when he asked me thatquestion about systems, I mean I
know all about systems.
I just didn't know anythingabout systems in the janitorial
industry and, as such, I had somuch fear in my heart to fail.
And so so we knew we neededsystems.
But what did that look like?
And you know, and if we were toto, as we develop things now,
(18:47):
if we were to look back andrealize, you know, reflect on
the things that we did have inthe past or that we didn't have
it, I mean we laugh about it allthe time.
I remember one of our employeessaid why do we need a process
for offboarding?
You remember that?
Why don't we need a process foroffboarding?
Well, because we need toeffectively offboard an employee
(19:09):
.
And I think that that same weekhe wound up offboarding two
employees, do you remember, andwe were like yeah, now you're
the master offboarding expert,but the reality is that they're
all systems.
These are all the systems thatwe're developing in our business
, and it was pivotal for ourbusiness not just the people,
(19:30):
but also our systems.
Alex (19:31):
And people don't realize that anything you do out there
when you're working in yourbusiness is a system right.
It might not be documented yet,but it is a system right.
How do you approach thecustomer?
How do you handle?
You know situations, differentsituations, problems, solutions.
Everything is a system.
(19:51):
It's just documented.
Jessica (19:53):
So when it happens, again, right, again, right okay,
let's go back to what justhappened.
Alex (19:58):
So you're learning and you're building a system pretty
much in your everyday life,absolutely so jessica, if you
had any advice for couples inbusiness, what would it be?
Jessica (20:09):
that's such a good question.
I will say it's find a mentor,find a, a coach and I know
that's biased because I'm acoach, but I also know the spark
that working with mentors atSCORE did for me understanding
how to create a business planand some of like those
(20:30):
fundamentals that when you don'tknow anything about business
aside from you know you knowwhat you know.
I thought that was reallypivotal for me and I will
forever be grateful to scorebecause that was one of the
first places that I sought afterwhen we decided to go into
entrepreneurship.
Alex (20:50):
So finding a mentor or hiring a coach Right right and a
lot of small business ownersdon't realize that there is a
lot of help for us out there.
It's just finding out where togo, absolutely.
There's people that are coached,that are mentoring you, that
are helping you in your business.
For advice for couples is findfellowship right.
(21:13):
Find other couples that are inbusiness together and you know
it doesn't have to be aneveryday thing, but someone
that's been where you're tryingto go to right and and have open
conversation right, shoot ideasat each other.
So I think that's really,really important for anyone
starting in business or ifyou're already in business,
(21:35):
right because you'll, you'rerunning, you know you and I we
run into people that that's beendoing this for a lot longer
than we have right to be able to.
When you have a doubt orquestion about something that we
don't know, reach out tosomeone right or question about
something that we don't know.
(21:55):
Reach out to someone, right?
Jessica (21:56):
So that would be my advice for couples or anyone in
business for that matter.
Right, I love that, I love that, and that's so true.
Someone at my church said to merecently I was in a small group
and she said who is your Mosesand who is your Joshua?
So who is this person thatyou're looking up to, this
person that that's holding youaccountable, that's teaching you
, that has you under their wing,but then who is that person
(22:19):
that you're mentoring, who isthat person that you're giving
back what you're learning?
And and I thought that was justso powerful.
So I loved, love, love, love,having this conversation with
you today, being our firstpodcast episode, and some
experts to share strategies onhow to effectively communicate
(22:57):
with your spouse, how to makesure that you keep that spark
alive, and all of those thingsthat sometimes you know can get
lost when we're building abusiness and when we're living
in the hustle, and so so, alex,did you have any other closing
remarks?
Alex (23:14):
Just a little bit more advice.
If you guys are just startingout in business, I would
recommend just stay consistent,right, stay consistent.
Find someone else you can talkto.
Don't give up.
There is a light at the end ofthe tunnel, but we have to crawl
before we walk right.
So, yeah, that's my advice.
(23:34):
You know I'm not an expert, butyou know, keep on going.
You're going to, you're goingto learn as you grow.
Jessica (23:40):
Yeah.
Alex (23:40):
I've always liked that saying learn as you grow, as you
grow and you're going to learnnew things and, and you know,
just be consistent, beconsistent.
Jessica (23:49):
Love that, love that.
So there you have it, guys.
I will see you guys next weekwith Alex.
Alex (23:57):
Of course I keep saying I.
It's a we thing, Bessie.
Jessica (24:02):
Yes, we'll see you guys next week as we venture into
this life, this crazy life withbuilding a business.
So I hope you enjoyed thisamazing episode on Married to
the Hustle.
See you guys next week.
Alex (24:17):
See you guys next time.
That wraps up another episodeof Married to the Hustle.
We hope you enjoyed today'sshow and found some inspiration
and practical tips to apply toyour own business journey.
Jessica (24:37):
We love hearing from you, our amazing listeners.
If you have any stories,questions or tips to share,
connect with us on social mediaor send us an email.
Your input makes this podcasteven better.
Alex (24:48):
And don't forget to subscribe to Married to the
Hustle on your favorite podcastplatform so you never miss an
episode.
And if you enjoyed today'sepisode, please leave us a
review.
It really helps us grow andreach more entrepreneurial
couples like you.
Jessica (25:03):
Join us next week for more exciting stories,
insightful interviews andvaluable advice.
Until then, keep hustling, keepthriving and keep loving what
you do.
Alex (25:12):
Thanks for tuning in and happy hustling.
1, 2, 3, 4.
Welcome to Married to theHustle, the podcast where love,
faith and business come together.
Jessica (00:14):
I'm Jessica, and with me is my partner in life and
business, alex.
Together, we're diving into thewild world of entrepreneurial
couples.
Alex (00:37):
Each week, we'll bring you real stories hilarious moments
and valuable insights fromcouples.
Jessica (00:46):
Welcome to the show.
We are so excited to be hereand, you know, being this is our
very first episode, I thoughtthat it would be great to be
able to share a little bit ofour story and share a little bit
on things that we wish we knewwhen we first got started.
How does that sound, Alex?
Alex (01:02):
That sounds perfect.
I think some of us are afraidto start right, Because us as
human beings, we want everythingto be perfect and kind of laid
out for us before you start.
But the entrepreneurial life istotally different and we've
learned for sure.
Jessica (01:20):
Yeah, for sure.
And just so you guys know thereason why all of this got
started is you know anyone thatasked Alex so what made you go
for business?
You know, go in business foryourself.
And he always says, Jessica asJessica.
Alex (01:36):
You were my coach.
You know patting me on the back.
You can do it, you can do it.
Jessica (01:42):
Yeah.
So you know for those of youthat don't that, don't know us I
I'm an executive coach and abusiness strategist and when we
started our business, it waskind of like getting tired of
the hustle and bustle of workingfor someone else and having our
hours being dictated andworking very long hours.
Specifically for Alex, Iremember there were a week that
(02:05):
he was like well, I can't exceed80 hours.
What in two weeks?
No, in one.
And I was like are you serious?
So it was just a matter of timebefore he especially
experienced some really severeburnout and we knew that we
needed to do something different.
Why don't you tell the story onhow we got started in the
(02:28):
janitorial industry?
Alex (02:29):
Yeah, it's funny that you said total burnout right,
because, as business owners isstill, you know a lot of stuff
falls on your shoulders, right?
So you have to answer toeverything that's going on.
You have to make sure your teamis aligned right with your
vision and your goals.
So it's still really hard work.
You know running a business.
Jessica (02:52):
And.
Alex (02:52):
I remember I was working in the concrete business.
I started out in New York.
I was born and raised in FarRockaway, New York, and I was
working out there for a readymix concrete and everything,
mostly everything, especiallywhen it has to do with
construction.
there's all union jobs out thereand I was part of the union and
(03:15):
got a little spoiled by that, Imust say, but it was a good
experience.
And then I came here to Floridain 04, originally moved to
Kissimmee, worked for anotherconcrete plant and my last job
was a family-owned ReadyMixconcrete, which has taught me a
(03:36):
lot.
Number one hard work does payoff.
Even though they were longhours, they gave me the
opportunity to continue growthwithin the company, so I was
always very, very grateful forthem.
Jessica I don't know if she wasthat grateful for that because
all the long hours that I wasputting in, but one day I was
(03:58):
already close to about 80 hoursa week, and this time I was
running a one of the newerplants here in orlando, florida
and I was always one that whenwe had something important going
on in the company, or in thatplant I I wanted to make sure
that I was there rightjust to kind of make sure
everything was going smooth andstuff like that.
But one day came home andjessica tells me we need to make
(04:22):
a change.
I mean, you're just putting inway too many hours right for
someone else.
And I remember back in the dayI don't remember who told me,
but it was definitely someonethat was close to me back in New
York and he tells me as long asyou're working for somebody,
you're living somebody else'sdream.
Jessica (04:43):
Sure.
Alex (04:43):
Right, you're living somebody else's dream, sure,
right?
So I said, you know it, alwaysthere's a lot of things that, as
as we're growing and goingthrough life, that there's
people or mentors that putthings into your, into your head
, and it makes you think aboutthings differently.
Right, and what was it?
March 2018.
Yeah, decided to get the LLCgoing and got the cleaning
(05:08):
business going.
We didn't have any customersyet, but we sure, you know, had
everything going.
And then in probably June,right, we landed our first
customer and Jessica was away.
Jessica (05:21):
May November.
Alex (05:23):
The call, the call that you got for me.
What was it like?
Jessica (05:27):
So I was in New York for my best friend's graduation
and I actually got this call andwe remember that we didn't even
have a proposal.
We didn't know anything aboutpricing Right, we didn't know
(06:07):
anything about pricing.
We just didn't know what ascope of work was.
I mean, there were so many assuch, we needed to be prepared.
So when Alex called me, he waslike, oh my gosh, what am I
going to do?
And I was like, don't you worry, we will figure something out.
So we put together a proposal,which we still have a copy of it
and it looks terrible.
But we put together a proposaland we sent it out on its way.
(06:28):
We did that through MicrosoftWord.
It wasn't anything fancy oranything like that.
We already had some of ourbranding, but we just didn't
have like an official letterheadand like there were a couple of
things that we just stilldidn't have.
And we send it on its way.
And I want to say, within thesame day she closed, she sent it
back, signed, sealed, delivered, and wanted us to get started
(06:49):
the following week.
And so we did it, and we did itscared, and we were so excited
and we celebrated that first winlike you wouldn't believe.
And, by the way, that client isstill a client today, six years
, and so that's been very, veryexciting.
But I would say for ourlisteners, one of the things
that we started chatting aboutwhen we were putting together
(07:11):
our podcast suggestions, likeepisode suggestions on content
and what to share we wanted toput together for this first one
and share the four things thatwe wish we knew when we started
our business, and so you know weeach have two because you know
we had to split right throughthe middle, because otherwise
(07:32):
I'll take everything.
Alex (07:34):
I remember, pastor, the other day when the sermon,
remember we were talking aboutrelationships right and
marriages, and it's not 50-50.
Jessica (07:44):
Right, we both have to be all in all in all or nothing,
all or nothing.
That's right.
And so, Alex, why don't you goahead and share the number one
thing that you wish you knew?
Alex (07:55):
The one thing that I wish I knew before we started this is
that it's not as easy aseveryone thinks.
But, with that being said, itdoesn't mean that you can't
accomplish your goals, right?
These bigger companies, let'sjust say like coca-cola, right,
you think when they firststarted, did they know
(08:16):
everything?
Probably not right.
So they, they worked at it,they made mistakes, but they
continued to be consistent,right and what?
What the ultimate goal was,what the vision was?
And to this day, we're in it'ssix years now and there's still
things that we learn every day.
Every day, I wish that peoplewould be authentic with you and
(08:39):
tell you hey, no, this is what'sgoing to happen, because I feel
almost all the time we're on arollercoaster ride, right?
So there's there's times whereyou know things are just flowing
nicely, you know your team ison board and then, all of a
sudden, you get a drop.
Right?
So things start to change andyou learning to adapt to
(09:00):
different situations, and I'malways one.
Okay, there's a problem, what'sthe solution?
It should always be thesolution, right, instead of the
problem.
So back to your point.
It's not as easy, but it isdoable.
Just staying consistent, notgiving up.
And what the goal, the ultimategoal behind entrepreneurship.
Jessica (09:24):
So good and so rewarding too at the same time.
Alex (09:29):
Right, and then going off of that right because I know
we're still learning.
Going off of that right becauseI know we're still learning.
Do you think we have to beexperts in all things that we do
, or is it something that youknow?
You go with the flow, and Itell you this because you're
more of the implementer right?
Jessica (09:53):
The integrator.
Alex (09:54):
Integrator, integrator.
I always say implementer, butit's the integrator, integrator,
integrator I always sayimplementer, but it's the
integrator.
So I'm more the visionary andfor anyone who's read traction,
it bases on visionary andintegrator.
And I'm definitely thevisionary and I come to jessica
with my big vision goals.
Right, and jessica, if you wantto share, do you think we have
(10:17):
to be expert in all the thingsthat we do in our business?
Jessica (10:20):
No, no, not at all, not at all.
And that's funny because thatwas our number two we don't have
to be the expert in all thethings and that, for me, that
was a big aha moment, becausewhen I initially left corporate,
when I left corporate, we hadalready been in business for a
little over a year and we werethriving, we were growing and
(10:43):
you know, we we met our firstgoal about six months after we
started the business in 2018.
And so Alex quit his job, firstbecause it made the most sense.
He was working, you know, 70plus hours a week and and when
he did that, then he started tocheer me on, jessica, yes, we
could do it.
Come on, let's go.
And I struggled with.
(11:03):
I don't know anything about thejanitorial industry, I don't
know anything about chemicalsand equipment and pricing, and
like there was just so manythings that I just felt like I
was not an expert in.
And it wasn't until that bookthat Alex mentioned Traction,
where it started to break downthings like, you know, the
(11:26):
visionary what does this persondo?
And the integrator what doesthat person do?
And it wasn't until then, then,when we started to really work
within our strengths, within ourrole that things really started
to move forward in the business, because prior to that we were
all doing all the things.
(11:47):
If I was doing invoicing, alexwas doing invoicing too.
If I was calling customers, hewas calling customers too.
If I was responding to an email, he would respond to the emails
too, and we were both kind ofdoing both things at the same
time.
But what I wasn't doing Iwasn't doing walkthroughs, I
wasn't doing proposals, I wasn'tdoing pricing, but Alex was
always kind of like tapping intomy side of the role, and it's
(12:08):
because we discovered that hecan be both.
I had the opportunity to askGino Wickman a question in the
old clubhouse.
They remember those and I saidto Gino Wickman what happens
when you work with someone who'sa visionary and an integrator
Because both his scores werepretty even at that time and
Gino said that if I wasintegrating he could not
(12:29):
integrate.
He needed to take off the hatand sit in the visionary seat,
and that was hard.
I remember a couple of times Iwould say to Alex take your lane
.
He would get so uptight aboutit.
But it is one of the things thatreally helped us propel the
business forward because, yes,although I did not know a lot of
(12:51):
things about the janitorialindustry and I'm just going to
be real, I still don't, I stilldon't.
But what I was good at wasoperations and systems and
strategy and workflows.
And as long as we worked withinour strengths, then the
business started to feel like itwas moving somewhere, like we
(13:11):
were growing, like we werethriving.
And so, to answer that question, no, we don't have to be the
expert in all the things, butdefinitely surrounding ourselves
with the right people so thatwe can push through that vision.
It's just as important thanbeing an expert in all the
things.
So that leads us to our numberthree Alex, tell our audience
(13:36):
about what it means when you sayvision without execution is
just a dream.
Alex (13:42):
Starting out.
This is the first time I'vebeen in business by myself.
Well, not by myself, with you.
But starting a company fromscratch with no help, you know,
just you and I and our team, youknow going day by day and I've
always, since we started, I've,since we landed that first
(14:03):
customer, and I was like, wait,this just seems so easy.
Right, we landed our firstcustomer, and it's not as easy,
by the way.
It's not as easy, but it givesyou it automatically gave me a
vision for bigger and betterthings.
Right, how can we scale thebusiness?
Right?
Because until this day, I stillI enjoy going out there with
(14:27):
our team.
I enjoy helping out, lending ahand, motivating someone,
listening to someone I enjoy allof that.
The vision is one thing.
Someone listening to someone Ienjoy all of that.
Division is one thing.
But we have to execute.
And that's where kind of Jessicacomes in a little bit as well
on that question, because shehelps me execute this right.
So she's the one like I tellher sometimes.
(14:48):
We just had an industryconference for the janitorial
and I've never attended one andI told her man, I would love to
go there, and she's the onemotivating me.
And then all of a sudden I findout, here I am, I have a ticket
now, because Jessica went andpurchased a ticket for the
conference, which was a greatexperience, right.
So I think Jessica and I wemake a great team together.
(15:12):
She helps me execute my vision.
I'm the peanut butter and she'sthe jelly, so yeah, the vision
is definitely important, but Ithink execution is definitely
more important than the vision.
Jessica (15:28):
Yeah, yeah, because you know, and that's why I had
coaching clients where where wetalk about the vision boards,
right, I love vision boards, Ithink they're so cool.
I think, especially in thebeginning of the year, it's just
a great opportunity to gettogether, whether it's with your
friends or with family, just tobe able to kind of craft a
vision.
But what I don't believe inteaching an entrepreneur about
(15:53):
vision boards because it's notthe vision, it's the strategy to
execute on that vision.
And and and you know I loveproject boards I love, you know,
creating a vision board thathas an actionable, clear
strategy that can be executed,with measurements, with goals,
(16:13):
because what doesn't getmeasured doesn't get done.
And so for me, that's why theexecution is so important.
And you know that leads us alsoto number four, which is we are
as good as our systems.
And you know I will tell youthat many times, when we sit
around the table and we'retossing ideas, and we're tossing
(16:34):
and sharing our vision withothers, there's no plan behind
it.
That's just talk.
It's just talk, and that'swhere systems come in.
There's this book called AtomicHabits that James Clear talks
about, and he says in the bookyou do not rise to the level of
your goals.
You fall to the level of yoursystems.
You fall to the level of yoursystems, and that is so true
(16:56):
whether we're building abusiness, whether we are growing
our relationship, whether we'regrowing our faith because even
with that there's a system.
Right?
Are you crafting time aside tosit in the quiet, to read, to
meditate, to pray, to listen, toworship?
What does that look like as yougrow?
(17:17):
But it's in all avenues of ourlives, whether it's business,
whether it's personal, whetherit's professional development,
whether it's faith.
There's so many areas in ourlives that are impacted by the
level of our systems, and so theonly reason why we have been
able to execute at the levelthat we have is because we've
(17:40):
surrounded ourselves with reallygreat people, and our people
are the ones that help us reallyexecute on the vision.
And, number two, it's been oursystems.
Alex (17:51):
Do you still remember that question, when I came home to
you and I said we need systems.
Jessica (17:59):
And I said which ones.
Alex (18:00):
Right and I said all.
Jessica (18:03):
And I was like here we were right, we were talking
about we don't have to be anexpert in all the things.
Here I was already feeling andhe probably didn't realize this
because we didn't talk aboutthis until now I don't think he
realized that every questionthat he asked me, I felt like I
was not the expert and like Ifelt like he was expecting an
(18:25):
answer.
And when he asked me thatquestion about systems, I mean I
know all about systems.
I just didn't know anythingabout systems in the janitorial
industry and, as such, I had somuch fear in my heart to fail.
And so so we knew we neededsystems.
But what did that look like?
And you know, and if we were toto, as we develop things now,
(18:47):
if we were to look back andrealize, you know, reflect on
the things that we did have inthe past or that we didn't have
it, I mean we laugh about it allthe time.
I remember one of our employeessaid why do we need a process
for offboarding?
You remember that?
Why don't we need a process foroffboarding?
Well, because we need toeffectively offboard an employee
(19:09):
.
And I think that that same weekhe wound up offboarding two
employees, do you remember, andwe were like yeah, now you're
the master offboarding expert,but the reality is that they're
all systems.
These are all the systems thatwe're developing in our business
, and it was pivotal for ourbusiness not just the people,
(19:30):
but also our systems.
Alex (19:31):
And people don't realize that anything you do out there
when you're working in yourbusiness is a system right.
It might not be documented yet,but it is a system right.
How do you approach thecustomer?
How do you handle?
You know situations, differentsituations, problems, solutions.
Everything is a system.
(19:51):
It's just documented.
Jessica (19:53):
So when it happens, again, right, again, right okay,
let's go back to what justhappened.
Alex (19:58):
So you're learning and you're building a system pretty
much in your everyday life,absolutely so jessica, if you
had any advice for couples inbusiness, what would it be?
Jessica (20:09):
that's such a good question.
I will say it's find a mentor,find a, a coach and I know
that's biased because I'm acoach, but I also know the spark
that working with mentors atSCORE did for me understanding
how to create a business planand some of like those
(20:30):
fundamentals that when you don'tknow anything about business
aside from you know you knowwhat you know.
I thought that was reallypivotal for me and I will
forever be grateful to scorebecause that was one of the
first places that I sought afterwhen we decided to go into
entrepreneurship.
Alex (20:50):
So finding a mentor or hiring a coach Right right and a
lot of small business ownersdon't realize that there is a
lot of help for us out there.
It's just finding out where togo, absolutely.
There's people that are coached,that are mentoring you, that
are helping you in your business.
For advice for couples is findfellowship right.
(21:13):
Find other couples that are inbusiness together and you know
it doesn't have to be aneveryday thing, but someone
that's been where you're tryingto go to right and and have open
conversation right, shoot ideasat each other.
So I think that's really,really important for anyone
starting in business or ifyou're already in business,
(21:35):
right because you'll, you'rerunning, you know you and I we
run into people that that's beendoing this for a lot longer
than we have right to be able to.
When you have a doubt orquestion about something that we
don't know, reach out tosomeone right or question about
something that we don't know.
(21:55):
Reach out to someone, right?
Jessica (21:56):
So that would be my advice for couples or anyone in
business for that matter.
Right, I love that, I love that, and that's so true.
Someone at my church said to merecently I was in a small group
and she said who is your Mosesand who is your Joshua?
So who is this person thatyou're looking up to, this
person that that's holding youaccountable, that's teaching you
, that has you under their wing,but then who is that person
(22:19):
that you're mentoring, who isthat person that you're giving
back what you're learning?
And and I thought that was justso powerful.
So I loved, love, love, love,having this conversation with
you today, being our firstpodcast episode, and some
experts to share strategies onhow to effectively communicate
(22:57):
with your spouse, how to makesure that you keep that spark
alive, and all of those thingsthat sometimes you know can get
lost when we're building abusiness and when we're living
in the hustle, and so so, alex,did you have any other closing
remarks?
Alex (23:14):
Just a little bit more advice.
If you guys are just startingout in business, I would
recommend just stay consistent,right, stay consistent.
Find someone else you can talkto.
Don't give up.
There is a light at the end ofthe tunnel, but we have to crawl
before we walk right.
So, yeah, that's my advice.
(23:34):
You know I'm not an expert, butyou know, keep on going.
You're going to, you're goingto learn as you grow.
Jessica (23:40):
Yeah.
Alex (23:40):
I've always liked that saying learn as you grow, as you
grow and you're going to learnnew things and, and you know,
just be consistent, beconsistent.
Jessica (23:49):
Love that, love that.
So there you have it, guys.
I will see you guys next weekwith Alex.
Alex (23:57):
Of course I keep saying I.
It's a we thing, Bessie.
Jessica (24:02):
Yes, we'll see you guys next week as we venture into
this life, this crazy life withbuilding a business.
So I hope you enjoyed thisamazing episode on Married to
the Hustle.
See you guys next week.
Alex (24:17):
See you guys next time.
That wraps up another episodeof Married to the Hustle.
We hope you enjoyed today'sshow and found some inspiration
and practical tips to apply toyour own business journey.
Jessica (24:37):
We love hearing from you, our amazing listeners.
If you have any stories,questions or tips to share,
connect with us on social mediaor send us an email.
Your input makes this podcasteven better.
Alex (24:48):
And don't forget to subscribe to Married to the
Hustle on your favorite podcastplatform so you never miss an
episode.
And if you enjoyed today'sepisode, please leave us a
review.
It really helps us grow andreach more entrepreneurial
couples like you.
Jessica (25:03):
Join us next week for more exciting stories,
insightful interviews andvaluable advice.
Until then, keep hustling, keepthriving and keep loving what
you do.
Alex (25:12):
Thanks for tuning in and happy hustling.
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