Want to get rich quick?

I know quite a few millionaire carpet cleaners, but they didn't get that way overnight. If your goal is to get rich quick, try antique shops and look for an old lamp with a genie. Or visit Las Vegas and take a fling at roulette, blackjack or even the crap tables. Buying a lottery ticket is another possibility, but one thing is for sure. You won't get rich quick in the cleaning business.

Now if you're interested in learning how to be successful in our business by means of planning, longevity and hard work then read my book, We did it their way, and spend three days at Bane-Clene Institute's Course to Success. You'll find out what it takes to succeed in this business from people who really are in the business unlike the "get rich quick gurus" who do get rich quick selling their programs to you.

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Legal advertising practices

Blogs and social networking sites on the internet have become a common place for companies to discreetly advertise and sometimes by using shills to initiate an inquiry about their products or services. Any company allowing products or services to be talked about on sites like LinkedIN or Facebook should read the FTC Guidelines and fully understand the enforcement approach of the Federal Trade Commission. Don't become the target of an FTC investigation or run the risk of being sued under the Lanham Act for deceptive advertising practices.

An Indianapolis Law firm has issued a warning to companies to train professional bloggers to ensure that statements they make on behalf of the company are truthful and can be substantiated. Be sure they have read and understand FTC guidelines and regularly monitor their entries. They advise companies to discontinue the publication of any overtly or borderline deceptive representations, as soon as they are discovered. Read about the FTC regulations and if in doubt, contact your legal counsel.

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Happy Thanksgiving

In spite of all that's happening in our country and in the world, we still have so much to be thankful for. May you all have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving and thank you for looking in on our blog.

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Going bananas #2

A banana is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. Bananas might be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time!

The expression "going bananas" is from the effects of bananas on the brain. Bananas contain three natural sugars sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy and can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent illnesses and conditions such as:

PMS: Forget the pills eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

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Financing option

Beneficial Capital Leasing (BCL) is teamed with Bane-Clene® to provide equipment in these difficult financial times when lending has been drastically curtailed. Many Bane Clene operators have taken advantage of the 100% Financing. Other great benefits are that all of the costs of equipment, freight, training, installation, taxes, ancillary items and even an original stock of supplies can be included in the lease agreement.

Leasing conserves working capital so cash is not tied up and can be used for operational and promotional purposes. Bank credit lines are preserved for other needs and you may save on taxes since lease payments are typically treated as an operating expense. Affordable, fixed monthly payments can be up to sixty months and simplifies accounting since lease payments are typically only a line item in your monthly expenses.

But, probably the best part of leasing through BCL is the simplified paper work which typically requires only a one page application form. Speak with your CPA when considering leasing Bane-Clene equipment. If you would like to speak with any of our staff, call 800 428 9512. They'll be happy to answer any questions you may have.

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A parable on adversity

A woman filled three pots with water. She puts carrots in one pot, eggs in one and ground coffee beans in the third pot. After she had boiled all three pots for 20 minutes, the carrots were soft, the eggs were hard-boiled, but the coffee beans had created a rich aroma. All faced the same adversity - boiling water - but each reacted differently.

The carrots were strong and unrelenting but after being subjected to the boiling water, they became soft and weak. The eggs had been fragile, with a thin outer shell, but after sitting in boiling water, the insides became hardened. The coffee beans changed the water.

When adversity strikes, are you like the carrot - seem strong but wilt with pain? Are you like the egg and change with heat. Or, are you like the coffee bean - when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you?

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Going bananas

A banana is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around.

The expression "going bananas" is from the effects of bananas on the brain. Bananas might be the reason monkeys are so happy! Bananas contain three natural sugars sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy and can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent illnesses and conditions such as:

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

©Bane-Clene® Corporation 2009 Reprinting or electronically publishing this article is strictly prohibited without permission from Bane-Clene Corp.

Tactics for a soft economy

Talking heads on television and newspapers are full of stories about the sorry economy. It truly is bad thanks to them and a multitude of political reasons. Consumers have heard their repeated messages and have responded by tightening the purse strings. This has been the same in every recessionary period since WWII.

Psychology plays a role in consumer spending habits. They don't stop spending in an economic slow down, but they are much more selective. They're looking for ways to save money so tell them how you can clean their carpet instead of them replacing it. Be creative in your advertising and promotions. Most important...don't stop advertising.

People who used to spend freely are looking for a deal before they buy anything so you must offer them something. Specials of 40% off on an application of Sta-Clene® carpet and furniture protector or cleaning furniture free with carpet cleaning service are proven business getters in tough economic times. Work a little harder and good things will happen to you!

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You want experience?

Every year more and more schools pop up in the cleaning industry. Most are taught by people who have sold their business and are willing to share their secrets of success. Some so-called instructors have never even been in the cleaning business. One wag who teaches is downright irreverent and quotes the old saying, "Those who can, DO. Those who can't do, TEACH!"

I'm an instructor at Bane-Clene Institute, have been in this business since 1962 and so has Bill Jr. who also teaches a class. The other teachers are Kevin Stark who joined us in 1972, Don Terry in '74, Oka Negley in '76 and Dan Willis in '84. That's a total of 224 years of experience and I doubt any other school in our business can top that.

We offer the most longevity in every facet of instruction. Our personal experiences are shaped by and from the day-to-day operation of our own original cleaning service. Not many (if any) schools are run by people who actually own and operate a company that cleans carpets and furniture for a living.

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BBB advice

The Central Indiana Better Business Bureau warns about invoices that appear to be for listings in local yellow page directories. They say these invoices may be solicitations for listings in alternative business directories that are not the well known local Yellow Pages.

Alternative directories may not be widely distributed, can be of little or no value to advertisers, or in some cases may never be published at all. Because the name "yellow pages" and the "walking fingers" logo are not protected by any federal trade mark registrations, they can be used by anyone. If in doubt, check it out with your BBB!

©Bane-Clene® Corporation 2009 Reprinting or electronically publishing this article is strictly prohibited without permission from Bane-Clene Corp.

Happy birthday

To all the Jarheads, old and young, who are now serving or have served their country in the United States Marine Corps...Happy birthday and Semper Fi!

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Gurus on line

Don Terry and I were discussing the proliferation of so-called gurus on internet bulletin boards. When they haven't been mentioned for a day or so, a question will magically appear about the date of their next meeting that will invite an answer based on their expertise or some similar ploy to call attention to the "expert."

We've had calls and e-mails asking why we don't participate in bulletin boards with those who answer business related questions. There are two reasons. Our small staff is very busy taking care of our customers and doesn't have time to monitor the internet. The second is that there is so much misinformation on bulletin boards that we do not wish to be associated with them.

Don told me how many hours he spends on the phone and computer every day answering questions for our customers and also talking with technical people from carpet mills and furniture plants. These contacts probably send more business to our customers than we could ever hope to generate from dubious questions and self-serving posts on public bulletin boards.

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Winter tips

It's just around the corner, you know! Gear your advertising to winter time and especially to the needs of your commercial customers. Use Dan Willis's program to schedule annual and semi-annual maintenance jobs for the slow months ahead. Be sure to stock up on Brown Out® for use on ice-melt loaded commercial carpets.

Keep your gas tank more than half full if you live in a very cold region. Besides the safety factor of being stuck in a snow drift, a full tank will minimize water vapor condensation in the tank. When the tank is partially filled, condensation will collect and on very cold days it can freeze the electric fuel pump. Add a bottle of alcohol-based fuel line deicer at every fill-up during very cold winter months. Be sure to follow your manual instructions to avoid frozen equipment.

©Bane-Clene® Corporation 2009 Reprinting or electronically publishing this article is strictly prohibited without permission from Bane-Clene Corp.

Recession

A man lived by the side of a road and sold hot dogs for a living. He was hard of hearing so he had no radio. He had trouble with his eyes so he didn't read newspapers or watch TV. He put signs up on the highway telling about his hot dogs and he stood by the side of the road shouting, "Buy a hot dog" to cars passing by.

People stopped and bought his hot dogs. Business got better so he increased his meat and bun orders and he even bought a bigger stove. He made enough money to send his only son off to college. Then he got so busy that his son had to quit college to help him with the business.

But then something happened. His son said, "Father, haven't you heard?" There's a recession going on right now and business is terrible. The father said, "Well son, you've been to college, you read the papers, listen to the radio and watch TV. You ought to know!"

So they took down the signs, quit standing by the road to sell hot dogs and cut down their meat and bun orders. And their hot dog sales fell almost overnight. "You're right, son." the father said. "There is a recession and business is terrible."

This old story which originated after WWII was first printed in the Cleaning Digest magazine in 1974, then reprinted in 1980 and 1991. It seems appropriate to reprint it again!

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Could it be censorship?

Quite a few carpet retailers and others have called or e-mailed me asking why I don't post on Floor Radio's Blog site any longer. The reason is that not many can access it. Some people may have saved the site in their "favorites" and can still get in, but no one else can access the Blog from anywhere on Floor Radio's (Talk Floor) web site.

Instead, now there is a link on the home page of Talk Floor that will take you to my Blog on Bane-Clene's web site. Since there are some powerful folks in Dalton who are offended by the truth and do not appreciate some of the things I say, this link may not last very long.

©Bane-Clene® Corporation 2009 Reprinting or electronically publishing this article is strictly prohibited without permission from Bane-Clene Corp.