Klean Freaks University

# Personal Story

I was probably nine or ten years old when the Pepsi Challenge was everywhere. They'd set up tables at fairs and public events with two white cups, one filled with Pepsi and the other with Coke. Someone would put on a blindfold, the crowd would gather around, and everyone would wait for the verdict.

The funny thing is, I didn't even drink Pepsi or Coke back then. On weekends with my dad, I was more interested in Fritos, bean dip, and Mountain Dew.

But I desperately wanted to participate in the challenge.

It wasn't because I cared about soda. It was because I wanted to know what it felt like to stand in front of that crowd and be part of something bigger. As a kid, I thought the coolest thing in the world would be to take that taste test and announce whether I preferred Pepsi or Coke.

Looking back, I realize that's what great marketing does. It doesn't just make people want to buy something—it makes them want to belong.

And honestly, that's a lesson every business owner can learn from.

Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2155653/episodes/19577728-pepsi-vs-coke-what-the-cola-wars-can-teach-your-cleaning-business-ep-219.mp3?download=true

Watch here:
https://youtu.be/_0suXzjfJ68

We Loved Clean Con

CleanCon was interesting for a lot of reasons this year.

Not just the speakers or classes…
but the conversations happening behind the booths, between vendors, operators, and cleaning business owners trying to figure out where this industry is heading next.

This episode became a very honest conversation about that.

Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/.../19186366-cbl-ep-196-from

200 episodes.
Let that sink in for a second.

Two hundred.

Not because we're special.

Not because we're famous.

Not because we have a giant production team following us around with cameras and lattes.

(Although that might be fun for about five minutes.)

Because we showed up.

We showed up when we were tired.

We showed up when life was messy.

We showed up when business was hard.

We showed up when technology decided to throw a temper tantrum.

We showed up when the downloads were low.

We showed up when the downloads were high.

We showed up when nobody seemed to be paying attention.

Then one day, the numbers started telling a different story.

Two hundred episodes later, one thing I've learned is that success usually isn't one giant decision.

It's a thousand small decisions.

A thousand times choosing to keep going.

A thousand times choosing consistency over motivation.

A thousand times showing up when it would've been easier not to.

Because here's the truth...

Most podcasts don't make it.

Most businesses don't make it.

Most people quit long before the compound effect has a chance to show up.

And that's a shame because the compound effect is where the magic lives.

The downloads compound.

The audience compounds.
The confidence compounds.

The lessons compound.
The relationships compound.

And one day you wake up and realize you've built something that didn't exist before.

I thought we were building a podcast.
What we were really doing was documenting an industry in real time.
An industry that deserves a voice.

An industry that is creating wealth, opportunity, freedom, and legacy for people who may have never thought those things were possible.

And that gives me goosebumps every single time I say it.

🎙️ Episode 203: We Made It to 200 Episodes | What We Learned Along the Way is now live.
Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/.../19303277-we-made-it-to-200...
Watch here:
https://youtu.be/_v8VKNB4eIc?si=AW8kJOHg2V2_LIt8
And if you've been listening for a while...
Thank you. We love YOU ALL!
You're part of this story too. 💗

The 7 Biggest Mistakes We've Seen After 200 Episodes | Ep 203 When we started the Cleaning Business Life Podcast, we had no idea ...

🥤 Were you a Pepsi family or a Coke family?

When I was a kid, I remember watching the Pepsi Challenge on television and thinking, "I want to be one of those people."

Two white cups. A blindfold. An announcer building suspense while the crowd waited to hear the results.

But looking back, Pepsi and Coke weren't really competing over taste.

They were competing for something much bigger:

✔️ Memories

✔️ Loyalty

✔️ Trust

✔️ A place in your mind

In Episode 219 of Cleaning Business Life, we're talking about the Cola Wars, the rise and fall of New Coke, and what every cleaning business owner can learn from one of the greatest marketing battles in American history.

Question: Were you a Pepsi family or a Coke family growing up? And do you think you could still pass the Pepsi Challenge today? 🥤👇



Listen here: https://youtu.be/_0suXzjfJ68https://youtu.be/_0suXzjfJ68https://www.buzzsprout.com/2155653/episodes/19577728-pepsi-vs-coke-what-the-cola-wars-can-teach-your-cleaning-business-ep-219.mp3?download=true

Watch here: https://youtu.be/_0suXzjfJ68

Most people don't book a deep cleaning because they want cleaner baseboards.

They book because life happened.

Maybe there's a new baby on the way. Maybe they're caring for aging parents. Maybe they're recovering from an illness, going through a divorce, downsizing, moving, or simply overwhelmed by the chaos of everyday life.

As cleaning professionals, we often walk into homes during some of the biggest transitions people will ever experience. We're not just removing dust and clutter—we're helping people find relief, regain control, and create a fresh start.

In this episode of Cleaning Business Life, we're talking about the emotional, financial, and human side of premium deep cleans and why these services are about so much more than a clean house.

And if this episode resonates with you, be sure to check out Episode 212: "Your Customers Don't Pay You for Hard Work."

What life transition has made you hit the reset button in your own home?



Listen: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2155653/episodes/19605411-why-people-really-book-deep-cleans-ep-221.mp3?download=true

Watch:
https://youtu.be/Qgi8_a80A7Q

Here's a question...

Would you trust your turnover process enough to hand it to a brand-new employee tomorrow?

If the answer is no...

You don't have a cleaning problem.

You have a systems problem.

That's exactly why I believe every successful cleaning company needs documented processes—not just good intentions.

If vacation rentals are part of your business, this workbook will help you build those systems.

https://shannonleeannmiller.thrivecart.com/str-turnover-systems-print-master-guide/

You know what I love?

Walking into a property and knowing exactly what happens next.

No guessing.

No wondering.

No forgetting.

Just a repeatable process that gets the job done the same way every single time.

That's freedom.

Not chaos.

Link: https://shannonleeannmiller.thrivecart.com/str-turnover-systems-print-master-guide/