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How to Make Your Goals SMART in 2020

12/30/2019

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Christmas is over and a new DECADE is upon us. This is the time of year that many start to turn the corner from the current year and set serious goals for the new one. Just look at the book stores and online sellers. They advertise heavily to the public on health, health, health. Why? Because it sells. We set health goals more than any other for January 1st. Let's dig deep into human psychology and discover WHY these goals fail. Then we'll unpack a framework that can help you make your goals work for you in 2020.

STEP #1 - Before we look at 2020, let's look back at 2019 and search for clues as to what worked and what did not. I have an entire podcast episode and show notes on how to do this using John Maxwell's "Think Week" annual process. Check out John's blog article and my podcast for the full details. Here is the summary. Between December 26th and 31st, pull out your 2019 calendar and journals. Look at the goals you set during the year and ask yourself this question. "Did I achieve this goal?" If you answer "yes", ask yourself, "why did I succeed". If you answer "no", ask yourself, "why did I fail". Here are some other questions that John Maxwell uses to assess his year.
  1. What did you enjoy?
  2. What were some of your proudest moments?
  3. What did you spend too much time on?
  4. What didn’t get enough of your time?
  5. In what areas were you especially effective?
  6. Where did you fail?
  7. What can you learn from your mistakes?
This exercise may seen tedious, but it will open your eyes to your INTENTIONS vs. your BEHAVIOR.

STEP #2 - We need to understand the NEED for a big vision and goals. First of all, do this exercise. Ask yourself what you want in 2020. Then ask yourself WHY. Once you answer, ask WHY again. Do this 5 times. This peels back the layers of the onion until you have reached the core of what you really want and why. I promise you. It will fuel you through 2020. Now that you have a vision, you need to understand why goals and accountability are so important. Do you know that out of every 100 people, 83 have no goals, 14 have verbal goals, and 3 have written goals. The ones with verbal goals are 10 times more successful than the ones without goals and the ones with written goals are 30 times more successful. There is even a higher echelon of individuals that write down their goals and are held accountable to achieving them. This is me. Is it you? I highly recommend that you get a big WHY for 2020. Then you set goals around that why, write them down, and ask someone you admire & respect to hold you accountable to achieving them.

STEP #3 - Let me briefly share the framework of a SMART goal. 

Specific – Make the goal answer WHO it includes, WHERE it will occur, WHAT you want to accomplish, and WHICH constraints could affect it.
Measurable – Make the goal simple to track and quantify. What gets measured, gets managed. Either use a numeric or Yes/No structure.
Attainable – Make your first goal realistic to start the Momentum Cycle. Subsequent goals should be more aggressive as confidence grows.
Relevant – Your goal must matter to your WHY. If the goal accomplishes "stuff" for you, but doesn't get you closer to your dream, it's not SMART.
Time-Bound – Give your goal a deadline or it will never get accomplished.  Deadlines create tension and tension creates action.

Make sure your goal is truly SMART. Then add accountability to achieve it and ensure it's tied to a big vision for your family this upcoming year. If you do, you'll be proud of your accomplishments 1 year from now.

The information in "Step 2" and "Step 3" is a summary of a 60-minute SMART Goals Masterclass that I taught for my SMART Cleaning Tribe. You can watch it for free on my website.
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Cleaning Tips to De-STRESS the Holidays

11/15/2019

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I asked this question on my Facebook page this week. "What's the #1 stress going into Thanksgiving?" Here were a few of the common answers.

“Entertaining the overbearing members of your family."
"Family... believe it or not. To many personalities, some don't get along, have different beliefs and such."
"Family!"
"People who are so stressed they take it out on you!"

​It's vital to understand that stress builds as a result of many things as my Facebook post proved. Many of these factors are beyond our control, but there is one major source of stress that we can control. I will elaborate in my next article, "Dirt and Disorder Creates Overwhelm & Anxiety" ,where I will share an important scientific finding along with Emily's story. You will relate to it big time. Here's a sneak peak. Clutter creates guilt and embarrassment, especially when guests are coming over. We know that these guests are coming very soon. Let me help you eliminate these potential feelings of guilt, embarrassment, and anxiety from my 15 years of presentation cleaning.

Know Where to Clean & Declutter.

I was trained by the realtors and stagers of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties for many years on how to do exactly this. I learned that buyers are emotional and make their decisions based on first impressions. Therefore, I was trained to add sparkle to the first impression areas as well as strategically cleaning the other parts of the home. This would "present" the home best for the prospective buyer. Let's apply this mindset to your holiday guests. Declutter and clean these areas really, really, really good! If you can't eliminate the clutter, move it to an inconspicuous storage area. Don't wait! Declutter this weekend! This leaves you 10-12 days before the guests arrive. Clean these 6 areas as best you can leaving the toilets, sinks, counters, dining room table, and floors for the final 2-3 days. This short burst of effort will move you from embarrassing to impressing!
  • Front Door & Decorate Accordingly - Clean the side glass panels and door glass. Sweep the porch. Rake the leaves in the front walkway area. Put something festive on the porch. This is literally the first impression of your home.
  • Main Entryway to your Home - This is the second impression, so make sure it looks clean and decluttered. Put a shoe rack or pad by the door to encourage your guests to remove their shoes. I'm telling you! This one tip will save your floors and your sanity this time of year!
  • Family Room, Powder room, Hallways & Stairs - Guests will want a clean powder room, halls, stairs, and entertainment room as they will spend most of their time there.
  • Dining Room - Naturally, you will be spending a lot of time in here with your guests for meals & conversation. When the convos get tense, make sure the room is decluttered and clean so you aren't distracted and can focus on your next strike back. Okay, that was for the Griswold-type families. I'm sure you're one of the normal families who genuinely enjoy each other's company.
  • Guest Bedroom & Bathroom - If you have guests staying with you, present their sleeping quarters well.
  • Kitchen - This is last as you're cooking and making a mess in the kitchen. Not many will judge you on this! Touch up the kitchen as you can.

Rally the Troops.

Every family dynamic is different. You may be a early 30's couple with 1 baby and all of the work falls on you. You may be in your 40's with 3-5 school age kids. Or you may be in your 50's or 60's with the kids and grandkids coming back to the house. Where ever you are, assign roles to keep the house clutter free and clean throughout the holidays. Husbands, I am speaking directly to you. There is NO pass. Don't say, "I work hard and I'm on vacation."  You may not understand it completely, but serving your role in the family to keep the house clean and clutter free will help your wife so much to keep her sanity. Kids, now I'm speaking to you. Do you want to eat and get gifts this holiday season? You are a part of the family and need to support your role with a good attitude.

Hire a Cleaning Service!

This is for the families that want to outsource most of the first two tips! Not everyone can afford to hire a service and I DO NOT recommend hiring an amateur. In another upcoming article, I will highlight the process to finding a great cleaning service in your area. If you can afford it, get a referral from someone you trust, make sure they are insured, and give them a shot. A qualified business will be a great ally as your guests arrival date approaches. They will know exactly which areas to presentation clean and how to advise you on where to declutter as I've taught you in the first tip. They will work alongside you over these next few weeks and throughout Christmas to restore your home and remove your anxiety.
Yes, some of us have a Cousin Eddie coming over. He will probably park his trailer in the driveway and empty his refuse in the sewer. So remember. This is a wonderful time of year to reflect upon all the blessings we have received and to open up our homes to those we love... even to Eddie.
Thank you for reading and Happy Thanksgiving!​
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The 15 Germiest Places in YOUR Office as Flu Season Approaches

10/15/2019

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Let's redefine "dirtiest" to the word you actually care most about... "germiest".

You want to avoid sickness and with flu season right around the corner, this is a great time to assess the cleanliness of your office.
In an article published by WebMd on December 23, 2018, Dr. Laura J. Martin, MD shares her professional insights. She sites 15 common office locations that tend to gather the most germs (aka bacteria) and strategies to sanitize and/or avoid them. The article does a great job, so I won't attempt to re-write it. I will simply list the 15 areas, site her takeaways, and add my perspective as a cleaning company owner for 14 years. This article could be a great resource for an upcoming staff meeting as well as a solid checklist for your cleaning service to evaluate in hopes of reducing your sick day call outs this cold & flu season! 
  1. Elevator Buttons - I've been in your offices and do not think this will apply to many. Just keep this in mind as you visit other offices. The "L" button for Lobby really stands for Laxative!
  2. Door Handles - Your cleaning service should be sanitizing door handles on a regular basis. Get in the habit of washing your hands with warm water & soap for at least 20 seconds often.
  3. Desktops - Dr. Martin reports that there are 400 times more germs on your desktop than a toilet seat! Sit on that! Make sure your cleaning service is sanitizing your desks on a regular basis. More importantly, you will learn that 80% of prevention of sickness is what YOU do DAILY. The other 20% can be maintained by your cleaning service. However, if your cleaning service is not sanitizing this WebMd list, they should be.
  4. Keyboards - It just sits there as a huge germ collector all day, every day. Have your cleaning service disinfect keyboards on some recurring frequency. Read the WebMd on this one. It's gross!
  5. Telephones - It's worse than your desktop (which is worse than a toilet seat)! Get some clorox wipes, hand sanitizer, and have your cleaning service do it regularly.
  6. Office Equipment - Your hands go from your phone to keyboard to coffee mug to door handle to copier button. Hello sickness! The buttons on your general use office equipment are rarely cleaned. Change that!
  7. Water Cooler - Want some controversy in your office... read Dr. Martin's take on your Water-e-Coli... I mean water cooler. Train your staff how to use the water cooler because they need to be trained. Your cleaning service can sanitize the dispensers on a regular basis, but it may not help as the water cooler is touched hundreds of times per day!
  8. Coffee Maker - Dr. Martin gives a brilliant hack to kill the bacteria growing inside of your coffee maker using white vinegar to clean it out from the inside. The same advice applies from the water cooler here.
  9. Coffee Pot - Many offices use Keurig-type systems now. For the others, don't ignore cleaning & disinfecting the coffee pot handle! Your cleaning service can wash & sanitize during their visits.
  10. Coffee Mugs - I worked in Corporate America for 6 years as an engineer. Bill was a brilliant engineer, but I would nearly dry heave when I saw his grimy, yellow, germ-infested coffee cup that he held ALL DAY LONG!!! Dr. Martin sites a study proving that your coffee cup has "significant germs" including poop!!! Case closed! Your cleaning service can't help here, except to accidentally throw some coffee cups out. Oops! Sorry about that!
  11. Break Room Sink - Your cleaning service is obviously cleaning & sanitizing the sink every visit as it's a major collector of bacteria. Don't neglect the handles as they are the worst!
  12. Kitchen Sponges - Dr. Martin states that "most new sponges will have bacteria like E. coli and salmonella within 3 weeks.". Did you know you could microwave your sponge to kill bacteria. I just learned it from Dr. Martin! Otherwise, replace the sponge weekly or have your cleaning service do it!
  13. Microwave Door - Speaking of the microwave, it's an absolute MUST that your cleaning service cleans & disinfects your unit and especially the handle weekly!
  14. Vending Machines - I don't see many smaller offices with these. If you do, think of it this way. You thought the snacks were unhealthy. You actually get sick from touching the buttons! The snack is the bonus.
  15. Restrooms - This is a vital area for your cleaning service. Obviously, the toilet is dirty. Did you ever think about the flushing & faucet handles? It's the ultimate oxy-moron to think you're getting clean hands as you wash with soap & warm water for 20 seconds and then turn off the water! Make sure your cleaning service is sanitizing weekly and staff is using precautions as Dr. Martin recommends.
  16. Refrigerator - I am adding one to the list. Over the course of my cleaning career, I have offered a quarterly refrigerator deep clean & disinfect as an add-on service. Oh my! People leave all kinds of nasty leftover food and expired condiments. The refrigerator becomes a zoo for bacteria to grow... and then you pull your food from there and eat it every day. Eliminate leftovers by the NEXT DAY. Throw out expired condiments. Have your refrigerator disinfected every 3 months! Side note: I use the words "sanitize" and "disinfect" throughout this article. They are NOT the same. Sanitize brings the levels of bacteria down to a safe level. Disinfection eliminates it! 
Simply by following this checklist and training your staff, you can eliminate sick days for a more productive cold & flu season. If you would like to discuss cleaning options for your office, please email or call Ken @ (518) 312-2099.

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"I clean as if my own family was living there!"

9/1/2018

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Hello Philly Area! After 18 years, our family is PHINALLY coming home!

I followed my dream to create things for the world. This lead me to GE engineering away from PA and our family. But the corporate world stuck a dagger in my WHY of FAMILY after completely selling out for 12 months. My hero and VP of Engineering said. “If you want my job, you can't have a personal life. I live in Greenville and my wife lives in Atlanta."

This rocked my world to the core, hitting me right in the WHY. Family. That's not me. Thus, I exchanged the GE logo on my shirt to my own company logo in 2005. During these last 13 years, we've enjoyed incredible flexibility & freedom with our family of 7. And the work itself has been SO rewarding. I've been blessed with the opportunity to be a member of so many families and realtor teams over the years. Yes, I cleaned for them, but it was so much more. They have been my surrogate families as ours was 5 hours away. As hard as it was to leave, the Carfagnos are PHINALLY coming back home to enjoy FAMILY, clean for YOU, and coach other cleaning owners nationally who also want more time with their families.

Here are some quick survey questions to discover if hiring Carfagno Cleaning is right for you:

  1. Would you like to trade your cleaning time for family time or "me" time? This is the #1 reason why families have hired me over the years. They don’t have the time.
  2. Is the upkeep of your home overwhelming and you'd like to just pay someone to do it? Many families have upgraded their homes or their job situation has changed and they get overwhelmed at the thought of cleaning their house on the weekend.
  3. Are you unhappy with your current cleaning service? Unfortunately, accountability and consistent high quality are uncommon in the cleaning world. Just treating people right and having excellence sets me apart as “uncommon”.
  4. Do you miss having a cleaning service and it's time to hire again? Seasons of life change and I have always understood that a family may hire me for 2 years and then let me go, only to return 2 years later. Are you in a season right now where a reliable, high-quality cleaning service would change the dynamic in your home?

WHY would you hire Carfagno Cleaning? That's simple. We share values and that builds trust.
Frequently Asked Questions:
  1. Do you have a team or work alone? I clean solo. Always have, always will. You get me every time.
  2. What services do you offer? I do presentation cleaning for houses & small offices. I also offer window cleaning, real estate & apartment presentation services.
  3. Do you bring your own supplies? Yes, I bring everything with me. I use eco-friendly cleaners and a multiple stage HEPA backpack vac to clean your home. My NY clients have always loved the smell of my products and they loved to tease me about my vacuum, calling me a ghostbuster. But man, does that thing SUCK!
  4. Are you insured? Yes, Carfagno Cleaning, Inc is a NY-based corporation that is registered to do business in PA. I carry $1M per Occurrence / $2M Aggregate of General Liability Insurance. I pay payroll & sales taxes. This question is vital as many cleaning “businesses” are not really businesses at all. They are people cleaning under the table. If you hire one, you take on a lot of risk as any liability can fall onto you.
  5. How do you price? I don’t have a set price list, rather a process to quote your home or job properly. It all starts with a phone call and ends with an in-person estimate and follow up proposal with multiple price options for recurring cleaning. If you are inquiring about a 1-time or real estate presentation cleaning price, I start with a phone call and look to give a ballpark range based on your project. If you like what I have to say and my range, you schedule the work. The job starts after we shake on a final price. In general, my prices are on the upper end as I provide high detail, high value & high reliability.
  6. How far out do you book? If you are looking for a recurring service, I keep a waiting list. I have learned in my 14 years of working solo, it is never wise to over promise. I under promise and over deliver. If you are looking for a 1-time or real estate presentation clean, I typically book out 1-2 weeks.
  7. Do you charge for estimates? Nope. Just contact me if you like my story and we’ll start with a phone call. We can judge whether I’m the right company for you or your family.
  8. Do you have references from NY? Yes, see my REVIEWS page.
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    Ken Carfagno is a presentation cleaning specialist serving the Indian Valley, PA.

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