{"id":5594,"date":"2022-04-30T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-30T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/?p=5594"},"modified":"2025-05-22T03:13:48","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T03:13:48","slug":"stages-goal-achievement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/stages-goal-achievement\/","title":{"rendered":"Why it\u2019s important to always have a big goal for your cleaning business"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Ken Carfagno Explains Why Your &#039;WHY&#039; is so Important to Your Cleaning Business\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/SpmSiXHaoSE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>The following article is based on a presentation by Ken Carfagno at the 2021 <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/youtube.com\/playlist?list=PL8Co4V1UoDDCGpF6VpC0DrAtvsNmF6sRv\"><em>Maid Summit<\/em><\/a><em>, hosted and organized by <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/get.zenmaid.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>ZenMaid<\/em><\/a><em>. Ken is the owner of <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carfagnocleaning.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Carfagno Cleaning<\/em><\/a><em>, founder of the <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.smartcleaningschool.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Smart Cleaning School <\/em><\/a><em>and host of the Smart Cleaning School podcast.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Often, the business you dream of building isn\u2019t the one you end up with. Instead, it\u2019s bigger than what you ever imagined. When Ken Carfagno launched his cleaning business nearly 17 years ago, he never envisioned that it would lead to him start the Smart Cleaning School or host its podcast.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He credits his success and the evolution of his business with having a big why. Think of a why as a dream, aspiration, mission, or a big hairy audacious goal. Ken\u2019s why is to run a business that supports his wife and five children.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today, he helps other cleaning business owners discover their whys and achieve their dreams by understanding the cycle of thoughts and feelings around goals. Thoughts precede feelings, which lead to actions that produce results. The key is to steer your thoughts in a way that leads to actions that move you toward your goals.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ken breaks down this cycle of thoughts and feelings into four stages. Keep reading to learn about each stage and how it can be a positive or negative influence on your achievement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/btjcejlma6X55cxlc-z8aiy_Kol2-D7AJN6MTGodeVvbeIeePdS03B5srYz7UynI5Ee2Nc3D3mmja8gnzA-ihuTXjhE1Ztm-udMksMuHcclG6I8eLSczAsvK4bsjCJgA_Z9ikmln\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"heading-1\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Stage 1: Hunger<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cThe size of your dreams must always exceed your current capacity to achieve them. If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.<\/em>\u201d \u2013 Ellen Johnson Sirleaf<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let&#8217;s say you have a $1 million dollar dream, but you have a $100,000 business. There&#8217;s a gap between your dream and your capacity. This gap is called positive dream tension and it\u2019s a good thing to have.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Positive dream tension creates a hunger in your heart that powers your will to achieve. It\u2019s why you wake up excited to get to work. Hunger is your fuel and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/carrie-knight\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">motivation<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this stage, focus on building your capacity. This could mean finding a way to grow your team so you can take on more business.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aim to stay in this stage. As your capacity grows, make your dream bigger so that you\u2019re always hungry. When you reach your $1 million dream, go after a $2 million dream. If you don\u2019t uplevel your dream, you\u2019ll move into Stage 2.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"heading-2\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Stage 2: Comfort<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As your capacity grows, eventually it becomes equal to your dream. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/ken-carfagno\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Business is great<\/a>. You\u2019ve paid off your debt. You got the car you wanted. Your hunger has transformed to comfort and the tension is gone.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Celebrate \u2013 but don\u2019t stay in this stage too long. After a short break, go back to your place of hunger by setting a goal beyond your new capacity.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><p>If you stay in your place of comfort, you risk growing into the negativity of Stage 3.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/get.zenmaid.com\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/free-trial-banner-1.png\" alt=\"\"><\/a><\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"heading-3\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Stage 3: Apathy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Suppose you\u2019ve achieved your million dollar dream. Maybe you\u2019ve even exceeded it and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/alonzo-adams\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">you\u2019re continuing to make money<\/a>. You now have plenty of time and you can travel wherever you want. But maybe you\u2019re also sleeping in because you don\u2019t know what to do with your day.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As your capacity surpasses your dream, a negative dream tension forms. This can lead to depression or apathy, which is a lack of interest or excitement for your business.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To exit this stage, you must grow a dream beyond your current capacity to get back to the positive stage of hunger.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Consider celebrities and public figures who reach the top of their fields. Despite money and fame, they\u2019re unhappy. Why? Because they\u2019ve become apathetic without a dream to strive for.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"heading-4\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>&nbsp;Stage 4: Hopelessness&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this stage (which could also be considered Stage 0), the gap between your capacity and your dream is so huge that it seems infinite.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Imagine that you\u2019re a single cleaner with a million dollar dream. You\u2019re working nonstop, but you\u2019re still struggling to pay the bills. Your million dollar dream feels impossible \u2013 but don\u2019t give up on it. Instead, grow your capacity. And keep in mind, you don\u2019t have to keep your dream the same size.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your original dream was to be able to travel whenever you want, consider aiming for Fridays off instead. Or start with every other Friday off. This shift gets you out of hopelessness and back into hunger. Eventually, as you\u2019re consistently able to take Fridays off, you might add Mondays, too.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Keep aiming for a goal beyond your capacity. Once you reach it, keep going. You\u2019ll be surprised by all that you can achieve.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Learn more:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For more resources on how to grow and perfect your cleaning business, check out the replays from the <a href=\"https:\/\/youtube.com\/playlist?list=PL8Co4V1UoDDCGpF6VpC0DrAtvsNmF6sRv\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2021 Maid Summit<\/a>, hosted by <a href=\"https:\/\/get.zenmaid.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ZenMaid<\/a>. The summit featured more than 60 presentations from other maid service owners who shared tools and strategies to help you achieve the highest levels of success in your business.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>If you found this article helpful for your maid service, you may also like:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__list wp-block-latest-posts\"><li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/how-we-got-free-local-news-coverage-for-our-cleaning-business\/\">How We Got Free Local News Coverage for Our Cleaning Business<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/how-reagan-bell-turned-getting-fired-into-a-thriving-cleaning-company\/\">How Reagan Bell Turned Getting Fired Into a Thriving Cleaning Company<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/what-your-cleaning-business-needs-in-a-cancellation-policy\/\">What Your Cleaning Business Needs in a Cancellation Policy<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/why-i-switched-from-hourly-to-flat-rate-after-7-years\/\">Why I Switched From Hourly To Flat Rate After 7 Years<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/why-ryan-williams-started-a-cleaning-business-from-working-at-zenmaid\/\">Why Ryan Williams Started a Cleaning Business From Working at ZenMaid<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The following article is based on a presentation by Ken Carfagno at the 2021 Maid Summit, hosted and organized by ZenMaid. Ken is the owner of Carfagno Cleaning, founder of the Smart Cleaning School and host of the Smart Cleaning School podcast.&nbsp; Often, the business you dream of building isn\u2019t the one you end up [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":5596,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"Why it\u2019s important to always have a big goal for your cleaning business","_seopress_titles_desc":"Learn the four stages of dream building to achieve your goals for your maid service business.   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