(Chapter 1: From Down Under to Sunshine: My American Reinvention)
Chapter 2: The Early Days – Building a Foundation on Shaky Ground
The early days of Crystal Purity Commercial Cleaning Company were a trial by fire—a chaotic, sleepless, and humbling experience that tested every ounce of my resolve. When I took over the company, it was a one-man operation in every sense of the word. The previous owner had built it from the ground up, cleaning 80% of the accounts himself. He was the heart, soul, and muscle of the business, but that model was unsustainable for growth. I saw the potential for something bigger—a company that could give businesses the FREEDOM to focus on their core while we handled the cleanliness and hygiene of their spaces. But turning that vision into reality was harder than I ever imagined.
The first challenge was restructuring a business that had never been designed to scale. The owner had done everything himself, from scrubbing floors to managing clients, and there was no real system in place. I inherited a handful of accounts, a few cleaners, and a pricing structure that made no sense for a growing company. The rates were so low that the only way to make a profit was to clean everything yourself—something I quickly learned the hard way.
Finding reliable cleaners was a nightmare. I’d hire someone, train them, and send them out to an account, only to get a frantic call in the middle of the night: “They didn’t show up.” I’d throw on my clothes, grab a mop, and race to the client’s office, warehouse, or dealership to clean it myself. There I was, at 2 a.m., scrubbing floors and wiping down desks, trying to keep the promises I’d made to my clients. I wasn’t a cleaner by trade—I’d never planned to be elbow-deep in cleaning chemicals—but I had no choice. My clients depended on me, and I wasn’t about to let them down.
The unreliability of cleaners wasn’t just inconvenient; it became a crisis. Some would disappear without a word, leaving me scrambling to cover their shifts. Others took it a step further—they’d run off with keys to client properties, cleaning supplies, and even equipment. I’ll never forget the night I got a call from the police. One of my cleaners had vanished with a set of keys to a medical office, and the client was understandably furious. I had to drive to the precinct at 3 a.m., explain the situation, and work with the client to change locks and tighten security. It was a low point—embarrassing, stressful, and a stark reminder of how much I needed to build a team I could trust.
Training employees was another hurdle. I wasn’t a cleaner by profession, but I had to become one overnight. I’d stand in empty offices with my small team, showing them how to properly mop a floor, disinfect a surface, or clean a showroom window without streaks. I’d roll up my sleeves and demonstrate, even though I was learning on the fly myself. Those first meetings were awkward—I was supposed to be the leader, but I was figuring it out right alongside them. Still, I knew that if I wanted Crystal Purity to stand for excellence, I had to set the standard, even if it meant getting my hands dirty.
Then there were the prices. The rates I’d “bought” with the company were a relic of the one-man operation—far too low to support a team of cleaners, supplies, and the overhead of a growing business. I spent months agonizing over how to adjust them without losing clients. I’d sit up late at night, crunching numbers, trying to find a balance that would keep us afloat while still delivering the value I promised. Every time I raised a price, I held my breath, waiting for clients to push back. Some did, and it stung. But others understood, especially when they saw the quality we delivered. It was a slow, painful process, but a necessary one.
For at least a year, I lived in this whirlwind of struggle. I was the owner, the cleaner, the trainer, the crisis manager—all rolled into one. I barely slept, and I questioned myself constantly. But every late-night cleaning session, every tough conversation with a client, and every training session with my team taught me something new. Slowly, I started to build a foundation. I found cleaners I could rely on, created systems to keep things running smoothly, and adjusted our pricing to a sustainable level. By the end of that year, I’d reached a turning point: all my accounts were being cleaned by my team, not by me. I could finally step back from the mop and focus on the bigger picture.
That’s when the opportunity to expand came knocking. With a solid team in place and a clearer understanding of what it took to run a cleaning company, I was ready to take Crystal Purity to the next level. The struggles of that first year had forged me into a stronger leader, and they’d shaped the mission that still drives us today: to give our clients the FREEDOM to focus on their business’s heart and soul, while we meticulously handle the cleanliness and hygiene of their workspace. With us, they’re not just getting a cleaner space—they’re gaining the FREEDOM to be more PRODUCTIVE. That year of grit and growth was the foundation of everything Crystal Purity stands for now, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
