"A PWNA conversation"for members and non members

[Dan S]

pOUND YA' what on earth gave you that idea?

Oh hey man my pic. is there ....whats wrong cant you see thru the dust ?

bigger "party" is not bad as long as everybody knows how to get along .....nothing worse then leaving a party and wanting to tear out some body's eyes.......

 

[Clean County]

Dan S. (Charlie Brown Mug shot),
The reason I said you are going to pound me is because you and I have different idea's on alot of things. Nothing wrong with that cause thats what makes this country great. Also doesn't mean we can't be internet friends.

Here's one for you. I am going to run for a position in the PWNA then I'm going to try to convert you. Do you think I can do it??

If you get the chance look at the pool and spa organization at www.nspi.org A friend of mine belongs to that organization and his business has expanded 10 fold if not more since he first joined.

That organization has over 5400 members with an 85% retention rate. It cost at least $500/yr to be a membership there I believe so do the Math. Thats over $2,500,000 per year generated there.

So the Question here is what makes that organization tick and why do people support it so.

Go into that site and read the section "About NSPI". Your a smart guy maybe you can figure out why that organization is doing so well and why the Pool guys support it so.

Yes you could say that pool guys out number us(PWNA) 20-1 which might mean why they are 20 times bigger then us but at more then double the cost($500 as opposed to $195 for PWNA membership).

There's got to be another answer to this and that is what I aim to find out and bring it to the members of the PWNA. Maybe I could even quote you if you can figure it out.

At least think about it before you say "Bleep that".

Can't wait to read your point- counter point here.

 

[Dan S]

Well First off : My hope is that you didnt return here to do a sales pitch ...Sure you come once in awhile but for the most part you pretty much stayed on the "other side of the fence" In our case BB . With that said ....

John it dont matter how this "debate" goes or any other debate that we may have , Yes I say somethings that maybe off the wall but I say them as a whole not towards you . Your right we are Different and YES that wont stop us from being "internet friends" maybe some day we will meet and YOU will buy lunch..LOL

Okay my responce .

I have said this a few times and maybe even a few more ..

What BY joining will it do for my business .That is not a tunnel question. I give some organization $195.00 per year , Now what do I get ? seriously. Im sure you have gave this some thought about my questions or you wounld'nt be doing the sales-pitch thing . So Im all ears.

How can belonging to A orginazation make your business expand 10 fold? Im expanding every day (week) without having to pay somebody . I just landed a super account 3 terminals 53 trks. per terminal Plus I still maintain my old accounts . Now John, I did that all myself No PWNA was there NO body holding my hand, And I still dont have a name after my name indicating that Im a member of anything .

Not only that but I believe I heard from somebody that your membership fees are based on what you earn . WOW so I make more $ how do I or PWNA prove that I made what I made? Show them my W2 ..I dont think so . I may as well tell my competior how I just landed another account.

I stayed as busy as I wanted too this summer and this winter is looking good as well ....My point is that It really dont matter what is behind your name as long as you do over and beyond what you told them you would do ....That my friend is how you stay busy ....not with a label.

I wish ya' all the luck in the world you will do a great job for somebody. Let me add this >> What has the PWNA done for you ?

What have you gotten from being a member?

How long have you been a member?

And what are your goals?

Also this question that was at the begining is also at the end because it really never gets answered .....with clarity ....You guys think that because we (I) are objective about this issue is because we dont know anything ....We are out spoken and at times down right ignorant .. And that may or not change. But I assure you the millions of guys who have a pressure washing business and are not members ........are still going at it full force .with out THE LABEL ......

HOW are you going to convert me again .....LOL

Back to the most important question of the century >>>

WHAT HAS THE P.W.N.A DONE FOR YOUR BUSINESS?

A) more jobs
B) lower Ins.
C) more buying power
D) A free cruise
ETC........>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

STill friends Buddy !!!

 

[Larry L.]

It doesn't take much to satisfy me,I'm not always wanting more.I had rather go to smaller parties with just a few,the benefits are more than losed in a crowd as they only count by numbers.

 

[Clean County]

Larry L.,
Yes small party's are great to. My wife and I are going to one in a few weeks where only 4 couples will be there and no kids. Where going to try some different kinds of wines and cheese's. Its going to be mellow. I'm looking forwards to it.

On the other hand I had a big party at my house for my wife's 40th in September it was a blast even though most of us drank to much.

Dan S.,
Was my pitch a sales pitch?? Maybe. I didn't attend it to be. IT was more of whats on my mind pitch to strengthen the PWNA which I know you don't believe in. No Problem.

I'll try to answer some of your questions based on my LIMITED knowledge of the PWNA.
1- I pay $195/yr to be a member and no I never had to show them any W-2 forms on what my business made.
2-I use there logo's in my advertising and I feel it give's me a little more credibility and if I feel that way then its an added boost.
3- there getting ready to announce that they have a health insurance plan in effect for there members. I'm not to sure about this because It doesn't effect me since I have full health/Dental even when I retire but I would like to help others to possibly get it. ITs just the nature of the beast in me.
4
I'll come back later to see if I can answer more of this but my Wife is yelling at me to come down and eat Dinner!! I'l catch up with u later.

 

[Dan S]

First of all John let me add this .. 195.00 is not going to break me ( I know you didnt say that Im making a point ) heck I blow more $$ then that taking my family out for the night ...dinner and a movie hang on to your wallet .............It's the whole issue man why give some jackass my hard earn money just to say I belong to a member of 250+ .... I can just see my customers now laughing .......Power Was Never Available

heck John you can put anything under your name ......

Clean Country powerwashing** member of dansworld** ......You will still get the same business as you did before .... and if you didnt then you are doing something wrong ,ie. not cleaning the way you should or not showing up like you promised.

As far as health Ins. well it's about time BUT BUT BUT ..... lets say they add that ..........you wont be paying your 195.00 per year now would you ...NO NO NO ....... there would be additional cost If you want to go thru them ....... Why bother just get it local and save a couple bucks.

as you can tell there is nothing you can really say that has helped and I mean really helped your business.......

Check this out

Big-boys pressure wash has 30 accounts ( he is not a member)

Dan ( the man ) has 31 accounts ( he is not a member )

Clean Country has 22 accounts BUT BUT BUT .. he has the GOD of all names behind him ..........PWNA ..... what is wrong with this picture.

sure some contractors that are members has huge accounts ....The Question remains did they get it B/C they had that pwna title? If they did it's by luck or whatever reason they choose to say .

The other argument is

Why did'nt past PWNA members re-new their dues?

WHY outa lets say; just for small ( very small ) numbers there is 500 contractors in this business and only 250+ members ... chances are they think the same way but dont / wont say zero about it .....Or they dont know it's available.

Rd # 2 We still friends?

 

[johnny]

Hi John.


Hope you don't mind me eavesdropping. Mention this the next time you have a gathering of PWNA executives. Open enrollment, IOW, FREE membership to all for 12 months, FREE admission to all conventions for the same 12 months. That way anyone sitting on the fence would have the opportunity to see what it's all about and decide wether to pay to join the next year. Just buy mailing lists and send FREE one year memberships to anyone in or thinking of entering the business. Mention it on all the BBSs. If it's all that, you'd have more members than you'd know what to do with and you'd be the PWna hero.

 

[Clean County]

Johnny,
Not a bad idea but it would never fly because the paying members would never go for it. This would be like joining a gym where you get the first year free and after that you would have to pay to become a member. The members that already pay wouldn't be to happy about it and face it, its the paying members that keep the organization or in this example the gym alive.

A solution to you would be to go to the convention next year or any year for that matter and hob nob with the members and take it from there. If you feel its worth it at that point then give it a go. Also the membership/conventions are a write off against your business. Lastly just being a part of something that supports you may give you that added oomph to push you over the top with your business. Hanging out with people with similiar goals and idea's usually has a positive effect. Think about it.

Dan S.,
You and I know where this is heading as it always does with us. I can SEE what the PWNA does and can do for my Psych and my business and you CAN"T SEE what the PWNA can do for you. No problem.

If I had one question to ask you to get a better grip on your thinking process I would ask this. Do you believe in unions?? Your answer here would give me better insight on what your thoughts are on groups that represent individuals that have a common interest.

ITs all going to come down to who is willing to spend there money to help themselves and others and who is not. Just like when Dan Flynn asked way back when for Donations to help "This Site" and you took offense to it. I donated because it was to help him at the time and also in helping him it helped me and others because he kept this site going. You thought differently. I remember like it was yesterday. No harm of course because like I said earlier you and I think differently on this.

What I really want to do is figure why the www.nspi.com does so well and maybe incorporate whatever they do with the PWNA and maybe one day you will see an advantage on joining and then I will tell you that you owe me a beer at a convention.

Maybe this will never happen but like we agreed we will keep this civil and still be internet friends.

 

[Larry L.]

Ya'll need to start another thread,the post have changed from the heading of this thread and has no merit.

 

[Dan S]

Your right Big .......BUT It's a little late now .It would be better to delete the title of this thread .



John I need my pot of coffee ...... You hang on there ya' hear !!

 

[Gwas]

31 accounts !!!! What do you do after Tuesday !!!! I am not a member but what the hell I would join !!!!
Dan S,
Sounds like your doing so well you should be the one buying lunch ???

 

[Dan S]

I just threw a Number out there Mike !!

 

[johnny]

John,


I don't think the membership would mind if they saw a whole bunch of fresh new faces even if they were free one year trial members, it's all in how you present it. The other suggestion for your board meeting is to go to the manufacturers and companies that sell to the industry, like "H-tsy" & "E--spec", etc. and partner with them to subsidize new membership. "Buy a machine get a membership and a free convention." It would sure take the edge off going "door-to-door" trying to sell the benefits to established companies one-by one. I think it would present a more united front if the manufacturers and suppliers offered the incentive. PWNA was originally started by Mr. Hinderliter as a marketing tool for his co. D-lco, he brought along the insurance guy from Pittsburgh and they brought D.Mirza from Chicago who started a hood cleaning school, the latimat guy from Canada, etal. The original intent was to give early powerwashers a place to hang out and buy stuff from the leaders. I don't think it has changed too drastically.

 

[Gwas]

A number I thought you were serious... OK I'll buy lunch !!!!

 

[Dan S]

Shrimp? Mike, I'll take Shrimp



JohnnyI guess the whole deal is this even if it was FREE what then ? What is the PWNA going to do for my business?

How can it make me expand?

You can be a member and still sit on your rump and never get a good account ... And you can be a non-member and never get a account also . So If you really want to work and need some accounts then all you got to do is pound the street and become a salesman ........You can do that without a pwna backing . Thats all Im trying to get out .

I can be as successfull as I want to be .... been doing it for 8+ years .. all without some name or a logo......... Free or not .......the money is not the problem >

 

[johnny]

Dan,


It's sad but true. PWNA can't do much for established businesses. It boils down to being a social club for the members who are sales opportunities for the executives. An individual can join the Masons, KofC, Rotary,etc. and get more business there than in the PWNA. There is a fellow in Illinois who was a member at the start and was a board member, he quit for a few years rejoined for a year saw no changes and quit again. It is what it is. If I was selling widgets to the power wash contractors of America and needed some face time with the buyers I'd try to get in to sell to the members, too. These web sites have pretty much done them in.

 

[Dan S]

Well said

 

[Clean County]

Johnny,
If these websites have Pretty much done in the PWNA then how do you explain there memberships numbers going up in the last few years?? Today they have over 350 paying members which is an increase of over 50 from last year.

Also since the pool guys also have there own bb's how do you explain there ORganization having over 5400 members who pay at least $500/yr(This is what my friend said it cost him to be a member)??

So basically your point about these websites(BB) doing in the organization is mute. The evidence above proves that. I will give you this that these bb's are golden I'll never deny that. The major difference from these bb's besides them being free is that you don't really hook up with people here face to face in a large setting and in the business world Networking is major Golden and you will never get that from just posting on a bb from your bedroom.

You can never compare a bb to an organization. Organizations are groups that represent and support there members. Unions are even a step above that. So where would you put a bb in that catogory?? Nowhere.

Johhny and Dan S. while I do respect both of your opinions and I hope you guys do mine but the only thing that I can add here is this----its a mindset thats at play here. You guys feel that the PWNA can't help you...and you know what it probably can't because you feel that way so most likely you won't try to have it help you because you are closed minded to it. IT always takes 2 to tangle and if you don't want to help out then in turn you recieve no help. I on the other hand think differently. I feel that the PWNA can and does help me because I hold them in "High Regard" and that alone give me a confidence boost. You guys probably can't understand what I'm saying here because it is a "Mindset"

Lastly when I was the Vice President of my Union a couple of years ago I could not help anyone unless they came to me because myself and the president represented them. Even with contract negotiating we would take what guys wanted and go from there but if you never offered anything we would never know what you want. Another words get involved to make things work for your advantage. If not......it could be your loss.

Remember keep this professional and friendly because these types of conversations tend to get ugly and nasty and nobody wants that

 

[Larry L.]

It doesn't always take two to tangle,depends on your "Mindset".I too would want to join if I sold to the powerwashing trade or if I wanted to use someone to get me business,yes even a bbs."Mind games" is more fun to play than "mindset games" they're more professional with less ugliest and nastiest...........even in red.."Mind games"

 

[Dan S]

John it's a mindset alright.....

You see you are running for a office ... My hat is off to ya'

But what you are failing is the "convert" part . You and everybodyelse seems to really dodge the big Question .

What has it done for you ?

And with that Question I will add would you still; be self employed with-out it ?

Why sure you would .
How can you say it gives you a peace of mind b/c you have that "label" . arent you confindent with your work ?

So in other words what your "sales-pitch" is saying is that with-out the pwna you are nothing. And by being a member you can now do better work and have more jobs... The phone is ~a~ ringing off the hook IS IT?

You need to do a lil better <<~>>

You guys need to work on the most important Question ..

What is-whatwill-what does.....by being a member going to do for my business.

I totally agree with keeping it cool. This dont need to get outa control to where the point where we want to hop in our hot-rods and meet somewhere and duke it out ...Besides you would be even madder when I pull up to you in my bow tie and......... well just run ya' over ( just funnin' )

If other folks decide to get into our little debate they too will have to mantain their words; and also remember that there is more people reading this then we think there are .

I see no-harm in a debate over the pwna or anything else If people dont really want to read it they have that choice.

~still friends~