Stories can start young, and develop into something extraordinary over time. What can begin as a fleeting idea grows into a goal, shifts to a plan, and eventually becomes what you always envisioned. This experience people have when you dream big enough, and Alex Sherman, President and Founder of Eco-Friendly Maid Service and Timshel Apothecary, achieved this.
Alex shares his beginnings and story with us to share how he started these businesses and what the goals for the future are.
1. What led to this adventure to opening your own business?
I never wanted my destiny or dreams to be in the hands of someone else and while I know that employment doesn’t always rob you of that I knew the easiest way to verifiably know I would always remain the master of my own future would be to employ myself. The choice of the maid service was due to a family member in need of a good, reliable, and safe cleaning company. It all just grew organically, which is a huge part of owning a business, let it grow as it sees fit.
2. What was your initial goal for the business?
To provide stability and freedom, for myself and my team.
3. What’s unique about your company?
I treat my team as equals, I put them in charge of their success and give them room to make decisions for the business. We are very relaxed and very much know that the company we’ve created is due to the successes of all of us.
4. Is there anything you would have done differently looking back now?
At first, I was about to say many things, but to be honest each mistake taught me a lesson I wouldn’t have learned had I not gone through the experience. So no, I wouldn’t have done anything differently.
5. What does a day-in-the-life of Alex consist of?
I am more focused on franchising the maid service and establishing the brick and mortar for Timshel Apothecary. I meet with my teams a lot and work on various projects, no day is the same.
6. What do you enjoy most about what you do?
That no day is the same. My team is dedicated to the organization and is dedicated to its success with or without me.
7. What creative things do you do to develop a likeable company culture?
I try to engage with my staff and overcome the obstacles that we do endure, which is mostly not being able to see one another regularly since we are all spread out each day. So we try to meet regularly to just chat and get to know one another. I think we also run our managers in a way that allows everyone in the company to know their voice is heard and they have support if they need it. Our managers work alongside the team and we work hard to keep things feeling egalitarian.
8. To what do you attribute your success?
I am a very sentimental and emotional person at the core of who I am and overall what I think has made me successful is my ability to love and forgive people. When I tell people that I love my staff and will do anything for them, I truly mean it and have the track record to prove it. I’ve done things for them that most employers would deem irresponsible but what it’s given me is loyalty from the person and above everything else, it’s given me the peace of mind to know I made a valuable and tangible difference for someone. Legacy is being remembered.
9. What future plans do you have for the company?
I would love to see some franchises in the future but overall I like what we’ve built and don’t really think we need to change much. We’ve been doing this for 14 years, we’ve built something beautiful so now it’s just time to expand and bring on like-minded investors and help them create something unique of their own.
10. If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be?
Embrace the NOW in life, forget the past, and glance briefly at the future.