🚨 Insights from My Journey and Experience Working with Clients like Akeen and Yianni 🚨

When I first started in the real estate industry, I spent two full years making relentless phone calls—every single day, Monday through Sunday, from 8 AM to 8 PM. It took me over a year and a half of consistent, tireless effort before I finally earned my first substantial paycheck. But it was that intense, persistent grind that taught me lessons more valuable than any quick success could have.

What I learned during those long days on the phone is exactly what enabled me to eventually close hundreds of real estate deals nationwide. Hard work isn't just necessary—it's irreplaceable. There's no shortcut or substitute for the discipline and resilience you develop when you're putting in the hours and facing rejection head-on.

This experience has shaped how I approach my business today, and it's something I consistently reinforce when working closely with our clients, like Akeen and Yianni. They have both experienced firsthand how these principles apply directly to the commercial cleaning industry:

Sales Call Volume and Consistency: Many underestimate the power of consistent outreach. Making 100-150 targeted calls every single day keeps your pipeline full and generates predictable, steady revenue.

Strategic Networking: Networking effectively isn't just about attending events; it's about quality connections. Engaging deeply with the right industry leaders and decision-makers on platforms like LinkedIn and at select, strategic in-person gatherings is essential.

Persistent Proposal Follow-Up: Opportunities are often lost simply because proposals aren't revisited. Regularly following up on previously declined or unanswered proposals can turn forgotten leads into active opportunities.

Seeking Constructive Feedback: Many business owners avoid feedback after a rejection, missing out on critical insights. Learning why a proposal was rejected helps refine your approach and significantly improves future outcomes.

From both my own experience and from working with dedicated entrepreneurs like Akeen and Yianni, I've observed a clear truth: most people know what they should be doing, yet fail to consistently execute.

Success is straightforward but never easy. It demands ambition, skill, relentless determination, and unwavering focus. And none of it matters if you can’t sell the appointment—because that’s where everything starts.

Selling the appointment is the gateway to selling the service. It’s the foundational skill every owner must master. If you can't do it yourself, how are you going to teach someone else to do it? And if you never teach it or systematize it, how are you ever going to scale and step away from being an owner-operator?

Take an honest look at your habits today, commit to closing these gaps, and watch your business—and life—dramatically transform.

Sales is the lifeblood of your business. Yet ironically, it’s also the most difficult function to hand off. I’ve watched countless owners delegate it too early—before they understood it themselves—and it always backfires. Because if you haven’t lived it, you can’t coach it, you can’t lead it, and no one else will ever care as much as you do.

Sales is where you find your voice, learn your market, and fine-tune your messaging. Until you own this part, your business owns you. But once you do? That’s when the real leverage starts. That’s when you stop building a job—and start building an asset.

To your success,

Branko Miljesic

2 comments