An Interview with Jim’s Pool Care 2019 Rookie of the Year

An Interview with Jim’s Pool Care 2019 Rookie of the Year

James Steltenpool worked with his father in the industry since school days and purchased his own franchise in August 2018. He recently won the 2019 Rookie of the Year Award at the Jim’s Pool Care Conference in Sydney. We had the chance to sit down with James and ask him a few questions about his journey so far with the Jim’s Franchise and how he managed to start off his franchise business with such great success.

After the award ceremony, we asked James what initially attracted him to the Pool Cleaning Industry. James said that he has ‘always been around the pool industry, so I have kind of just taken the step up from Service Technician to Business owner! But if you asked me to sell the pool industry to you? Well to start, it has limitless potential to earn. Offering a service is great but being able to make sales from small to big ticket items make the pool industry an industry where you can really earn. Top that off with an outdoors and flexible lifestyle, why wouldn’t you want to do it!’

Starting and growing a business is always difficult and of course, a bit stressful. When asked what the most difficult part was in starting and growing his business, James replied: ‘one of the hardest parts of starting a business is the uncertainty. It was daunting at first, asking yourself will I succeed and will I be profitable. I never had doubts on my ability to do the work, but I was worried that the work would not be there to do! After taking the leap, just like most franchisee’s I have spoken to, this was not the case, keeping up was the hard part!’

Motivation can be difficult when working for yourself, we asked James what motivates him to get out there each day and grow his business. ‘Everyone has different motivations in running a JPC franchise. Whether it be financial motivations or a change of lifestyle. My motivation at my age is very financial. I want to get ahead now, while I have low overheads in my life. I set weekly. monthly, yearly financial goals that motivate me to get up and find ways to get more work. When you really throw yourself into your business you get attached to it, and to make sure your business is going well is to take pride in yourself. My business is a representational of myself, and it is what people will know me for, this motivates me to make sure my business is successful!’

Not everyone likes running their own business, it can be difficult to grasp new aspects of a business which many people have never had experience of doing. For James, things seemed a bit easier for him to get a hold of: ‘for a control freak like myself, it’s great to be in charge, ha! I like the responsibilities that come with running a business. Being at the wheel of a business, controlling where and how it goes is something I really enjoy. I enjoy the freedom too! Running your own schedule and being able to take time off and make it up elsewhere is great. My favourite thing though is the potential to earn! Knowing that each job I am doing I am making money for myself, and not for someone else!’

We asked James what he is exited for coming into a new year, to which he said that ‘I am most excited to see how my business travels this summer now that it has some momentum. I’m excited for the task of beating my last year’s numbers (month to month), and to see just how busy I can get.’

Once again, we would like to congratulate James Steltenpool from Jim’s Pool Care Toronto for this great achievement and we are expecting your continued success and more awards to follow. If you would like to learn more about starting your own successful business, visit www.jimspoolcarefranchise.com.au for more info.