“I want you to look at every single piece of feedback as a gift.” - Jeannie Henderson

Sign up for a FREE call with Jeannie. Click the link here: https://debbiesardone.com/coachjeannie. Ready to turn your grime story into a success story? Get a free strategy session with CBF Coach Jeannie Henderson and learn about how Cleaning Business Fundamentals will give you the proven strategies you need to grow a thriving, profitable cleaning business.

Episode Summary:

In this special solo episode of True Grime Stories, I share a powerful talk I originally delivered at a Cleaning Business Fundamentals retreat—one that has continued to resonate with cleaning business owners for years. I dive deep into how customer feedback, especially complaints, can become one of the most valuable growth tools in your business.

Drawing from my background in franchising and over a decade of experience growing Jeannie Cleaning, I explain why feedback isn’t something to fear—it’s something to embrace. I challenge the belief that “no news is good news” and reframe complaints as gifts that reveal what your customers truly want. I also introduce my simple three-step Feedback Gift Formula—Respond, Recover, Repair—to help you turn negative experiences into stronger customer relationships, higher retention, and real financial growth.

This episode is about shifting your mindset: moving from frustration to curiosity, and from avoidance to intentional listening. When you truly hear your customers, you unlock loyalty, referrals, stronger teams, better marketing, and long-term success.

✅ KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Feedback is a gift, not a failure—it shows you exactly how to improve.
• Only a small percentage of unhappy customers complain, but many more feel the same way.
• Asking for feedback consistently leads to higher satisfaction and loyalty.
• The Respond, Recover, Repair method turns complaints into trust-building moments.
• Listening to feedback can significantly increase retention, referrals, and revenue.
• Positive feedback is a powerful marketing and team-building tool.
• Businesses that actively seek feedback grow faster and stronger over time.

Guest’s Information:

• Learn more about Jeannie Cleaning at https://jeanniecleaning.com/
• CBF (Cleaning Business Fundamentals) – A business coaching program that helped understand what was missing and how to build systems that actually work.

Subscribe to True Grime Stories and be sure to click the links below to learn more and connect with us on social media for more tips and insights

Connect with Jeannie:

• Website: jeanniehenderson.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JeannieHendersonConsulting/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanniehenderson
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanniehenderson

House Cleaning Business, Cleaning Business Owners, Residential Cleaning, Cleaning Industry, Scaling a Cleaning Business, Cleaning Business Growth, Leadership, Mentorship, Cleaning Business Fundamentals, Cleaning For A Reason, True Grime Stories Podcast

This episode is part of our Best of True Grime Stories series, where we’re re-sharing some of the most loved and impactful conversations from the podcast.

"We assume nobody really understands our unique challenges. And we're incorrect. Thankfully, there's so many ways that you can find help and you should." - Debbie Sardone

Sign up for a FREE call with Jeannie. Click the link here: https://debbiesardone.com/coachjeannie. Ready to turn your grime story into a success story? Get a free strategy session with CBF Coach Jeannie Henderson and learn about how Cleaning Business Fundamentals will give you the proven strategies you need to grow a thriving, profitable cleaning business.

Episode Summary: In this episode, we sit down with the inspirational Debbie Sardone to discuss the power of confidence and community in growing a successful cleaning business. Debbie shares how being "three feet from gold" applied to her cleaning business in the early days and to cleaning business owners who may feel stuck or on the verge of giving up. She talks about her personal journey, the importance of building a supportive community, and how taking action, even when it's uncomfortable, can lead to explosive business growth. Learn how to harness the confidence to push through challenges and embrace the support of others who understand your unique struggles as a cleaning business owner.

Key Topics:

• Finding the confidence to grow your cleaning business
• The power of community in business success
• Strategies for getting unstuck and moving forward
• Overcoming obstacles with the right mindset
• Why persistence is key in the cleaning industry

Guest’s Information:

• Cleaning Business Fundamentals (CBF): A program that has helped countless cleaning business owners scale and succeed. Strategies for improving business systems and team management.
• Learn more at https://debbiesardone.com

Take Action: Ready to turn your grime story into a success story? Visit https://debbiesardone.com/coachjeannie to get a free strategy session with CBF Coach Jeannie Henderson and learn about how Cleaning Business Fundamentals will give you the proven strategies you need to grow a thriving, profitable cleaning business. Subscribe to True Grime Stories and be sure to click the links below to learn more and connect with us on social media for more tips and insights

Follow Us:

• Website: jeanniehenderson.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JeannieHendersonConsulting/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanniehenderson
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanniehenderson

“When your heart isn't in it, then bad things start to happen” - Karen Marquardt

Sign up for a FREE call with Jeannie. Click the link here: https://debbiesardone.com/coachjeannie. Ready to turn your grime story into a success story? Get a free strategy session with CBF Coach Jeannie Henderson and learn about how Cleaning Business Fundamentals will give you the proven strategies you need to grow a thriving, profitable cleaning business.

Episode Summary:

In this episode of True Grime Stories, I had the privilege of talking with Karen Marquardt, owner of Simply Tidy Cleaning in Minnesota. Our conversation was powerful, emotional, and deeply inspiring.

Karen shared the real story behind her journey — raising children with special needs, supporting her husband through multiple surgeries, and building her cleaning business from the ground up. For years, she pushed forward with dedication, but eventually she realized something had changed: she had lost her passion and her “WHY.”

As she opened up about this season of disconnect, I could feel how heavy that experience had been. But what moved me most was how she found her way back — through reflection, prayer, honesty with herself, and a willingness to rebuild from the inside out. When Karen reconnected with her original mission to make a difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities, everything shifted.

Her team became stronger. Accountability improved. Joy came back. And with renewed purpose, her company experienced incredible growth — nearly 50% in just six months.

Karen’s story is a beautiful reminder that when we lead with heart and stay rooted in our WHY, both our business and our lives transform. I left this interview inspired, and I know our audience will feel the same.

✅ KEY TAKEAWAYS

Reconnecting with your WHY can change everything.

Hearing Karen rediscover the heart behind her business reminded me how powerful purpose is in shaping our daily decisions and long-term growth.

You can’t pour from an empty cup.

Karen’s years of pushing through without pause showed how burnout can quietly steal joy — and how important it is to stop, breathe, and realign.

Honesty with yourself creates space for new growth.

Karen’s willingness to admit she had lost her passion became the starting point for her comeback.

Accountability brings confidence back into your team.

Once she reconnected with her mission, Karen began holding stronger boundaries, improving communication, and setting clear expectations — and her team rose with her.

Leading with heart builds a business people want to be part of.

Her renewed passion not only strengthened her culture but also contributed to nearly 50% growth in six months.

Your story — even the difficult chapters — can fuel someone else’s hope.

Karen’s openness reminded me that vulnerability is a gift to every business owner who feels lost or unsure.

Guest’s Information:

• Learn more about Simply Tidy Cleaning at https://www.simplytidyclean.com/
• CBF (Cleaning Business Fundamentals) – A business coaching program that helped understand what was missing and how to build systems that actually work.

Subscribe to True Grime Stories and be sure to click the links below to learn more and connect with us on social media for more tips and insights

Connect with Jeannie:

• Website: jeanniehenderson.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JeannieHendersonConsulting/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanniehenderson
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanniehenderson