lewis-vandervalk-digital-business-card

Building Customer Trust in Local Home Services: The Esule Services LLC Approach

Wed, 21 Oct 2026 14:27:16 GMT

Think about the last time you hired someone to work on your property. Maybe you needed a plumber, a roofer, or someone to haul away that pile of junk sitting in your garage.

You probably had a few questions. Will they show up? Is the price going to change? Will they treat my home with care? And you're asking all this about someone you've probably never met before.

We talk a lot about getting leads and standing out from competitors. But what actually makes someone comfortable enough to invite a stranger onto their property?

A good example is Esule Services LLC, a family-owned junk removal business serving Anoka County, Minnesota.

You're Asking for More Than a Customer's Money

Hiring someone to work on your home involves a certain amount of vulnerability.

You're giving someone access to your property, trusting them around your belongings, and paying for work you might not know much about.

For Allan Ebongu, the owner behind the business, that's a familiar situation.

He started Esule Services LLC to offer more affordable junk removal to people who couldn't tackle the work themselves or simply didn't have time.

He saw that people needed a hand with jobs they couldn't always tackle themselves, and decided to build a business around making those cleanups easier.

But getting the work done is only part of earning someone's confidence. The experience starts much earlier, often with a phone call or a message.

The Questions You Ask Say a Lot About Your Business

Picture someone finally deciding to tackle a garage that's been collecting old furniture, boxes, and forgotten belongings for years.

They're ready to clear it out, but they have no idea what the job should cost. A business owner could throw out a number and figure out the details later.

Or they could get curious.

That's how Allan approaches inquiries about Esule Services LLC's junk removal services .

He asks what needs to go, how much there is, and where everything is located. Are there stairs? Is the junk easy to reach? Would a photo help him understand the job?

Nobody's going to write a bestselling business book about asking whether a couch is upstairs. But those questions matter.

They help Allan understand the work before giving an estimate. Depending on the information available, he may provide a price range, with final pricing generally determined on-site.

For customers, that means getting an explanation instead of a number pulled out of thin air.

And for business owners? It's a reminder that understanding the person asking for help matters just as much as winning the job. Sometimes, one thoughtful question does more than another five minutes of selling.

Sometimes the Smallest Promises Matter Most

What's more impressive: promising to do everything immediately or doing exactly what you said you would?

Let's lean toward the second option.

For Allan, showing up as agreed and keeping customers informed are important parts of running his business. After all, people have their own schedules to work around, and a cleanup project is rarely the only thing on their to-do list.

Think about the customer's side.

They might have rearranged their workday, coordinated access to a property, or asked someone else to be there for the appointment.

If the contractor doesn't show up, it can throw off the customer's entire day.

Small businesses don't need extraordinary promises to make a good impression. A returned call. An honest answer. An arrival time that actually means something.

A Garage Cleanout Isn't Really About the Garage

This is probably the best part of looking at a business like Esule Services LLC.

On paper, they remove junk. That's what people hire them to do.

But consider what the customer might actually be looking forward to.

Maybe it's parking inside the garage before another Minnesota winter. Maybe it's finally getting rid of an old shed so the family can make better use of the backyard.

Or perhaps it's a property manager trying to get an apartment ready for its next occupants. The physical work matters, but there's usually a reason behind it.

For Esule Services, that could mean turning a garage full of forgotten belongings into a space the homeowner can finally use again. The job might be measured by how much gets hauled away, but that's not necessarily how the customer sees it.

And I think that says something interesting about business.

Contractors often see projects in terms of labor, materials, equipment, and hours.

Customers tend to think about what life will look like when the work is finished.

Understanding that difference can change how you approach a job. You're not just discussing what needs to be removed. You're paying attention to why it matters.

When Business Is Personal, People Notice

Hiring a family-owned business can feel a little different from calling a large company. You're often dealing with people who have a personal connection to the work and the community they serve.

For Esule Services LLC, that local connection is part of what makes the business what it is. Serving families and property owners throughout Anoka County isn't just about clearing garages or hauling away unwanted furniture. It's also about building relationships with the people who live there.

That community connection gives family-owned businesses a chance to build relationships that go beyond a single job. People remember familiar faces, conversations that feel genuine, and the sense that they're supporting someone who shares their community.

For a local business, those connections can become one of its greatest strengths. Not because they're advertised, but because customers experience them firsthand.

People Remember How You Made Them Feel

Earning someone's trust doesn't always come down to grand gestures or clever business strategies.

Sometimes, it's the everyday things that leave the biggest impression. Taking the time to answer a question, being upfront about the work, or treating someone's home with the same care you'd give your own.

That's what the Esule Services LLC approach brings to mind. Behind every job is someone who's put their time, money, and confidence in another person's hands.

And that's worth remembering as business owners. We spend so much time figuring out how to get people to notice our businesses that it's easy to overlook what happens after they pick up the phone.

A good advertisement might convince someone to call. A friendly conversation might help them feel comfortable booking.

But what they remember afterward comes down to how you treated them.

Why a Great Business Is About More Than Getting the Next Job

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 19:25:34 GMT

Getting more customers is one of the biggest priorities for any growing business. More jobs mean more revenue, new opportunities, and a chance to build something bigger.

But as the work starts coming in, another question becomes important: can the business keep up?

A full schedule might look like success from the outside, but behind the scenes, things can get complicated. Phone calls need answering, estimates need preparing, jobs need scheduling, and customers need updates.

When all of that depends on one person, growth can start putting pressure on the very business it's supposed to help.

And that's why getting more work is only one part of building a great business. The other part is making sure the business is ready to handle it.

Good Service Needs a Good Process Behind It

As more customers come in, keeping everything organized becomes a different kind of challenge. What used to be manageable with a few phone calls and a notebook might eventually need a more thoughtful approach.

And it's not just about keeping track of more jobs. It's about making sure the quality of the work doesn't change as the schedule fills up.

Take Junk Haulerz’s junk removal services , for example. The business handles everything from furniture pickups to construction debris removal and property cleanouts. Each job is different, but customers still need the same level of attention, communication, and care.

Having clear processes can make a real difference. When job requirements, appointments, and customer details are organized, it's easier to provide a consistent experience.

Because growth shouldn't mean losing the things that made customers choose your business in the first place.

The Early Days of Junk Haulerz

And it's not just about keeping track of more jobs. It's about making sure the quality of the work doesn't change as the schedule fills up.

Having clear processes can make a real difference. When job requirements, appointments, and customer details are organized, it's easier to provide a consistent experience.

Because growth shouldn't mean losing the things that made customers choose your business in the first place.

How Junk Haulerz Is Making Every Job Part of Something Bigger

With the business growing, there's plenty to think about beyond the work happening on any given day.

One priority now is understanding how things are working. Where are customers coming from? Which types of jobs bring in the most value? And what could be running better?

The answers can make a big difference when deciding where to put time and money.

Improving systems is an important part of that. From tracking leads and organizing customer information to managing jobs and building a team, the goal is to handle more work without everything depending on one person.

Building relationships matters just as much. Getting to know the right people can open doors to new opportunities and repeat work. For Junk Haulerz, that means connecting with more local contractors, property managers, and business owners, while still taking care of the homeowners who have been such an important part of the business.

Together, those efforts help Junk Haulerz build a steadier flow of work while making more informed decisions about how and where to grow.

Building Something Worth Keeping

Junk Haulerz has a lot to look forward to. And while there's still work to be done, it's good to see a business thinking carefully about how it wants to grow, rather than just chasing the next opportunity.

What's worth paying attention to is how those plans come together. More customers, stronger relationships, and a business that can take on new opportunities without losing the personal touch that matters to its customers.

There's no guarantee that every decision will work out exactly as planned. But being willing to learn, make changes, and keep improving gives Junk Haulerz something valuable to build on.

Because getting the next job is important. Making sure each job helps build the kind of business you want to run is just as important.

Entrepreneurial Ideas That Move You Forward

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 18:32:31 GMT

One Size Does Not Fit All: Why You Need to Think Critically (and Experiment Relentlessly)

We live in a world overflowing with advice. Books, podcasts, YouTube videos, courses — all filled with people telling you what worked for them. And it’s tempting to copy and paste their blueprint into your business or life. But here’s the thing: that’s a shortcut to mediocrity if you don’t filter it through critical thinking.

What Keith Cunningham is saying here is powerful. Business — like life — is not a bathrobe. One size does not fit all.

Great Coaches Teach from Experience

The best coaches and mentors don't just parrot generic advice. They preach what they've done. What they've lived. And because they’ve walked the path, they can speak with clarity about what worked for them — not necessarily what will work for you.

Take Tim Ferriss, for example. He once suggested that volunteering for organizations you admire is a great way to get a foot in the door. And he's right — for him. That insight came from his own trial and error. He tested dozens of ideas before finding what clicked.

A Million Ways to Win

There isn’t just one path to success. There are a million. A million ways to a million dollars. A million ways to build a business. The trick is figuring out which way works for you, right now, in your unique environment.

That’s the part most people skip. They hear someone say “This is the way,” and assume it's the only way. But what if that advice is right for someone with a totally different set of skills, goals, or context than yours?

The Beauty of the Online World

The online world gives you an incredible advantage: you can test ideas quickly and cheaply. You can try something today, measure the result tomorrow, and adjust by the weekend. That’s a gift previous generations of entrepreneurs never had.

But the key is to try . Try often. Experiment. Watch what works — not just for others, but for you. Then when you find something that resonates, double down . Own it. Teach it. That becomes your story, your angle, your value.

Final Thought

Just remember: every expert was once a beginner sifting through bad ideas. Most of those ideas weren’t wrong — they just weren’t the best fit for them at the time.

So stop chasing “the right way.” Instead, chase your way — with curiosity, courage, and the willingness to learn through action.

Because business isn’t a bathrobe.

Dead Bears and Sad Park Rangers

lewis@bluecrocus.ca (Lewis Vandervalk) — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 01:54:47 GMT

What do Dead Bears have to do with Marketing?

“Doing Business without Advertising is like Winking at a Girl in the Dark. You Know What You are Doing, but Nobody Else Does.”

Steuart Henderson Britt

What do park rangers, bears, and business owners have in common?

I'll get to that in a second, but do you know what a park ranger's least favorite part of their job is?

Not the bugs, the heat, the long hours, or the loneliness..

It's all the dead bears.

Here's why. Campers and hikers feed the bears yummy snack bars as they pass through.

Bears eat the food.
They develop a liking for the snack bars. A craving. A NEED.

They then forget how to hunt.

Now, they get way more nutrition and dopamine from a snack bar than fish.

When the campers leave for the season, they die.

Park rangers have to clean up the bear bodies.

No park ranger likes to do that.

Bears -> Business owners who have bought into the idea that marketing companies can bring in ALL their leads.

Campers -> Marketing agencies who sell the bears on this idea.

Bears are hunters by nature.

Business owners should be, too.

Marketing agencies want you to sit back and get rich on the dreams of leads pouring in every month from SEO, Google ads, SMS Campaigns, etc.

That's not how it works.
Those are just tools.

YOU NEED TO BE A HUNTER. ALWAYS.

Use the tools, but for the love of all things good in this world, stop debating which tool is better.

They all have a purpose.

But you are so fixated on the flavor of snack bar (leads) from marketing agencies (campers) that most of you have forgotten how to hunt.

Many of you never learned how to hunt because you just dove right into the stache of snack bars..

Get out there and hunt.

Deploy your tools (marketing techniques) as it makes sense.

But for goodness sake, stop arguing about which snack bar is better.

Or, like a naive park-fed bear, you will die when things get tough...

Giving Or Taking?

lewis@bluecrocus.ca (Lewis Vandervalk) — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 14:08:44 GMT

“You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.”

Zig Ziglar

In March of 2020 the world was coming crashing down around us, and my new marketing agency was struggling to grow. Not for lack of opportunity, but due to my desperation mindset that was driving every conversation.

Every prospect who reached out to me was steered quickly into the I-Want-To-Make-Money-Off-You conversation. And they ran away as quickly as they came. Seriously, it was like I was fishing for eels with butter on my hands. Not a lot of results to show for my calls.

I was stuck in the rut of immediate gratification, bringing this flick-a-switch mentality to life and business. I bet you can relate. If we need something nowadays, we just pull out our phone and order it. Pizza in less than 30 minutes. Next day Amazon delivery. Dopamine shots on social media.

But what happened to planting before we harvest? Farmers have been following this principle and reaping the benefit of it for thousands of years. Work the ground. Plant the seeds. Water. Weed. Prune. Fertilize. When the time is right, the harvest is ready to be brought in.

How does this apply to business or to everyday life, far removed from the dirt and crud of a farmer’s fields?

It's simple. We gotta plant before we can harvest.

Back to frustrated Lewis.

Right around this time, I was recommended to read a book called “The Go-Giver”. In it, Bob Burg and his co-author John D. Mann talk about the “5 Laws of Stratospheric success”.

The first and second laws crashed into my paradigm, causing a major shift for me. The law of value says that “your worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment.” or put another way, “money is an echo of value. Value comes first. Money is the natural and direct result of the value provided.”

The second law, the law of Compensation, says that “your income is determined by how many people you serve and how well you serve them.”

The book made a compelling argument, so I thought I would give it a try. I started giving away audits, value, and time to help people, with no immediate call to a sale.

Incredible stuff started to happen. When I started to give away value, hopping on calls with people, and planting value, THEN I finally started to see results. It came in unexpected forms. Unsolicited reviews from people who would never be a client, but found what I told them very useful for their business. Referrals started coming in from those people as well. The snowball started to build.

I came into every interaction truly wanting to help. And the harvest came, little by little. Some of the people who weren’t in a position to take advantage of our services right away reached out over a year later to ask for our help. They knew, liked, and trusted me, because I wasn’t just pushing for the sale. I genuinely wanted to help them.

Are you always on the hunt for the next sale, screaming into your pillow at night because NO ONE WANTS TO BUY from you? Try giving away some of the value and knowledge you have. It’s going to blow your mind what can happen.

Caveat: You must truly want to help people and to truly want to add value. I’ve had moments of slipping back into desperation mode. I resort back to SALES, and miss helping people, and then the harvest dries up. But every time I come back to adding value FIRST, this crazy force of the universe rises up to help me reach my goals.

Get out there. Add value to the world. Massive value, in massive quantities. You won’t regret it.

Learn. Implement. Grow.

-------------

Lewis Vandervalk is a husband, dad, and business owner who is working to live each day as a vote towards the man he was born to be. He owns Blue Crocus Solutions ( www.bluecrocus.ca ) a marketing company focused on helping contractors with getting a return from their digital presence. If you need to chat with someone about the power of clarity, email him at Lewis@BlueCrocus.ca .