Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Gabe Gutierrez

We recently had the chance to connect with Gabe Gutierrez and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Gabe, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
The most misunderstood aspect of my industry is that professional window cleaning is easy. Its true, just about anyone can clean a window with some glass spray and a paper towel or newspaper. Some even can use a squeegee pretty well. However, there are so many other aspects to window cleaning that they don’t consider. Professional window cleaners know how to keep windows looking clean far longer than normal. They avoid causing streaks and lines that are common left behind by unprofessional sprays and low quality squeegees. There are countless different screens, blinds, and, frames that each have their idiosyncrasies and care instructions that homeowners are often unaware of and end up damaging their property. And of course, they will help you to avoid any unsafe step ladder usage that could result in a nasty fall. You are paying for a better quality result, faster completion time, and keeping yourself safe when you hire a professional.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Gabriel Gutierrez and I am the owner of Gabe’s spotless window cleaning in Tucson Arizona. We have been cleaning windows in the Tucson area for over 25 years. We are locally owned and operated and have lived in and loved Tucson since our inception. The thing that makes us different is that we run a professionally trained organization, while at the same time retaining our local identity as a small business. This means that we can handle the tricky jobs that a large franchise would normally do, while at the same time treating our customers as the family owned and operated company that we are. We have worked hard to build a reputation of customer service and dependability and we are proud to see that we are Tucsonans through and through.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
When I was young I was a perfectionist. I don’t think I realized I was back then, it’s just the way I was. I basically lived in fear of saying or doing the wrong thing. I would only do something if I absolutely knew I could be the best or close to the best at it. While this helped me to hone some skills that I excelled in, it also kept me from opening up to new experiences and being willing to learn how to do things that I was not naturally gifted at. It wasn’t until I was in high school and I ended up failing a math class that I was able to take my first steps at overcoming perfectionism. I got to see firsthand that “failing” wasn’t so bad. Even though I didn’t achieve my goal in that class, nothing in my life changed. All my friends and family still loved me and no one’s opinion of me was different. That really freed me to not be afraid of trying new thing. I can honestly say that had I not had that experience, I would never have had the courage to start a new business from scratch.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
One thing that I would tell my younger self if I could is to not view everything as a life or death decision. When you’re a perfectionist, the worst thing in the world is to be wrong. I wish I could have given myself Grace for so many things that I was wrong about or just didn’t know because I was a kid. Instead, I wore mistakes like a necklace of shame and thought everybody else saw it too. I didn’t know it back then, and frankly at the time it just wasn’t really discussed for children, but I suffered from anxiety. I wish that I could go back in time and tell myself that anxiety is just a chemical reaction and I was so much more than how my body was responding to stress.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
If there is any misunderstanding that exists in my industry, it’s that anyone can start a window cleaning company and find success within a few months. While it is true that the opportunity to make good money with low overhead exists in window cleaning, the actual business part of being a window cleaner is very challenging. Finding the customers, establishing the client base, enduring the slow times, all the unpaid time that goes into running a business, and just the day-to-day grind of being a business owner is not for the faint of heart. Because of social media, many new people are entering our industry thinking that they will be rich in a short period of time. I have an opportunity to chat with many of them when they ask for advice, and its always the same story: they invested a bunch of money into equipment and now they are struggling to find work. I feel bad about the lies they’ve been told and get frustrated when I see that messaging continue to exist among the “influencer” window cleaners that are out there.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
At the stage in my life I really work hard to only do things that are self-satisfying. I don’t mean selfish things, but things that I truly believe matter. I don’t worry so much about what other people think anymore. When I set a goal it’s based on its perceived worth and my ability to achieve it. Although I always enjoy receiving positive affirmations from people who I love and respect, very often I’m doing things that no one knows about. I’m happy that I’ve achieved that level of self-satisfaction in areas of life that before used to rely on the feedback of others. I try to ask myself what my motivation is for any project or goal that I set. If it’s not helping others or trying to accomplish something that has meaning, then I’d rather not give my energy to it. I’m much more interested in planting seeds that no one sees until they decide to sprout at a later time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gswctucson.com
• Instagram: @gabes_spotless_window_cleaning
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriel-gutierrez-55838a80?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app
• Twitter: @gabewindow
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19GtfAtMAu/
• Yelp: https://yelp.to/3nuTvW4I0H
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@gabesspotlesswindowcleanin9713

Image Credits
Meagan Getz Photography