It seems like cleaning business owners are split into three camps regarding AI. They either love it, hate it, or are terrified of it. Watching from the sidelines over these last few years, I’ve noticed a cosmic shift in perception, and frankly, it needs to be discussed. AI is not inherently bad or evil, but just like any tool, it can be wielded dangerously. Even scarier, it can and has been wielded by incompetent people who have no business using it in the first place.
I swear if I see one more AI selfie on a beach… I digress. We can all see by now that AI is here to stay. It’s up to you to decide if you want to use it responsibly or completely ignore it. Personally, I think there are a lot of business owners who have been successful enough without it for so many years, that I don’t blame anyone one bit if they don’t even want to mess with it! You do you!
Think Before You Post
What I will say is that if you DO decide to familiarize yourself with it and start implementing it into your business strategy, I BEG you to think before you post. Gone are the days when people couldn’t spot AI a mile away.
For example, I see all kinds of businesses (not just cleaning ones) that make posts full of bullet-pointed, excited language that uses emojis in every sentence. Instantly obvious. Do some people like it? Sure! Do some people immediately think the business is “lazy”? Yes.
I know writing social media posts is literally the LAST thing you want to do when you are dealing with Mr. Hawkins and his busted-up toilet that just won’t come clean, or Melanie calling in to say she can’t make it to work. AGAIN. I get it. Using ChatGPT or Claude is a quick option to cross that task off your list. I just want you to think about it before you do and decide what the perception of your business should be. If you are ok with it, then go for it. If not, then we can talk about ways to avoid making it super obvious that you are just trying to get by with a little help from your AI-friends.
Two Things Can Be True at Once
I live in the tech world, so none of this stuff scares me. It excites me, but only because I know how incredible it can be for us if used appropriately. But two things can be true at once. Even though the magic of AI is awesome to a nerd like me, I am also conscious of how often I use it and am following and supporting regulations for it. I’m also hyper aware that there are people who are absolutely terrified of it, and honestly, that’s valid. Could AI be the downfall of civilization? Maybe. But at one point, the same was thought about electricity, cars, and having a child out of wedlock (for shame!)
My point is, we evolve. We adapt to new things, and we (hopefully) regulate them so that it is safe and only helps us instead of hurts us.
It’s a Tool. That’s It.
AI is not magic, and it’s not a monster. It’s a tool. It can help you 10x your productivity in your business, create a meal plan by looking at a photo of your pantry, teach you how to fix that weird buzzing coming from your refrigerator (yes, I’ve used it for that), and so much more. It truly is an incredible tool that we all have access to. It’s up to you to decide when and how to use it. Some of you may decide you would rather take courses to learn how to 10x your business, read recipe books, or hire a handyman…and that’s ok too!
I don’t want anyone to feel like they HAVE to use AI or else they will be left behind. It’s not true. It’s just a different approach, and if your approach works better for you, then stick with it!
You Don’t Have to Choose Right Now
Personally, I think it’s possible to have the best of both worlds. I think you can learn the basics so that you can use it for what would genuinely help you, and then ignore the rest and go read a book or do karaoke in the living room (at least that’s what I do).
The great news is that whether you are curious, a casual user, a power user, or completely uninterested, Rescue has not changed our core mission. It is now and always will be to meet owners where they are, not force feed you stuff that you don’t want or need. If you are still trying to figure out how to make a bookmark on your Chrome browser, we’ve got you. If you heard about a new way to use AI for marketing strategy, we’ve got you. If you have gone so far down the rabbit hole that you are building AI chatbots and starting to forget it isn’t real….first of all, go touch some grass, and then come back because we’ve got you.
We’ve Got You Either Way
So, all that to say, the introduction of AI into our lives has been a wild ride, and I want to thank you for being a part of our journey in this crazy industry. AI does not have to take over your life. You can use it sparingly and intentionally, or not at all. Either way, we are here. We still have the most comprehensive collection of free resources in the industry, we still offer free calls to struggling owners, and we still genuinely love doing this.