Several years ago, I interviewed Jonathan Barnett, founder of Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning, in an interview originally published in Thrive Global. Here is an excerpt from our interview:

Adam: How did you get here? What failures, setbacks or challenges have been most instrumental to your growth?

Johnathan: It’s a long story, so I’ll summarize. Moved to Colorado, got my Master’s Degree, bought an International Basketball League franchise, learned about franchising, and decided to open my own carpet cleaning franchise company in 2006.

Of course, that’s easier said than done. In 2006, the carpet cleaning industry looked pretty closed off. There were major, international brands who dominated the market and a host of mom and pop operations who were eagerly fighting over what was left. Not exactly the easiest market to break into.

And that challenge was key to my growth as an entrepreneur and the development of the Oxi Fresh brand. We had to be different from the competitors and not just be another company selling the same services. So we implemented a low-moisture cleaning method, green carpet cleaning solutions, and emphasized those differences above all else.

Learning to really hone in on what makes you special was a powerful lesson that was key to Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning’s success.

Adam: In your experience, what are the defining qualities of an effective leader? How can leaders and aspiring leaders take their leadership skills to the next level?

Jonathan: First, a quality leader is determined to continually improve their company. Every single day, they need to be examining their brand to figure out what is and isn’t working. Where most other people are afraid of change, they need to embrace it. A good leader never rests on their laurels – they must constantly evolve.

Second, a good leader seeks to build a quality team around him. They know that in order for the business to grow, they have to let go of responsibility and trust others. Obviously, you don’t want to give power to just anyone, so a leader needs to find talented individuals and then build a culture that cultivates that talent. Any leader who seeks to surround themselves with “Yes-Men” is no leader at all.

Third, a good leader is focused on finding the future of their company. Now, this isn’t about seeking improvement – this is about looking for completely new opportunities for your company. Adding brands, adding new features and tools – as the leader, you’ve got to lead the charge on making your company bigger and better every year.

Adam: What are your three best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives and civic leaders?

Jonathan: Well, there are a lot of great ideas out there, but these are the ones I think are most important. In fact, I have them on the walls at the Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning Home Office.

Speed through Systems – The more manual work your employees or franchisees are doing, the fewer opportunities they have to really help the business grow and expand. By creating and implementing systems designed to eliminate that daily grind, you free up your staff and franchisees to focus on growth and development.

Letting Go to Grow – I mentioned this earlier, but it really is key to every good business. You’ve got to learn to let go of things in order to grow. You can’t have a big business if you’re micromanaging every single aspect of it. Either you’ll have a mental breakdown or the business will be stunted as it can’t grow bigger than you, or both of those things will happen.

Ownership Through Scoring – You can’t measure what you’re not monitoring. It’s important to always track your various programs, marketing efforts, etc., and then to convert that data into a scoring system. Not only does this give you a better understanding of where your brand is succeeding and struggling, but these scores are excellent motivators for your staff and franchisees. No one wants to be in last place.

Adam: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?

Jonathan: Act like you’ve got the green light.

A lot of people live life like they’re waiting at a red light, looking for some outward sign that it’s time to move forward. In business, that’s usually waiting for the “Right Moment” or the “Perfect Opportunity.” If you’re waiting for those, get ready to wait for a long time – or forever.

Instead, act like you’ve always got the green light. Move forward, pursue your goals, and don’t wait for things to be perfect. Sure, you’ll encounter bumps in the road, sharp turns, things like that, but that means you’re still advancing. The person at the red light may never hit a bump, but that’s only because they’re not moving.

Adam: How can anyone pay it forward?

Jonathan: Make sure your business is about more than just money. Find a cause, whether it’s local or national, or global, and make it a core part of your company’s identity. Not only is this useful in terms of cause marketing, but it’s good for the “spirit” of the company.

For Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning, we work with Water.org. For every job booked online, we donate to this amazing organization that’s helped over 17 million people with access to safe water and sanitation.

Adam: Is there anything else you would like to share?

Jonathan: Running a business is hard, but – and I know this is a cliché – anything worth doing is hard. So when you have sleepless nights or long days, just remember that.


Adam Mendler is an entrepreneur, writer, speaker, educator, and nationally recognized authority on leadership. Adam is the creator and host of the business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, where he goes one-on-one with America's most successful people - Fortune 500 CEOs, founders of household name companies, Hall of Fame and Olympic gold medal-winning athletes, political and military leaders - for intimate half-hour conversations each week. A top leadership speaker, Adam draws upon his insights building and leading businesses and interviewing hundreds of America's top leaders as a top keynote speaker to businesses, universities, and non-profit organizations. Adam has written extensively on leadership and related topics, having authored over 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc. and HuffPost, and has conducted more than 500 one on one interviews with America’s top leaders through his collective media projects. Adam teaches graduate-level courses on leadership at UCLA and is an advisor to numerous companies and leaders. A Los Angeles native, Adam is a lifelong Angels fan and an avid backgammon player.

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