From a Welfare-Throw-Away-Kid
to Living the “American Dream”
Hi, I’m Howard Partridge.
I’m originally from L.A. (Lower Alabama!). I grew up very poor in Mobile, Alabama and there were 7 kids living in a little 600 square foot shack.
The roof was so bad on that house that when it rained we had to get out all the pots and pans to catch the leaks! At one point, we lived on a hundred dollars a month from the welfare department. I don’t know how my mother did it. I still remember getting Christmas presents from the social workers.
When I was 18 years old, I got in a fight with my step dad and got kicked out of the house. I had NO money and a friend helped me scrape up enough for a Greyhound bus ticket to Houston. My real dad (who I had only met twice in my entire life) lived there.
I arrived in Houston with 25 cents in my pocket. Eventually I became a professional waiter. I worked in these restaurants where we did tableside cooking… Steak Diane, Bananas Foster, Caesar Salad – all made from scratch at the table, wearing a tuxedo.
But I always wanted my own business. I have always been an entrepreneur at heart. But I still had no money!
“I Had NO MONEY!”
I went to New Jersey to get married to my wife Denise Concetta Antionette Pennella (now THAT’s Italian!). While in New Jersey a friend of the family was tooling around in a little red Mercedes convertible.
He was my age (23 at the time). I wanted to know what he did, and I wanted to know if it was legal! I discovered that he owned his own business.
Well, when you marry into an Italian family, instead of getting wedding presents like toasters, blenders or a set of dishes, you get cash!
We got $3,000.00 in wedding money. As soon as we got back to Houston, I spent that money on starting my own business.
My wife was really thrilled about that, let me tell you!!!
That’s when I started my first company out of the trunk of my car.
That was over 38 years ago! November 2nd 1984 to be exact.
“From Zero to $30k per month”
Over 13 long years, I got the company up to doing about $30k per month. I was making good money, but I became a slave to my business.
If something had to be fixed “I” had to be involved in it. If a client had a question “I” had to be involved in it. I had a stack of client inquiries on my desk that I couldn’t get to.
People who wanted to spend money with us, but I couldn’t get to them. When I finally called them, I got their voice mail. When they returned my call, they got my voice mail.
“I had to do something and FAST”
That was 1997. I began learning about this thing called “systems” and a thing called a “turn-key” business, and working “on” the business instead of “in” it.
I found out about Michael Gerber’s book The E-Myth Revisited. I took a week off and went to my favorite place in the world – Destin, Florida and sat on the beach with The E-Myth and a stack of spiral notebooks.
I re-designed my business and my life. I then invited two fellow business owners to become partners. We built systems in the business and I implemented my marketing system.
The business jumped to over $800k that year alone!
Since that time, my first business exploded to over 4 million Per Year and I’ve owned 9 small businesses altogether. Today I have four.
The best part is that my companies are turn-key and I can pursue the lifestyle that I want and reap the benefits of being a business owner rather than being a slave to one. Don’t get me wrong, you must work hard to build your business, but if you build it right, it can deliver on some of those life goals you have.
“Here’s what’s most important…”
What’s more important than my “business success” is that I have helped thousands of small business owners just like you build phenomenal companies. Many of them are realizing their dreams in life and are making more money as a result of implementing my unique, proven methods and staying connected with my programs to stay on the cutting edge.
5 Reasons You Can Believe What I Say…
Reason #1: Reputation.
I have gained a tremendous reputation as a “thought leader” in the world of small business. Some of America’s top business trainers have appeared at my seminars. These include Michael Gerber, best-selling author of The E-Myth and American Legend Zig Ziglar.
“Howard is a great friend of the Ziglars. He is a phenomenal person and he holds the record for the most successful Success 2.0 webcast so far” – Tom Ziglar, Proud Son of Zig Ziglar and CEO of Ziglar, Inc.
New York Times Best-Selling Author and Executive Vice President of Get Motivated! (the largest business seminars in America) at one of my live events
Tamara and her husband Peter Lowe have featured five U.S. Presidents at their events as well as countless dignitaries, celebrities and business trainers.
She has become a great “pal” reflected by her Facebook comment:
“Howard for President… of everything! Love you, bro! I’m a fan! Just thought you should know. (I realize I’m not alone– just one of your many fans– but at least I have the distinction of proclaiming it here before God and Facebookers).”- Tamara Lowe
Thanks Tamara!!
“Rarely have I met someone like Howard. Someone that not only understands Experiential Marketing, but lives it in the real world every day” – Dr. Joseph A. Michelli, International Best-Selling author of The Starbucks Experience
My work with Dr. Joseph A. Michelli, international best-selling author of The Starbucks Experience includes being a guest on his radio show, him speaking at my live event, and The Ultimate Experiential Marketing Workshop that we did together in Houston.
In the cleaning industry, I have presented at all of the largest conventions including Connections, Surfaces®, the largest floor covering show in the world, and Mohawk Industries, the world’s largest flooring manufacturer, and countless other entities.
I have also traveled the world to speak including Hawaii (nice to get paid to go there!) and for the IICRC UK in London.
I write a monthly column in ICS Magazine called “Building a Phenomenally Successful Business” and I have been featured in Cleanfax Magazine for many years including 4 cover stories.
Renowned industry leader Lee Pemberton said…
“Frankly, the program, Howard, and his products far exceeded our expectations! Very refreshing (and rewarding) to say the least.”
My live seminars and interviews have included…
- Chuck Coonradt – author of The Game of Work, one of the best management books I have read.
- Steve Toburen – a carpet cleaner who sold his business and retired to the Caribbean at age 38
- Clark Lovrien – General Manager of the Largest Independent carpet cleaning company in the world
- Ken Snow – owner of a multi-million carpet and Oriental rug cleaning firm
- Mike Guasch – Million dollar carpet cleaner who invented SToneTechPro® products and sold to DuPont for MILLIONS!
There is NO QUESTION about my credibility.
But Don’t Take My Word for It!
Instead, see what others say about me, my seminars, products, and training…
Reason #2: Experience.
I started my first business out of the trunk of my car over 23 years ago (a carpet cleaning company that I still own today). I transformed that company into a multi-million dollar, turn-key operation that practically runs without me. I have a great staff and predictable, profitable systems in place.
Reason #3: Education
I have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on training myself and my staff. I am a student of marketing, business management, sales, and human behavior. I routinely attend seminars that cost thousands of dollars to attend, and I continue to stay on the cutting edge, consuming the latest and greatest information available. I test the strategies in my own businesses, and pass on the proven results to my clients and audiences.
Reason #4: Systems
As an entrepreneur and small business owner myself, I have to implement the most effective methods to keep my own businesses growing. Both of my current companies are experiencing RECORD SALES and RECORD PROFITS!
Over the past 10 years, I have developed a proven system for training small business owners. These programs are based on testing done in my own companies as well as member companies across the world.
My offerings include
- Information Products – I have developed hundreds of manuals, audio, and video programs.
- Seminars – I have led hundreds of seminars including public speaking for organizations as well as my own seminars.
- Coaching and Support Programs – I currently have 142 members in my support program that provides encouragement, accountability, and access to myself and my coaches.
- Consulting – For a limited number of clients I provide on-site consulting at their location, and provide private, individual consulting on an ongoing basis.
Reason #5: Commitment
As my slogan says “My Passion is Your Success”™. Myself and my team will work harder than anyone else for your success. We will give you more value than anyone else. The more successful you are, the more successful we are!
When you see what others have to say about myself, my team and my programs, I think you will see that we care. As the old saying goes “Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care”.
I care about your success! My passion is your success.
I look forward to working with you.
Sincerely,
Howard Partridge
President
Phenomenal Products, Inc.