Today we’d like to introduce you to CeCe Johnson.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was your typical 9-5 working mom putting in more work than I actually got paid to do. Regardless of which company I worked for or how much they paid, it simply wasn’t worth the time I lost away from my two sons and the effort that I had to put in. Co-workers secretly couldn’t stand me for the same reason the managers respected me. You couldn’t control me with a paycheck. I’ve witnessed a lot of people be treated unfair and with disrespect all because upper management knew the job was all the employee had. It’s wrong, but it happens.
My employers knew I had no problem turning in my notice and collect my last check at any given moment. Not because I didn’t care, but because I knew that they didn’t. I knew that the job was temporary and I was destined for more. My only plan was Faith which was the leap that I took every time. I was at a point where I needed saving, but before I asked God to send me some sort of savior, I prayed for the strength and wisdom that I needed to save myself. I always knew I needed to be an entrepreneur in order for my plans to be executed and the bigger picture revealed. I just needed to figure out where to start. So I asked myself what can I offer of value to others that’s also important to me. Especially when it comes to generational wealth. It needed to be something that would allow me to create job opportunities for others and one that aligned with my ultimate goal. I wanted to make sure I created an environment where there was truly work/life balance and team-members felt appreciated while never losing sight of their individual goals.
So in July of 2020 (in the midst of the pandemic), I chose to bet on myself and form Touched by Royalty Cleaning, LLC. I had already told myself the first couple of years would be financially challenging, but no matter what… I wouldn’t give in and to remember why I started. I identified a need for a luxury cleaning service that’s not overpriced, values are deeper than money, and shortcuts are not an option. I’m big on cleanliness and I drive myself crazy when I travel. True story… whenever I would arrive at a destination I’d buy a blow-up mattress and cleaning supplies. For my peace of mind due to reviews or in some cases, my personal experiences, I felt the need to clean the unit myself immediately after check-in because I was almost certain the room wasn’t properly cleaned. During a time like COVID-19, no one (including myself) can risk sleeping/working in unclean environments. I knew that even though we were on lockdown for a while, one day the world would have to open back up. When that time came, we’d be ready to service our community. The reality is, regardless of what’s going on, we still have lives to live which will always involve work and travel. So I did the research and formed my business the correct way. After I made sure the paperwork, licenses, and insurances were in order, I started bidding on short-term residential cleanings.
From there, it’s just been a learning experience. I don’t have a business mentor, so it’s really learn as I go. Not that I don’t need one, but I haven’t come across the right one. One thing I do have though is a strong, talented support system. This includes my mom, my brother (@Chulo.3xl ) and best friend (@VisionsByMajesty). My mom plays a major role in helping with my children whether it’s getting them to appointments, school, or babysitting. My brother and my friend are dope when it comes to working the camera and editing. They are both self-taught videographers/photographers that I plan to hire in the near future to be in charge of media. They also had no problem helping with cleanings when I was overwhelmed.
This is only the beginning though. I have huge plans for the future, but one thing I’ve learned is the value of patience and the power of your tongue/thoughts. Too slow and opportunity will pass by. Too fast and you’ll miss an important step or won’t be ready to receive your blessing when it comes. So every day I choose to pray, speak life into the universe, and work God speed for whatever I just prayed for. Some people would consider me an entrepreneur but I’m far from it. I’m working toward entrepreneurship, but right now I’m still in Phase One: I’m Self Employed with an Entrepreneurial Mindset.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road at all! (laughter) I’ve had my share of financial losses and moments that tested my level of faith and integrity. I believe God continues to bless my company as well as myself, even in the smallest ways because He knows my heart is in the right place. When faced with challenges, I choose others over myself every time. Not to mention, I walked out of my 9-5 with no savings, just a plan and faith. Some call it crazy, but it was necessary. So the plan has to work.
My biggest challenge in business is scaling and finding the right candidates to hire. Scaling because of my lack of marketing skills, refusing to lowball our prices, or not having enough players on the team. It’s almost always impossible to find people to care about something as much as you do, but it’s extremely hard finding someone that’s consistent in delivering high quality results. I honestly thought hiring would be the easy part because the job description is a pretty simple every day task. I was wrong on so many levels (laughter) so I’ve had to make a few changes in the hiring/training process. My biggest challenge when it comes to both personal and business affairs is spending so much time trying to build for the future that I forget to take time to live in the present and appreciate the moments I have with my children. So I pray for understanding and better ways to manage my time. I’m sure it’ll all come together as long as I keep God first and not lose focus.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Touched by Royalty Cleaning, LLC?
We are a small, female owned and operated business based in Atlanta, GA that specializes in Short-Term Rental Cleanings. We work with Real Estate Agents & Property Managers maintaining the cleanliness of their residential and/or commercial properties. We also provide move in/out services for those seeking to rent or purchase a home.
I’m proud of the brand I’ve taken my time to create and I hope it’s always a great experience for the clients we work with and guests that they service. I try to stay away from comparing what we have to others, so I would never talk down on another company. The truth is that there are a lot of great cleaning companies that stand on the same principles as we do. However, I only know our worth and the value that we offer which is worth every cent. We offer flat-rate pricing because we don’t want our clients to worry about hours on the clock for a cleaning that has to be properly done regardless of how long it takes. This also allows us to provide our staff with flat-rate pay (per project). We never want to “punish” our staff for speed. It wouldn’t be fair to pay hourly and as a result, someone who works at a fast pace would get paid less than someone that takes longer (even though it’s the same project). As for guests, we hope when they see the Touched by Royalty Cleaning Seal upon arrival that it brings some sort of relief in knowing their space has been properly cleaned to the best of our ability. It’s all about the experience and we constantly look for ways to improve and add more services.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
To help me stay on track, I’m big on feeding my spirit by reading and listening to a lot of motivational speeches. I currently have a motivational playlist that I play at any given moment throughout the day. It’s a mix that has speeches from some of my favorites like Steve Harvey, Eric Thomas, Inky Johnson, Robert Kiyosaki, and many more. As far as books, I’m currently reading “Three Magic Words” by Uell S. Andersen. Any self-help book or speech, I’m all for it as long as it makes sense for me. I encourage everyone to explore and do what makes sense for them.
Contact Info:
- Email: touchedbyroyaltyllc@gmail.com
- Website: www.touchedbyroyalty.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/touchedbyroyaltycleaning/
- Other: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/daily-motivation/pl.u-NpXm9RGumR5B1p8
Image Credits
CeCe Johnson
