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31 Oct 2025
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Cleaning for the Cleaning Lady

October 31, 2025

Inspired by a true chapter from my book, How Far I Have Risen: Coming Clean from Cancer, God, and My American Dream

When I first wrote the chapter “Cleaning for the Cleaning Lady,” it wasn’t just about tidying up before someone else came to clean. It was a reflection of how we so often try to “clean up” our lives before letting anyone see the real mess.

In that chapter, I shared how I started cleaning homes when I first came to America — not exactly the glamorous version of the American Dream I had imagined, but it became one of the most humbling and transformative parts of my story. I learned about people, families, habits, and pride. Some clients would spend hours cleaning before I ever arrived. It always made me wonder — why hire help if you’re doing all the work first?

Over time, I realized it’s not just about cleaning houses. It’s about how we show up in life. We often try to fix ourselves up before asking for help — whether it’s in business, relationships, or faith. But life doesn’t wait until everything looks perfect. Growth happens in the middle of the mess.

And yet — let’s bring this back to the literal cleaning side for a moment.
When our Custom Cleanups team comes to clean your home, we don’t expect perfection before we arrive. You don’t need to “clean for the cleaning lady.” But a quick pickup — tossing laundry in the basket, clearing personal items from counters, or putting away the weekend’s party dishes — helps us focus on what you’re actually hiring us for: professional cleaning.

We’re not housekeepers who do your dishes or daily chores; we’re cleaners who sanitize, detail, and make your home shine. Our job is to give you a fresh start — not to scrub through piles of last night’s pizza plates. A little prep helps us make your home sparkle the way it should.

So whether it’s in your home or your life, stop “cleaning for the cleaning lady.”
Let go of the need to be perfect before asking for help — but do your part to create the space where transformation can happen.

29 Oct 2025
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The Power of a Smile in Business and Life

October 29, 2025

We’ve all heard the phrase, “Smile, it’s contagious.” But what if I told you that a simple smile can also be one of your greatest tools as a business owner, leader, and human being?

Smiling goes beyond being polite—it changes the energy in the room, shifts your mindset, and influences how people respond to you.

Smiling as a Business Owner

When you’re running a business, stress, deadlines, and endless to-do lists can feel overwhelming. But your team, your clients, and even your family pick up on your energy. Walking into a meeting with a frown sets a tone; walking in with a genuine smile sets a completely different one.

A smile says:

  • I’m approachable.

  • I’m confident, even when things aren’t perfect.

  • I’m open to solutions, not just problems.

In coaching sessions, I often remind entrepreneurs that your presence sets the stage long before you open your mouth. A smile can be the spark that helps people trust you, follow your lead, and feel comfortable opening up.

The Science of Smiling

Here’s the fun part: smiling isn’t just about looking friendly—it actually helps you, too. Studies show that smiling releases endorphins (your brain’s natural feel-good chemicals) and reduces stress levels. Even when you don’t feel like smiling, the act itself can trick your brain into lightening the load.

That’s powerful. It means you can shift your day—and the way others experience you—with something as simple as a smile.

Smiling in Everyday Life

Outside of business, smiles build bridges. They soften tension in conversations, make strangers more willing to help, and remind others (and yourself) that joy can be found in even the smallest moments.

Think about it: when was the last time someone’s smile changed your day? Maybe it was the barista handing you your coffee, or a stranger passing you on the street. Those moments stick with us.

Why I Coach with a Smile

In my coaching, whether it’s one-on-one or with small groups, I bring this same philosophy: sometimes growth starts with a shift in perspective. A smile helps create space for people to open up, reflect, and move forward without judgment.

Because business is serious work—but it doesn’t always have to feel heavy.

Final Thought

So here’s your challenge: next time your day feels overwhelming, pause and smile—even if it’s just to yourself. See how it changes your energy. See how it changes the people around you.

Because sometimes the smallest actions create the biggest impact.

If you’re ready for coaching that mixes real strategy with positivity and encouragement, let’s connect. Together, we’ll work on your goals—and yes, there will be plenty of smiles along the way.

29 Oct 2025
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5 tips for being a successful cancer survivor

October 29, 2025

October is Cancer Awareness Month—a time that always makes me pause and reflect on my own journey as a survivor. Cancer changes you in ways you don’t expect. It challenges you, reshapes your priorities, and teaches you lessons you carry for life.

I don’t pretend to have all the answers, but I want to share five things that helped me not just get through, but keep moving forward:

  1. Listen to your body. Rest when you need to. Push gently when you can. Healing is not a straight line.

  2. Find your people. Support is everything. Whether it’s family, friends, or fellow survivors, you need people who “get it.”

  3. Celebrate the small wins. Every good day, every test result, every moment of normalcy—it all matters.

  4. Protect your mindset. Fear shows up often. I learned to replace it with gratitude and focus on what I could control.

  5. Give yourself grace. There’s no “perfect way” to survive cancer. Show up as you are, one step at a time.

These tips are simple, but they carried me through some of my hardest days—and they still guide me today.

If you’re in the fight, know this: you are stronger than you think. And if you’re a survivor, your story matters. Sharing it could be the light someone else needs right now.

💜 This month, let’s remind each other that awareness is more than ribbons—it’s about connection, courage, and hope.

27 Oct 2025
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Do You Have the Right Personality to Start a Cleaning Business?

October 27, 2025

Starting a cleaning business is about so much more than just scrubbing and dusting. It takes a certain type of personality to succeed—not only in the physical work, but in the way you connect with clients, manage challenges, and grow your business.

Yes, you need to be good at cleaning and enjoy creating neat, orderly spaces. But that’s only the beginning. Compassion is a must. You’ll be stepping into people’s private spaces, sometimes during stressful seasons of their lives, and you need to respect that trust. Independence and self-motivation are equally important because no one is looking over your shoulder to make sure the job gets done. You’re the one responsible for the quality of the work, the client’s experience, and the reputation of your business.

Strong customer service skills are non-negotiable. In this business, you aren’t just cleaning—you’re communicating, solving problems, and building relationships. That means being clear and professional in person, over the phone, and even in writing. I’ll be honest: this was tough for me in the beginning. English is not my first language, and I had to learn how to confidently communicate with clients while also trying to prove myself as a business owner. It wasn’t easy, but with practice and persistence, it became second nature.

As your business grows, so will the demand for leadership. Hiring, training, and managing staff requires patience, adaptability, and strong human resource skills. I learned early on that managing people is very different from managing tasks. If you’re doing it all on your own, don’t be afraid to lean on a mentor or someone with more experience. Having guidance when situations get complicated can make all the difference in building a healthy team culture.

Running a cleaning business isn’t always easy. It requires grit, compassion, resilience, and a genuine care for people. But if you have the right personality and you’re willing to learn along the way, it can be one of the most rewarding paths you’ll ever take.

02 Oct 2025
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Finding True Satisfaction in Helping Others Through Business

October 2, 2025

One of the greatest rewards of owning a business—especially in the service industry—is the deep satisfaction that comes from helping others. For me, running my cleaning company has never been just about dusting, scrubbing, or mopping floors. It has always been about something bigger: freeing people from stress, giving them back precious time, and creating homes where they can breathe, relax, and live their lives with more ease.

When a client walks into a freshly cleaned home, I know it’s not just about the shine on the counters or the vacuum lines in the carpet. It’s about the relief they feel knowing one big thing has been lifted off their shoulders. I’ve seen that joy, and it reminds me why I started Custom Cleanups in the first place—from the supplies once stored in my garage to now serving families across the Tampa Bay area. It has always been about helping.

I believe this is true no matter what kind of business you own. If you don’t genuinely care about the people you serve, you won’t find success. Especially in service industries, care has to be at the center of everything. When you truly care, it shows in your work. Your clients can feel it. And that feeling is what keeps them coming back, what turns a one-time customer into someone who trusts you with their home, their time, and their peace of mind.

For me, this sense of purpose goes beyond cleaning. As a business coach and mentor, I see the same truth play out in entrepreneurship as a whole. If you build your business around caring—caring for your clients, your team, your community—you’ll find meaning and fulfillment in what you do. And when your work has meaning, it sustains you through the long days, the challenges, and even the setbacks.

Helping others has given me joy, resilience, and a business that I’m proud of. And it’s why I wrote my book, How Far I Have Risen: Coming Clean from Cancer, God, and My American Dream. It’s a story of resilience, yes, but also one of service and the belief that life—and business—are about more than just transactions. They’re about people.

If you want to build a business that not only supports you but also fills you with pride, start with care. The satisfaction of helping others will be your greatest reward.

02 Oct 2025
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From Dishwasher to Millionaire: Building Dreams From the Ground Up

October 2, 2025

There’s a reason the phrase “from dishwasher to millionaire” resonates so deeply in America. It captures the idea that success doesn’t require a perfect start—it requires grit, vision, and a willingness to work your way up from the bottom.

Immigrants make up about 13% of the U.S. population, and so many of us come here chasing the same thing: the American Dream. A chance for a better life. A chance to take hard work and turn it into opportunity. That spirit of determination and fresh perspective is why immigrants are often at the heart of entrepreneurship in this country. From global names like Levi Strauss, eBay, WhatsApp, and Instagram to local service businesses like restaurants, trucking companies, and yes—even cleaning companies—immigrants are creating jobs, building communities, and proving what’s possible.

My own story doesn’t start with dishwashing, but the analogy fits. Back in Germany, I worked in hospitality, surrounded by people, service, and the rhythm of taking care of others. When I moved to the U.S., I found myself cleaning homes—humble work, but honest and meaningful. It was never about where I started; it was about where I was determined to go.

What began with cleaning supplies stored in my garage slowly grew into Custom Cleanups, a thriving cleaning company serving families and businesses across Tampa Bay. Along the way, I learned that success isn’t built overnight—it’s built in small, intentional steps, in consistency, and in caring deeply about the people you serve.

Today, I’m not only a business owner but also a coach and mentor for other entrepreneurs, helping them find clarity and courage in their own journeys. My book, How Far I Have Risen: Coming Clean from Cancer, God, and My American Dream, tells more of that story—the hardships, the triumphs, and the lessons that shaped me.

The American Dream is still alive. It doesn’t matter if you start with a mop, a broom, or a big idea sketched on a napkin. What matters is that you start, that you care, and that you refuse to give up. From dishwasher to millionaire—or in my case, from house cleaner to business owner—the journey is proof that where you begin never limits where you can go.

15 Sep 2025
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Courage in Business: Why It’s the Real Game-Changer

September 15, 2025

When most people think about running a business, they imagine strategy, numbers, marketing plans, and long hours. And yes—those things matter. But underneath it all, there’s one trait that makes the difference between staying stuck and moving forward: courage.

Courage Over Comfort

Business ownership is not a straight line. There are risks, setbacks, and moments when you wonder if you’re cut out for this at all. It takes courage to:

  • Launch your business when others don’t believe in it.

  • Say no to clients or opportunities that don’t align with your values.

  • Admit when something isn’t working and try again.

  • Invest in yourself—even when it feels scary.

Courage doesn’t mean you’re never afraid. It means you move forward anyway.

Courage in Coaching

As a business coach, I see courage show up in my clients every day. Sometimes it’s the courage to finally ask for help. Other times, it’s the courage to be honest about what isn’t working.

One of the biggest shifts I see is when a business owner realizes they don’t have to carry it all alone. Reaching out for coaching isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a sign of strength. It means you’re willing to grow, to be challenged, and to open yourself up to new possibilities.

That’s courage.

Everyday Acts of Courage

Not all courageous moments are big, bold leaps. Sometimes it’s the small, daily actions that build resilience:

  • Picking up the phone to follow up with a potential client.

  • Having that tough conversation with an employee.

  • Owning up to a mistake and making it right.

  • Choosing to rest so you can come back stronger.

The more you practice courage in the small things, the easier it becomes to face the bigger challenges.

Why Courage Matters More Than Perfection

Here’s the truth: no one has it all figured out. Perfection is an illusion that keeps you from taking action. Courage is what moves you forward, even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed.

And in business, momentum matters. You don’t need to know every step—you just need to take the next one.

Final Thought

If you’re in a season of business where fear feels louder than your goals, remember this: courage doesn’t mean you have to do it alone. Coaching gives you the support, tools, and perspective to step forward with confidence—even when the path feels uncertain.

Because when you choose courage over comfort, you choose growth.

Ready to take your next courageous step in business? Let’s talk about how coaching can help.

01 Sep 2025
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Turning Dreams Into Reality

September 1, 2025

There’s a quote I love by Dr. Roopleen: “If you have a dream, don’t just sit there. Gather courage to believe that you can succeed and leave no stone unturned to make it a reality.”

Dreams are beautiful, but they don’t come to life on their own. Too often we think of them as distant wishes, something that might happen “someday.” The truth is, a dream is only the beginning. What makes it powerful is the action you’re willing to take to pursue it.

Courage is the fuel that transforms a dream into something more. Courage doesn’t mean you aren’t afraid. It means you move forward even while fear is whispering in your ear. It means you trust yourself enough to take the first step, and then the next. Every entrepreneur, every leader, every person who has ever built something meaningful started by deciding that their dream was worth the effort, the risk, and the persistence.

In my own journey, I’ve seen how fragile dreams can feel in the beginning. When I came to the United States, I had to start small, cleaning homes with nothing more than determination and a vision for something better. It wasn’t easy. There were days filled with doubt, exhaustion, and setbacks. But I refused to let those moments define me. Instead, I leaned into courage. I took the next step, and then the one after that. Over time, that small dream grew into a thriving business and opened the door for me to mentor and coach others as they chase their own goals.

Leaving no stone unturned means being willing to show up again and again, even when it feels like progress is slow. It means trying new approaches, learning from mistakes, and staying committed to the bigger picture. It means believing in yourself even when no one else can see the vision as clearly as you do.

Your dream matters. Not because it’s easy, but because it’s yours. And if you’re willing to pair it with courage and consistent action, you’ll discover that dreams are not fragile at all—they’re incredibly resilient. They just need you to fight for them.

So if you have a dream, don’t just sit there. Decide that it’s worth it. Take a step today. And keep going until the dream that once lived only in your heart becomes the reality you’re living every single day.

08 Jun 2025
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You Can Start a Cleaning Business with Only One Person

June 8, 2025

By Jacky Costello, author of How Far I Have Risen: Coming Clean from Cancer, God, and My American Dream

When I first came to the U.S., I started cleaning homes on my own — just me, a few supplies, and a big dream. I didn’t have a business plan, investors, or a team. What I did have was determination, faith, and the willingness to start where I was.

And that’s really all you need. You can start a cleaning business with only one person — yourself.

At the beginning, you’ll wear every hat: owner, marketer, cleaner, scheduler, and customer-service rep. It can feel like a lot, but the beauty of being a one-person company is the freedom it gives you. You get to decide your hours, your clients, and how quickly you want to grow. I loved that I could attend my son’s school events, meet a friend for breakfast, or schedule doctor appointments without asking anyone’s permission. That flexibility is priceless.

Of course, it takes work — a lot of it. You’ll scrub, market, quote jobs, and sometimes doubt yourself. But if you stay consistent, communicate well, and serve every client like they’re your only one, success will follow.

Do You Have the Right Personality for a Cleaning Business?

Running a cleaning business isn’t for everyone. It requires independence, compassion, self-motivation, and trustworthiness. You’ll enter people’s homes — their most private spaces — and it’s your job to make them feel safe and cared for. You should genuinely enjoy cleaning, have an eye for detail, and take pride in seeing instant results.

Customer-service skills are just as important as cleaning skills. You’ll need to communicate clearly, manage expectations, and build relationships. As someone whose first language isn’t English, I had to push past my fears and keep improving every day. If I could do it, so can you.

From Cleaner to Coach

Today, I not only run Custom Cleanups, a thriving cleaning company in Florida, but I also coach aspiring entrepreneurs who want to start or scale their own service-based businesses. I’ve learned that what helps a one-person cleaning business grow is the same foundation that helps any entrepreneur succeed — discipline, consistency, and belief in yourself even on the tough days.

If you’re thinking about starting your own cleaning business (or any business!) and don’t know where to begin, I’d love to help. I offer hourly mentoring sessions to help you set realistic goals, build systems, and avoid costly mistakes — so you can skip the confusion and focus on growth.

30 May 2025
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Why Having Someone in Your Corner Matters as a Business Owner

May 30, 2025

Running a business isn’t for the faint of heart. Some days it feels like you’re on top of the world, and other days it feels like you’re carrying it. Between clients, employees, family, and the never-ending to-do list, entrepreneurship can get heavy.

That’s why having someone in your corner matters.

Whether it’s a mentor, a coach, or a trusted advisor, the right person can:

  • Help you see blind spots you didn’t notice.

  • Guide you through tough decisions with clarity.

  • Remind you that you don’t have to do this alone.

In my coaching, I’ve seen firsthand how even a single focused session can shift the way someone runs their business. Sometimes it’s about mindset, sometimes it’s strategy, and sometimes it’s simply having someone listen and say, “Yes, you’re on the right track.”

You don’t need a long-term contract or expensive package to get support. That’s why I offer hourly coaching sessions—you get the help you need, when you need it.

Because at the end of the day, business owners need someone in their corner too.

Ready to lighten the load and take your next step forward? Let’s connect.