Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Sherrill.
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 started Imperial Cleaning System in 2014 after being released from federal prison in 2013. My first year out, I worked at Maggiano’s Little Italy to fulfill my parole obligations. Honestly, my plans, at the time, were to work as a food busser and prove myself worthy to be a manager of the restaurant. Looking back now, I realize I had manager ambition when God had CEO plans. I went in for my annual review and received a ten-cent raise. I politely declined and started Imperial Cleaning Systems the next day.
Since then, we have grown into a multi-million dollar commercial and construction janitorial company with over twenty employees. If it’s dirty…we clean it. It’s amazing being able to give employment opportunities to individuals in times such as these.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Smooth? Definitely not. Worthwhile? Absolutely. I operate in a ‘for the good of those mindsets and mentality. Life, and especially entrepreneurship, is not meant to be smooth. The tougher the path, the more you appreciate the destination. People experience hardships, struggles, and difficulties based on choices, situations, and circumstances that surround them. My struggles were rooted in my past decisions. As a returned citizen, it was difficult to establish a stable foundation and there were no equitable opportunities. I had to work 4x as hard as the next person to get a fourth of what they had. Stigmas can be debilitating if you let them.
Aside from that, I experienced the traditional and common struggles of a business owner. Labor shortages. Processes. Undercut pricing by competitors. Volatile markets. All the things that make for textbook entrepreneurship.
Because of my experiences, I became an advocate for equity and change. Having tough conversations that evoke change and open eyes.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Imperial Cleaning Systems?
We are a commercial and construction cleaning company based in Nashville that services companies and construction sites across Tennessee. While we clean any commercial space, our niche is construction cleaning and preparing spaces for occupancy and turnover. What sets us apart from our competitors is our standard of excellence, work ethic, and ability to deliver services in emergency cases. While there are many cranes in the Nashville skyline, we pride ourselves on being the most of those sites providing cleaning services and keeping workers safe and productive.
We also offer floor services, window cleaning, and pressure washing. We are expanding, always hiring, and a felon-friendly company!
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Life makes me happy. Redemption. Grace. Forgiveness. Uninhibited joy. Adventure. Seeing other people happy. Helping others. Golf and bourbon. Traveling. The simple things in life.
I believe we are always in the search of the next happy moment. We are force-fed society’s standards of what happiness is supposed to look and feel like. We have to define it for ourselves.
The simple things in life make me happy because I raised myself and the simple things were what kept me grounded and focused.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@imperialcleaningsystems.com
- Website: www.imperialcleaningsystems.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/imperialcleaningsystems
- Facebook: facebook.com/imperialcleaningsystems
