Meet Sateria Giles | Smiles with Giles Cleaning Services

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sateria Giles and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sateria, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
As we evolve, we embrace change. For me, my deepest transition was finding out I was pregnant. I was scared, I was worried, I had no clue how I would be able to balance new life becoming a mother, as well as follow my dreams. What i’ve learned is that you have to prioritize what is important to you. After giving birth, I realized there was nothing on earth more important than my child. I found it extremely challenging to balance work and life, but I had to do what I needed to. Somehow, I managed to clean full time up until the week before I was due. 10 months into having my daughter, I found out there would be a sibling joining our family. I continued to press forward and was able to start a full time cleaning business, and create the flexibility to become a mompreneur! I have yet to look back because I know my purpose is greater, and I am no longer on this journey for myself. It is challenging keeping up with 2 under 2, and having a full time business, but what God has for you, will be for you and you will be able to manuever through life much easier when you understand your purpose! My balance has changed overtime, because I may not be able to accept all business due to my children coming first. I am still prioritizing business and family, and often think about the balance between both. So far so good!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What sets me apart from other cleaning services is my attention to detail. Most companies have multipe people on the job, but since I have started this business it has been just me. That can sometimes be challenging depending on the size of the home, but I am strategic with my cleaning, thorough, efficient and that is what keeps my client base steady. I am dependable, trustworthy and I have fun with the job, and that is not easy to find when looking for a cleaner. I am extremely passionate about what I do, and my job is to be of service to others. I may fold a blanket a particular way, or create different shapes in design in the toilet paper. That helps me stand out from others, but most importantly I make your home smell amazing. That is probably the common statement amongst my clients.. “Wow! it smells so good in here!” It brings me much joy to know someone is pleased with my work, and would ask me to come back when they could find any company with more than one person working the job, and completing the job in half the time I could. That tells me I am doing something right, and motivates me to keep going. I am most proud of how I receive business. 85% of the work I have received is word of mouth. I can go into a home for a deep cleaning, and 24 hours later have someone calling stating they received my number from someone and wanted a cleaning. It really started out that simple for me, and I have grown so much, that now I need to hire a team! I got where i am today by trusting in the Lord, and asking him to guide my path. Leaning on my village to push me to be my best and truest self within this business, and to be open to receive all that is ahead of me. It has not been easy at all, but in my mind I am a superhero with the intent to save the world through a magical spray and a big smile. One lesson I have learned along the way is that I cannot do everything alone. I want the world to know that Smiles with Giles has purpose in this business. I am a fairly new small business, but I am determined to make a name for myself and my brand. I am thankful for every client I have now, and will be grateful for what is to come.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My best friend Mekeina and I have been together since kindergarten. This is such an interesting question because she has always loved to get out and see new things, while i have always been more of a homebody. If she were coming to visit, we would first go to our favorite chinese place in lithonia GA CHOU LEE’S. They have the best food ever, and we have been eating it since we were kids. After that we would have a spa day at treat your feat, along with a mani and pedi at our favorite nail place D NAILS! There is so much to do here in Atlanta, but after getting our relaxation on, we would then go to Ponce city market ti the top deck for some social drinking and fun, and finish things off with more food at cirque daquiri because we love those, and VR Sandbox to step into the virtual reality, We never truly know where life is going to take us. A Pisces x Sag combo is the healthiest friendship I have ever been in. We are eachother’s support system, therapist, confidant and I am honestly not sure where I would be without her, We are literally two peas in a pod, and found out we were having children around the same time. Her now with 2 boys and me with 2 girls. She’s my best person and I love her until the end of our time. Thank you for always loving and supporting me best friend

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would love to give recognition to my dad Ron Murphy. For 12 years, I watched and cleaned numerous schools, offices, and homes with him, as he launched his own cleaning business. He wanted commercial, and I wanted residential. Cleaning has always come natural to me, but watching and working with him so long, I convinced myself that this business was not only something I am good at, but it’s something I could do for myself while continuing to help him. His mentoring and support pushed me to believe in myself. I also have to recognize a previous cleaning company I worked for before launching Smiles with Giles Cleaning LLC. If it were not for them. I don’t believe I would have been motivated and encouraged enough to believe starting a business was something I could do. I was fired from the job due to having Covid, and having someone have that kind of power over me lit a fire under me I cannot explain. I wanted to follow through with a passion of mine since the age of 6. Cleaning brings a different type of peace and relaxation to me, and to be able to service others in a way that takes a weight off of them, and allows them to be comfortable in and love their homes, that is why I started this business. in 22 days, that cleaning company taught me how I can attract and create generational wealth for my family. That company assisted me with learning the proper way to clean areas, and to be efficient.

Instagram: @swgcleaningllc