Meet Vanessa Williams | Owner of R. Will Cleaner’s & Co.

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

Hi Vanessa, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Life is all about risk taking. As you grow and learn the ways of the world, you also learn to take more calculated risks. Calculated risks help move us forward on our life’s purpose path. They say, “Fortune favors the brave ”. When stepping out on faith in yourself, you will win every time. Faith in yourself shouldn’t feel like a risk, though–you have to feel it in your gut! Going for your dreams should feel good! Scary, yes, but definitely should feel good! Starting my cleaning company definitely was scary but it was a risk that felt calculated and aligned with my purpose. You can’t fight against that gut feeling. My entire life, I’ve moved with that gut feeling. Yes, maybe ignoring it longer than I should, but every time I move with that feeling, I’m always happy I did. See, you gotta trust yourself first, then take that calculated aligned risk!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

Here at R. Will Cleaners and Co., we provide commercial and residential cleaning to the metro Atlanta area. We also provide home and office organization, Airbnb staging, Airbnb cleaning, rental property management, sanitation cleaning, fogging, and interior decorating. R. Will Cleaners prides itself on good business. We provide services better than what you could have expected. We are a reliable company that arrives on time and continually gives consistent, exceptional, service. We continue to learn new methods and teach our employees to always provide a 5 star clean. We use nothing but the best equipment and supplies to ensure the best clean.

Growing up I got the nickname Cinderella. Cleaning was something I had to do. By the time I reached high school, I knew that I cleaned so well that I could start making some money from it. Even though I was good at cleaning and organizing, it wasn’t ever something I thought about doing as an actual career. I spent my entire life dedicated to becoming a police officer in hopes of becoming a detective one day. After graduating with a degree in criminal justice, and spending so much time towards my goal of becoming a cop, I got fed up with the consistent police brutality happening everyday. I decided in 2017 that I could never stand behind the badge and uniform. That same year, I started working on a business plan to start my own cleaning business. At the time, I worked at Cafe Intermezzo, in the Atlanta airport. I had been working in the restaurant and customer service industry since high school. It was all I knew that could pay my bills, securely. Of course, I knew I couldn’t do that forever since I was giving up my idea of becoming a police officer. Nervously, I walked away and stepped out on faith. 5 years later, I’m still happy I decided to follow my gut and my heart to start my own business. My goal for R. Will Cleaners in the future is to be able to provide a safe workplace for women looking to start over, who have been victims of domestic violence. Cleaning can be therapeutic and it definitely has been for me. I plan on helping survivors of domestic abuse to become their own bosses by training them on how to 5 star clean and build a clientele of their own. “The game will test you, never fold. Stay ten toes down. It’s not in you, it’s on you and what’s in you, they can never take away”- Nipsey Hussle

That quote has and will forever be my business motto to success. Never give up on what you started. Never allow any setbacks or “no’s” stop you from going after what you want. Entrepreneurship is the hardest job you’ll ever have and the most overworked you’ll ever be. You have to be willing to keep going when you don’t want to. When you’re broke and/or broken. Keep praying, believing, and working. Most importantly, keep working, KEEP GOING.

You have to make sure you have a good work life balance so you don’t get burnt out. Trust me, it happens to the best of us. Late nights and early mornings is the life of an entrepreneur. For me, I make sure I’m at the gym by 6am to keep my physical body and mind in shape. I get massages every 2 weeks and I take time to sit and be still. My everyday motto I live by is to Just Be A Good Person. I strongly believe if you live by this, everything you go after, will come to fruition.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
What a great question! It’s been about 5 years since my best friend Lex has been back in Atlanta. She wouldn’t be able to recognize half the city. So much has changed since she’s been gone. Ok first things first, is business! It sounds cute and all but neither one of us could just get a week off totally! So I’m sure she’ll have to get some work done! I would recommend Black Coffee ATL, Just Add Honey Tea Company or Rosie’s Cafe to get some work done. My best friend loves to eat!! She looks at Yelp all day just gazing over food pictures. So, I definitely have to take her to some of the new amazing food spots like Slutty Vegan on Edgewood to try her first One Night Stand and see how Edgewood changed. Chattahoochee Food Works for all the amazing food options and vibes! Breakfast at Barney and Toast on Lenox will definitely be patronized during her stay! We can’t forget to hit up some of our old favorites like Jack’s Pizza, Thumbs Up Diner and 2 Urban Licks for the Beltline vibe! Speaking of the Beltline, I would have to plan a fun day to explore since so much has changed in the past few years. We’ll grab her skates and my bike for a cute little ride. As we follow the trail to Piedmont Park, we’ll stop at Ponce City Market, Playa Bowls and we’ll stop by the Kroger to have a glass of wine on the patio! I would also make plans to come back to visit The James Room for cocktails one evening as well! She would love the new Claremont Lounge and the rooftop views!! I can’t forget to take her to the new Braves Stadium! Going to The Battery is definitely the turn up for a good time! After a night of drinks, I have to take my bestie to her old favorite, The Cookout!! Don’t ask, LOL!! Since my best friend can sing, I would have to take her to the new karaoke spot, Mics, to sing our hearts out and take her to another Atlanta oldie but goodie, Pappadeaux, to eat! I would take her to the Trap Museum and Traffic for the drag show on Sunday’s for brunch. We’d end the weekend at Rock Steady for the Sunday vibes and tasty bites and cocktails!

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?

My clients deserve the biggest shoutout and recognition! Majority of my business and growth has been from word of mouth. My work not only speaks for itself, but so do my clients! My clients brag about my work in zoom meetings, house parties, movie sets, even on the golf course and other rooms I’m not in. That’s one the best advertising any business can have and it’s FREE!
My clients are the reason I get up at 5am to workout and start my day on the best positive note possible. My clients love the way I make their home or business look and feel! It’s a blessing to be a blessing. You can’t be successful in this industry with a bad reputation, awful attitude and terrible sense of time.
My clients can brag about my services because they are confident in my character and in my work. R.Will Cleaners pride ourselves on punctuality. Arriving on time is a must! We get the job done correctly and efficiently in a timely manner. Most importantly having a good attitude. All are major keys to success! Thank you to every single client, past present and future.

R. Will Cleaners & Co. is named after my father, Ralph Williams.
My father is a hard working man from a small town outside of Memphis, Tennessee! My father has always shown me a great example of giving love unconditionally and giving back to the community. In the process of figuring out a name for my cleaning company, I thought of my….Why? One of my reasons for following my heart and starting my own cleaning business was because no matter what decision I’ve made in life thus far, my father never judged me or didn’t have my back. I wanted my father to know that when he’s gone, the Williams’ legacy of being good people will forever live on! At R. Will Cleaners and Co., we provide excellent service with honesty and integrity!

I have to thank my amazing circle of friends. Entrepreneurship really has a lot of ups and downs, especially when you’re first starting out. You need that strong like-minded and motivated support system to lift you when you are ready to quit, tired or broke. My girls help motivate me to go harder everyday. When you have a circle you can call on to pray with, then you’re winning! Thank you so much to my circle! I love y’all.

My Effect Fitness family is another level of motivation for all areas of my life! My amazing fit family and gym is full of motivation and inspiration!! I’m surrounded by dope entrepreneurs, doctors and lawyers–young and old. Everybody there is a part of one goal, which is to get stronger and better everyday! To be a part of Effect Fitness is like inheriting another family! I’m truly thankful for the way my gym and gym family has changed and contributed to my life’s purpose, path, and success.

Website: rwillandco.com

Instagram: R. Will Cleaners and Co.

Image Credits
First picture Paulmcphersonjr http://www.paulmcpherson.com/