We were lucky to catch up with Abraham Jacome Gonzalez recently and have shared our conversation below.
Abraham , so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I worked at a not-for-profit organization for almost 25 years, under a modest stipend that was financially strategic and meaningful to me. During that time a earned a bachelor’s degree in health psychology with a minor in religion and worked closely with underserved communities. This experience changed me.
When you sit across someone who have lost everything and is still searching for hope, your perspective shifts. You become less judgmental. More patient. More human. I learned that strength often hides behind broken stories and that dignity matters. For a long time, I believed that was my purpose, to serve in that space. And maybe it was, for that season.
When I resigned, I expected to transition naturally into the mental health field. On paper, I was qualified. In reality, I spent eight months searching without success. I was admitted to a master’s program to continue my studies in mental health, but savings began to shrink. The pressure became real. Purpose feels clear when doors are open. It feels much less clear when they close.
At a critical moment, my brother offered me part-time work and support while I figured things out. Accepting help was not easy but I needed it and took it because I know humility is growth. Around that time, I noticed something: I knew many hardworking individuals with experience in cleaning and maintenance who were looking for stable employment. I began to look at commercial cleaning not as a temporary solution, but as a serious opportunity.
I started to ask around and spent a few months researching the industry. I observed, I ran numbers, I structured operations and then registered the company. (all my savings went there).
Launching a commercial cleaning business was not part of my original life plan. But purpose, I’ve learned, is rarely about sticking to a script. It is about responding with courage when life changes the scene.
My ambition has never been “to have”. It has always been “to be”
to be reliable.
to be an example.
to be someone who creates opportunity for others.
Money is necessary. It measures sustainability and growth. But it does not define meaning. If success only ends with personal gain, it feels incomplete. To me, true success, is building something that allows others to stand.
People sometimes asked me if leaving the nonprofit world felt like abandoning my calling. Even though is a deep question I don’t feel that way. The years I served individuals facing addiction shaped the way I lead today. They made me more mindful, more empathetic, more aware of the value of second chances.
Those lessons now guide how I build a company, how I treat employees, how I serve clients. My faith plays a central role in this journey. Not in a loud or performative way, but in a grounding way. I believe my strength come from God. I believe my purpose is anchored in Him. I don’t know how far He intends for me to go. I don’t know what success will ultimately look like. I don’t know how long it will take to see the results of this risk. But I do know this; as long as I continue moving forward with integrity, I will be held up.
Finding my purpose was not a single revelation. It was a series of decisions, to serve, to study, to endure, to accept help, to take a risk, to build. Purpose, I’ve discovered, is less about a job tittle and more about alignment. Alignment between your values and your actions. Between your faith and your work. Between who you are and what you create.
I didn’t find my purpose by chasing a position. I found it by choosing to move forward when staying still felt safer. And sometimes, that is enough.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Today, I am the founder of a property cleaning company in New York City with a specialization in daycares, preschools, and corporate offices and a vision to get city contracts.
In daycares and preschools, cleanliness is directly connected to children’s health, safety and development. A properly clean and sanitized classrooms isn’t just about appearance, it’s about prevention and protection for children, staff and parents. My background in health psychology deeply influences how I approach these spaces. I understand how environment effects well-being, behavior, and emotional regulation. Clean spaces support calm, structure, and learning.
Corporate offices, on the other hand, operate at a different pace. Productivity, morale and professional image are closely tied to the physical workspace. A well-maintained office communicates discipline, credibility, and respect for employees. In high-traffic office settings, routine commercial cleaning is not just cosmetic, it is operational. It reduces absenteeism, maintains assets, and reinforces company standards.
What excites me more about this work is that it sits at the intersection of public health, leadership, and opportunity creation.
We offer more than just cleaning. We offer:
– Structured, consistent janitorial services.
– Reliable assigned staffing for each space.
– Clear communication and proper administration.
– Services tailored specially for the facility depending on the industry.
– Labor-Only or Full-Service.
– Routine and deep cleaning.
– Pre- and post-cleanups.
My goal is to establish long-term relationships with both, our clients and employees. I aim to express through our service performance that cleaning is not as easy as many people think of it. Undervaluing a service does not mean it loses its value.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back, three qualities have shaped my journey more than anything else: clarity, reliability, and disciplined care for people.
1. Clarity of Expectations because both nonprofit work and now in commercial cleaning I have learned that true success comes when expectations are clear and consistently met. Misalignment creates frustration but clarity build trust.
In daycares or corporate offices expectations cannot be vague because the scope of work in each industry must be defined to meet standards. Transparency, therefore, allows both ends, the service provider and the client to meet each other halfway.
To people early in the journey, I say: write things down, ask questions, set things by priority and learn about your strengths. Show people what can they expect from you and make sure you consistently deliver it. I assure you that you will become dependable.
2. Reliability and Consistency because I have learned that talent open doors but reliability keep them open. Especially in service-based industries, consistency is everything. No client wants any surprises. They seek stability. Show up on time, meet standards, and honor agreements.
To people early in their journey, I advise to build habits before ambition. “Wake up when you say you will and finish what you start.” This creates big reputation!
3. Respect for People and Attention to Detail because people perform best when they feel valued. This is why I treat clients and employees with the same respect and care.
To people early in their journey, I advise to develop emotional intelligence along with technical skills. Learn how to listen, how to correct without humiliating, and how to notice small things others overlook. Small things are often what define professionalism.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
When I feel overwhelmed, I don’t try to power through it blindly. I’ve learned that ignoring pressure only compounds it. Instead, I slow down and become intentional. The first thing I do is write a personal inventory. I sit down and as myself honest quotations like: what exactly overwhelms me? what is within my control? The second thing I do is talk about it in a grounding way and I ask questions to experience people.
I’ve learned that isolation magnifies overwhelming, especially when I am facing something unfamiliar. So, my process is simple; reflect, talk about it, reset when necessary and seek wisdom.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.leospropertycleaning.com
Image Credits
These pictures were taken while performing services in a daycare, a summer camp school, and a massage therapy facility.
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
