The main tools of a window cleaner are his or her scrubber and squeegee. Both t-shaped instruments allow you to soap down the window and then "dry" it by channeling the soapy water off the glass. The scrubber is actually a wash cloth of sorts that soaks up the soapy water and transfers it to the window. The squeegee is a rubber blade apparatus that drys the window by channeling the water down the pane. The art of window cleaning is in mastering the squeegee. It takes practice to quickly dry the window in one smooth motion (especially on a very hot day). This treatment works just fine 95% of the time.
There are times, however, when after cleaning the window you notice there are some stubborn spots or debris on the window. Fingerprints on the inside of the windows of a restaurant are usually the most stubborn because there's usually sticky food residue such as pancake syrup or grease. A second treatment with the scrubber usually takes care of it but sometimes the spots require the use of a razor blade or 0000 gauge steel wool. Quadruple "0" gauge is super fine and won't scratch or permanently mark the window. It's the only gauge of steel wool that you can use. The steel wool is a marvel tool because it quickly removes the stubborn spots without harming the glass.
As I pursue personal growth, I find that a good book, a motivational lecture or a training conference act as the super fine steel wool to remove the stubborn spots without damaging the window of my spirit. I'm grateful for those who are willing to share their wisdom gained through their own growth journey and help my "window" to shine a little brighter. Like the steel wool, their words can be a little abrasive to my current situation but all the while helping to make me better in the long run.
Benjamin Disraeli once said, "The greatest good you can do for another is not just share your riches, but to reveal to him his own." To all who would do me good by revealing to me the riches of my life, scrub away!
