Episode Title

Who Squeezed My Lemons? Turning Grit, Risk, and Real-Life Lessons Into a Book with Eric Montes

📄 Episode Description

In this episode of Cleaning Processes with Jerry, Jerry reconnects with longtime industry colleague Eric Montes—chemical‑industry veteran and now author of Who Squeezed My Lemons: 100 Unfiltered Truths About Grit, Risk, and Turning Sour Into Sweet in Business and Life.

Eric shares the story behind writing his first book, why he kept the project secret until the final days, and how a single viral LinkedIn post sparked the idea to turn years of personal notes into a published work. He talks openly about vulnerability, authenticity, and why short‑form, straight‑to‑the‑point content resonates in 2026.

Jerry and Eric also dig into:

• How Who Moved My Cheese inspired the structure of the book
• The power of capturing ideas in your phone’s Notes app
• Why perfection is the enemy of shipping meaningful work
• The emotional side of creating public content
• How Eric’s company, Magnus, built a razor–blade recurring‑revenue model in a commoditized chemical market
• The importance of trust, storytelling, and staying connected with good people

Follow Eric on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericmmontes/

🍋 Special Listener Giveaway

Want a chance to win a free copy of Who Squeezed My Lemons?

Email Jerry@hospitalitycleaning101.com with the subject line LEMON and you’ll be entered into a drawing to have a copy of the book sent directly to you.

Want to level up your operation?

Visit HospitalityCleaning101.com — home to 120+ practical, no‑nonsense articles on cleaning, sanitation, and chemical management built specifically for hospitality and food service pros.

If you’re looking to break into the hospitality market, check out the consulting page to see how Jerry partners with manufacturers and distributors to build real traction and real revenue.

Jerry Bauer
Hospitality Cleaning 101
Jerry@hospitalitycleaning101.com