It’s safe to say that no one has had a more unexpected introduction to CrestClean than Dominik Drahoninský.
Originally from the Czech Republic, Dominik moved to New Zealand in 2012. Just nine months after arriving, he was rear-ended at a red light by a CrestClean van. At the time, he was working as a disability carer and had no idea that a minor fender bender would change the course of his life.
As luck would have it, the woman driving the van was Slovakian, and the two struck up a conversation in their native language. Fortunately, there was no damage done, and after sharing a laugh about the situation, Dominik mentioned that he was new to Auckland and looking for a place to live.
“She told me straight away they had a room available – and we ended up living there for one and a half years,” he laughs.
Over a few friendly chats and drinks with their new flatmates, Dominik and his partner Barbora learned more about CrestClean and how to buy a franchise. By 2014, they were running their own CrestClean business.
“We started the business because of them. We’re still very close because they guided us,” he says.
Dominik came to New Zealand on a leap of faith. While living in Germany, he saw someone wearing a T-shirt with “New Zealand” printed on it and asked them what it was like to live there. When he found out how much this person loved the country, he made the decision to apply for a working holiday visa and give it a go himself.
When he first arrived in New Zealand, Dominik didn’t speak any English. Determined to find work, he got creative with how he taught himself the language.
“Basically, for a whole month I was on YouTube and going back and forth to the beach with a book,” he says.
“After two months, I got my first interview.”
That interview led to his first job as a carer, and within two years, he owned his own business.
“Originally it was just an idea to save money for a house,” he says. “We never thought we could run a business.”
So, did they end up buying a house?
“Yes. Three times already,” he laughs.
Now a long-standing and respected franchise owner, Dominik serves on CrestClean’s Franchise Advisory Panel, which is a group of experienced franchisees who represent and support others in the network.
Sometimes, the most unexpected moments can open the door to life-changing opportunities. Dominik’s chance meeting turned into a successful future.
“Life shows you the way sometimes and you can choose to either take it or not.”
