Legitimizing The Detailing Industry Part 5 of 5: My Experience

This is a five-part article series. Click here for parts 1 through 5!

One of my closest friends asked me, “where do you find these people?!”  (referring to my clients)

Do you want to be a successful business owner?  The products listed on the right will not save you.  This fragment of my reading collection does not account for mentorship that I have paid money for and hours of networking with people more successful than me.

This message is for those that believe success in the professional realm comes down to whether you charge more or charge less, word of mouth advertisement, and thoughtlessly hustling until you live the dream.  If you see professional detailing as merely an escape from your frustrations in the workplace it will show.  I can see it in people’s social media posts.  Those same problems you are avoiding in the workplace will find you in an ownership setting.  Ultimately potential customers will see you as not credible.

I have been through difficult times in my personal life.  I do not believe I would have been mentally strong enough to run a detailing business 15 years ago.  My personal evolution will always continue and be ongoing.  If you are leaving your workplace for professional detailing as merely an escape you are asking for greater frustration.  When you start a detailing business you quickly find out really were your friends.  A lot of people do not respect what you do as a legitimate business.  Being able to operate with professional decorum and set boundaries for people who will try to take advantage of you is part of running a business.  One of the big problems with a low barrier to entry businesses like this comes down to our motivations for entry.  If I could give one piece of advice to a business owner, that would be to take care of your inner demons.  The pressure the outside world puts on your fears and insecurities will derail you.