There is a difference between seeing reckless, careless, and genuine hack detailing behavior (which is common) versus being threatened by a different approach or attitude that awakens your insecurities.

I know you worked on 1,000 Ferraris.  That is 2 more Ferraris than the person you are criticizing.  But the person responding to your criticism did 20 Bugattis.  Even if you are right, or heaven forbid are doing it a better way (only your way), could there be a better way to represent yourself without putting someone else down.  Why do you need to embarrass or shame someone publicly or attack privately, to validate or communicate what you believe in.  Perhaps you should get over yourself.  Maybe I, perhaps all of us, should lighten up.

Ego is a popular word to criticize trolls and people influenced by toxic industry dogma.  But this is why I say insecurity.  Because if you think about what, “if you were more like me life would be fair”, sound like to you.

Having an ego, well let’s look at it as pride.  I hope we take pride in our OCD.  I push my OCD with pride to market my Mirror Reflections Auto Spa.  I believe I am the best provider for many people, especially like minded individuals.  There are other businesses in Gainesville that provide good or even great services.  There are businesses that are a better fit for a potential customer, regardless of whether my peers view me or another business as superior.  I do not recall commenting on another business post and page, mocking or insulting them.  I do not passively do this in public detailing groups.  Is the person that engages in that behavior really adding value?  In that sense (yes) they perhaps are like an addiction feeding their ego.  If you believe so strongly in your methods versus someone else, why is your social media accounts barren of content.  What a great opportunity to showcase why you are the better option.  Maybe you are not.

You can also easily notice toxic advice.  They start with catch phrases like ‘if you are a REAL detailer, do XYZ’ or ‘I have zero respect for people who (who offer ABC).’  There is little substance behind their post on detailing groups that would provide educational content.  Just a passive suggestion that they are the ‘real professional.’  It would be interesting if they could explain why they believe their method of interior detailing is more effective or their need to polish, or even polish to infinity before we have your permission to apply a ceramic coating on our own customers’ vehicles.  I suspect many do not know and are regurgitating what they have heard out of (you guessed it) insecurity.  I wonder why kind of experience these trolls give their customers, that want to let others know they are not on their level because they don’t use their favorite polisher.

For the record there are things that Mike Phillips and Larry Kosilla do, that I philosophically do not do or am comfortable doing.  I also believe I am not in their realm.  Personally I may not be where I am today without the wisdom and support offered by Mike Phillips.  I may not have been inspired to be a professional detailing solopreneur without seeing a real life example of Larry Kosilla.  I find it very hard to believe they are engaging in reckless detailing behavior, steering car enthusiasts in the wrong direction.  I also do not believe you need a mandate from them or anyone to validate yourself.