{"id":30844,"date":"2020-08-13T00:00:51","date_gmt":"2020-08-13T04:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.detailedimage.com\/Ask-a-Pro\/?p=30844"},"modified":"2020-08-13T08:56:35","modified_gmt":"2020-08-13T12:56:35","slug":"my-professional-detailing-journey-part-2-what-inspires-me","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.detailedimage.com\/Ask-a-Pro\/my-professional-detailing-journey-part-2-what-inspires-me\/","title":{"rendered":"My Professional Detailing Journey: Part 2 – What Inspires Me"},"content":{"rendered":"

It requires a certain level of vision, conviction (perhaps insanity), and inner wholeness to run a business. Welcome to the world of high end (as some call it) auto detailing.<\/p>\n

It is okay to say, “we are not a good fit”, to a potential customer and move on with your life. For some of the people who have followed me or know me personally, this may come as a shock to you.\u00a0 I have been called many derogatory things over an answered phone call from those inquiring about my detailing services that I cannot, will not, and should not repeat ever to a family audience.\u00a0 This animosity directed at me is usually triggered by my answers to questions about pricing and requirements to book a detail.\u00a0 For many people who successfully have run any kind of business, this likely is not news to you.<\/p>\n

Being able to handle some<\/strong> negativity is an unwritten prerequisite to running a business, especially a niche judged with assumptions and misinformation.\u00a0 Also, I have learned to put myself in a position over the years to where I do not need to deal with toxic people more than I must.\u00a0 Being professional during these moments in how you present yourself as well as setting mature professional boundaries is also paramount to running a business.<\/p>\n

I have also been treated like royalty, fed some quite incredible meals, and received some of the most thoughtful and heartfelt reviews imaginable from many clients.\u00a0 I assure you I am the same exact person that answers the phone.\u00a0 Positive experiences with new clients have become more and more the norm for me over time.\u00a0 This is a good thing for any business.\u00a0 I personally do not believe in selling a service that someone does not truly want.<\/p>\n

It took a couple of years for me to START to realize much of my frustration was trying to sell to someone who was never really interested to begin with.\u00a0 These people only wanted what they perceived to be detailing from their lens.\u00a0 I also realized that many of these people were the same people, who complained the most about the lack of quality.\u00a0 My advice to you, believe people’s actions over their words.\u00a0 If something was important enough to you, how much research would you put into partnering with the right business?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Blue-Prius-Detailed\"<\/p>\n

I always felt uneasy about people assuming that I only detail for the rich or only worked on supercars.\u00a0 My interpretation of professional auto detailing, a luxury service with an enthusiast’s heart, consequentially lends itself to those with more disposable income.\u00a0 It is a smart business practice to market more towards an affluent demographic.\u00a0 But in no way does that tell the real story of what I do.<\/p>\n

I was once a member of the local Chamber Of Commerce.\u00a0 I attended a professional social gathering hosted by the Chamber Of Commerce 2 1\/2 years ago when I engaged in a conversation with this gentleman.\u00a0 He of course asked me about my professional title.\u00a0 This led to a very impassioned rant about his previous detailing experience.\u00a0 He complained about the quality of work at the price he was paying.\u00a0 He asked me how much I would charge for an interior.\u00a0 I remember he chuckled and told me, “I have to see your work” before I give you that much money.\u00a0 For the record, I actually charged significantly less at the time than I do now.<\/p>\n

It was not the first nor the last time I was given an example that not everyone is my customer.<\/p>\n

Around this time, I detailed a vehicle for one of the wealthiest business owners in the city.\u00a0 He is the owner of multiple businesses in the area.\u00a0 After arriving to detail his vehicle and telling him the price he told me, “Rodney your prices are on the high end.\u00a0 I had a detailer who would do all of this for $125.\u00a0 But he stopped showing up.”\u00a0 He later admitted he really didn’t pay much attention to my website when he looked at it.\u00a0 He agreed to have me work on his vehicle in passive protest.\u00a0 What I mean by ‘passive protest’: to say the experience was uncomfortable would be an understatement.\u00a0 I remember his wife staring at me, sternly asking “why!” I was working on the vehicle so long.\u00a0 It was impossible to interpret the atmosphere as anything but a couple who felt bitter believing that I had conned them out of money.\u00a0 Although I made a very reasonable effort to clearly communicate my efforts, this experience is one example why I am so careful who I partner with.<\/p>\n

Owners in this industry often assume that fellow owners will appreciate and be understanding of how they run a business.\u00a0 This is a very flawed assumption.\u00a0 It assumes that a detailing business owner is RESPECTED as a real business owner and that the trade is taken seriously as well.\u00a0 That is often not the case.<\/p>\n

I recently purchased a Sony A6400 camera for my business.\u00a0 Soon afterward I was at Best Buy shopping for some camera accessories.\u00a0 I ran into a couple looking at the Sony camera range.\u00a0 I told them about the camera I chose.\u00a0 After asking them questions about their needs, I recommended the less expensive A6400 camera.\u00a0 The husband told me they were originally leaning on the A6500 because they equated a more expensive camera with better quality.\u00a0 The wife said I deserved an honorary commission. As I left the Best Buy, I begin to reflect upon the time I booked a basic detail with a grad couple.\u00a0 They told me about the conversations that they had from representatives of other businesses.\u00a0 \u00a0“We were told they could do everything for $100, but it scared us!\u00a0 And we have a black car.\u00a0 We also read your reviews.”For the frustrated business owner who reacts to the rants “you’re overpriced!”, do you ever wonder how many potential customers actually would<\/strong> appreciate what you have to offer but were scared off by your ‘my area’ ‘reasonable pricing’ fears and insecurities.\u00a0 Nobody ever volunteers a phone call “I was going to book, but you were so cheap I couldn’t take you seriously.”<\/p>\n

I have been told by many people, “Rodney that is not what people want.\u00a0 They ALL want cheap and fast.”
\nI also have been told multiple times, “Rodney this is what I prefer.”<\/p>\n

The owner of this Mercedes GLE booked for a multistage polishing (2 to 3 steps of paint correction).\u00a0 Although in this case, I polished slightly more due to the hard clear coat.<\/p>\n

\"Mercedes-Detailing<\/p>\n

As I was preparing to wash the car, the owner told me the story of a previous mobile service.\u00a0 “I paid them $100 they came and left in less than an hour.”\u00a0 He shook his head and said, “I was never going to call them again.”<\/p>\n

I remember at the beginning of washing his car, after foaming the car I went around the edges and emblems gently with my Detail Factory brush.\u00a0 My client and the pizza delivery driver likened me to an artist.\u00a0 Later in the evening, he asked about the light I was using (Scangrip Sunmatch).\u00a0 The ‘Sunmatch’ part of the title elicited a giggle from him.\u00a0 He would later notice I had taken out a second polisher, which elicited more giggling.\u00a0 This would be a common theme for the next few days.<\/p>\n

\"Mercedes-GLE\"<\/p>\n

He would often pull me aside for detailing questions and lunchtime conversation about his favorite YouTube auto detailers.<\/p>\n

I realized something after I concluded my detail.\u00a0 Many of the people that booked with me did not care whether or not I was the best or even one of the best detailers.\u00a0 They were moved by watching me put my heart into detailing their cars.\u00a0 That care and passion meant as much to them as the final tangible product.<\/p>\n

As professionals running a business, we wrap our heads into margins.\u00a0 For the record that is absolutely important.\u00a0 But are you doing the kind of detailing you love?\u00a0 If not, it is going to take a toll on you.\u00a0 There is a balance to this perspective only you can realize.\u00a0 I can take a slight loss in income for fulfillment.\u00a0 I likely would not be nearly as skilled or knowledgeable at my craft if this was ONLY for money.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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