Doing the right thing, at the right time.

It looks like a great place TD! Congratulations and good luck.
 
I often mention that the only stupid question is the one that's not asked.

The only way you learn is to ask questions and have someone take the time to properly explain and answer the question.

I enjoy teaching and mentoring those just starting out or for that matter anyone who has the time to ask a question. If you're willing to take the time to ask a question, I'll take the time to answer it....:props:

Dave,

Congratulations on your new shop and the best of luck in the future!! :props:
 
Dave this is a very inspiring story. I agree with you, whole heartedly, in the fact that this here forum is woven with alot of fantastic people. I am aware of other forums, but I too call this place home. I enjoy interacting with you guys and sharing stories/experiences/knowledge.

It amazing what you have taken from this simple online forum. I commend you and applaud your character and attitude. Your grandmother was indeed a wise woman. Matter of fact, I plan on incorporating those words that you have shared with us in my own personal life.

Thank you for taking the time to share this story with us. I wish you luck with this new adventure and I hope to hear/read many stories from this. Thanks again for sharing man!
 
Dave, your story is an inspiration in itself.

I can tell you are part of a special group of people that developed the courage to make the necessary changes and sacrifices in your life "in the blind"..... without a clear understanding as to how much benefit you would derive from the countless times you did the "right thing" rather than satisfy the impulse to blindly react. That takes heart and character. Thanks for sharing, congratulations on your new opportunity, be proud in what you have done and best of luck.

http://www.socialwork.buffalo.edu/s...pirational/Two_Wolves_-_A_Cherokee_Legend.pdf
 
Congratulations Dave.

Being a young guy, I look up to people like you. The words spoken in your posts are great things to live by. Staying calm, generous, and keeping most words you want to say to yourself seems to keep yourself on the right track these days. I can say that just from seeing your posts, I do not know many people that seem as giving as you are Dave. Your Grandmother spoke words that I agree with so very much. I wish you luck with your new space and work!
 
Thanks guys, really. @Ryan...When I see a young fellow say what you just said there it makes it all worth it. I am reminded of the movie "What about Bob" because looking back over the last few years there were a lot of "Baby Steps" involved in this venture.

As an exercise, sometimes I do an advanced search on my own posts and go back to the earliest dates listed and read some of the questions that I used to ask. It's somewhat comical. Really...try it once.

Nothing like journaling and going back and reading your first journal to realize the growth that has occurred over time.
 
Your always inspiring me Dave. That looks like a fantastic place! Looks like you're truly practicing these principals in all your affairs. I know its much easier said then done. You are someone I aspire to be like.
 
What a great story. Always something to keep in mind.

Thank you for sharing
 
Dave,

I don't know the details of your past, but I do know that you have adopted many positive attitudes. I believe you to be one of the kindest, most thoughtful, and humble individuals on this board. And certainly one of the most selflessly helpful. I know you believe in offering a lot of value to your customers and this is admirable. However, don't shortchange your value to yourself and don't sell yourself short to others. I believe everybody here would have you forgive yourself for your past troubles so that you may shine. Now sir, is your time to shine. :)
 
Good luck. I wish you nothing but success. It will be great to have 1 central location for all your supplies. Make sure you personalize the inside. Hang a few banners, old license plates. Something to make it your own.
 
:buffing:Dave,thanks for sharing your story,you have always been very helpful to us on the AGO forum.That garage looks great.Congrats.
 
Damn what a nice story. Definitely something to keep in mind, I won't forget this one. Congratulations man you are a BOSS
 
Congrats !!!!!!

There are other forums detail, auto related that don,t give a darn about people questions or think its stupid.
Detailing can be very confusing because of all the waxes, cleaners, tools,different colors of cars. DD and garage queens .
I have learned alot from people here at AG so now I have a good idea on what to use and how to work on my Garage queen and my wifes car.

GOOD LUCK !!!!!

THANKS!!!!!
:applause::applause::applause:
 
Wow, I'm a little late to the party, but best wishes to you and yours Dave. Congratulations.
 
I received a PM from Hoytman yesterday about this thread. I actually kind of forgot about what I had written in it so I came to it this morning to read over it. Brings some warm, fuzzy feelings with a full body shiver and hairs standing up on my arms and neck reading the part (and remembering) where my grandmother talked to me about paying it forward as a young lad. Oh how I miss her...

There was so much more involved in the way I ended up at this shop that I could probably write a book about it. Looking back over the past few years and thinking about the people who graced my life along the way makes me think about "coincidence" or "luck".

I had met a wonderful man named Dr. Rodney K. Hough who had become a mentor, a father figure, a motorcycle riding partner, my doctor and my best friend. When I would speak to Rod about coincidence or how bizarre or unexplainable some chance happenings were to me , he'd say "Dave, coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous". I had come to refer to these unexplainable happenings as "God Shots". There were many of these "God Shots" along the way for me and a lot of folks around me.

My father, who perhaps has his feet a little more firmly planted on the ground concerning such things would say to me...

"Dave...Branch Rickey used to say...."Luck is the residue of design", so keep doing what you're doing and great things will come to pass for you".

I guess my beliefs fall somewhere in between what my father always said about Branch Rickey, and what the late great Dr.Rodney K. Hough said about coincidence. My great friend Dennis that I met back in 1978 always says "You got what you got, because you do what you do".

A quote from a philosophical writing by James Allen that I read and re-read over the years comes to mind, and really supports what my friend Dennis and my father said, and what I wrote in the original post of this thread, or perhaps what we all said supports what James Allen wrote. (He wrote it before we said it.) Here's the quote....

"Men do not attract that which they want, but that which they are. Their whims, fancies, and ambitions are thwarted at every step, but their inmost thoughts and desires are fed with their own food, be it foul or clean. Man is manacled only by himself; thought and action are the jailors of Fate--they imprison, being base; they are also the angels of Freedom--they liberate, being noble. Not what he wished and prays for does a man get, but what he justly earns. His wishes and prayers are only gratified and answered when they harmonize with his thoughts and actions".

Little did I know that auto detailing as a side living would actually be the stepping stone to that which is currently providing the majority of my income. Through the relationship that Tim (my landlord at the shop) and I are building, I've been given the opportunity to direct my efforts from something that is wanted to something that is needed.

Everyone likes a beautifully polished car or truck, but the various institutions that I'm currently providing mobility services to need their wheelchair lifts and their vans or buses to be in good working condition. This opportunity affords me the ability to stay busy all year round, and to incorporate my detailing skills into the mix of offered services. The mechanical experiences of my past employments are being offered as well, pretty much providing my clientele with a "One Stop Shop" concerning the maintenance, service and repair of their vehicles.

They can have their vans washed, lifts serviced or repaired, any wear and tear items replaced and through my network of other service providers, have their state inspections carried out, their vinyl graphics needs met, tires replaced etc. etc.

I really don't have time to schedule any detailing work, though the calls are starting to come in more and more as warmer weather approaches. I try to book what I can and farm the work out to other guys who I can trust to provide quality work under my business name. It's really hard to find these kinds of folks who aren't already busy doing their own thing. It seems that those who aren't busy doing their own thing, aren't busy for reasons related to James Allen's above quote.

It looks as if I may have to start turning away the detailing related work all together, though I do have a couple really loyal customers that I'll try to service around my normally scheduled affairs.

It is pretty interesting thinking about the fact that things today are different than they were when I came to this shop, and that things into the future will change as I see fit. It's one thing to read and think about that quote from James Allen's masterfully written "As A Man Thinketh" , it's a whole nother thing to consciously combine thought and action and watch the seeds take form and flower.

OK, enough rambling from me about me....

Thanks for reading and commenting in this thread..TD
 
It's a good read, things happen in people's life for a reason. Continued success to you!
 
That is a great story and display of paitents on your part...and duly rewarded. You are very deserving Dave.
 
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