austinz
New member
- Oct 14, 2015
- 61
- 0
Greetings to all on the forum! I am a long time lurker and detailing fanatic who has finally decided to pursue what makes me happy, and that is working with cars. Detailing has always been a part of my passion for cars, even before I could drive. I would wash my Hot Wheels and set up a fully operating car wash as a kid, and as a teen I would detail my bicycles and motorcycles incessantly. Fast forward to today, and I am a husband and father and have owned over a hundred cars and motorcycles over the years. I have been active in both the virtual and the real world car scene, peaking in the late 90's to early 00's as the internet really took off, and the concept of car-based online forums got a foothold. I was in my early 30's and had no kids, an understanding wife and a few cool cars I played with. I was able to spend all my free time on car stuff, and I met some great people and had some great times.
Soon, parenthood came into the picture and I focused on my children and working the corporate ladder. While I thrived, after well over a decade of that, I have come to realize that the corporate life is a good way to crush your soul and rob your family of things far more valuable than money. So, I parted ways with my latest corporate master earlier this year and after some time to reflect and enjoy a break, I have decided to take the leap and start my own business.
I currently have nine cars, several of which I have purchased to restore, enjoy for a while, and then sell to fund the business. Having the time, space and resources to do it, this fall I dug in much deeper to detailing than time has allowed in the past. Having spent time reading on Autopia over the years and other various sites, as well as seeing Mike on various shows, I knew there was a lot of information out there. I also knew that there had been significant industry developments in the last 5-7 years, so my knowledge and products were needing an update. I started digging in and educating myself.
Today, I am on the precipice of launching my business in 2016 and I have learned volumes from reading on this forum. I have been able to get hands on experience with the tools and products of today, and the pride in the results is very rewarding. Thanks to all of you who contribute to this board - it is an invaluable resource! Mike & Nick and the crew at AutoGeek are truly an example of how to take care of your customer base.
Soon, parenthood came into the picture and I focused on my children and working the corporate ladder. While I thrived, after well over a decade of that, I have come to realize that the corporate life is a good way to crush your soul and rob your family of things far more valuable than money. So, I parted ways with my latest corporate master earlier this year and after some time to reflect and enjoy a break, I have decided to take the leap and start my own business.
I currently have nine cars, several of which I have purchased to restore, enjoy for a while, and then sell to fund the business. Having the time, space and resources to do it, this fall I dug in much deeper to detailing than time has allowed in the past. Having spent time reading on Autopia over the years and other various sites, as well as seeing Mike on various shows, I knew there was a lot of information out there. I also knew that there had been significant industry developments in the last 5-7 years, so my knowledge and products were needing an update. I started digging in and educating myself.
Today, I am on the precipice of launching my business in 2016 and I have learned volumes from reading on this forum. I have been able to get hands on experience with the tools and products of today, and the pride in the results is very rewarding. Thanks to all of you who contribute to this board - it is an invaluable resource! Mike & Nick and the crew at AutoGeek are truly an example of how to take care of your customer base.
