Detailing as a Career

Very well said Moe!



I am starting my own detailing business at 21. Just finished 3 days straight of detailing 6 cars for a Car Show... 14 hours the first day, 20 hours the second, and just got home from an 11 hour day....



It was gruelling, and VERY TIRING! I definitly do not have any energy left for anything, so I'm glad I don't have kids yet!



Then again, nothing beats $1200 in 3 days :Paypal:
 
You have received lots of good advice. In the end, I don't think the decision you make at 17 will have that big of an impact on your life. I remember how great this decision seemed to me at that age. In hindsight, the decisions I made in later years had a much more profound impact on my life. If you're ever going to be interested in college, you'll get there. If you're not interested now, work for a while and see how interesting that is. Nothing like real experience to point you in the right direction. I think community college is an excellent idea. It's a fraction of the cost of a 4-year college, it offers some vocational opportunities that those colleges don't, and it doesn't require the same level of commitment. You can take one class in the evening, take a semester off, whatever. Don't get hung up on the prestige of a four-year school. It's easy to transfer into those schools after two years of community college, and the degree reads as if you'd spent the entire four years there. Whatever you decide, keep investing in yourself and growing and you'll do just fine.
 
Well it's been almost two years and we haven't see a post by this kid yet. Chances are he isn't making a living at detailing. Let's hope he made good choices and it being a positive part of society!!
 
I guess it makes sense to look at how old the thread is before I post. Still, I enjoyed hearing what kind of advice everyone gave the kid.
 
mose said:
Well it's been almost two years and we haven't see a post by this kid yet. Chances are he isn't making a living at detailing. Let's hope he made good choices and it being a positive part of society!!



No I didn't. I went to school for 1 semester doing a Computer networking class and ended up hating it and haven't been at school since. I'm just working full time now at a job I hate.



Despite all the advice from my parents, relatives and from people here and elsewhere I didn't really go to school and to some degree I do regret it. I realize now you mostly can't get a job anywhere without a college degree.



I still have my similar views about just a general degree. I think its a BS piece of paper. If you have a specified degree then that's a different story but just a generic bachelor degree means nothing. Sure you set forth a goal and completed it but that doesn't mean that someone without that degree can not set a goal and can't complete it either.



But I was too stubborn to listen to people until I learned it first hand for myself, that is just how I am. No matter how much I don't like my job I can't deny the fact that I've learned more about people and life there than all of my schooling and other life experienced combined. If I had gone to school full time I would have only worked part time and would have lost out on a very valuable experience.
 
lp2137 said:
I still have my similar views about just a general degree. I think its a BS piece of paper. If you have a specified degree then that's a different story but just a generic bachelor degree means nothing. Sure you set forth a goal and completed it but that doesn't mean that someone without that degree can not set a goal and can't complete it either.



But I was too stubborn to listen to people until I learned it first hand for myself, that is just how I am. No matter how much I don't like my job I can't deny the fact that I've learned more about people and life there than all of my schooling and other life experienced combined. If I had gone to school full time I would have only worked part time and would have lost out on a very valuable experience.



No offense but I think these statements are ridiculous... first of all, a bachelor's degree means you went to an educational institution (let's not start discussing how good/bad some are, especially in the US) and you completed tests of knowledge satisfactorily.



This shows potential employers that not only do you have commitment, but also the general knowledge thought about the general topics within these institutions.



Second, just because you go to school full-time shouldn't reflect on you as having a poor social life/experience. I've gone through 5 years of Architecture school, which was just horrible for the first 3 or so years with 12-18hr days, etc., yet I've managed to work 2 jobs (detailing and another job), a girlfriend throughout those 5 years (and not some ugly chick from class either haha) and I've gained all the experience I need/want.



By going to school full time, it's not doubt you would've lost out on the experience you gained from the path you chose to walk, but you would've replaced that with another valuable experience that's simply more related to school than work.



Yes it's possible to get very far with street smarts and a great social outlook these days, but it comes by rarely and one needs a training in a specific area (preferably one they like) in order to succeed in life (succeed meaning be able to feed yourself and have a roof over your head for the rest of your life).



Kids these days overlook the quality of an education and that's partly the reason we as a country are becoming dumber and dumber... look back to what people have invented over the past 200-300 years... the "smart" generation, as I like to call it, is slowly but surely getting old.. these are the 40-60 year olds of today that got great education in the 60s-80s and have done great things with that education... these days kids just want to make rock bands, live with their parents while enjoying themselves at movies, etc. every day, yet no one likes to think about where the world is going and what you can do to make your mark on it...



I don't consider myself a bigger person than anyone I meet (teller yes usually haha) simply because everyone has their own story and everyone's individuality needs to be respected (within certain boundary of course... don't respect a serial killer, racists, etc.) but I do believe people have started taking academics for granted and it's going to bite them (them being people in high school now or just leaving) in the a$$ later when they realize that they do actually need to know the pythagorean theorem to figure out a real life problem.



If you owned any sort of business, would you rather hire someone who has a highschool diploma and Mcdonald's work experience and knows how to add 3+9, or someone who just went through 4-5 years of learning about many different aspects of life, usually including a specific training of a certain trade/career?
 
lecchilo said:
No offense but I think these statements are ridiculous... first of all, a bachelor's degree means you went to an educational institution (let's not start discussing how good/bad some are, especially in the US) and you completed tests of knowledge satisfactorily.



This shows potential employers that not only do you have commitment, but also the general knowledge thought about the general topics within these institutions.



Second, just because you go to school full-time shouldn't reflect on you as having a poor social life/experience. I've gone through 5 years of Architecture school, which was just horrible for the first 3 or so years with 12-18hr days, etc., yet I've managed to work 2 jobs (detailing and another job), a girlfriend throughout those 5 years (and not some ugly chick from class either haha) and I've gained all the experience I need/want.



By going to school full time, it's not doubt you would've lost out on the experience you gained from the path you chose to walk, but you would've replaced that with another valuable experience that's simply more related to school than work.



Yes it's possible to get very far with street smarts and a great social outlook these days, but it comes by rarely and one needs a training in a specific area (preferably one they like) in order to succeed in life (succeed meaning be able to feed yourself and have a roof over your head for the rest of your life).



Kids these days overlook the quality of an education and that's partly the reason we as a country are becoming dumber and dumber... look back to what people have invented over the past 200-300 years... the "smart" generation, as I like to call it, is slowly but surely getting old.. these are the 40-60 year olds of today that got great education in the 60s-80s and have done great things with that education... these days kids just want to make rock bands, live with their parents while enjoying themselves at movies, etc. every day, yet no one likes to think about where the world is going and what you can do to make your mark on it...



I don't consider myself a bigger person than anyone I meet (teller yes usually haha) simply because everyone has their own story and everyone's individuality needs to be respected (within certain boundary of course... don't respect a serial killer, racists, etc.) but I do believe people have started taking academics for granted and it's going to bite them (them being people in high school now or just leaving) in the a$$ later when they realize that they do actually need to know the pythagorean theorem to figure out a real life problem.



If you owned any sort of business, would you rather hire someone who has a highschool diploma and Mcdonald's work experience and knows how to add 3+9, or someone who just went through 4-5 years of learning about many different aspects of life, usually including a specific training of a certain trade/career?



To each his own. You sort of went off in a tagent but it's just my opinion. You describe a certain type of people in highschool. I wasn't the type that got every thing handed to them by there parents and didn't care about anything. I do.



To me a bachelor degree in liberal arts doesn't prove much. If I was an employer I'd take that into consideration but I sure as hell wouldn't hire someone just because of it. I work with a lot of people who have bachelor degrees but are stuck in retail and let me tell you plenty of them are about as dumb as a box of rocks so it doesn't guarantee that you are a smart individual. At the same time, sure it shows some sort of commitment and achievement of a goal.



But if you had took the time to read my post rather than just think I was ridiculous you'd see that I had some regret of not going to school and I realize that the vast majority of jobs do require at least a bachelor degree. And about the social/life experience, again I originally started the thread about myself, not you, and I was stating my opinions. The continuing trend here is me because I was asking questions for myself. Do you see how that concept works? I'm not specifically knocking anyone for going to school. Again to each there own but it was just my opinion. You are free to disagree with it to any level you'd like but it's not going to make mine wrong or yours right.
 
lp2137 have any friends or family in oil country? No experience necessary.



Something i should have done at your age.
 
lp2137 said:
No I didn't. I went to school for 1 semester doing a Computer networking class and ended up hating it and haven't been at school since. I'm just working full time now at a job I hate.



Despite all the advice from my parents, relatives and from people here and elsewhere I didn't really go to school and to some degree I do regret it. I realize now you mostly can't get a job anywhere without a college degree.



I still have my similar views about just a general degree. I think its a BS piece of paper. If you have a specified degree then that's a different story but just a generic bachelor degree means nothing. Sure you set forth a goal and completed it but that doesn't mean that someone without that degree can not set a goal and can't complete it either.



But I was too stubborn to listen to people until I learned it first hand for myself, that is just how I am. No matter how much I don't like my job I can't deny the fact that I've learned more about people and life there than all of my schooling and other life experienced combined. If I had gone to school full time I would have only worked part time and would have lost out on a very valuable experience.



In a way, yes a degree is just a piece of paper, but it is a key to an echelon of employment that you can't really access without one.



You probably realize this now, but 1 semester of college is just dipping your toes in the pool. College builds upon itself, which is why the first 1 or 2 years is mostly weedout classes -- and the chance for most students to experience different areas and to pick one they like. I know that I dreaded college at first, but after finishing, I can't wait to go back to get a masters degree. You really end up seeing the world differently.



As for the social aspects/learning opportunites, etc.. You have a good point. The concept of "there is no free lunch" will always apply. A person can go to college and rack up $30K in debt or they can work full-time during that period and make money, but in the long term which path is more beneficial? In today's employment pool, you will reach a peak quick if you have only a basic education. Good luck moving up the ranks in a large company with only a high school education when your competition has BAs, BSs, etc.



Like any new place, you'll end up making friends in college who share your same interests in terms of research, goals in life, etc. Oh also, I hadn't seen so many attractive ladies until I was on a college campus. Good luck finding such a concentrated number of chicks anywhere else in the world. :p
 
lp2137 said:
You have no idea how much I appreciate the advice guys, I know that you guys work your *** off and produce great work.



It seems as the general opinion is for me to go to college so I have something to fall back on. Going to college for business has lingered in the back of my mind because the retail business is in my blood but I like to take the course of mangement. I guess I am very particular in the way I want things run.



I guess what's holding me back besides not being the 4 year college type is the price and loss of time. My brother is going to college now to be an engineer and I know that when he gets out he's going to have a handsome amount of loans to pay back and I just don't want that. Nowadays most people are spending more than 4 years in college and I just can't justify losing 4-6 years. I see it as losing rather than gaining.



Evenflow: I understand what you mean about being beat, I think everyone is like that. After I detail my parent's car I'm always beat but I love seeing something progress and I think that would keep my drive going.



Fivestar: I'm from the Chicago burbs and cars drive me. I'm not inclined mechanically but I do love to see a car fully detailed.



TO GROW A BIZ TO THE LEVEL OF INCOME YOUR BROTHER Is GOING TO MAKE WILL take alot of money...even a loan,,advertizing aint cheap either
 
truzoom said:
In a way, yes a degree is just a piece of paper, but it is a key to an echelon of employment that you can't really access without one.



I agree with you because no matter which way you look at it, that is just a fact. You can be a great asset to a company but if you don't have a degree, many of them won't pay attention to you.





truzoom said:
Oh also, I hadn't seen so many attractive ladies until I was on a college campus. Good luck finding such a concentrated number of chicks anywhere else in the world. :p



Probably my biggest regret. lol
 
Hey, sorry for the misunderstanding... I did go "off-course" but just to vent a bit since it had a lot to do with the subject... I'm in no way suggesting that is who you are and what you represent, simply explaining why an employer will look at you differently... it's one of those stereotypes that's true is the best way I could explain it I guess...



lp2137 said:
To each his own. You sort of went off in a tagent but it's just my opinion. You describe a certain type of people in highschool. I wasn't the type that got every thing handed to them by there parents and didn't care about anything. I do.



To me a bachelor degree in liberal arts doesn't prove much. If I was an employer I'd take that into consideration but I sure as hell wouldn't hire someone just because of it. I work with a lot of people who have bachelor degrees but are stuck in retail and let me tell you plenty of them are about as dumb as a box of rocks so it doesn't guarantee that you are a smart individual. At the same time, sure it shows some sort of commitment and achievement of a goal.



But if you had took the time to read my post rather than just think I was ridiculous you'd see that I had some regret of not going to school and I realize that the vast majority of jobs do require at least a bachelor degree. And about the social/life experience, again I originally started the thread about myself, not you, and I was stating my opinions. The continuing trend here is me because I was asking questions for myself. Do you see how that concept works? I'm not specifically knocking anyone for going to school. Again to each there own but it was just my opinion. You are free to disagree with it to any level you'd like but it's not going to make mine wrong or yours right.
 
Back
Top