Here Goes: Personal Rant

[glisten]

Hello. My name is James. I am from the frozen tundra known as Minneapolis, MN. I'm 23 years old and just started my detailing business. I have a degree in Theology and Ancient History, so that is why I am detailing cars. I'm married and have a 9 month old son. They are the best people on earth.

I dabble in lots of things- mostly audio and video technology as it relates to music. I love music and have played in bands for years. Actually most of my business experiences have been in the context of music- Djing, cover bands, etc.

Needless to say, a few years ago I got a great job detailing jets. I worked for a company detailing the jets for the boards of some of the most prestigious Fortune 500 companies in the world. I used to detail Gulfstreams and (some) vehicles for Cargill, General Mills, United Health, Bob Dylan, USAF, rich oil folk from the Middle East, NBA, NFL, whatever you name it.

It was great until I learned about illegal practices in the company I worked for in their hiring/contracting procedures. Needless to say, I didn't want to be responsible for some idiot on my crew putting a hole in a wing and not telling anyone until after the plane crashed and it was on the front page of the NYTimes.


So I quit and moved on.

For months I spent time researching what it took to start my own company. Drove my wife mad. I built a website and did some basic marketing and now I'm off. I officially launched Glisten Detailing on July 1st.

I've been averaging a car a day for the past 2 months. Needless to say business has been great.

At the same time, it has been a weird adjustment coming out of aviation detailing:

-Most people learn on a DA. The first polisher I ever touched was the 9237CX2 rotary on the leading edge of a 737'. Before my first day on the aviation job I never used any buffing tool ever.

-In aviation we dry washed everything. Seriously- everything. How was I supposed to know that didn't apply to cars when I did my first Caddy right after doing the owners GV?

- It blows my mind the amount of chemicals considered to be OK to use on the interiors/exteriors of cars. Let's just say you don't use Chemical Guys on a $30,000 floor runner...those jets are so clean all of the time, turned out I actually did not know how to remove a stain.

I've learned a ton this past year in this transition. I feel like my game is picking up and my procedure- for vehicles- is coming together the way I want: budget friendly, yet quality results.

I know I still have a ton to learn. The depth of this forum disgusts me. That's why I am here- to learn, and to cheat. Yes cheat- why should I make mistakes and learn via trial and error when so many others have already done so? ...and documented it? ...and published all of that info here?

Teach me. Here I am.

-James

[Kamakaz1961]

Wow way cool post! Just pick a few products that YOU FEEL are the best and work with them. Use this site as well as other sites for products. AGO is 400LB Gorilla of all the sites. Every other sites are small change. However, they have great product too!

As for tools pick a couple and stick with them. IMO a Flex 3401 would be your best bet as it is the 400LB Gorilla of DA's. Others may say a Rupes, but the Rupes is a free float DA not a forced rotational DA like the Flex. IMO you will finish more jobs quicker overall with a Flex than any other DA.

Yes use this site to cheat, to learn, to vent, to whatever. Welcome and great to hear that you are succeeding well in the business.

[campngolf]

Welcome. I just detail family cars and I'm still learning. Love your "cheatin" theory. There is so much expertise here and I enjoy reading about detailers tricks and product advice.

Good luck with the business. I admire your determination.

[jamesboyy]

Welcome to autogeek, congratulations to the youngest member of the family, though your life scrip holds many new journeys learn from them all in your way, pace, and time....happy detailing

[FUNX650]

Hello. My name is James.

Hi James... ...to AGO.

Nice narrative for your introduction post;
excellent Biblical name, too.

I have a degree in Theology and Ancient History...

Reminds me of the fond memories I had in learning:
The Nicaeno-Constantinopolitan Creed,
written ~ca. A.D.325; A.D.381, respectfully.

But enough about "them"
Let's talk about you and me.

As such:

I know I still have a ton to learn

Don't we all...myself included.

Now...
I'm probably going to be found to be guilty of judging...
(of which I'll then be most repentant)...
But:
Surely you meant to use a different transitive verb in the below sentence:

The depth of this forum disgusts me.

•As we are taught:
-We are all full of mistakes (sinners);
we all have taken a thousand wrong turns along the way.

•Yet, doesn’t God sometimes turn our mistakes
into things of beauty---our scars into stars?

•Once...
-God was asked about all the mess of the world, and how in heaven’s name he could deal with it. His response (borrowed from T.S. Eliot's "The Four Quartets") was:
-"And all shall be well. And all shall be well. And all manner of things shall be well".

I know I still have a ton to learn.
That's why I am here- to learn, and to cheat. Yes cheat...
Teach me. Here I am.

•Yes...Indeed:
-Plenty of detailing knowledge available on the AGO forum...Even some widely acceptable "shortcuts".


Bob

[dougsrt]

Hi neighbor welcome to AGO I'm from NE Mpls

[DaHen]

Hi James,

to Autogeeks.

[lawrenceSA]

Really cool introduction.

Thanks for sharing and welcome

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Welcome to AGO James!

[Moldavite]

welcome to AG