To Boot Camp, through HELL , & back!

[Aaryn NZ]

Note - the pictures in this thread are mostly random, & only there for something to look at.


Me at Autogeek HQ.



Many of you may remember Me, the Kiwi detailer that made the journey from a small town at the top of the South Island of New Zealand, all the way to Stuart Florida to attend Autogeeks Boot Camp class with Mike Phillips, back in January 2015.

Jonty & I at Autogeek, Friday before class.



My Wife Ange & I on the waterfront in Stuart.


And Jonty & I too.



Two years have raced by, & a lot has happened in that time. I learnt so much from Boot Camp, things I didn’t really even know I had learnt, especially on the business side of running a shop, & little things (that are kind of BIG things) like the way you talk to prospective clientele. Sure I knew how to use all the tools etc before as I have been detailing professionally for almost 23 years but it was great to see if what I am doing down here in New Zealand is up to par. Working alongside a great team of classmates & the Autogeek crew was awesome, I met some fantastic people & made some friends that I would call family, & I sure wouldn’t hesitate to get back & attend a Competition Ready class again.

2016 Mustang - corrected & protected with CQuartz Finest.



1985 Toyota MR2 - All original paint, current owner for 30 years! Minor polioshing & an interior detail.






Now, I would love to share another success story from an alumni of Mikes class, & in a weird way, it doesn’t get much more successful than this, & hard to imagine losing more than we have aswell . . .


Porsche - two step, polish & wax.




1971 Mercedes Benz - Buff, polish & waxed.




Back when I was just a lurker on Autogeek Online, my Wife & I took over a small detailing shop in town (should’ve done it different but that’s another story) & in March we will have been in business for 5 years. We put everything we had into the shop, & after working hard for a few years we managed to save enough for the trip to Florida! Yaahooo!


Bug - polish & wax.



Ford Escort - Three step, Buff, polish & wax.



BMW - Buff, polish & wax.








Not too long after returning home my Wife announced she was pregnant (made in America) & we couldn’t have been happier. Turns out that TWINS were on the way, one Boy & one Girl, life was outstanding & couldn’t believe how 2015 was starting out. I will keep this part short, as I don’t believe these computer things are too compatible with tears.
Midway through the pregnancy things pretty much turned to custard & we learnt something was wrong with our little girl, & we were told she wouldn’t make it. My wife & I brought our wedding date forward & got married on the 21^st of August, so as to have the same surnames on the Birth certificates of our babies. Ange went into labour at 33.3 weeks & our babies were born on September 5^th (Fathers day here in NZ) A healthy baby boy – Benjamin, & sadly his sister Charlotte was stillborn.


This is my Son Benjamin at Christmas 2016, we are detailing his Kombi.







We suffered through some of the toughest pain I could imagine & as a family we pushed through it & came out the other side. My Autogeek family played a BIG part in keeping the motivation going for the shop & I must say, there are a few forum members here that deserve a shout out – they may not know just how much they helped this Kiwi detailer pick up the pieces & carry on. Don – Fly07sti, I have never met Don but he is family. Mike – AZMike, attended Boot Camp with me, also family. Bill – BillE, way up there in Fairmont MN, family. (I’m not visiting in Winter though) Thank you all for everything!


Audi - Three step, Buff, polish & wax.



Mustang - corrected & coated with CQuartz Finest.



70s Datsun - polish & wax.








So, being self employed & running a small shop without staff, the doors were shut for a few days when we were in Florida, & then again with so many days spent in hospitals, the shop took a big hit financially. Over the next few months & after Christmas we started to get back on our feet with the shop & bookings were steady, & things started looking good.

Come February 3^rd, I suffered a serious heart attack, & was flown to hospital in a rescue helicopter. I went straight in to surgery & came out sporting 3 stents. Another hit coming for the shop now, & the doctors are telling me I need 4 to 6 weeks off work. Now, our small shop does okay but not okay enough to keep taking hits like this. I honestly thought that I was going to have to shut the doors for good & just walk away. Not one to give up, & certainly not willing to see the shop we worked so hard on close its doors – I went back to work a week later. Haven’t stopped since.

In this time my contributions to the forum have been slack to say the least but now things are looking somewhat okay, I hope to be more active, & give back to the forum that gave so much to me. We have some exciting things happening at the shop in 2017 & I hope to keep everyone on the forum up to date as we go along. So there you have it, if success is measured in a monetary value, then I failed. Money, no matter how much, simply wouldn’t have changed anything we went through but I look at what I have, what we have been through & the people who have been there for us – I’m the most successful person I know.


Chevy - Three step, Buff, polish & wax.



2017 HSV Maloo - corrected & coated with CQuartz Finest.



My Bug.







To my beautiful Wife Ange, my boys Jonty & Benjamin & my extended Autogeek family – Thank you! Thank you for keeping all the pieces when my world fell apart.


Aaryn NZ.

[Mike Phillips]

Wow!


That is an amazing story Aaryn, thank you for feeling comfortable enough with your friends/family here on the AGO forum to share it.

You're an amazing guy and I'm confident your story of challenge, trials and success will inspire others that read this thread into the future.

[RTexasF]

Your story of anguish, pain, and triumph is truly inspiring. Your well written article made me realize that strength, faith, and perseverance can overcome any obstacles......thank you for that.

You also made me realize that any problems I am dealing with are nothing compared to what you and your family have been through.

By the way I love the retro air conditioner on your Beetle.

Now......about parking in front of the no parking sign......

[GSKR]

That's awesome.

[karl1672]

Wow, really puts things in perspective. Truly inspirational.

[Paul A.]

Inspirational indeed! Keep plugging Aaron. You've beaten everything thus far.

[fly07sti]

God Bless you Aaryn! This forum is truly a great place. Love ya brother!

[Guyb]

Thanks for sharing your story Aaryn, your an inspiration to us all. You and your family have seen more troubles than you should at such a young age. Looking forward to your post and your success with the shop.

[LSNAutoDetailing]

Amazing story Aaryn. You are an inspiration. Thanks for sharing!

[Sicoupe]

Sorry to hear Everything you've gone thru, but always remember god is great! Happy
To hear you and the family are doing good my friend. God bless you.