Hey ScottWax

Todd@RUPES

Todd@RUPES

Just a regular guy
I figured I asked you (I tried PM but it was off?) since you probably know better than most. How do you keep from getting burned out? I mean, you do a high volume of work (as I have been lately) but I am fighting burn out. I mean, its like am DeNiro from Taxi or something.



How do you keep up on it?



Thanks



Todd
 
Every once in a while I do get a little burned out. Some cars I have been taking care of for years and wish the owners would get something new. They are easy money but at the same time it becomes the same thing over and over again. Usually though, there is enough variation in my week that it never becomes completely routine.



I think what you may be going through could be due to the very extensive details you have been doing. Putting in 10-15 hours per car can probably become somewhat tedious at times. I've done some pretty rough cars lately, but the majority of what I do are maintenance type details for repeat customers. That way I get a break from doing rough car after rough car.



Besides, I really, really don't want to go back into the restaurant business!



Oh yeah, PMs are turned off due to the constant "tell me how to detail my car, I need to know all the steps and all the products I need" PMs. I've got 22,000+ posts, the information is there if people would just search. ;)
 
I'll chime in here, if I may.



There is certain sameness to it. I just remind myself how 'lucky' I am to have the independence (and responsibility) of owning my own business.



Not everyday is good. But life is. The rewards are there, just somedays they are hard to see.

Reflect on your very good work and take pride in your accomplishments.



Keep some time for other pursuits...



Good Luck, stay cool!



Jim
 
Jimmy Buffit said:
I'll chime in here, if I may.



There is certain sameness to it. I just remind myself how 'lucky' I am to have the independence (and responsibility) of owning my own business.



Not everyday is good. But life is. The rewards are there, just somedays they are hard to see.

Reflect on your very good work and take pride in your accomplishments.



Keep some time for other pursuits...



Good Luck, stay cool!



Jim
Click to expand...

Well said Jim. I agree 100%.
 
This past month ive been pretty burned out, ive turned down quite a few jobs.



Maybe its becuase i keep getting full paint restoration jobs, i cant even remember the last time i got a maintanence job or up keep.
 
I detailed 3 semi trucks over the last 2 days (one of which was very oxidized) in the 85 degree sun, and have another oxidized red one to do tommorrow. So 3 days of work this week, and on the 2nd day I'm exhausted. And I'm not doing this full time, just as a summer job.



I have no idea how people who do serious restorations (like TH0001) can do this work on a regular basis. I have serious respect for people that can detail every day for a living.
 
Thruth is I don't know how you guys do it, seeing the kind of work you guys accomplish and the time and consistnency it requires it's simply AMAZING! :bow



Alex
 
Yea I got slammed today at the shop as well. 1 interior 1 exterior 1 exterior with sticker removal (company selling a truck) and 5 full details. And it's just me and 1 other guy doing it all. It's been like this for a few weeks now. I normally have the shop open for 10 hours a day lately I'm lucky if I get out there in 12 or more. But I enjoy it because I know what's coming. Pretty soon the snow will fly again and here in Michigan the details will slow to a crawl. That's when I'll re-coupe from all this madness
 
I honestly don't know how your body does it, but my body sure isn't able to handle it. I only do my detail for a side gig due to the fact my back doesn't budge at all doing details for long.



But about getting burnt out, sometimes you just need to take a week vacation and get away from things and treat yourself. I know it's your bread and butter, but you have to get away from it sometimes.
 
Hell, 3-5 times a week, I go out after working all day and put 24-35 miles in on my road bike...and I average 18-20 mph in the flats so I'm not loafing it. However, it also gives me time away from cellphones, TV, internets, etc to just be alone in my thoughts. Helps me clear my head. :)
 
You guys are the detailing gods!!!! While, just a newb, I still want to weigh in.



As was already mentioned, freedom, recently coming out of 20 years of corporate life, the freedom is invigorating. Keep it in perspective and find an outlet as ScottWax mentioned. Find something other than cars or detailng to take the mind away. Motorcycles or something. Anything you do for a while can turn into burn-out.



I'm fortunate to own a few exotics and have cleaned the same 4 cars all summer over-and-over-and-over and so far, I still love attempting to make them look just like new each time, not matter what.



Plus, I take them for a nice spin in the canyons and mountains before detailing them as I only drive them dirty.



If detailing is still a passion, take some time off and re-engage after the brain is refreshed.



8-)
 
I love the challenge of it.



The heat doesn't bother me as much as the direct sunlight.



I felt like I was going to chuck my cookies today after too much exposure.

Client didn't have the garage cleaned out enough to get the car in so I had to do it all outside.



Josh
 
Another 80 degree day and another oxidized red Kenworth for me, thankfully I had some shade to work in untill 12 or so.



I agree with Joshvette, I can detail in the heat, but when the sun is pounding down on your back it really gets tough. Especially when you have to do the interior which is like an oven with the sun beating down on it. Plus the glass cleaners streak, you drip sweat all over everything, etc. Just not fun.
 
Scottwax said:
I think what you may be going through could be due to the very extensive details you have been doing. Putting in 10-15 hours per car can probably become somewhat tedious at times. I've done some pretty rough cars lately, but the majority of what I do are maintenance type details for repeat customers. That way I get a break from doing rough car after rough car.
Click to expand...

not a pro here, but i wanted to ask a question on this comment and see how other pros respond. you obviously have a very high-end clientele. do you price yourself higher than your competition? and by "competition" i mean other detailers in the area, not necessarily people who have the same skill as you. because i'm wondering if your clients and cars and somewhat self-selecting.



i understand that in order to start up in the business a new detailer probably need to offer more content per $ than established detailers, but i also wonder if that ends up hurting you by getting very rough cars. once you do a fantastic restoration on a POS car for a low price, you're more likely to get more of those as recommendations and for the fact that you use them as showcases for your talent.



did you go through a period of having to work on rough cars for not a great payoff to eventually work your way up to regular customers with well maintained cars? or did you start out with some great customers and walk away from jobs that didn't have the price/time ratio that you would have liked to eventually get?
 
One of our two air conditioners in the Shop just quit a few weeks ago. Temps indoors shot up to 92, and the humidity was, well, I thought it was going to rain...



After TWO heart attacks, I can't even imagine working in the summer heat and sun. And I don't think the various chemicals like it either!



So, we (the Landlord :thx ) bought a new compressor, and we move ahead. At my age I simply can't comprehend working all day in the (current) 95 degree heat! Oh, we keep it at 76 degrees, with several air movers :tumblewee



God Bless all of you who work outdoors.



Jim
 
High temperatures and humidity are major problems. I have learned to deal with it, however, it definitely slows me down. I am in pretty good shape and am only 27. I feel with good weather or an air conditioned shop I could reduce my detail times be a good amount. It also effects product performance, mostly cleaners evaporating too quickly.
 
admac- To answer in my own experience. I definatly started (and still do to an extent) POS cars. I also do quite a few Vettes, BMW's and Benz. I don't have the luxory to live in an area with many higher end cars than those lines (sorry no lambo's or ferrari's around here) I personally like doing POS cars that have the ability to come clean and nice. To me a $500 car is the same as a $500,000 car. A car is a car to me and I clean them. They are not mine so I have no real attachment to them. If a high end car comes in there's the usual 5 minutes of ohhs and ahhh's then it's back to work as usual. I give them all the same treatment. But when a POS comes in that is dirty but otherwise in tact I love it because the end result is worth the look on a customers face. The high end cars "usually" aren't abused and need a whole lot of TLC to get back in shape. To me that makes for a dull day. Just one opnion I guess.
 
Interesting point Jake...I would've thought working on high end cars that are taken care of would be the most preferred, but all the really dramatic show and brag pics on detailing sites are the real challenges that demonstrate what a POS car can transform to in the right talented hands....nice
 
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