GearHead_1
Long Time Member
Sounds waaaay to familiar to me. I've even had the polishes and equipment sitting ready and wimped out. It's pretty easy when you can blame your joints.
Motivation is Gone
- Thread starter DT08
- Start date
Jngrbrdman
New member
Usually I have to go out and detail a car to get the motivation back. As I'm counting my money it is amazing how much better I feel.
If I were doing this kind of thing for free or not getting paid what I felt I was worth, then yeah... I would totally get bummed out and quit just like anyone would do with a job they weren't getting paid enough for. I can honestly say that since I've been working for myself in this industry I've never taken a client that I didn't want and I've never dragged my feet on the way to a job. If someone is willing to pay me money to do what I have a passion for, then sign me up. If you've lost the passion then you are going to lose your eye for detail and the quality of your work is going to drive people to the next detailer who advertises. It is dangerous to allow your personal motivation slumps to go too deep, so hopefully you are able to find the joy in detailing again and pull out of it. 
HeavenlyV6
New member
Its part of it! I am a firm believer that even if it's your passion, breaks from time to time to do other things are a must. I asked my tattoo artist what he does when he gets in a slump, or cannot make his tattoos or drawings come to life. He said he puts it down and comes back to it. I get this way this time of year because the weather is crappy here in Ohio and it's not fun detailing anything when your freezing to death. Haha. Come spring time though, when all the nice cars are on the roads, it comes back to me. Maybe your selling yourself short with your prices, another reason it will not be appetizing to you to work on the vehicle. Take a break, you might pick up on another passion. I did, Mountain Biking! Good luck!
cartoysautospa
New member
I have been in this business 20 years, everyday , day in and day out. Allthough we have 4 seasons my business is rain ,sleet , snow etc. . Detailing is a "want and a need " business. retail customer's want it and car detailer's need it. There are few business's that are a want and a need. you have to develop your customer base and work it everyday, market market market. the time to build your business is when it's slow , not when it's busy . as when it's busy you don't have time to market it. My ol sayin when the going get's tough the tough get going. I don't know what you want out of your business, but my business has allowed me a good life. It is what you make it to be.
If your not planting your seeds in the winter months you won't have a crop in the spring.(your crop is your customer base)
If your not planting your seeds in the winter months you won't have a crop in the spring.(your crop is your customer base)
slowride66
SLOWRIDE "take it easy"
Sometimes your the windshield .
Sometimes your the bug.
It happens to me too.
There is nothing more gratifying than getting paid to make something nice & shinny,
& nothing more deflating than having someone who just don't get it.
I just spent 13 hellacious days on a pig of a 27 foot Bayliner.
For a buddy of mine's dad.
My Buddy talks me up all the time when it comes to detailing .
That little bit 'O confidence helps when speeding into the valley of "detail depression". Just past the halfway point on a large job.
I am getting older my eyes still see everything like I am 20 years old ,"young dumb & full of C**."
But my Butt is dragging & my mind is burnt out from that boat.
Why I push on I don't know I guess I feel there is a goal @ the end of the line,& If I quit now I won't get to know what the goal is/was.
Sometimes you have to be able to zoom.
As a detailer you must know how to zoom in & get to the details ?
Right?
But do you know how to zoom out to see the big picture?
Detailing is a tough business very few people appreciate a good detailer, at least online here you can find like minded people to converse with .
Chances are you are a "detailing derelict " "obsessive compulsive" & can't stand the un-orderly chaos of the world & compulsively need to clean something.:inspector:
But seriously , I know how you feel step back & take a break for a while & when your ready it will come back to you.
Us Detailer's are a weird breed .
IMHO don't give up .
To Quote Red Green.
"I'm Pulling for Ya, Were all in this together."
"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy":crazy2:
SR66:bigups
Sometimes your the bug.
It happens to me too.
There is nothing more gratifying than getting paid to make something nice & shinny,
& nothing more deflating than having someone who just don't get it.
I just spent 13 hellacious days on a pig of a 27 foot Bayliner.
For a buddy of mine's dad.
My Buddy talks me up all the time when it comes to detailing .
That little bit 'O confidence helps when speeding into the valley of "detail depression". Just past the halfway point on a large job.
I am getting older my eyes still see everything like I am 20 years old ,"young dumb & full of C**."
But my Butt is dragging & my mind is burnt out from that boat.
Why I push on I don't know I guess I feel there is a goal @ the end of the line,& If I quit now I won't get to know what the goal is/was.
Sometimes you have to be able to zoom.
As a detailer you must know how to zoom in & get to the details ?
Right?
But do you know how to zoom out to see the big picture?
Detailing is a tough business very few people appreciate a good detailer, at least online here you can find like minded people to converse with .
Chances are you are a "detailing derelict " "obsessive compulsive" & can't stand the un-orderly chaos of the world & compulsively need to clean something.:inspector:
But seriously , I know how you feel step back & take a break for a while & when your ready it will come back to you.
Us Detailer's are a weird breed .
IMHO don't give up .
To Quote Red Green.
"I'm Pulling for Ya, Were all in this together."
"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy":crazy2:
SR66:bigups