In this episode of the Cruise Control Podcast, Kevin Davis sits down with business mentor, best-selling author, and 7-figure entrepreneur Michelle Jacobik. They dive deep into the messy middle of entrepreneurship, talk about how personal and business finances are married, and why building a business that serves your life — not the other way around — is critical.

Michelle shares her journey from drowning in credit card debt at 22 to scaling and selling a successful agency, and how gratitude, planning, and mindset shifts helped her create true financial freedom. Packed with real-world advice on planning, scaling, and life alignment, this episode will leave you inspired (and ready to finally unsubscribe from those Audible credits).

Key Takeaways

Financial Freedom Starts with the Basics
Michelle shares how simple, foundational money habits early in life set the stage for later success.

Your Business and Personal Finances Are Married
Ignoring one side eventually wrecks the other—entrepreneurs must manage both together for real stability.

Vision + Mindset + Money = Financial Mastery
She breaks down how having a crystal-clear vision, strong mindset, and solid money habits is the real path to freedom—not just chasing more sales.

Reverse Engineering Your Life Goals Creates Clarity
Start with the life you want, then build the business to fund it—not the other way around.

Small Daily Actions Build Big Results
Cutting unnecessary expenses, eliminating waste, and protecting your money wins over waiting for one “big break.”

Gratitude Changes Everything
Practicing daily gratitude can rewire your brain for abundance, reducing fear-driven decisions.

Your Business Should Serve Your Life, Not Control It
Michelle stresses that if your business feels like a cage, it’s time to redesign it—or find something new.

Real Success is Living Without Needing a Vacation
True wealth is designing a life you don’t need to escape from—not just building a revenue machine.

Get Rid of the Clutter (Physically and Mentally)
Michelle highlights how selling unused stuff, canceling wasteful subscriptions, and simplifying clears mental space for growth.

It’s Never Too Late to Pivot
Whether you’re scaling up, burnt out, or considering selling, Michelle reminds us: there’s no shame in realigning your business to your life’s next chapter.

Get your one-stop success solution at www.detailersroadmap.com!

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In this inspiring episode, Kevin Davis sits down with Giancarlo Rengifo to uncover the “superhero backstory” behind his detailing career. Giancarlo shares how becoming a father of twins at 19 and navigating jobs from construction to marketing eventually led him to discover his passion for auto detailing.

He recounts building a detailing business from scratch in South Florida—leveraging hustle, faith, and a knack for connecting with people—ultimately becoming a trainer for RUPES USA. Listeners will hear practical insights on embracing challenges, valuing your work, and balancing personal growth with business success. This candid conversation delivers plenty of humor, heart, and real-world advice for detailers and small business owners alike.

Key Takeaways

• Every Journey Starts Somewhere: Giancarlo’s path began as a teenage father working odd jobs (from roofing to retail). His story shows that humble beginnings and early setbacks can fuel a strong drive to succeed.
• Networking is a Superpower: Being friendly and connecting with all kinds of people proved invaluable. Giancarlo’s high school habit of befriending everyone later translated into customers for his detailing business.
• Opportunities in Plain Sight: The idea to start a detailing business struck when he watched someone earn $760 in three hours washing cars. This “aha” moment taught him to recognize opportunities around him and take action.
• Learn as You Go: With no prior experience, he turned to YouTube and mentors to learn detailing. Giancarlo highlights the importance of continuous learning and adapting—whether it was mastering paint correction or figuring out social media marketing to promote his work.
• Be Proud of Your Work: Initially, he felt embarrassed cleaning friends’ cars who had “better” careers, but he remembered his parents’ advice: whatever your job is, do it with excellence. This mindset helped him turn a simple car wash into a respected premium service.
• Know Your Worth: Giancarlo learned to set fair prices for his services. After seeing clients pay top dollar at a car show, he realized he was undervaluing himself. He began charging what his quality was worth—understanding that the right customers will pay for good work and that it’s okay to turn down those who won’t.
• Pivot and Innovate: As his mobile detailing grew, he expanded into higher-end offerings like ceramic coatings, wraps, and paint protection film. When a physical shop became too costly, he wasn’t afraid to pivot—shifting focus to training other detailers, which opened new revenue streams and played to his strengths.
• Give Back and Mentor: Training became a passion for Giancarlo. He not only teaches technical skills but also stays available to students afterward. His approach underlines the value of mentorship and building others up in the industry.
• Balance Life and Values: Throughout his journey, Giancarlo’s family and faith kept him grounded. He speaks about finding peace through gratitude—appreciating what he has rather than focusing on what he lacks. This perspective helped him handle stress, make principled decisions, and bring genuine enthusiasm to his work.
• Stay Humble and Hungry: Despite social media exposure and a new role with a major company, Giancarlo remains down-to-earth. He stresses that he’s an “open book” – always learning, willing to help others, and grateful for every opportunity.

Get your one-stop success solution at www.detailersroadmap.com!

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In this episode of the Cruise Control Podcast, Kevin sits down with Jay Royal of Ace of Spades Auto Detailing to unpack a wild entrepreneurial journey—starting as a valet hustler in Atlanta, Jay shares how he transitioned from running parking lots to building a premium detailing brand. Hear how a brutal business loss, wise words from his wife, and a complete mindset shift turned everything around. From $25 car washes to $650 details and real business systems, Jay’s story is as raw,

Key Takeaways

• Jay started his entrepreneurial life hustling three jobs, eventually inheriting a valet business and growing it to 12 employees.
• His first introduction to detailing came through an employee detailing cars at the valet—who later quit and inspired Jay to learn on his own.
• His wife Donna became the backbone of their growth—bringing strategy, operations thinking, and accountability to the business.
• Jay transitioned from a $25 waterless car wash guy to a $650 full interior detailer with professional-grade service.
• He originally operated without business licenses, insurance, or systems—until tough lessons and lost revenue forced him to get legit.
• Losing 50–75% of his customers after raising prices turned out to be a blessing—he now works less and earns more.
• Jay learned to separate pride from progress—listening to mentors, accepting criticism, and empowering others like his stepson Chris.
• Family business dynamics were tough at first, but became a strength once roles were clearly defined and egos dropped.
• The couple embraced slow-season resilience by working in all weather and saying “yes” to odd-hour requests to rebuild their brand.
• Jay now mentors other detailers, encouraging them to think like business owners—not hustlers—and to charge their worth unapologetically.

Get your one-stop success solution at www.detailersroadmap.com!

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