They are supposed to be good stewards of your car. People trust that everything will go fine. But the reality is… valet parking services have risks!
Some days were fun. I got good exercise and made some money. Other days made me feel like I was wasting my life away.
That’s the way the valet business is — ups and downs.
There are good days, so-so days, and terrible days — where the action is weak and the customers are cheap. It averages out to a certain hourly rate.
The moment of change occurred last Thanksgiving. As the top valet, I was fortunate to get 4 good shifts for that busy holiday weekend at the hotel. The tips were flowing and I was running hard.
I didn’t realize it at the time, but I kept jumping down a small set of stairs as I ran towards the garage. And every time I landed, it was with my left foot.
After that busy weekend, I noticed there was some unusual tenderness with my left knee. Of course, I shrugged it off. But then the pain flared up during my next shift. I never felt this kind of pain before in my life! I simply couldn’t run anymore. That knee had become too tender. And I could barely push down on a clutch.
So, I needed to take unpaid time off to rest that knee during one of the best times of the year to work as a valet, which is the year-end holiday season.
It was during this rest-time that it all came together. Sometimes a change in your routine will jolt you into new ways of thinking. Sometimes stepping away for a little bit is all it takes to see the big picture.
I think there is a certain mystique about valet parking. It’s a mystique surrounded by haze. It just isn’t clear to people. They are unaware of the risks of using these services; they have no idea how to take steps to defend their cars from sloppy valet work, and the majority of them don’t know how to use the power of the tip to their greatest advantage.
So I identified a knowledge gap. The big question was: What was the solution I could provide to help consumers more smartly use these services?
Tip: Knowledge gaps = opportunities.
I didn’t know it at the time, but this was only the very early beginning of setting the foundation for a new business. (I had expected things to go quickly. Wrong!)
Sometimes it just takes a while to fully grasp an idea, to fully come to know and understand it in every way. For me, I found that it can take tons of research and contemplative thought, along with a little trial and error.
I immersed myself into the idea. The idea became my primary focus.
Tip: Ideas grow & evolve. Expect & plan for success while being flexible enough to make needed adjustments.
I launched. Made an adjustment. Re-launched. Made an adjustment. Here I am yet again. And this time — the foundation is there. It’s a solid mixture of specialized knowledge, a needed product, adequate cash reserves, and a mind fixated on prevailing.
The foundation is set. Now, I am finally building.
But let’s get back to you… there could be new opportunities waiting to be exploited right in front of you. And the opportunity might be more easily seen if you just detach yourself. Step back. Take time off. Try doing some different things. See if it jolts your mind.
Are there knowledge gaps you can address? Is there something you can do better than anyone else? Is there an unserved gap in the marketplace?
If you think you see an opportunity, be careful. It’s easy to fall on your face. I have actually done this many times. (Crashed and burned.)
If you want to see if I crash and burn again, sign-up for my free online mini-course titled:
“The Complete Guide To Valet Parking.”
You’re going to learn something. It’s 6 lessons emailed to you daily. These lessons will turn you into a valet parking ace who knows exactly how to best use these services & how to best defend his or her car.
Afterwards, I will send occasional updates on my progress along with a refresher lesson from time to time.
So to start-off, you will learn my “Real Valet Control” method. In the process, you will lower your chances of experiencing problems.
What kinds of problems? Find out… sign-up here:
Ed Ryder worked as a valet worker in Center City, Philadelphia. In April & May 2014, he assisted ABC News with their 20/20 valet parking exposé. One blogger refers to him as “the 20/20 valet parking whistleblower.”
Email me when Ed Ryder publishes or recommends stories