I opened a car wash and I’m 18.
I didn’t go to university and I’m not planning to. But honestly I feel really sad because I keep feeling like I’m “missing something” and maybe I don’t have a real future And I’m actually a failure because my standardized testing scores are all bad.
I opened the car wash after borrowing 53k$ from my dad (he’s not rich he just believed in me) It took me 3 months to convince him I went to him every day until he finally agreed.
Right now the business makes around 13k/month in revenue, and about 4000$/month net profit (because it’s Manuel car wash with workers) (even while paying back the loan).
But despite that, I feel like something is missing in my life I can’t even explain it properly
I don’t have stories. I don’t have friendships. I don’t have that university life where people talk, hang out, and share experiences Most of my time I just sit doing nothing I feel empty and far away from people my age.
I started thinking maybe I should use the money to study abroad (I’m in Saudi) on my own just to “live” and not waste my youth but at the same time I need to manage the car wash.
Any advice from entrepreneurs who’ve been through something like this? Or had that same sense of emptiness? What would you do if you were in my position?
18, own a car wash, making profit but I feel empty What should I do?
byu/xcfa inEntrepreneur
Posted by xcfa
16 Comments
Enjoy that you’re 18 and earning money
Therapy
find other business owners and friend them
bro youre 18 making 4k/month profit thats insane. most people your age are going into debt for a degree
i started at 21, failed my first store badly, and honestly the first few years were lonely as hell. everyone around me was in uni having fun while i was grinding alone. felt the same emptiness
not gonna lie missing out on the fun years sucks. its a real tradeoff. but what helped me was finding people who get it – other entrepreneurs online, twitter, reddit, discord groups. its not the same as uni friends but you start building connections with people who understand what youre going through
the financial freedom youre building now is gonna buy you options most people wont have until their 30s. just dont burn out, make time for some life outside the grind
I feel the same way after owning a tree service for 12 years. I felt it many times throughout my career. Most of the times the feeling passes but if it lingers you may need to think inward and explore what your true passions are in life and pursue them.
I went from climbing and cutting to management lately and grew very unhappy and complacent in work and life. Always feeling like something was missing. I found out that went away when I actually got out and did tree work which is my passion. I did more exploring within myself and realized I love helping others so I started another tree service (non-profit) that helps people at subsidized or no cost.
In conclusion, find out what you have a true passion for whether it’s in work or a hobby and let that bring you fulfillment and joy. The car wash may just be income but don’t give up on it. If you can find joy in other parts of your life the negative feelings about the car wash will go away. From one stranger to another I am incredibly proud of you for starting a business and I wish you success!
You need to travel. This will help some of the feelings you have but don’t lose sight of your business. Also, consider getting a mentor or a psychologist/therapist. This can help sort through your thoughts and come to your own conclusions. See the car wash through, scale it, hire employees that can run it without you but don’t stop managing the business. You’ve made a commitment to your dad and yourself. See it through.
Live frugally and save as much as you can, then sell the business and go travel and study. Keep enough of a reserve for when you get back.
You can do all those things without studying since you don’t need the studies but the fun. Start doing things you like, find friends, subscribe in some activities (you have the money to do it)
I’m pretty sure you are a very interesting person but at the moment you feel down because many of your old schoolmates are doing something different. They are doing the easy thing. Studying.
But guest what?
They are 100% jealous of you too. You have a business that is bringing you cash flow, while they are getting on debt, studying and making 0$.
Make sure you invest for your future. And always remember, having a running business is more important than having a degree in business management.
Well yeah it’s because you didn’t chose the same path as them.
Some people choose to enjoy while young and then try build wealth and others choose to try to build wealth and then enjoy. You choose the later
That doesn’t mean there is something wrong with you. I would say keep on it. When everyone in your age group ends uni they will all wish they were you. Trust me.
Give it time. Manage your life work balance and you will see that you are in a great position soon enough.
this is not a business problem, it is a life balance problem
you proved you are capable, profitable at 18, real responsibility, real execution, most people your age have none of that
what you are missing is not university, it is peers, challenge outside work, identity beyond the business
options that actually make sense, hire a manager or supervisor and step back part time, use profit to buy time not stuff, join sports or group activities where age does not matter, travel short stints instead of full study abroad, take one hard non business goal like fitness or learning a craft, build friendships intentionally not passively
do not burn the business out of guilt, do not romanticize university life, do not tie your worth to test scores
you did the hard part early, now you need to build a life around it
Welcome to the world of successful entrepreneurs.
You are on your way. That is what success feels like. It is a lonely endeavor. Nobody wants to hear about your success. Nobody cares (except your dad, who is great!)
Read about imposter syndrome – it is an entrepreneur’s secret weapon and your ‘problem’ or advantage – lol.
(The opposite is Dunning-Kruger.)
You are doing fabulously for a young man and you will probably be rich at an early age if you keep the faith and work hard the way you have been doing. At some point, people start paying more attention to you – many will be jealous…
Read Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography. It’s is a very short book. (Here it is in PDF from the University of Virginia: [https://anthologydev.lib.virginia.edu/work/Franklin/franklin-autobiography.pdf](https://anthologydev.lib.virginia.edu/work/Franklin/franklin-autobiography.pdf) )
32 years old here. Listen to me.
Scale the money for at least till you’re 25. Learn everything that you need to learn about making money. Get to that point of freedom first. Learn discipline, everything that has to do with your identity.
Feeling empty is a process, it’s normal. Hardwired in your brain.
Don’t let it determine your decision, make rational decisions.
Fcking listen to me.
Make rational decision, and do innerwork for your emotions and identity.
I know this is weird, but I’ve learned about identity.
And I don’t support ai. However, chatgpt and only chatgpt, has been doing wonders when it comes to inner work.
Last thing, if no one told you.
Be proud of yourself.
I believe you can do it.
Sometimes you have to tell yourself “if its not broken don’t try to fix it”, if you’re earning that much and at only 18 you have plenty of time ahead and time moves fast, id say just continue doing what you’re doing , pay off remaining debt, then save up a lump sum and reassess in a few years. Go do a few weeks of travelling here and there in the mean time
Dude you’re 18 making 4k profit monthly while most people your age are drowning in student debt and working minimum wage jobs. That empty feeling isn’t about missing college, it’s about missing social connections
Join some clubs, hit up local meetups, maybe hire a manager so you can travel or do stuff with people your age. The business success is actually giving you freedom to build the life you want, not holding you back from it
You’re learning way more everyday than your peers that got good test scores and are at Uni. Car washes are amazing businesses. I have a buddy that owns several and has plenty of time to drive his Lamborghinis.
I went the traditional route and it took me about 8 years of being miserable in the corporate world to realize it wasn’t for me. Got into internet advertising and Ecom about 13 years ago and have never looked back. Keep pushing forward. Be sure to pay your quarterlies and put some away for retirement.
University is a waste for most people. I’m over twice as old as you and no one this age even talks about it or asks you what you studied. Owning a successful business at your age is the 1% of stories. Many very successful people never finished university. What you accomplish is what matters, and you have an insane head start.
Mad respect to you. And your dad sounds amazing. Few people would make a big gamble on your kid like that.
If you feel empty, there is a lot you can do. Join a group of entrepreneurs to learn from them, volunteer, go to the gym, do something to add meaning. We can’t tell you what that is. If you aren’t being social then that’s the first thing I’d fix.
Good luck to you!
First, be very pride of yourself, you are 18 and have a business that make profit 😳
Try to find something that make you happy, try to make some friendship with other entrepreneurs.
Maybe you just need to find like a passion or an activity to let go a little or even find someone but don’t let that void grow in you and stay strong 💪