🌎 EP 65: FROM WALKING AWAY TO LEVELING UP: A DETAILER’S COMEBACK STORY | FT. MICHAEL MILORD

Hosted by

Andrew St-Pierre and Ercan Hurmuzlu

Sit down with one of the most humble, hardworking, and mission driven people in the detailing industry ~ Michael Milord from Owner’s Pride Orlando.

This episode is more than just detailing talk… it’s about growth, resilience, and what happens when someone refuses to give up even when life gets heavy. 💪

Michael’s story proves one thing loud and clear:

👉 Sometimes walking away is the first step toward leveling up.

👤 MEET MICHAEL MILORD (THE COMEBACK DETAILER)

Michael Milord is based in Orlando, Florida, and has been detailing for over 7 years. He’s currently the shop manager at Owner’s Pride Orlando, while also running his own side business.

From the moment this episode begins, it’s clear Michael isn’t just someone who cleans cars — he’s someone who thinks deeply about life, business, and helping others rise.

He’s also a huge MTE (Mobile Tech Expo) supporter, and it’s easy to see why: his entire journey is proof that being in the right room can change your entire future.

🧥 THE JOB THAT PUSHED HIM TO BET ON HIMSELF

Before detailing became his full-time path, Michael worked at a formal menswear store. He wasn’t just doing basic tasks either — he was helping with:

• Online orders

• Website work

• Group orders

• Store operations

But one thing became obvious:

❌ They weren’t appreciating him.

Michael explained how he was working nearly six days a week, and when he asked for one extra day off while keeping the same pay, the answer was a hard NO.

That was the moment everything clicked.Instead of begging for respect, Michael did something smarter:

🔥 He used that extra time to start booking detailing jobs.

And that decision quietly started building his exit plan.

💰FROM POCKET MONEY TO PURPOSE

Michael originally got introduced to detailing through a friend who was living the dream:

📌 Working two weeks a month

📌 Paying bills

📌 Taking the rest of the month off

Michael saw that freedom and thought:

“Bro… teach me what you’re doing.”

What started as a side hustle turned into something bigger — a way out, a way forward, and eventually… a new life.

🏆 THE MTE MOMENT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

Michael’s first MTE experience didn’t just motivate him — it solidified his passion. He began taking training classes, learning how to polish, and improving his skillset. But most importantly, he began seeing the detailing world for what it truly is:

✨ a community

✨ a network

✨ a place where opportunities are created

🏢 HOW OWNER’S PRIDE CHANGED HIS CAREER

When Michael connected with Blake from Owner’s Pride, he originally thought it was just about becoming an installer.

But soon, Blake called him back with something unexpected:

“We’re opening an Owner’s Pride shop in Orlando… we want you to manage it.”

Michael admitted he thought it was a joke at first. He even thought:

😅 “They’re probably trying to take out the competition.”

But it was real. And just like that…

🔥 Michael went from grinding solo to managing a professional detailing shop.

🧠 THE HARDEST PART OF BEING A MANAGER

Andrew asked one of the best questions of the episode:

What’s the hardest part about your job? Michael’s answer was honest and powerful:

⚡ Relinquishing control.

When you’re used to being the leader in your own business, it’s not easy to suddenly work within a structure where decisions are shared.

Michael explained how difficult it can be to balance:

• Running his own mobile business

• Managing shop responsibilities

• Communicating with leadership

• Deciding when to push back and when to follow

That’s not just detailing… that’s real business growth.

🔥 OWNER’S PRIDE PRODUCTS: MICHAEL’S FAVORITE PICK

When asked about his favorite product in the Owner’s Pride lineup, Michael didn’t hesitate:

🧴 Eco Wash

Michael shared that Eco Wash completely changed the way he operated his mobile business. He explained how he even stopped using a water tank at one point and started doing full details with rinseless methods using distilled water and pump sprayers.

Eco Wash became his go-to for:

✅ Exterior cleaning

✅ Wheels

✅ Glass

✅ Touchscreens

✅ Interior wiping

✅ Efficiency-focused detailing

For Michael, it wasn’t just a product, it was a business upgrade.

🌟 THE HUMBLE MINDSET THAT MAKES MICHAEL DIFFERENT

One of the most memorable parts of the episode was when Ercan asked Michael why he is so friendly, outgoing, and humble. Michael opened up about his background:

📍 Raised in Washington D.C.

📚 Strong cultural focus on education

💬 Humor as a defense mechanism

🧠 Resilience built through hard experiences

Michael explained something powerful:

It takes a lot to shame me.

His confidence wasn’t ego, it came from learning early in life that if someone has an issue with you for no reason…that’s their problem, not yours. That mindset shaped the person he is today.

🚌 THE MOST POWERFUL PART: THE GREYHOUND BUS TO MTE

This is the part of the episode that hits the hardest. 💔➡️💪

Michael shared that during a difficult time in life, he didn’t even have a car.

But he knew one thing:

He needed to get to MTE. So he did what most people wouldn’t :

🚌 He took a Greyhound bus to Orlando

🚗 Borrowed a friend’s car

🎟️ Went to MTE anyway

At the event, he spoke with industry legend Renny Doyle, and that conversation gave him motivation when he needed it most. Soon after, something incredible happened…

Michael shared that a client helped him buy a car.

That moment wasn’t luck.

That was the reward of someone who refused to quit.

🤝 “I’M NOT A GATEKEEPER” – MICHAEL’S MISSION

Michael made it clear:

He wants to help others grow. He sees many detailers who are talented but stuck — busy doing work, but not growing their business.

He wants to provide:

📌 Education

📌 Training

📌 Business support

📌 Brand awareness

📌 Real opportunities

His mission is bigger than detailing.

It’s about lifting others up so they don’t struggle alone.

🎙️ A REAL EPISODE WITH REAL IMPACT

Andrew and Ercan wrapped the episode with a message that every listener should remember:

🔥 You never know what your path is protecting you from.

Sometimes the door closes for a reason.

Sometimes the struggle is building you for the next level. And Michael’s story proves it.

This episode wasn’t just motivational — it was real.

⭐ FINAL TAKEAWAY

Michael Milord’s story is a reminder that setbacks are not the end… they are setups.

From feeling undervalued at a job…

to taking risks…

to riding buses just to chase opportunity…

to becoming a shop manager at Owner’s Pride Orlando…

Michael’s journey is a comeback story that every entrepreneur needs to hear. 💯

🔗 CHECK OUT MICHAEL MILORD / @milord.detailing

🌐 Website: https://milordmobiledetailing.com/⁠

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milord.detailing/⁠

📱 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/destinydmm⁠

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If this Episode inspired you, remember ➤➤ Keep showing up, keep learning, and keep leveling up, because your comeback might be closer than you think. 💙

💯 The moment you bet on yourself, everything changes.

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