My garage has the feeling of the backroom of a car wash that’s been in business for 20 years. It’s not pretty. So recently, I decided to clear some space.

Unlike the backroom of the car wash, you can get rid of a lot of residential stuff through Craigslist (though trendsetters say Facebook Marketplace is the place to be). There are lessons to be learned.

My free mattress listing had languished for several days, with a few false alarms, until finally a man named Ibrahim reached out to see if it was still available. It was, and so we set up a time for him to come pick it up. Ibrahim pulled up in his minivan, and I came out to help him with the mattress. He stepped out of his car and was one of the most kind and grateful people I’d come across.

He said thank you, and then told me he was picking up the mattress for one of his children who was going to “absolutely love it.” I could tell Ibrahim was new to the United States, and this mattress meant more than I could have imagined. We loaded the mattress onto the roof of his van, and I told him good luck and safe travels and reached out for a handshake.

Ibrahim shook my hand, said thank you again, and gave me a meaningful hug and said, “Thank You, My Brother.”

I could have cried. I didn’t. I swear.

What does this have to do with car washing? Everything.

The power of the car wash industry has always been in the people. The ability to connect, to create real relationships with others, to learn and to help wherever it makes sense. To be able to share with others and to provide opportunities that wouldn’t otherwise exist.

I’ve witnessed the phenomenon first-hand during ICA events, and have talked about it repeatedly any time I visit a wash.

Over the last year there have been an amazing number of specialized events for car wash professionals to connect and succeed. From the Car Wash Excellence Summit to the Car Wash Executive Management Institute at Notre Dame, to the Women’s Leadership Experience at Second City in Chicago, to the CEO Supplier Summit in San Antonio … there is no lack of opportunity to learn and connect. That doesn’t even include The Car Wash Show, Car Wash Show Europe, Car Wash Show Australia, or Car Wash Show China.

We are all part of an industry where relationships matter. People connecting with other people.