For David Begin, there’s always an opportunity to improve, whether it’s through new technology, new learnings or new work.

Begin joined the car wash industry after a long career in software sales that required a lot of travel. “I was traveling quite a bit,” he said. “And missing out on my family life. When my kids were in high school, I made the decision to transition out of my corporate job and into my own business.”

His family moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 2001, and in 2006 they opened their first Wild Blue Car Wash location. They currently have two exterior washes with a third under construction.

“I’d always been interested in the mechanical workings of a car wash, even as a kid,” Begin said. “I was just amazed at car washing. As an adult, that mechanical interest was reignited.”

Begin is known for his love of technology and understanding how things work, mostly so he can look for opportunities to improve them. “The common thread throughout all of my career, including today, has been technology,” he said. “I’ve always been interested in technology and have always been an early adopter of it — I’m a gadget guy and I’m always excited about what’s next and new. Technology does so much to improve our processes and improve our lives. That’s where so many of our improvements come from. Now I’m thinking about how technology can make car washing better. It’s something I’m always contemplating.”

Begin sees technology playing a huge role in the car wash industry, not only from the mechanical side, but also for customer service. “For some business models in our industry, we don’t really know our customers,” Begin said. “We can use technology to better understand and serve them — I believe there’s a real opportunity to do that in the next three to five years.”

Automotive technology and trends is another facet Begin said those in the industry need to watch. “The trends of car ownership are changing,” Begin said. “Things like car-sharing services are something we need to be paying attention to — we don’t yet know what that will do long-term to the industry.”

While technology may drive a lot of Begin’s thoughts, the people are what gets him excited. First, it’s the customers. “When people wash their cars, they feel better in general,” Begin said. “They’re getting their cars washed as much for the psychological boost as they are for a clean car. We work hard so our washes are an experience that make people feel good and get on with their day.”

Second, it’s the others in the business. “This industry is a dynamic one, and it keeps you on your toes,” Begin said. “But it’s made up of this great group of people who are constantly providing advice and information to help you improve your operations, offerings and customer experience. I love being around other car wash operators.”

Begin is definitely one who likes to share best practices. In fact, he has a podcast where he does just that. “It started as just me and my friends talking about all the challenges a small business owner faces on a regular basis,” said Begin. “It eventually occurred to us that we should record these conversations and put them out there.”

His current podcast, called the How of Business (http://thehowofbusiness.com), is for existing and aspiring entrepreneurs. Episodes cover a variety of topics, such as marketing, legal, HR, accounting, sales and more. “It’s really challenging for people to develop those skillsets,” Begin said. “But even if you’re not the one doing the accounting, you have to understand it.” In January, Begin is launching a car wash-specific podcast for owners, operators and managers.

When Begin isn’t working, he enjoys spending time with his family, cycling and piloting his small plane. “Both of these hobbies are challenging, but also offer the opportunity to see improvements with the effort you put in,” Begin said. “I started cycling about three years ago and have been really enjoying it. There are lots of gadgets and technology, so I’m loving that.”

His favorite piece of advice? “Always continually improve. Who you are today isn’t who you will be a year from now or who you were two or three years ago,” Begin said. “Never stop learning, and never stop improving. If you do that, you’ll live a full and happy life.”

David Begin, founder, Wild Blue Car Wash in Colorado Springs, Colorado.