Ding, dong….

Good morning, my name is Ariel Cahane. Can I wash your car? (2021)

As the pandemic wreaked havoc forcing students around the world to shelter in place, the thought of isolation, for me, became unbearable. Growing up in the tropics near the beach means waking up early for meditation, then to the gym, a quick shower and off to enjoy the day. In an attempt to concede, I asked my parents for an XBox to soothe my growing angst by playing with my friends remotely. In a life changing plot twist, my father suggested I find a way to earn the money necessary to acquire the videogame console. My mind thrashed with possibilities. I considered a lemonade stand…cliché. Dog walking…epic fail, serious crowd control issues. Eureka! I grabbed a long forgotten bucket, a bottle of dishwashing liquid, a large sponge and a bunch of old white t-shirts to put in my recycled red-wagon newly affixed to my bicycle. An entrepreneur was born!

I parked street-side and started knocking on doors. My first client drove a 2019 KIA; I washed the car as if it was mine. Working diligently, I made a list of the additional items necessary to provide an unparalleled service in the future. When I finished we did a walk through and I scheduled to return in a week. I quickly learned that doing a good job was the best marketing, as my client recommended me to all his friends. Then, unbeknownst to me, I entered my community group chat. Suddenly, I was fully booked weeks in advance. Over the course of four years my business expanded to include luxury vehicles, over 250 regular clients, and a sustained revenue exceeding $50,000––interestingly, at the inception of this venture I was 13-years-old.