What is your name and grade?
My name is Abdul Rafay Naeem. I am currently a senior.
Outside of school, what do you do in your free time? Outside of school, my days are pretty busy. I own a detailing business, and it takes up most of my time. Other than that, I go to the gym almost every day. While I don’t do it as much anymore, I still draw in my free time. It has always been something I’m passionate about.
What inspired you to start a business so young, especially in the detailing field?
I could tell you that I’ve just liked cars since I was little, but there’s more to it than that. Two years after the passing of my father, my life changed. It wasn’t about me anymore; it was about taking care of my mother and my two sisters. I had to take a chance, and when I saw that opportunity, I seized it. I had to take up the role that my father had left behind. Safe to say, it was a lot of pressure for 15-year-old me. Pressure makes diamonds, after all. This immense pressure pushed me forward throughout all the difficulty I faced starting this business.
What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced as a young business owner?
Aside from managing both school and a business, one of my biggest challenges came from my van. I purchased it to help with detailing, but I had no idea it would come with months of labor and financial burden. The transmission broke, and I had to replace it, which, if you don’t know, costs a lot of money. After that, the power steering went out. I drove without power steering for months. It’s funny, I didn’t even need to go to the gym — it was an arm workout every day.
What is your favorite or most memorable car you’ve ever detailed?
This is a hard question. Not to brag, but I’ve detailed my fair share of supercars, including Ferraris, Lamborghinis and McLarens. However, my favorite car of all time has to be the McLaren 570 Spyder, which I’ve detailed multiple times. The owner is an amazing person, and the car is beautiful. The love I have for that car is indescribable — it’s just perfect. Aside from the McLaren, I loved detailing the Audi R8 a couple of months ago. As a kid, I was obsessed with the R8, so detailing one felt like fulfilling a childhood dream. The next step is to own one. How could I forget about the Ferrari 812 GTS. Don’t even get me started. Scratch everything else. I don’t think anything else can top it… actually maybe a Lamborghini SVJ.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone who is looking to start their own business?
I’m going to tell you what you’ve probably already heard hundreds of times: take risks. I invested hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars into this business. People told me I was stupid and that I would never make it. But because of the risk I took over a year ago, I am in the position I’m in today, detailing a new supercar each week. I’m not someone special either—I’m just like everyone else, a student. If I can do it, I believe anyone can. Just take that risk.
