Meet Anton Dabbs

We recently connected with Anton Dabbs and have shared our conversation below.

Anton, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?

I didn’t start out on the best path, making a lot of wrong choices and frequently finding myself in trouble. I had no real work ethic to speak of at the time. The one thing I did have going for me, though, was my grandparents. My grandfather, a World War II veteran, and my grandmother, who raised five children, became a steady and positive influence in my life. I spent as much time as possible with them growing up. Every weekend, my grandpa would pick me up and bring me to their house, where I stayed for the weekend and during holidays.

As I got older, I began to appreciate the way they lived. My grandfather’s strong work ethic, the order in their home, and the way they managed their lives—paying bills on time, living without drama—began to make an impact on me. It took longer than it should have, but I eventually saw the light and started making changes in my own life.

From where I started to where I am now, I owe so much to my grandparents. They never gave up on me, and that made all the difference.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

Nearly 20 years ago, I founded a company called Lemon Squad Auto Inspections, which grew to around 10,000 employees and completely transformed my life. I sold the company about five years ago but stayed on as a consultant for another four years. A year ago, I finally stepped away entirely.

Now, I’m launching a new company called Expert Auto Check. It’s similar to Lemon Squad, but this time, I’m leveraging all the experience and knowledge I gained to create a more streamlined business, utilizing the latest technologies. I’m incredibly excited about this new venture.

In addition, I’ve written a book titled From Turmoil to Triumph, which tells the story of my upbringing and the journey that led me to where I am today. The path has been full of unexpected twists and turns, but every moment has been worth it.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Growing up, I always had a burning desire to do something big, but I didn’t know what it would be or what industry it would be in. Starting a business and growing it to a national level is not for the faint of heart—it took a tremendous amount of hard work. It taught me to be resilient and never give up.

One of the biggest lessons I learned was that, without a business degree or formal training, I often had to make decisions I wasn’t sure about. But I discovered that I usually made the right choices. When I did make mistakes, I didn’t let them hold me back. I learned from those wrong decisions quickly and corrected course.

My advice? Don’t be afraid to be wrong. Mistakes are powerful learning tools, and I’ve grown from every one I made. I also realized that I didn’t always have all the answers. I made a point to listen to others, and if someone had a better idea, I gave them credit and moved forward with it. Don’t assume you know everything—be open to learning from those around you.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

My wife has always been my biggest supporter. When we first met, I was rough around the edges, stubborn, and not someone you’d expect to build a business as successful as Lemon Squad. I owe many of the positive changes in my life to her. She was never afraid to tell me when I was wrong and always let me know when I was right. We had countless conversations that I took to heart, using her insights to better myself. Without her in my corner, I wouldn’t have achieved the level of success I have today.

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