Meet KENNY GOMEZ

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful KENNY GOMEZ a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

KENNY, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

Honestly… my resilience comes from everything I’ve been through.
From the military, from long nights, from starting with nothing but a bucket and a dream, from the moments where quitting would’ve been easier, but my family was watching.

It comes from wanting to build something bigger than myself for my wife, for my kids, for the people who believe in me, for the clients who trust me, and for the younger version of me who refused to settle.

I learned early that nobody’s coming to save me, so I had to become the person who doesn’t break.
Pressure built me. Discipline keeps me. And my vision for the future pulls me every day.

That’s where my resilience comes from.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

What I do is simple — I bring vehicles back to life.
I own The Lab Detail Studio, a veteran family-owned detailing business where we specialize in high-end paint correction, ceramic coatings (Carfax-registered), PPF, interior restoration, and even aircraft detailing. We work on everything from daily drivers to luxury cars, supercars, and planes — and every job gets treated like it’s our own.

What makes what I do exciting is watching people fall in love with their vehicle all over again. There’s something special about seeing a client look at their car in the sun and smile because it looks better than brand new. That reaction never gets old.

What sets us apart is the passion behind our work. I started detailing as a kid, washing cars for a few dollars. Today, I’m running a studio built on discipline, precision, and real craftsmanship — not shortcuts. We don’t rush, we don’t cut corners, and we stand behind everything we do. Our work speaks before we do.

We’ve been growing fast. We’re expanding our services deeper into aircraft detailing. Every year we level up — better tools, better training, better results. And the community keeps showing love, which pushes us to keep setting the bar higher not just for ourselves, but for the detailing industry in North Carolina.

At the end of the day, this isn’t just a business; it’s my passion, my craft, and my story. And we’re just getting started.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

1. Discipline
I learned this in the military and carried it into my business. Discipline is what gets you up early, keeps you focused, and pushes you to do things even when you don’t feel like it. In detailing — and honestly in life — discipline is what separates the average from the elite.
How to develop it: Start small. Make promises to yourself and actually keep them. Consistency builds confidence.

2. Adaptability
The detailing world changes fast, products, techniques, machines, and even how clients book services. I had to learn how to pivot, evolve, and grow with the industry. What worked years ago won’t carry you today.
How to develop it: Stay curious. Try new tools, learn from other pros, experiment, invest in training, and don’t get stuck thinking you already know everything.

3. Understanding people
Detailing is a craft, but business is about people. Learning how clients think, what they value, how to communicate, and how to build trust… that’s what keeps a business alive. People don’t just buy the detail — they buy the experience and the person behind it.
How to develop it: Listen more. Pay attention to what clients actually want. Study communication, sales, and human behavior. Treat everyone like they’re important, because they are.

My advice for anyone early on:
Don’t chase perfection chase improvement. One step a day. One skill at a time. Take pride in your craft but also treat your business like something that deserves to grow. And don’t be scared to start small… I started with nothing but a bucket, a dream, and the desire to outwork everyone around me.

If you stay hungry, stay humble, and stay learning, you’ll be shocked at how far you go.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

Honestly, the person who’s helped me the most has been my wife. She’s been there through every stage, the long nights, the early mornings, the wins, the setbacks, the moments where I doubted myself, and the moments where the vision felt bigger than the resources we had. She’s my partner in the business and in life, and she keeps me grounded while pushing me to level up.

On top of that, my military experience shaped me more than anything. The discipline, the pressure, the responsibility… it forced me to grow up fast. It taught me how to handle stress, how to problem-solve, and how to stay composed even when everything seems chaotic. A lot of the resilience and leadership I use today came from those years.

And honestly, my clients have been a huge part of my growth, too. Working with so many people, hearing their feedback, gaining their trust, and being held to a high standard pushed me to always improve. Their support and belief in my work kept me going even on the tough days.

At the end of the day, my journey wasn’t shaped by one thing; it was shaped by a mix of love, discipline, and the people who believed in me even when I didn’t fully believe in myself yet.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thelabnc.com
• Instagram: The_labnc
• Facebook: The Lab Detail Studio
• Yelp: The Lab Detail Studio
• Other: Google: The Lab Detail Studio