Thomas John Rowland grew up in a hardworking family. His dad worked in stockbroking and his mom was a teacher. When Thomas was just two, his parents opened a childcare center. It grew to care for 350 kids with nearly 90 teachers. He spent years helping there with maintenance, learning the value of responsibility early on.
Thomas also has three siblings. His older sister earned a teaching degree but chose to stay home and raise her four boys. His brother works in car sales, and his younger sister, adopted when Thomas was 11, works as a restaurant hostess.
Sports played a big part in his childhood. His dad coached his soccer teams, and they often won championships. Thomas even played above his age group because of his skills. He still enjoys watching basketball and football today.
After graduating from Lafayette High School, Thomas studied at Forest Park Culinary School and later took a car tinting class in Portland. But it was cars, not cooking, that became his passion.
Thomas started working as a porter at a car dealership as a teenager. He later returned to the same dealership, now detailing cars and taking on many other tasks. He’s proud of his work and enjoys making cars look their best.
Outside of work, Thomas loves spending time with his kids, swimming, and caring for dogs. He has volunteered at animal rescues and donates to causes he cares about. His life is built around family, hard work, and kindness, with every chapter shaped by dedication and heart.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
Thomas’s day starts early. He makes breakfast for his kids and takes time to walk his dogs before heading to the car dealership. At work, his main focus is detailing cars, but he also juggles other tasks like organizing supplies and helping customers. He keeps a mental checklist, something he picked up during his time maintaining his parents’ childcare center. He learned early that keeping things clean and in order helps prevent problems later. He stays productive by focusing on one task at a time and not rushing through anything.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Thomas believes in trying things hands-on. He’s not one to sit around planning for too long. When he wanted to learn car tinting, he signed up for a course in Portland and practiced right away. He also picked up tips from watching coworkers at the dealership and wasn’t afraid to ask questions. He’s always been more of a doer, shaped by years of hands-on work, whether fixing playground equipment at his parents’ childcare center or volunteering at the dog rescue.
What’s one trend that excites you?
He’s interested in the rise of eco-friendly auto detailing products. He enjoys testing out biodegradable soaps and reusable cloths because it aligns with his love for animals and nature. He’s been experimenting with waterless car wash solutions, something he thinks could be the future of car detailing.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Thomas swears by starting his mornings with small wins. He makes his bed, walks his dogs, and does a quick five-minute clean-up at home before leaving. It puts him in the right mindset for a productive day ahead.
What advice would you give your younger self?
He would tell his younger self not to feel rushed to pick one career path. He spent years thinking he had to “figure it all out” right away, but the truth is, every job—from working as a porter to helping at the childcare center—taught him skills he still uses today.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
Thomas believes that car detailing is a form of therapy. He says there’s something about focusing on every tiny surface of a car, polishing it, and seeing the end result that clears the mind. Most people just see it as a chore, but for him, it’s relaxing.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
He recommends everyone take time to volunteer with animals. His time at Second Chance Ranch changed his outlook on patience and compassion. He believes that being around animals teaches you to slow down and notice the little things in life.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
When Thomas feels overwhelmed, he takes his dogs for a walk or goes swimming with his kids. He says both activities help him reset his mind, and he comes back to his tasks feeling calmer and more focused.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Being dependable has been his best strategy. When he returned to the dealership, he showed up early, took on tasks outside his job description, and became known as the guy who could be trusted to get things done right. This opened up more opportunities for him over time.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
One failure was when he tried to start a mobile detailing side business but underestimated the costs of equipment and gas. He had to shut it down after a few months. He learned the value of budgeting and now keeps a detailed log of his work expenses.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
He suggests creating a mobile car detailing service that partners with dog groomers. The idea is to offer packages where both your car and your dog can get cleaned at the same time. It’s a niche idea but taps into busy pet owners’ needs.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
He uses Google Keep for his task lists. He likes how easy it is to add a checklist while working, especially since he often moves between tasks at the dealership.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
He enjoys The Art of Manliness podcast. He likes its focus on practical life advice, from family life to basic skills, which reminds him of his own hands-on upbringing.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
He recently enjoyed Ford v Ferrari. He liked the themes of hard work and passion, and of course, the focus on cars. It reminded him of the satisfaction of doing something well, even if nobody else notices.
Key learnings
- Small, consistent habits—like daily checklists and early morning routines—can make a big difference in productivity.
- Hands-on learning and trying things directly are often more effective than extensive planning.
- Volunteering, especially with animals, can improve patience, focus, and compassion in both personal and work life.
- Failures, such as an unsuccessful business attempt, can teach lasting lessons about budgeting and preparation.
- Combining passions—like pets and cars—can lead to creative, untapped business ideas.