Week 3 – My Face Is on a Truck (Send Help)

What started as marketing suddenly felt personal:

This week, I crossed a strange and scary threshold—I became visible. Like, actually visible. My vehicle got wrapped with the Inspections Over Coffee branding. I ordered flyers and business cards. And then I saw my face on the homepage of the franchise website… right next to my online scheduling link. Cue internal screaming.

I always knew this would be part of it. Visibility is what we want, right? But I didn’t expect it to feel so exposed. Driving around with a billboard of your own business on your car makes you weirdly self-conscious. I’ve never been so aware of my parking jobs or the volume of my music at red lights.

The moment I nearly yanked the wrap off:

That first solo drive after picking up the wrapped SUV felt like I was walking into a room naked. Every turn, every stop, I imagined people staring and silently judging: “Who does this guy think he is?” It was all in my head, of course, but it was loud in there.

And when I saw my actual photo on the site, live and clickable, I had a weird out-of-body experience. “That’s not me. That’s, like… a Real Business Owner.” But nope. It’s me. It’s happening. And there’s no hiding now.

The weirdest part about stepping into the spotlight:

I expected to feel proud. And I did—for a few minutes. But what hit harder was vulnerability. That’s the part nobody talks about when you launch a brand. It’s your name, your face, your logo, your promise—all out there for people to click, judge, ignore, or engage with.

It’s one thing to plan a business. It’s another to see it reflected back at you from a flyer, a card, a webpage. It’s like hearing your own voice on a voicemail, except way higher stakes.

What grounded me when my brain spiraled:

I reminded myself that branding isn’t about perfection—it’s about connection. The wrap, the cards, the site—they’re not for me. They’re for the client who’s nervous about buying a home and wants to know who’s showing up. I want them to see someone who looks real, trustworthy, and human. If that means having my awkward smile online? So be it.

I also texted a photo of the truck to my spouse and got back a “HELL YES.” That helped more than any internal pep talk.

The franchise touches that made this smoother:

The wrap design was already done, and it looked clean and sharp. No awkward DIY attempts or clunky fonts. The franchise team coordinated the design files, made sure it was brand-compliant, and gave me options. That alone saved me hours (and possibly a branding disaster).

And seeing my scheduling page live? Terrifying. But also proof that the system works. The infrastructure is solid—I just have to step into it. Even if my knees are shaking.

What I’m tackling next (and trying not to panic about):

Training. Real, hands-on inspection training. I’ll be learning the systems, shadowing inspections, and trying not to let imposter syndrome eat me alive. I’ve got the brand. Now I need the skills to back it up. I’m nervous. But I’m also hungry for it.

What I’d do again in a heartbeat:

Investing in good branding up front. Having pro-looking materials, a clean truck, and a polished online presence gave me a confidence boost—even if it also gave me insomnia. And ordering flyers and cards now means I’m ready when someone says, “Hey, do you have a card?” I want to be able to say “Yes” without fumbling.

→ Coming up: Week 4: My First Training Session — Learning to Inspect (and Not Freeze)

← Want to see where visibility started? Week 2: Business Setup — LLCs, Banking, Scheduling Software, Panic

This is all part of the journey with the Inspections Over Coffee franchise.