Then in January 2020, Desiree Hill took a leap of faith. She had already fought through 15 months of her own insomnia and forfeited family time as a former nurse. Frustrated with her career and personal life, she chose to forge her own path. Her dream was to be able to spend more time with her kids, in addition to being able to financially prosper. From there, Hill looked to the US’ vast automotive industry, where she’s made quite a name for herself ever since as the owner of Hill’s Crown’s Corner Mechanic.
After changing careers, Hill found herself diving headfirst into the new age of automotive repair. In her first year on the market, she purchased, repaired, and sold 38 cars, bringing home an impressive $100,000 in revenue. Her approach was radically different. Having no background in mechanics or entrepreneurship, she took a crash course of YouTube tutorials to learn how to diagnose vehicle problems and make the necessary repairs.
Hill was undaunted. Her first purchase was a truck, which she bought for roughly $1,200. She only spent one hour of her labor and $60 in their parts. Two days later, she sold it for close to $4,000! This first project success quickly turned into a move toward the automotive industry, where she saw an opportunity for a profit.
Everybody needs transportation. And that’s unstoppable no matter what. Hill stated. That’s when I figured out that I could get by with a very modest investment. If all goes according to plan, that will result in a big payoff further down the road.
As her business expanded, so did her dreams, ambitions and aspirations. In September 2023, Hill leased a large 9,000-square-foot space to house Crown’s Corner Mechanic. Further, he was able to negotiate two months’ prorated rent before locking himself into a $6,375-per-month rent. Her aspiration is to one day move from renting to owning her existing creative space. The estimated price tag of $4 million poses a big obstacle.
Crown’s Corner Mechanic has achieved remarkable growth, bringing in approximately $70,000 in monthly revenue—about double last year’s average.… Hill’s small consulting firm brought in just shy of $440,000 in net revenue for the last year. This year, it’s on track to reach $1 million!
Looking back on her experience, Hill said that her former nursing profession truly made an impact. She’d spent almost ten years at Northside Hospital Duluth, eventually working in a critical care oncology unit. The emotional and physical strain of the job left her little time or energy to devote to her own family.
I made that switch during the pandemic, and I was feeling unhappy in my professional career at that point. I wasn’t happy in my personal life, Hill admitted.
This shift from making cars to fixing them would prove to be a new lease on life for Hill. It allowed her to bring her family along for the ride. Her 10-year-old daughter has already assembled a motor, and her son is a mechanic in the U.S. Army. This familial involvement has created a supportive environment for Hill as she navigates her new role as a business owner.
Hill put several thousand dollars of her own money into her new business. She spent the money on necessary equipment, a business license, website creation, marketing, and billing software. All that hard work was worth it! Now Crown’s Corner Mechanic is booming and profitable, and it’s turned into a badge of pride for Hill.
Hill’s professional journey has not been entirely idyllic, especially as a female mechanic in an industry largely dominated by men. Yet, she continues to be challenged by customers who express surprise that she is in fact the business owner.
There’s folks that come in here that aren’t aware of that [I’m the owner] … and they’re just flabbergasted. Simply based on the color of my skin and just because of how I look,’” she recalled.
To fight back against any skepticism regarding her mastery of the universe, Hill promotes the practice of communicating with clients. She doesn’t shy from going off script to fully explain problems and offer comprehensive solutions.
When my clients bring me their problem, I get to work immediately. Beyond that, I push them 20 steps further and start breaking everything down while they are still processing take form—before they have a chance to ask their next question. Hill explained. I have to wow them with my knowledge. Every time, I have to prove myself.
Hill’s story is indeed an example of the power of determination and adaptability to create success in unexpected ways. Her transition from nursing to automotive repair is just as impressive as her stunning personal transformation. More importantly, it showcases the amazing potential women in trades bring to easily thrive in harsh environments.