Today we’d like to introduce you to Christian Mendoza.
Hi Christian, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico. At the age of six, my family and I moved to the United States, and I was raised in the beautiful state of Wyoming.
During my senior year of high school, I received a soccer scholarship to play for my hometown college. I had always known I wanted to become a detective, so I used that opportunity to study Criminal Justice. However, I eventually decided to drop out and enlist in the Marine Corps. I was searching for a greater challenge and believed that serving in the Marines would still keep me competitive for any police force in the future.
After a few years of service, I chose not to re-enlist so I could finally pursue my dream of becoming a detective. Unfortunately, I faced a major setback—at the time, I wasn’t a U.S. citizen, which disqualified me from joining any police department. That obstacle pushed me to explore different career paths. Over the years, I worked in pig plants, served tables, drove trucks, and even worked as a personal trainer.
Eventually, I took a job as a truck driver in the oil fields. The work was intense, dangerous, and nonstop, but it allowed me to save money, pay down debt, and think seriously about my future. In 2020, I moved to San Diego, hoping it would finally be my time to join a police department. I remember taking the written exam—and failing it. But instead of feeling frustrated, I took it as a sign from God that maybe this wasn’t the path meant for me.
That’s when I reflected on something the Marine Corps had taught me, aside from shooting machine guns and surviving in combat scenarios, we were trained to be excellent janitors. In fact, there were rumors in the barracks that I had one of the cleanest rooms. That attention to detail made me consider starting a cleaning business. I came across Kwik Dry Total Cleaning, a franchise opportunity that felt like a natural fit.
Today, I’m proud to be an owner-operator. I truly enjoy what I do, and I’ve met some amazing people along the way—building lasting relationships, both in business and in friendship. Looking back, I’m grateful for every twist and turn in my journey. Each step brought me closer to where I was meant to be.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not. It’s been more like swimming from the shallow waters into the deep ocean—and along the way, I’ve learned some valuable lessons through experience and perseverance.
Some people, have assumed that running a cleaning business is simple. But the truth is, there’s so much more going on behind the scenes than most people realize. When I first bought the franchise and started building it, I knew very little about carpet cleaning. Honestly, I didn’t even know that carpets needed to be professionally cleaned. Back in the Marines, we had commercial carpet in our rooms, and I didn’t even own a vacuum because I was too cheap—I used to sweep the carpet with a broom!
There have been so many challenges along the way: learning how to speak professionally on the phone and provide excellent customer service, figuring out advertising, understanding my target market—it was all new to me. I had to build everything from the ground up and learn as I went.
I made a lot of mistakes in the beginning. One of the biggest was damaging a wood floor that ended up costing me $5,000—and at the time, I didn’t even have the right insurance so it came out of my pocket. That was a painful lesson financially speaking.
Running a business isn’t a 9-5 job where you clock out and forget about it until the next day. As an owner-operator, the job follows you everywhere. You’re constantly thinking ahead—about clients, schedules, equipment, and how to keep things moving. Over time, I’ve learned to set healthy boundaries and balance my working hours with off hours. It took discipline, but learning to unplug and protect my personal time has made me better in business and in life.
Every setback, mistake, and long day has taught me something. And despite the struggles, I wouldn’t trade this journey for anything.
We’ve been impressed with San Diego Kwik Dry Total Cleaning, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are a carpet and air duct cleaning business proudly serving all of San Diego County. Our cleaning products are all-natural and completely safe for families and pets.
At San Diego Kwik Dry Total Cleaning, we believe in honest, straightforward service. We never use high-pressure sales tactics or hidden fees. Instead, we simply inform our customers about additional services we offer and encourage them to take advantage of the fact that we’re already there.
We’re proud to be one of the few cleaning companies that openly lists our pricing online. If you can provide photos, we’re happy to give you a more accurate quote before the appointment. Either way, when we arrive for a scheduled job, we always confirm the final price with you before starting the work—because clear, honest communication is important to us.
When you choose—or recommend—San Diego Kwik Dry Total Cleaning, we want you to feel confident that you’re in good hands. We take pride in doing the job right the first time, but if something isn’t perfect, we’ll work with you to make it right as quickly as possible.
In addition to carpet and air duct cleaning, we also offer area rug, dryer vent, upholstery, and tile & grout cleaning services.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Honestly, I don’t believe in luck. I believe in living within God’s will and trusting that He guides my path—even when I don’t fully understand it in the moment.
I remember going through the hiring process with the Wyoming Highway Patrol. I was anxiously waiting to hear back, and when the letter finally arrived, my mom opened it and sent me a picture. I pulled over to read it, and when I saw they weren’t moving forward with me, I started tearing up. But those tears quickly turned into motivation. I used that letter as fuel to level up and keep pushing forward.
When I moved to San Diego in 2020, I thought I was finally going to become a police officer. I failed the written exam, and at the time, it felt like a dead end. But now I see it wasn’t a failure—it was a redirection. That detour led me to start this business, which has given me more purpose and freedom than I ever imagined.
Now, I’m in control of my schedule, and I have the opportunity to give back by volunteering as a soccer coach. From the grassroots level to the high school level, I love having the flexibility to be out on the field—teaching, encouraging, and mentoring young players.
I truly believe everything happens for a reason. And over time, I’ve learned to find peace in trusting that God knows what He’s doing—even when I don’t. My success isn’t based on luck—it’s the result of faith, obedience, and a lot of hard work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sandiegokwikdry.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christian.mendoza.727578?mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr
