I usually say hi to other carpet cleaners driving around...most of the time they don't even want to acknowledge me.
One time I said hi to a guy on the gas station right around the corner to my office as I was headed out to
Mikeyfest at Mytee and invited the guy. He didn't care for it. He never even heard of the boards online..he only cared about how "look at this machine is soo big it takes up half the van". (a white tragic slide in, he had in there)
And he was running it with long 1.5 whip line with a tiny wand...
I kept pushing him to come down to Poway (half hour away from us) and get to know the best in the industry and gain friends etc etc.. He in his subtle way believed himself that he is/was already on top..
I met another one at a gas station and ended up talking to him for an hour..turns out he is a TMF-er..very nice guy and since then we help each other out with technical advice or send business each others way. He may be a lurker here too... Ludo speak up don't be scared.