Why Jake Pavelle Believes ‘Every Day Is a School Day’ in Business

After a decade climbing the corporate sales ladder, Jake Pavelle felt the golden handcuffs tighten, until one life-changing conversation on the Tuesday after Memorial Day 2024 flipped the script. Inspired by his father’s entrepreneurial grit and armed with nothing but drive and a Denver-based lead, Jake dove headfirst into ownership with Colorado Power Wash. Now, as part of our Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Spotlight series, Jake shares how betting on servant leadership, high-impact SEO, and an unwavering commitment to people-first business helped him trade comfort for freedom and never look back.

Hi, Jake! Thanks for joining us today. Tell us about your business. Who do you serve, how do you serve them, and what's the impact that your business and work makes?

At Colorado Power Wash, we serve commercial property managers, construction firms, and homeowners to deliver expert power washing services across Colorado. We are committed to building lasting relationships, delivering 5-Star service, and working closely with our clients to ensure their vision is brought to life —safely, efficiently, and professionally.

Our vision is to grow Colorado Power Wash into a statewide servant leader known not only for exceptional power washing services but for a team culture built on trust, respect, and shared success. We are committed to empowering our people, elevating our industry, and delivering excellence through every relationship we build.

Tell us about the moment you finally felt like you went from wantrepreneur to entrepreneur.

Entrepreneurship has indirectly followed me. My father worked for a large corporate news station in Dallas for a number of years before the political landscape within the company changed, causing him to leave to pursue his dreams of owning his own business to escape that grind. His business was landscaping. He owned his small business for 35+ years. I grew up around it. Seeing my dad wake up Monday-Saturday at 6:30 am, head to the shop to get his guys going, and coming back sometimes late in the evening after a long day. As I think back on what I observed, I remember not really wanting that life. I thought I wanted a white-collar job that had more "esteem".

Or so I thought...A decade into my corporate sales career, I finally understood what my dad felt that made him leave the corporate environment. He was free. He was doing his own thing to help him achieve the vision he had for his family. The best part is that no one could strip it away from him. Yes, he worked hard. But it was meaningful, purposeful, vision-driven work instead of just having a job. Leaving a comfortable salary to start your own thing is terrifying. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, and I wanted to follow in my dad's footsteps. He set the best example for me of how to go against the grain, take risks, and go after what you believe to be true. I knew the next step for me was not going to be another sales job at another company. I was going to chart my path to starting my own business. 

It wasn't an easy decision because I was earning multiple six-figures at my job. Overall, the process took roughly a year. My wife and I looked at franchises, but soon realized they are still a corporate structure. One phone call changed my life the Tuesday after Memorial Day, 2024. I recognized the moment, aimed, and took the shot. Colorado Power Wash.

Describe the moment or period in your life/career that motivated you to make the entrepreneurial leap.

The Tuesday after Memorial Day, 2024. A decade in corporate sales seemed to go nowhere. A major crossroads in my life. In college, professional sales caught my attention. The allure of selling at a high level for a large organization was appealing to my young mind. After three successful stints with reputable companies, the realization set in. No matter where I go, what product or service I'm selling, it was all going to be the same. When I sat down and reflected, I was never fully satisfied with my work at my three previous companies. I succeeded in different ways at all of them but it never felt right. "There must be something to that," I thought.

So, instead of being tossed around by the wind, I decided this was my moment to act. I mentioned the Tuesday after Memorial Day, 2024. This was the transformational moment. We were camping with some friends over that weekend, sitting around the fire talking about some of our aspirations. After listening and supporting others in their quests, it was my turn. I mentioned my dissatisfaction with corporate and that I was trying to figure out a path to entrepreneurship. One of the couples advised me to call our friend Austin, who I haven't talked to in a few years. Austin has been a successful business owner/entrepreneur for the last 7-8 years. They suggested I talk with him for guidance. 

Tuesday, May 28, 2024, Austin and I talk. He's psyched about hearing what I want to do because he was in the same position as me a 7-8 years ago. His current business is fire mitigation and land services in Winter Park. What he said next changed everything..."I just started this power washing business in Denver. No clients, no equipment, 1 lead, logo, website, and some SEO. You can buy it from me, run with it, and be the sole owner," he said. "Hell yeah!" I said, without hesitation. The bones of a business were mine and it was now up to me to be the architect to drive its growth to achieve my vision. I went to work at both Colorado Power Wash and my corporate sales job for 2 months after. August 1, 2024 is when I went full-time at Colorado Power Wash.

Since then, I haven't looked back. Even though right now I'm working more than I did in corporate, I feel a sense of freedom I've never felt before. Each day is different, my creative mind is firing, I learn something new every day (literally), and I'm meeting amazing people who have massive goals and ambitions. 

Describe a tool, service, or software that has been a game-changer for your business. How does it contribute to your success?

This is a great question and I'm glad it's asked. There are so many impactful solutions for businesses that I've come across but if I had to pick one, it would be investing in SEO from the beginning. It's expensive but being seen on search engines is massively important for high-intent, consistent lead flow. Moreover, I changed providers at the beginning of 2025 due in part to the desire to have a true partner that values collaboration, brand strategy, professionalism, and results. The work the team has done so far has helped Colorado Power Wash rank in the top 1-3 of many popular keywords in a highly competitive market in Denver. 

It's important to have multiple streams of leads. Early on, I was running some Facebook ads but had limited reviews and content to validate the service. This sparked my decision to double down on SEO and get as many 5-Star reviews as possible. So far, it's been a good decision, and it will allow me to successfully expand marketing efforts in the future.

We know that success is very often a non-linear path. Tell us about a failure, pivot point, or lesson that changed your course or direction and helped to get you where you are today.

You're right. Success is rarely linear. Constant ups and downs. I've had my fair share of failures and pivots, but the biggest lesson I've learned so far is to say yes when opportunities come knocking, even if you feel they are outside of your experience level. We've had the opportunity to handle big projects. Some say companies with 5-10 years of experience land. What I've found out is that I have an innate way of figuring out how to deliver the service no matter the circumstances. Not on my own, of course, but with the shared support of other washers in our area who are going after a similar vision. The byproduct of that is we're helping each other grow and get better. No matter who you are, how long you've been doing your thing, or how good you think you are, there are always ways to improve. Every day is a school day. Service over self. 

What unconventional strategy did you employ that significantly impacted your business?

Servant leadership. Putting others' needs and interests above yours. Personally, this was instilled in me from high school. I went to a Jesuit high school where the motto was be a "Man for Others". This has since evolved into being a "Man or Woman for Others". What does that mean to you? To me, this means no matter who I'm meeting with, I want them to feel like the most important person, that Colorado Power Wash is there in true service to them, and that they leave every interaction feeling empowered and cared for. 

Everyone has a story worth sharing. Everyone has something to teach you. Yet, so many people go about their lives with blinders on, only worried about themselves and what they can gain. What if we changed that framework? Caring for one another, providing to someone to improve their likelihood of achievement, and humbling yourself to serve the needs of others. I believe success is tied to the well-being of others - clients and employees. 

Within Colorado Power Wash, I make a point to take a genuine interest in others, giving them an ear to listen to, and providing them the best possible solution that fits their needs as opposed to the needs of my business. Putting a smile on people's faces, allowing them to feel heard and understood, is gratifying and has positively impacted the progressively growing business that is Colorado Power Wash. 

What’s something you wish you knew sooner that you’d give as advice for aspiring or newer entrepreneurs?

I like reading and listening to podcasts about business. One book I read had a quote that has changed my mindset. "The main role of an entrepreneur is to create jobs for others." This was new to me. Of course, I recognized at some point I was going to hire and build a team, but I didn't have that mindset from the beginning. Entrepreneurship is hard. It's impossible to do everything yourself. If you have the means to hire from the beginning, do it. Delegate to elevate and to buy back your time so you can focus on higher-level business development. 

Want to dive deeper into Jake's work? Find out more in the links below:

• Visit Colorado Power Wash's website coloradopowerwash.com
• Follow Colorado Power Wash on LinkedIn