May 2025 Pro Highlight — Meet Dan.

DustiO

Meet  @junkminers11 a Top Pro junk remover, a pro mentor, and a Pro Advisor from our Thumbtack Pro Advisory Board. Dan has over 8 years of experience on Thumbtack, and is a leader in his industry. We asked him about his Thumbtack experience and to share some advice for other pros. Check out what he had to say and comment below with your story or any advice you'd like to share with other Thumbtack pros.

Can you tell us a bit about your business and what inspired you to start it? In 2020 I was in year seven of my tenure at a sports performance facility. At the time the business partners had decided to dissolve the business. One of the partners offered me an opportunity to join him in opening a new sport’s performance business. After much deliberation I decided that the opportunity presented was buying a job and not starting a business; this opened the door to a flood of creative business ideas I felt were scalable. Junk Miners was born from one door closing and another opening. 

What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as a business owner, and how did you overcome them? The biggest challenge I face is maintaining a positive mindset and attitude when business is slow. Lulls used to throw me off, now I see the down time as an opportunity to focus on areas of the business that need attention. After 5 years I’ve come to realize business will inevitably ebb & flow and stress isn’t the answer to changing the tides.

How has Thumbtack contributed to your business's success? Thumbtack’s enabled me to connect with my community and showcase my business through a Pro & Customer friendly platform.

What advice would you give to new business owners starting out on Thumbtack? When you begin, don’t allow a few poor leads to sway your perception of the quality of leads received through Thumbtack. Early on it can be frustrating but allow time to maximize the potential of the platform. Stay positive and stick with it; take it from someone who’s been hired over 600 times, the good leads are out there and I promise they’re on Thumbtack.