Ruth K. Orono

I attribute my success to passion for my business and my love for people. I give credit to my God and my Christian upbringing from Uganda and then the USA. where I've spent most of my adulthood. I was raised to genuinely care about helping others, and that spirit carries into everything I do in my business. I treat my guests with "The Golden Rule" mindset, and I know in order to succeed in the Hospitality Industry, my team and I have to put the needs of our guests before ours. That dedication is what has driven my growth and momentum. It doesn't matter to me if things don't always look perfect, or if I don't get paid exactly the way I should — I remain passionate about the work, and clearly, excellence is our standard at every property - For example, crisp, white linens and towels, impeccably stocked coffee stations, thoughtfully balanced fragranced rooms, and lighting suited to every mood- all these are non - negotiable. Every cleaning team is trained to follow the same protocol, regardless of location or nightly rate. Every guest gets the same attention to detail at every stay.

The best career advice I ever received was to stick with something until it's done. I learned to follow a project through to completion, even when that meant putting in extra effort on weekends or going out to handle things myself. This lesson stayed with me from my time coordinating programs at Girls Incorporated both in Memphis TN and Indianapolis IN. I still apply this same work ethic into my business today.

My advice to women and girls with an entrepreneurial mindset is not to go into business chasing money — the money will find them. Pursue your work with your whole heart and full passion and focus on the impact you can have on the people you serve rather than only on what you stand to gain. Always focus on "What's in it for them than what you'll get for yourself". In other words, lasting success begins when you shift your focus from what you can gain - to the value you can create for others. When you consistently endeavor to create value in your area of service, you lay the foundation for your own success.

The biggest challenge I face is securing funding. Between covering operational costs like cleaning, restocking items, repairs and general property upkeep, training and paying workers, and making sure the units are inviting and cozy and providing other supplies - all these services cost a lot and it's hardly covered by the price charged. We give discounts as well in order to improve on the occupancy rates and to beat the competition. Improving the properties like replacing entry doors, installing hot tubs, improving on the curb appeal, etc. is where we'd like to put our efforts and this needs lots of Capital. Trying to grow with all the passion and sacrifice I've put in, financing from banks, investors, and lenders has been difficult to come by but that won't stop me either! I started this business with a few borrowed funds from family and friends-without any outside funding. This remains one of my biggest hurdles because I desire to do an excellent job instead of "just offering a place to stay". This is very much evidenced in all my REVIEWS where guests have cited over and over again the incredible work, we put in, to grant guests great experiences. On the other hand, the best opportunities I've had in this business is through guest evaluations - because some of them will truly tell me what I need to improve on, and I always take that as an opportunity to learn and improve on my business.

It's not so much about the money like it is about the impact I have on others. It's about the VALUE I am adding to this industry. What I do isn't as much about me as it is about the people I serve. When I'm able to affect other people positively, I get that intrinsic satisfaction of having made an impact on someone's well-being. There are couples at the brink of divorce because of the stress of not being able to get their house in peaceful order because they have no time. At our beautiful places of aboard, they can rest, relax and rejuvenate. There are High School Reunions where a few friends come from different parts of the country or continent and congregate at our units to reminisce, relax and laugh again! There are students wanting a quiet, calming environment to study for those Bar Exams, CPA, PE exams etc. They'll find a dedicated corner to accomplish all that, a free cup of coffee 24/7 and much more at our units. We provide well-thought-out opportunities to meet those different needs at our locations. With more additions of locations, to meet the different needs people have, we'll definitely add real VALUE to people's lives! Knowing that people's many different needs are met by the services we offer, keeps me really motivated and increasingly wanting to do more and to multiply this passion in others. When one does this consistently and genuinely, receiving great reviews comes easy because the clients can clearly tell the difference! More great reviews translate into more bookings which eventually bring in more money- than just someone who's only goal is to make money!