A long awaited update

When I created this blog, this was something I did out of passion and desire to express myself. Over the past few years, life got so crazy, especially with COVID-19, that I didn’t have the desire to sit down and write, nor did I want to force myself. I have regained my passion for blogging.

Here is a long awaited update and story of what has transpired so far…let’s start from my last post…

After school, I went back to the USA to see my family. I still had to complete a final internship, which I did this time as an actual job working again at the Gstaad Palace in Switzerland. I thoroughly enjoyed the season, with lots of snow, hard work and on my off periods going to do sports, the spa or traveling a little bit.

This was the start of the pandemic, in which I experienced this by visiting my host family. No one was wearing masks yet, and in the international airport lounge I had a few people coughing all around me. A few days later, I lost my sense of taste and smell and was experiencing my first symptoms of the original strain of COVID. Nobody knew I had it, since it wasn’t even well known yet, but later was able to be confirmed (as Im currently sick with it again and can confirm almost similar symptoms). Speaking of my host family, they are doing very well and we still communicate, now even after 8 years since my CBYX program (the origin of this blog)

My host family in Germany when I studied abroad 2012-13

Gstaad downtown, near internship

Gstaad and Gstaad Palace, my work, on the mountain (yes, the castle *o*)

No one was prepared for COVID, especially in hospitality. Statistics were alarming in the industry, from Marriott hotels loosing 95% off its business in mainland China and over 60% reduction in sales in Europe. At Gstaad Palace, we were prepared much more as an independent, family owned business, yet still it hit and it hit hard. Luckily for us, it was right at the end of the season and no one knew what to do.

I decided to go back to the USA, completing my five terms of hospitality school and mandatory traineeships and jobs. Upon my return, I noticed that everything was closing down and after less than 3 weeks at home, I thought it would be more wise to return back to Switzerland, as school would begin in a few months. I can say that when I flew back, I was the only plane crossing the Atlantic Ocean at the time. A very eerie feeling. I flew through Atlanta and I didn’t see a single soul in the airport, apart from my gate with the only lights on and maybe 30 people there. Needless to say, I didn’t know what this virus was so I was equipped.

I found an Airbnb owned by a previous GM of the Beau Rivage Palace Lausanne, Mr. Andres Oppenheim, and got a good rate, in exchange for assisting with gardening and hospitality events that he hosts at his mansion. He owns a private catering business, which I’ll include the link to below for the photo (which credit goes to his son, a spectacular photographer). I had a beautiful part of the 10,000sq foot home I rented for myself, overlooking Lake Geneva and even a Jacuzzi to enjoy as well after running and hiking. Needless to say, while the world was going crazy, life was a dream.

Igor turns Swiss

(https://lesdelicesdecaux.ch)

I met a beautiful girl at school and we dated now for nearly two years. She was originally from Yemen but grew up in Lebanon. She is such a sweetheart and joy to be around and strives to be her own hotelier and entrepreneurial woman in the future. She also enjoys sports, is a foodie and loves traveling too.

My girl 🙂

Graduation together! BBA in International Hospitality Management accomplished!

I completed university in June 2021 and we actually graduated together in the same class. I went back to the USA and do to her visa expiring from Switzerland, she had to go to a refugee camp and seek asylum, as if she went back to Yemen, she would face dire consequences. She went through it for 4 months, really fearing for her life in there and was able to get out in December. She currently in Switzerland still and i’m excited for her as she is doing her final traineeship in Asheville, NC, at Omni Grove Park Inn and finally got her documents today to be able to apply for an embassy interview and come in the coming months to America. It will be great to see her again soon.

5* Omni Grove Park Inn, which over 10 US presidents have stayed in.

I on the other hand, started working at a hotel in Charlotte called Ballantyne Hotel, and currently work there as an assistant front office manager. Life for me has been very stressful. Before finding this job, I actually worked for Amazon for a month delivering packages, one of the hardest jobs in my life. Needless to say, once I found a good hotel job, I quit that immediately. My current responsibilities are assisting the director in managing the front office. Of course there’s the standard check-ins and outs, but also resolving guest disputes, handling phones, billing issues, reputation and review management, pre-arrival requests and preparing guest amenities and so forth. There has been an increase in workload due to staffing reduction as when I joined, we had a team of 14 and now only a team of 4 (which includes an overnight shift position too). In addition, our concierge/bellman went from 4 to 2. Our hotel is part of the Marriott Luxury Collection, with only 16 hotels in the USA having this ranking and on the same luxury scale as Ritz Carlton (owned by Marriott).

The Ballantyne Hotel, Lodge and golf course

Afternoon tea with my sister at the Ballantyne Hotel

This is not just our hotel, but the industry as a whole right now, in response to the pandemic and changing employee market. In addition, crime was on the rise during New Years and one of the most challenging things I had to deal with was an individual who tried to check in with credit card fraud, which I denied entry. I was all alone that night in the hotel, apart from security behind my back. He then told me he would get me and proceeded to run over the counter and reach for something that we thought was a gun in his pocket and come after me. I hid in the back office with security barricading the door as we called for police. The man left and was later discovered to have three counts of attempted manslaughter on his record from last year from shooting at a father and his two children in the back of the car. Needless to say, I made sure security policy and protocol changed with leadership overnight for the safety of our team and myself. I’m proud that I came back to work after that, as I wasn’t going to, for lack of better words, let some jackass scare me from my profession.

Now, I am focused on growing in my career and will see what adventures and experiences await. In the meantime, I got COVID this Monday again, probably the Omicron and have been laying in bed with a high fever and joint aches the past few days. My grandparents might have it too, so I hope they get better soon. The rest of my family, mom, dad, aunt and uncle recovered from it well.

Unfortunately, my grandma Lena passed away last year due to it. She will be missed dearly. If anything, these past years can remind us how precious life is and that every moment can change. If anything, these years have taught me a lot about resilience, change and perseverance through very tough times and also to enjoy the good too.

A lunch I took grandma on her birthday, the last time I visited. I love her very much.

Overall, this is the recap of a little bit of my life and look forward to keeping you updated much more frequently now on my hospitality journey and life. Time flies so quickly, it’s important to keep it documented, otherwise it all just disappears.

Wishing you health and all the best this year to you and your family and speak soon,

Igor

Your Greatness is Limited Only by the Investments You Make in Yourself

So, within the past two weeks I finally got my first company sold off (2.5x multiple) to two amazing entrepreneurs that have big plans for growing it to become a dominant force in the industry. I’m super excited for them and know that they will do amazing things with the company. I’m really proud of the fact that at the young age of 21, I have been able to start my first “official” company when I graduated from high school, grow it to being in 8 countries worldwide, automate it and sell it. The tireless hours of hard-work, patience and determination have paid off, moreover the experience of knowing how to do such things.

I celebrated with a $3 strawberry shake from McDonalds, put the money to the side and back at it to work. I did also enjoy a fantastic free meal from our Swiss hotel school training restaurant, One5.

I’ve now founded a new company with two partners that will be the next big brand in the pet care industry. I’m very excited as our launch date is October 1st, making for a very hard-working and involved month and we are just getting started. I see our company being in large retail stores in the US and being very successful and am so excited to be working daily towards making this vision a true reality.

Apart from this, I’ve passed through a big application process for my dream job, working with Grant Cardone‘s office of 30 in executing sales. Grant Cardone is the world’s number one sales trainer and a successful entrepreneur with 1.2B in assets under management. As soon as school ends, I’m on a plane to Miami for the interview and then going home to see family, I cannot wait!

Overall, finally, school is coming to an end within the next few weeks and I can’t wait to see family. I’m doing a lot of projects for my financial specialization, such as stock analysis and sustainable investing. Classes do become useful with financials, for example learning how to do a capital budget creation and analysis to see if a project will be successful or not was something we learned in class. At the same time, I did the same thing for my business plan to present to investors. It is basic but needed and important.

Last but not least, I’m doing very well, health is great and inspired on a daily basis to work. Moreover, with hospitality, I’m glad to soon finish my studies and get my Swiss Diploma. I do see that I want to long-term also get into real estate and own my own hotels in the future. It is one business that is actually two business, firstly a hotel generating revenue and also real-estate. My degree is super useful to have an overall knowledge on how to make something work well in the space. I did take a little break for the first time in a month and went bowling with students.

You never know how what you’re doing now will be useful in your future and tie together. Life is amazing and has a tendency to do that. It’s happening for you, not to you. So keep your head help up high, hopes up, eyes open and work hard. You never know what you might get that you once dreamed of.

Talk to you soon and wishing you the best wherever you are reading in from!

Be great, Igor

 

 

Thinking bigger

It’s been an insanely busy couple of weeks, yet insanely rewarding as well. I feel back on track and 100% focused and committed on my purposes and goals.

After getting back from Austria, I really doubled down on work. To start, I eliminated all my spending habits and closed my credit cards and told myself from now on, I’m going to be living like I’m broke while saving my money. The most I spent in two weeks since was $1.75 on bleach to clean my white shirts in the sink and $12 on a 8 pack of ramen noodles when I get hungry. No expenses. Pure income.

Why the insanity? Because in order to be successful you gotta be obsessed. And to make money, you gotta eliminate your costs, build income and make it generate passive income.

Warren Buffet

On his five-minute drive to the office, which he’s been making for the past five decades, Buffett stops by McDonald’s and orders one of three items: two sausage patties, a sausage, egg and cheese or a bacon, egg and cheese.

“I tell my wife, as I shave in the morning, I say, ‘Either $2.61, $2.95 or $3.17.’ And she puts that amount in the little cup by me here [in the car], ” he explains in the HBO documentary, “Becoming Warren Buffett. ”

Each amount corresponds to one of his three go-to breakfast items.

“When I’m not feeling quite so prosperous, I might go with the $2.61, which is two sausage patties, and then I put them together and pour myself a Coke,” he tells the documentary director Peter Kunhardt in the McDonald’s drive-through. ”$3.17 is a bacon, egg and cheese biscuit, but the market’s down this morning, so I’ll pass up the $3.17 and go with the $2.95.”

At this age, I am focused on the long-term. Aiming for my ten, twenty and even thirty year goals. Accumulating an insane amount of wealth, health and happiness in my life. Providing for those around me. Becoming someone of value. Making an impact.

Set bigger goals. Do more. Disregard the average, you’re meant to be extraordinary.

During the past weeks, I decided to finally sell my business after four years. I started an e-commerce company right after graduating high-school which I grew to be successful and now and exiting to complete the business cycle.

I’m also already currently starting a new business with investors which I will announce to you in the coming month or two that is going to be an insanely successful business. I really look forward to it and it will be live by October.

Moreover, I do want to announce what a kick-ass education I’m getting at my school, Hotel Institute Montreux I want to give a big shout out to my professors. Apart from teaching me applicable, real-world skills that I adapt daily to my projects, my teachers have even offered to help my in things I am working on such as financial projections for business plans, etc. It’s unreal how great the staff at my university are to dedicate their time to making students goals come true. If you are interested or know someone who’s interested in studying business and hospitality, let me know. I’ll gladly find time that works for you to answer your questions and get you enrolled in an education you’ve yet to experience in your life.

Apart from this, I have been juggling school work, studying for final exams, keeping my physical health fantastic and pushing myself everyday to new limits. Creating more obligations than I know to fulfill and figuring out how to grow to a higher level to fulfill them.

There’s lots of school projects and I’m working my butt off to complete them. Moreover, I’m studying hard, getting good grades and doing what it takes to be at my best.

If you ain’t growing, you’re dying.

One recent thing that I’ve also really been focused on is education and self-development. Feeding my mind. Gathering knowledge to retrain what’s up there in my mind to think bigger. Work harder. Live better. Be happier. I’ve read 5 books this week and am keeping on track to keep at this pace and read more.

I’m also applying for my internship after this semester to make some more income, acquire new skills and have a place to work on my new online company during weekends or evenings. If you are or know someone who is hiring in Switzerland, let me know and I’ll apply.

Sure, these are small things, but little steps lead to bigger steps, which eventually lead to being full of purpose and going after that beautiful future.

We have been trained to settle for less by the naysayers that bring us down because of their inability to justify why they gave up on their dreams.

Go do you and don’t care what anyone says that doesn’t fully support your growth and goals.

Last but not least, I managed to enjoy some time with my great friend Gabrielle such as singing karaoke at last Friday’s school theme night. Party in the USA baby. Or taking some pictures during an insane thunderstorm at night on the lake.

Stay great and talk next week,

Igor Miller