Prince Organization CEO Sunil Tolani at a Hotel Business among who’s-who of hospitality industry peers and experts discussing “Culture Shift: Working in 2018 and Beyond, Women’s Empowerment and Glass Ceiling” hosted by The Wall Street Journal on June 7th at Dow Jones & Company Headquarters, New York City | Photo Credit: Gary Kane
On July 4, America proclaimed freedom, and democracy was born. Land of the free and home of the brave. America was conceived with the highest ideals about humanity—”All men are created equal,” they say. The Fourth of July is time to look forward to something that makes us bigger, better, stronger, smarter, and richer. America is famous for being a free-market capitalism magnet for the world. Yet, we are unique, and our national spirit expresses unparalleled courage, generosity, creative innovation, and diversity.
Our hospitality and friendliness are universally known to immigrants, students, visitors, and investors alike. To be an American means to be able to live in a country where you have various religious freedoms and exercise your God-given rights. You feel free immediately, a nation built by business.
The thirtieth president of the United States, John Coolidge, had said, “The chief business of the American people is business, the chief business of American history is business and that the story of the nation is the story of business history.”
Independence Day has a special meaning for trade and commerce, as America has an undying devotion to entrepreneurship and the limitless opportunities available to build and grow your own “American treasures.” It is a tribute to Americans who are welcome to pursue their American Dreams.
The entrepreneur’s spirit is alive and doing well. Self-reliance is a highly regarded American virtue. From the earliest history, Americans have promoted independence and toughness in the face of adversity with can-do grit.
Article 1 of the constitution states: “stable, profitable environment for private enterprise.” A post-pandemic environment creates an environment for a business like we have not seen in many decades, from creating jobs to boosting productivity to unleashing innovations. This is a win-win for workers, employers, and the economy as a surge in capital investment, higher corporate productivity and profits, and a tight labor market where workers are getting higher salaries, wages, and benefits. We are in the Goldilocks zone, as the US economy is ripping with more job openings than unemployed Americans.
The US workforce has one of the greatest “work martyr” working spirit, desire, and will to advance sincerity and ingenuity known in the industrial world. At Prince, we have changed lives creating an atmosphere where people can work hard, further their education, but also have opportunities to have a life as we invest in our associates and the communities we serve in.
A core American belief is “If you take the risk, you bear the consequence.” Nowhere but in America could somebody who started with as little as I had come as far as I have. I came here with nothing, and this great nation gave me an opportunity to live the American Dream. The best way to show my gratitude is my commitment to corporate social responsibility, inspiring the younger generation. My career is shaped by my parents, who believe that we have a responsibility to do public good. We are proud to be awarded America’s most honored business. We fly the flags of best-known brand names in lodging like Intercontinental, Marriott, and Hilton with highest pride, respect, and honor.
Our business is cultivating admiration and respect, being good stewards of society, and engaging our team in following values of dedication, integrity, respect, excellence, community, teamwork, and spirit. Our team members present the indomitable spirit and moral standards of our company to the world, making right decisions and having the courage to envision the future as they believe, too, that our future should not be something that just happens to us. Our future should be something we create.
I would love to see every employee achieve the American Dream of working hard with honesty, owning their own homes, putting their children through college, and retiring with respect and dignity. Business is about trust, and for us as well, as it has everything to do with ethics or morality, which is our moral as well as our operating compass.
I add my own voice of thankfulness and gratitude for this great nation of opportunity, promise, and hope. I do daily acts of gratitude. Being a hotelier has shown me that people are more similar than different no matter where you go. When I visit our hotels, I see God through his creation, the diversity of America.
On the Fourth of July, we invite friends, students from Krish and Aryans school, and pass along the declaration, with each student reading a sentence of the document until its profound closing phrase that “we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.” Reading the declaration aloud helps us rediscover America’s unique idealism, its first principles, and its possibilities.
Americans write their own destinies and realize their possibilities working on their own salvation—financially, mentally, physically, socially, and morally.
Enjoy old-fashioned parades, county fairs, dancing, patriotic songs, and fireworks. Wishing everyone a happy, safe, and memorable Fourth of July holiday. Until next year, make everyday count and create the absolute best memories with those you love. Let your success story be the result of your hard work, righteous good and vision that came to light, your God-given talents that gave you purpose, and the accomplishment and pride that you finished something you set out to do continuing to carry the torch forward!
As we welcome the Fourth of July, let us all resolve to be good for our good and for the good of our country and for the American Dream, our American spirit, and dream of national rejuvenation.
Happy Birthday, America!
244 years old
GOD BLESS AMERICA
SUNIL “Sunny” Tolani
CEO, Prince Organization
