Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Alex Calle. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alex, so great to have you with us and thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with the community. So, let’s jump into something that stops so many people from going after their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. We’d love to hear about how you dealt with that and persisted on your path.
I found that It’s much easier to persist through the nay-sayers if you are doing, achieving, creating or helping something that is bigger than you. A purpose or ideal that doesn’t just serve you and yours but that answers a bigger question. Armed with that purpose, roadblocks don’t stand a chance. If the roadblock doesn’t understand or want to help the cause you are championing… their loss. The great thing about our world is there are 8.99999 billion other people you can talk too. Chances are, this ONE roadblock isn’t the ONLY way to get to where you’re going. Pivot and go inspire someone else. NEXT!
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
My recent focus has been based around a new hospitality venture; crafting a sanctuary for pilots, flight attendants, ramp agents, and mechanics alike at The Layover Club.
Over the last 40 years, crashpads, a cottage industry born out of necessity, ultimately don’t serve the people they were made for. We aim to do just that.
Airline professionals who commute to work (ie. they live in Phoenix, but are based in Miami) need a place to stay between work trips. Historically, they use crashpads, largely illegally run businesses where condos or small houses near a large hub airport are crammed full of bunkbeds where aviation professionals crash for the night.
They are typically over populated, under serviced, and don’t support airline commuters.
The Layover Club (TLC) fixes this. We are a private club that offers temporary accommodation for those commuting professionals.
Together, we’ve transformed a necessity within the industry into a haven of comfort & tranquility. By bridging the gap for more inner peace &<i> quality of life, we provide a little extra… TLC.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Humble, Hungry, and Smart. I wish I could take credit for this idea. When Patrick M. Lencioni coined these qualities in his book The Ideal Team Player, he couldn’t have been more on target on what defines the person everyone wants to work with. Being; humble enough to take direction, roll up your sleeves, and do the work, Hungry enough in how much you really want it, and Smart enough in how you work with your contemporaries, clients, and customers all add up to how fast your journey to success becomes.
What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?
Yes. Yes to it all. It’s not an either or, it’s both. You have to go all in on your strengths. Milk them for all they are worth. Exploit them in every way you can. They are your base, the foundation from which your building will be built. At the same time though, LEARN. Learn everything you can and from anyone willing to teach you. You’ll be incredibly surprised at what you can steal from areas you knew nothing about before you picked up that book, had a discussion with that one guy from two floors below, took a chemistry class… just because. Life is too short. You have to do it all and be able to discuss it all with the teams that eventually make your dreams a reality.
A jack of all trades is a master of none, though oftentimes better than a master of one.
Contact Info:
- Website: layoverclub.app
- Instagram: @alexmcalle
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexmcalle/
- Other: hiddenlemons.com mjmre.com , alexcalle.com
Image Credits
Maria Loewenstein Alexandra Robuste
