We recently connected with Rhondel Moses and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Rhondel , thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I inherited my strong work ethic from two influential relatives from different sides of my family. My Aunt Maria Nurse, from my mother’s side, she was a midwife and my Uncle Roland Sanka, He was a customs officer from my father’s side through marriage to my aunt Pamela; each took me in during different periods of my childhood and raised me as their own. Both demonstrated remarkable dedication to their job and family life. Living with Aunt Maria, I witnessed her enduring 16-hour days, sometimes even 24-hour shifts. My Uncle Roland showed the same dedication, ensuring we always had everything we needed sometime even more. Their hard work greatly motivated me, to discover the best version of myself. There are many other people who have contributed to my work ethic, however; they were the most influential in molding me into a hard worker.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My name is Rhondel Moses. In October of 2017, my wife and I, along with our son, embarked on a new journey by migrating to the United States, prompted by a life-changing car accident in 2016 that significantly impacted our son’s ability to speak. With the promise of better speech therapy options in New York City, where my mother resided, and as green card holders, we made the bold decision to relocate, selling everything and arriving at JFK with just $1200 to our names.
Settling in with my mother’s support, I felt a deep need to provide for my family, despite our humble beginnings. With seven years of experience as a certified Personal Trainer and Nutritionist, I prayed for an opportunity to work. That prayer was answered when Garth Voisin, a fellow Trinidadian and the manager of Blink Fitness in Boerum Hill, reached out to me. Hired after a quick interview, I dedicated a year to the job before my ambitions led me to enlist in the Army, moving us to Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State.
There, inspired by the lackluster barbering services on base and motivated by my son’s comfort, I turned to YouTube to learn barbering, striving to provide him with the best haircuts. What started as a personal mission blossomed into a thriving business as friends and colleagues began requesting my services. Encouraged by my wife and recognizing my potential, I obtained my barbering certification in 2021, transforming a room in our home into a barbershop and turning my newfound passion into a limitless hobby.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three pillars that significantly shaped my journey were communication, purpose, gratitude, and empathy. These core values not only guided me and my family toward our collective goals but also elevated my leadership within the Military. My advice to those at the outset of their path is to embrace challenges boldly. It’s in facing what seems daunting that you truly discover your capabilities. Cultivate a positive relationship with failure; it is, paradoxically, the most enlightening aspect of any journey, provided you’re resilient enough to learn and bounce back. Furthermore, immerse yourself in an environment enriched by individuals who embody positivity, strong work ethic, respect, and a focus on uplifting rather than criticizing others. A key piece of advice is to engage with literature that broadens your understanding across various life aspects, including leadership and communication, and fosters emotional intelligence to deepen your self-awareness and empathy.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
The truth is, my wife has been an unwavering support in all my endeavors. She has an uncanny ability to motivate me, especially during times of doubt or when fear clouds my vision. Depending on what I need, she offers her support with kindness or with firm encouragement to lift my spirits. We’ve spent countless nights lying in bed until the wee hours, brainstorming ways to enhance our marriage, friendship, careers, and even my barbershop business. My wife is not only incredibly supportive but also highly intelligent; she has a background in Civil Engineering and is an avid reader. I often turn to her for insights, and she has never once let me down.
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