7 ways to cultivate a #WhySettle spirit

What pushes people to keep growing, striving for greatness despite setbacks in life? To find out, we spoke with the recipients of the Hyatt Place and Hyatt House #WhySettle Spirit Award who share their advice on how to stay empathetic, caring and determined every day.

1. Embrace what makes you different
Tina Bridges - Atlanta, Georgia

Tina Bridges remembers the moment her life changed. She was overlooked while auditioning for a fashion show — and realized that at 40 years old, she was the oldest model in the room. “That day just struck something in me,” Bridges says. “I decided, you know what? I’m going to do my own thing. That day was when I started searching for other women to see if they felt the same way I did.” Bridges now represents dozens of models over 40 years old as the head of The Lyngale Agency.

“Why settle when you can be so much more?” Bridges says. “I tell people that all the time. It’s just about walking into a room with confidence.” 

2. Talk to your community
 Matthew Allen - Charlotte, North Carolina

When Hyatt House Charlotte/Center City was damaged during protests that rocked the city in 2016, General Manager Matthew Allen needed help. The windows of the hotel were shattered and had to be boarded up, and the downtown community was shaken amid a series of violent acts. Allen wanted to do something to help heal the community, so he posted on social media asking if artists would transform the boards on the hotel’s windows into art. His request went viral in the local art community, and dozens of artists showed up to create something beautiful. “The biggest thing that I learned was, talk to the community you are in,” Allen says. “I never thought I would get that kind of reaction. There are people there who want to help. They want to get involved, and they want to help.” 

Allen didn’t settle there either. Once the windows were fixed, many of the murals were sold with the proceeds going to the artists’ preferred charities.

3. Take time for yourself
Heidi Jacobson - Las Vegas, Nevada

Heidi Jacobson is the sole income provider for her family, and she has an adult son with special needs. Her job takes her away from home a lot. “I could have settled a long time ago and got into a ‘poor me, woe is me’ mindset,” says Jacobson. “I just think that that’s not who I am.” Managing her time well is crucial, but Jacobson says she learned long ago that it’s critical to make time for herself, too. Sometimes that’s as simple as putting away work on an airplane and reading a magazine instead — or spending time in the hotel gym. Other times, it means setting aside an hour to feel upset or to grieve. “If you want to be a victim of your own life, go for it. If you choose not to, don’t. And I choose not to. I limit my self-pity moments,” she says. “Set a timer. Set a clock. Give yourself an hour. If you don’t, minutes become hours become days.” 

4. Take pride in your work
Garry Kronenberger - Estero, Florida

Garry Kronenberger takes care of facilities at Hyatt Place Coconut Point, and his co-workers say he’s always around when needed. (Even if it’s supposed to be his day off.) Kronenberger said making sure his job gets done well is deeply personal for him, a value instilled in him by his parents when he was growing up. “It’s personal pride, I guess,” he says.

"Make your guests happy, make yourself happy."

5. Be a good listener
David Otero - Charlotte, North Carolina

As the housekeeping supervisor at Hyatt Place Charlotte Airport/Tyvola Road, David Otero says he’s the happiest he’s ever been in his professional life. Working in an industry that brings together people from all over the world gives him ample opportunity to learn about other people — and that’s what makes his work fulfilling, he says. “You learn about other cultures,” Otero says. “You learn about hobbies people have, ways they do things that are different from the way you do things. I just like to learn about people's cultures. Any story you’ve got, I’m listening. I’m a learner.” Otero says connecting with others is what drives him to never settle: ”I just love people, I truly do. I try to make everyone happy.”

6. Look for ways to connect with others
Richard Clements - Colorado Springs, Colorado

Richard Clements says he’s always looking for little ways to make guests’ stays better at Hyatt Place Colorado Springs/Garden of the Gods. Luckily, he has a knack for learning languages. Clements, the hotel’s engineer, has learned to communicate with guests in Spanish, Mandarin, Italian, Russian, Czech, Korean and French. “Sometimes it’s easier to speak to someone in their own language than in English,” he says. “It makes them feel at home.” Clements says he looks for little ways to make people feel more comfortable. “They’re away from home,” he says. “I’m trying to make our place their home —  if that’s through the food that we serve them or just saying hello and acknowledging them.”

7. Pay attention to the little things
Alexandra Kennedy - Dewey Beach, Delaware

Alexandra Kennedy is the assistant general manager at Hyatt Place Dewey Beach, where she’s known for her attention to detail. A bag of chocolate candy for a guest with a sweet-tooth here and a conversation about someone’s hometown there — it all adds up to make a special experience, Kennedy says. “That’s what makes life more beautiful. The little details.” Kennedy says small, compassionate acts are one way to make people feel cared for. “People are the number one thing in your life,” she says. “To be able to care about people, your employees, your customers, your guests — it is the number-one thing.”