Q-1) Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/ cities.
Ans: We are a temporary housing company with a fleet of RVs ready to be delivered to any disaster area for housing relief. We also cater to homeowners who are temporarily displaced from their home due to unforeseen events such as a major leak in the house, roof damage ect… Many homeowners are also pet owners and can’t or don’t want to go stay in a local hotel while the home is being renovated so our company places a temporary place to live on their own property.
Q-2) Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).
Ans: I Ryan Stubbs have been in the RV industry since 2003 working in sales and management with large RV dealers. In 2011 I started a RV rental company mainly doing short term vacation rentals. While running and growing the rental company in Tampa Florida I noticed during our active hurricane season the need for disaster relief and RV temporary housing. I then sold off the short term vacation rental side of the business and focused on long term temporary housing needs nationwide.
Q-3) What inspired you to (start a new business venture) or (to make significant changes in an existing business)? How did the idea for your business come about?
Ans: Owning and operating a RV rental company in Florida I experienced the need for RVs during the active hurricane seasons. I made a business model pivot to service the temporary housing needs which occurs after a hurricane makes landfall. We cater to not only homeowners but to the department of health and many other disaster relief services.
Q-4) What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
Ans: Don’t be afraid to try something new with your business idea because you think it might fail. If you have a business idea write everything around it down and then see how you feel about taking it to market. A successful business is a game of chess not checkers. There are many different ways to get to your final goal and mistakes will be made. That’s all part of the journey.
Q-5) What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans: Risk taker. Patience. Strong belief.
Q-6) How many hours do you work a day on average?
Ans: 6
Q-7) To what do you most attribute your success?
Ans: When I have an idea I take action on it and will try it out.
Q-8) How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
Ans: Online presence and social media.
Q-9) Where did your organizations funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it? How did you obtain investors for your venture?
Ans: I stared with $5k for marketing and slowly went from there and grew organically. Took me three years until I could quit my day job.
Q-10) What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Ans: Don’t try to do you be many thing in the business model. Its ok to branch out with new business strategies but stick with your core business and try new things around it. Mine is the RV industry.
Q-11) Where you see yourself and your business in 5-10 years?
Ans: Growing the business to be a well-oiled machine and having other likeminded team members running a successful nationwide temporary housing business.
Q-12) Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
Ans: I admire business owners that are not living the business they own every day. Meaning they still have fun with their family and explore things that interest them personally.
Q-13) How long do you stick with an idea before giving up?
Ans: Until I see no one is responding to the idea.
Q-14) What motivates you?
Ans: Freedom with time and financially .
Q-15) What are your ideals?
Ans: That’s a broad question but I try to think of what people will need when it comes to RVs.
Q-16) How do you generate new ideas?
Ans: I meditate and see what comes to me. I don’t force anything.
Q-17) How do you define success?
Ans: If you’re truly happy with how things are going even if actual money is not coming in.
Q-18) How do you build a successful customer base?
Ans: Very good customer service.
Q-19) What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
Ans: The freedom to act out my own ideas.
Q-20) What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Ans: When a customer truly says thank you for helping.
Q-21) What do you feel is the major difference between entrepreneurs and those who work for someone else?
Ans: Freedom to act out your own ideas and see if they work or not.
Q-22) In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.
Ans: Faith
