Maninderpal Mand

As an entrepreneur, you cannot get caught up in the day to day stressors of work. Take a step back and make sure that you don’t lose sight of your ultimate goals. Always remember where you came from.

 

Nurtured by the gentle hands of wisdom, dignity, and patience, Maninderpal Mand was guided toward the values of how to conduct business with integrity, honor, and diligence of work. At the age of ten, he was ushered into an apprenticeship under the guidance of his father. The family business was in the construction industry, as they provided their services to both residential and commercial properties. 170 condo units were built in Brampton and another 125 in Toronto. The most significant portion of their business focused on rental properties. Eventually, the company began to fully develop their business within the hospitality industry.

Maninderpal Mand and his experience in hospitality emerged when Mand Hospitality established its presence in the hospitality industry. They began operations with three properties. The first hotel property was obtained in Niagara Falls, another in Woodstock, Ontario, and in 2015 they launched the Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton.

Maninderpal Mand was delegated by the family to take charge of every aspect in the development of the Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton project. He worked with the building department through the rigorous approval process. He was responsible for hiring staff, launching the opening and managing daily operations of the hotel. He remains very active with on-going operations.

Mand Hospitality continues to thrive as it expands its business with two condo projects under development this year. The project will include 170 condo units in Brampton, and another 125 condo units in Toronto.

Where did the idea for your company come from?

We used the family name Mand and the description of our business for the title. But the inspiration comes from my father’s vision, which we have never lost sight of. His impact on my life has been enormous, as he came to this country with nothing. He had no education but worked very hard with construction companies from the bottom and slowly rose to the top. He was self-taught in every aspect of the trade. Eventually, he opened his own construction company and he has emerged from humble beginnings in the business, to now building and managing vast portfolio. Mand Hospitality is a huge part of my life.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

A typical day starts off by making sure my architects and planners are up to date. I want to ensure that I am always kept updated on the status of each project. I spend my days meeting with architects, engineers and city planners, sometimes at the office, other times out in the field. It is imperative that everything is running as smoothly as possible; meaning on time and on budget. I work very closely with my father with these matters.

How do you bring ideas to life?

Regardless of whether I am working in my medical practice or with construction, I listen and pay attention to what people need first. In my medical practice, I try to bring in the humanitarian aspect. In the construction business, I try to think of how this project will benefit the community. For example, when we brought our hotel to Bolton, they didn’t have a hotel there previously. No one was willing to take the risk to build there. Much to the benefit of the community, my father’s vision was to have a brand association with Hilton for the community. We decide what the communities need and how we can make improvements to them.

What’s one trend that excites you?

I am most excited about the way construction has developed as an industry. It has become more environmentally aware, regarding taking into consideration what materials are environmentally friendly. Developmental policies are designed to protect their community, but some see it as a wall to try to get through the regulations and policies, and projects are delayed because of it. I want to work with them so that we are not negatively impacting the environment. It is exciting to see the criteria changing to be economically sound and meeting the efficiencies of the materials and of time. We live in a growing society, which has access to everything in it and therefore leaving little room for limitations.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

I am always trying to remain active. I always find it important to keep in mind everything that my father has accomplished; seeing his motivation even to this day drives me to become a hard worker. His influence is huge to both myself and the company as a whole.

What advice would you give your younger self?

I would tell younger Maninderpal Mand not to lose sight of the important things. There are many obstacles that we go through in life, but those times do not last forever. Bad times don’t last, you just have to push through them as best as possible. If you are doing something to benefit others, don’t lose sight of that. It is not about concerning oneself with potential failure, but with the efforts one will take to get back up afterwards. Let the storm pass, and you’ll be okay in time. I’d tell younger Maninderpal Mand to be grateful of what you have and keep looking ahead.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

People are generally good-hearted individuals, sometimes you just have to dig a little deeper. Keeping positive people around you is an excellent thing to do.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

As an entrepreneur, you cannot get caught up in the day to day stressors of work. Take a step back and make sure that you don’t lose sight of your ultimate goals. Always remember where you came from.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

Mand Hospitality has taken some risks. We have been pioneers of the community. For example, with our construction business and the hotel, we took the risk when no one else would. As a result, we have no competition in the area. The answer is to take risks. There are rewards to be the first to take risks that people are cautious about taking.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

I think that personally or professionally when things don’t go as expected, as they generally won’t, you must continuously remind yourself to still focus on the positives. By attaching yourself to family, friends or positive thoughts; you will be able to just push through it.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

I would say first and foremost to find a need in any market that brings you significant interest. One idea is to get a business related to the technology industry, as that industry is continually evolving. For example, we have an aging population, things are going to continue change. Skilled workers are no longer continuing to educate themselves in specialized industries; it is best to think ahead. Computer technology is flooded now, go where you are needed.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

The best money I have ever spent is a cost towards my charity. The cost of helping people restore their vision came down to one hundred dollars with my charity. We had matching donations, and we brought down the cost. How much better can anyone use a hundred dollars than to restore someone’s vision?

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

I use revenue analysis software to help keep myself and various business ventures organized.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

A book I read recently was The Alchemist. It provided several great reminders that a good life lesson to have is to never to give up.

What is your favorite quote?

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?”

Key Learnings:

• There are many obstacles that we go through in life, but those times are not forever.
• Take a step back and make sure that you don’t lose sight of your goals.
• Always remember where you came from.
• It is not about falling, it is about getting back up.
• Let go of the past and focus on the future.

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