Meet Ilesh H Patel | Improving Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ilesh H Patel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ilesh H, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
My parents migrated to Chicago from a small village life in India growing up on the farm in 1978. So, they ended up working in factories because they didn’t have the ability to get a formal education when they first landed in America. Growing up a in a working class home meant, we got all our basic needs happily fulfilled and parents did a splendid job on that. The problem was that I️ wanted more than the basic, I️ wanted others to respect my parents that they raised us (me and my brothers) really well despite not having a lot of money. I️ wanted to make my parents very proud of all the years of working at a factory. Growing up watching the Bulls and Jordan in the 90’s ignited a competitive spirit to become better and work harder.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I️ started my first business in hospitality with 3 older men as my investing partners and I️ was the owner/operator (25%). That was the exploration of what I️ understood about being businessman, which was pretty much nothing, even though at the moment, I️ thought I️ was super cool lol. Then when the market crashed and lost my $50k salary and $40k profit per year and couldn’t make my mortgage payments and became homeless with a pregnant wife, who was laided off her teaching job a month after me. I️ was taking care of my parents, who lost their baby (my younger brother by 2 years), and I️ had to learn quickly what it would take to be businessman on my own. My neighbor, told me to check out the Subway Franchise, if you must need to survive until the economy comes back. So, I️ applied and passed the interview and he didn’t (oops, I’m sorry), I️ felt bad that they picked me and not him. This was HUGE for my rapid growth as a businessman because I️ was pushed in and the other is I️ had to figure out everything without those 3 older men from my temple guiding me. Plus, I️ had to sell my car to pay rent and ride my bicycle for 3 months, thank God it was June, July and Aug in Chicago because the winter months would have been brutal. My dad would drop me off the side of the highway and would bike it to my first Subway. I️ learned that I️ was to going to make sandwiches, if I️ was broken on the floor, no brother, no house, no saving, living off of borrowed money, being taught some lesson that I️ can’t see or figure out in that moment then I️ will do one thing right! Listen, observe my customers and give them what they want!! within reason or business /money sense of course 🙂 Give them the best service, best sandwich and cleanest store they have ever experience at that location or ever!!! I️ became a monster from that point on wanting those 3 things. I️ obsessed about it, kept preaching the same thing ever single day with the same amount of enthusiasm because my life and my family depended on it!! Then the Universe or the power of the Universe (whatever you believe in), gave me a gift/reward or love letter. My business partner saw my energy and strength and said go back to Subway and get another store under license so we can grow and make more money to pay off our debts faster. When Subway saw our growth in sales in just 4 months of being brand new to the industry they were excited to replace the bad franchisee operator with someone like me. I️ didn’t disappoint them with double digit growth at that location that I️ sold my wife’s car since she was home with our first born. I️ threw my last pennies plus borrowed at that Subway. Then the impossible happened when Subway said we would only sell you one store per every 4 seasons to monitor you and your performance. By this time, I️ had acquired 2 store in 6 months. Now, they knocked on my door and said please take over a 3rd store very near your 2nd store because your much better operator. I️ pulled a rabbit out of a hat and got the store financed 120% with 3 private loans. After losing $15k in my first year of operations, I️ flipped the store 24 hours and double our sales then bought the property from the landlord (since 99% of Subway are rented space) for $500k! I’m not sure if I️ answered all the questions above but there’s more to say in-between which makes it sweeter but I️ would need to talk and explain instead of typing it all out.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
To be honest, Dallas is not so exciting and any city because I️ don’t drink or party. Chicago where my roots are from is the best place to eat, or hang out at Lake Michigan or Montrose beach. If I’m in Dallas then I️ would drive down to Austin to be in the outdoors and grab Torchy’s or Via313 8 corner deep dish pizza, and nothing beats Tex-Mex cuisines. We are more family oriented people so the itinerary are usually planned with that accordly.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The thoughts of my priest, which was influenced by the Geeta. I️ grew up following as best as I️ can to his practices which helped me develop self confidence, my own identity, and I️ eventually went to his school in India where I️ became a man and got a lot of clarity in life. It was a wonderful base for me to launch the rest of my life and entrepreneur life. I’m super indebted to him and the teachers in his school. When I️ was broke and homeless, I️ owe so much to the 2 families that lend me large sum of monies for me to restart into business world when the market crashed in 2008-2010. There is so much to say and many more names but just not enough time to mention them all but I️ have them in my heart and head. I️ am super grateful to all of them and won’t ever forget them.

Website: www.hillparkcleaners.com
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