CEO of Towels

At 17, Dr. Bryan Williams worked as a pool and beach server at the Ritz-Carlton in St. Thomas, where he took great pride in his job—even calling himself the “CEO of Towels.” One day, the general manager noticed his dedication and asked him a life-changing question: “What is your purpose?” Initially unsure, the young Dr. Williams took time to reflect and returned with an answer rooted in his love for serving and helping others. This moment sparked a deeper conversation about goals, leading the manager to challenge him to dream bigger and write down ambitious aspirations, like earning a doctorate and traveling the world.

The manager didn’t stop there- he committed to meeting with Dr. Williams weekly for 15 minutes to review his progress and offer support. Though their mentorship lasted only a year, the impact was profound. By age 28, he had achieved nearly all the goals they had outlined together. He emphasizes that this wasn’t about personal achievement, but about the transformative power of someone believing in you. That belief, paired with accountability and encouragement, can unlock a person’s full potential. This is the impact we can have daily as leaders.

Dr. Williams closes with a powerful message for leaders: your team members are silently asking to be challenged, inspired, and believed in. They want to be held to high standards and given opportunities to grow. As a leader, you have the power to shape futures by expecting excellence and offering unwavering support. When you believe in others, you give them permission to believe in themselves- and that belief can lift them higher than they ever imagined.

Check out the link below to watch Dr. Bryan K. Williams tell his inspiring story!

Lift Me Higher – Dr. Bryan K. Williams

–Amy Lasater, Manager of Learning and Leadership Development

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