Today we’d like to introduce you to Orlandus Shorter.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Orlandus. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
It’s funny how life happens. I had no clue that I would be in this business and even ran away from doing it full-time for years. My grandfather started as a yellow cab driver over 50 years ago. Following in his footsteps, my dad also started as a yellow cab driver, then transitioned into owning a town-car service for nearly 30 years, which I would drive for him from time to time. Now, here I am taking over the torch and pressing forward as Legacy Executive Transportation Service, LLC. My family has serviced the Houston area for over 50 years, wow, in just saying that it blows my mind.
Growing up on the West side of Chicago, in my world, dreams were just dreamed, some of which were barely remembered and none placed into action. I’ve always wanted to be my own “boss,” not even knowing what that really meant. People use the term Boss or Entrepreneur so loosely that I never even thought of it as a real obtainable goal. After the passing of my mother in 2011. I knew that it was time for me to leave Chicago and step outside of my comfort zone. Since I was working at United Airlines, I had the opportunity to receive a promotion and move to Houston in February 2012.
Over the next five years, in 2017, while at my desk, I looked around to find that I was at the same desk, same pay and doing the same process for someone else’s dream. That scared me! The following Sunday, my pastor was speaking about entrepreneurship as he has done many times before, but this time I heard it differently. The next week while having coffee, I was speaking to a lady at the Starbucks I was in and as we talked and shared “our stories” she stopped me and said, “Have you ever thought about going into business for yourself? God is telling me that you should be doing something different.” Yes, I was blown away and a bit confused, but in speaking more with her, I realized that there was something that I could start right now, that I knew all about and had been doing it for many years already, the Limo Business, which I founded in October 2017.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Oh, goodness, no! The road has been bumpy, literally, but we are overcoming the challenges.
Last year, I nearly lost it all! Encountering a slow season and lack of clientele, times were extremely challenging. There was a point where I had to choose to pay my rent and risk eviction or pay my car note and keep the business going. Heartbroken, thoughts of failure and not knowing which direction to take, I chose to pay my car note and keep my promise to support my guests, my family and myself. From there, to stop the eviction process I moved in with my cousin, who graciously allowed me to stay with her and focus on building my business and brand. It was a tough decision, but at the end of the day, it’s a decision that I would make again because of the learning and growth that came from it.
Please tell us about your business.
Legacy Executive Transportation Service is a Houston Limousine Company that specializes in client happiness. We are a 3rd generation company that is committed to service, guaranteed by time and responsible by design. We are committed to caring for our guests and servicing the community by following the following core values:
BE:
• Instinctive – to be led in all our ways and continually aware of our surroundings.
• Empathetic – to show that not only that, we understand, but we care.
• Candid – to always be truthful and straightforward.
• Exceptional – to vow to never become the norm, but exceed all expectations.
• Deliberate – to move with purpose, be early and prepared.
• Courteous – to treat everyone with dignity and respect in our words and mannerisms.
• Quiet – to know when words are not needed and silence is required.
I am most proud of our commitment to service. Being in a service role is often looked down upon. I remember being an armor-bearer for my pastor back in Chicago. At first, people would say look at the pastor’s flunky, why is he carrying the pastor’s bible? It’s a humbling experience. In time, people understood my purpose and showed love for me just for being there. So being of service is special to me. I get to see others meet their business goals, hear of the wonderful vacation they had, take their spouses out for special nights out and I had a part in that; Legacy holds a small part of their story.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I would have to give credit to my mother, Helen F. Shorter. She raised my brother and me as a single mother. Although she didn’t have much from the outside looking in, she was rich in personality, filled with love and was proud of who she was at whatever classification she was deemed to be in. This strength was handed down to me as she taught me to stand on my own two feet and to fight for what I believe in no matter what.
For different reasons, I would also have to say, my father, Larry Johnson. He is a hard worker who is dedicated to his work. I watched him put in countless hours to ensure that each client was taken care of in every reasonable situation. Seeing such hard work ethics have helped me in realizing the direction I want to take in my business.
Sam Tucker and the MustangCat family. Sam has stuck with me through it all and has helped me beyond measure. He would probably be upset at me in this mention, but it is important for me to thank him publicly and not just in private. Sam has shown me that I can make it with hard work, determination, and inspiration.
Bill Faeth of Limo University has imparted so much industry knowledge to me and has helped me immensely with my business. After the rough year, Bill has helped me turn things around and change the course of my business. I am forever grateful to Bill and his staff.
And believe it or not, my guests, I’m not particularly eager to use the word “client” because the guests that we service are more like family. Many of them have helped me in my business by supplying me with so much knowledge, insight and inspiration in areas that I did not have a clue about. They spread the word and shared my story. To me, that is more than a mere client, that’s family. And who doesn’t want to invite their family to their home as a guest?
Pricing:
- Airport transfers starting at $75
- Cruise port transfers starting at $185
- Wedding packages starting at $250
- Hourly/as directed pricing starts at $65/hour
Contact Info:
- Website: HTTPS://WWW.
LEGACYETS.COM - Phone: Office: 800-877-9677 | Direct: 346-262-9702
- Email: BOOKING@LEGACYETS.COM
Image Credit:
oshorterphotography
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