Louisville Beauty Academy - Harbor House of Louisville
By Viet Bao Louisville, KY
In the bustling city of Louisville, two organizations have come together, forging a bond that reflects compassion, resilience, and the indomitable spirit of community. It’s the collaboration between Harbor House of Louisville and Louisville Beauty Academy that we shine a spotlight on today, and at its core lies the shared vision of two CEOs with big hearts.
From Vietnam’s Mud Huts to Louisville’s Business Landscape
Among the two visionaries leading this collaboration is Di Tran, CEO of Louisville Beauty Academy. His story is not just of business success, but of triumph over adversity, determination, and profound empathy. Born in the rural, mud-hut landscapes of Vietnam, Di Tran has journeyed from the simplicity and hardships of a third-world environment to becoming a pillar of Louisville’s entrepreneurial community.
His roots, steeped in the humbling experiences of Vietnam’s countryside, have instilled in him a deep-seated compassion. Di Tran’s understanding of life’s struggles, paired with his firsthand experience of the challenges faced by immigrants, gives him a unique perspective, allowing him to empathize with all walks of life. This empathy is palpably evident in the work he does, especially in the collaboration with Harbor House of Louisville, an organization serving the underrepresented.
A Collaboration Rooted in Love and Care
The partnership between Harbor House of Louisville and Louisville Beauty Academy goes beyond traditional business objectives. It’s a union founded on the shared values of love, care, and community upliftment. Both organizations are dedicated to serving those often left on society’s margins, and together, they’re crafting a narrative of inclusivity and hope.
Maria Smith, the dynamic CEO of Harbor House, matches Di Tran’s enthusiasm and commitment. Their combined leadership brings out a synergy that is setting an example for businesses everywhere. It’s a testament to the idea that when businesses operate with heart and genuine intent, they can bring about transformative change.
Empowering the Underrepresented
The central theme of this collaboration is empowerment. While Louisville Beauty Academy offers beauty services, it’s not just about aesthetics; it’s about boosting confidence, fostering community, and creating an environment where everyone feels valued. On the other hand, Harbor House stands as a haven for adults with disabilities, children, and elders, further emphasizing the shared mission of these two organizations.
In Conclusion
The collaboration between Harbor House of Louisville and Louisville Beauty Academy, led by two big-hearted CEOs, is a beacon of hope in today’s business world. Di Tran, with his roots in Vietnam’s mud huts and his boundless empathy, stands as an inspiration, proving that with determination, love, and care, we can touch lives and create lasting impact.
Viet Bao Louisville - Di Tran - Drop the ME and Focus on the OTHERS - BOOK by Di Tran
SUMMARY
In this section of Chapter one of “Drop the ME and Focus on the OTHERS” by Di Tran, the author recounts a childhood experience that shaped his self-determination and will to protect his family. His mother insisted they retrieve a dirty mattress from a dumpster despite his initial hesitation. He learned the value of determination and the importance of family from his mother’s actions. Later, their good fortune continued when Catholic Charities offered to provide movers to help them transport any items they needed to their new location. The author reflects on the lessons he learned from his mother about the will of God and the importance of effort in achieving success.
Di Tran – Drop the ME and Focus on the OTHERS – BOOK
“Mom, it’s not like we never slept on a dirt floor before. We were dirt poor, and I used to sleep on the ground in our mud hut. How hard can it get? We can handle this and sleep on the floor without a mattress.” I tried to comfort Mom about not having a mattress for us to sleep on, but more importantly, I was trying to avoid the activity of digging through the dumpsters. I realize that poor was not the point, now that I reflect on and understand why I hesitated. I meant what I said about being poor, and it was truthful, and it would have been totally fine. However, I was uncomfortable digging through trash. As poor as we had been in the past, there was never a time that we dug through trash hunting for items. First, Vietnam was and still is a third-world country, and especially in a poor village like ours, there was no government agency that picked up trash, nor did the people pile their trash in one place. Second, poor people’s trash in Vietnam would never have generated anything worth taking. Third, the idea of digging through trash is the lowest of the low in our mindset, and it is hard to fathom. At the age of 12, I already knew how this would affect me in terms of my self-esteem and perceived status in life. There could have been nothing worse for me at that moment in time. This was the pivotal point that made me who I am today.
Firmly and carefully, Mom stated, “No, Son. At the least, my children will have what other children have, even if it is of the worst quality, “ in this case, a mattress. “I will not settle for less than this,” she responded to my hesitation. Today, as I write this book, I now have three children of my own, ages five, six, and seven. As a parent, I strongly feel what my mom meant at that moment. Her love for her children and family has always surpassed her fear of self-doubt, public criticism, and people’s thoughts of her. Most importantly, she was determined to make the best out of a bad situation, and she knew what that minimum was: a mattress. That was her driving force, her only thought, and nothing could stop her from achieving that goal. I learned self-determination from Mom, and the level of this became explosive when her children’s interests were concerned in comparison to the norm. Not having a mattress was not an option, and so I tagged along with Mom to the dumpster.
Di Tran and His Mom – Dig the Dumpster for their first mattress in USA
The dumpster was a few blocks from our house, and Mom and I walked there in the cold weather; there was even light snow falling. We were both lightly dressed, wearing our tropical layered clothes, but we did not feel physical discomfort, only the mental heaviness of what we were about to do, dig in the dumpster. For the first time in my life, I felt like an adult man at this age of 12. I was on a mission with Mom, for something that we would hopefully only have to do only once in our lifetime. I felt a strong sense of determination that I inherited from her, and this made me happy. I also began to recognize at this exact moment who I must become, a man of the family with a strong level of determination and will to protect my family at all levels. There was no shame, no hardship, and no criticism that would interfere with the focus we had on our family, as Mom and I walked to the dumpster. “There it is, Son. Get in there and pull it out for me. I will pull it and you push from inside.” Mom directed me to the dumpster where the dirty mattress was. It was wet, heavy, dirty, and stained gray. It smelled of trash and urine. I no longer hesitated and put forth all my effort to get the mattress out from the dumpster and drag it to the temporary home, which we would soon have to exit and move into the Americana apartments. I accomplished something significant for myself, my mom and my family, and I felt quite satisfied. “We did it! Our family now has a mattress!” Mom exhaled with a smile, and seemingly lightened heart.
Unexpectedly, our Vietnamese translator from Catholic Charities came over to the house where my mom and I stood after our accomplished mission. The translator looked at us and glanced at the dirty mattress and spoke, “Catholic Charities has decided that this temporary house that you are staying in now, will no longer be used for this purpose after your family leaves. Therefore, they will throw away everything in this house after you leave. You are free to take anything you need to the Americana Apartments.” “Anything and everything we can use?” Mom asked the translator. “Yes, but not only that. Catholic Charities will provide the movers with trucks to help you move them into your new location, since they would have to throw all these away anyway.” “Isn’t this the will of God, Son?” Mom asked me when retelling this story. “Son, remember God will never give you more than what you can handle.” She taught us about faith in God. “But also know that life is about giving all the effort you can by maximizing your brain and physical strength for good; then God will take on the rest.” I gain greater comprehension of Mom’s teachings as I grow and live through life’s challenges. I can only recognize God through doing, not sitting, praying, or waiting for things to happen. Only when I maximize my God-given capability, can I say: “God, now you do your magic based on what I did.” God never seems to never fail me and my family.
