Starting the day with ‘I can do better’ mindset

Ramona L. Jones

Ramona L. Jones has worked most of her life. As chief executive officer of Jones & Guerrero Inc., a Guam-based family business, Jones handles various businesses on Saipan like the KFC and Taco Bell franchises, the Townhouse Furniture and Appliances store, and real estate and rental properties. Jones said that what makes her productive and purposeful every day is always thinking, “I can do better.”

“My day starts the night before because I want my creative mind to work while I’m sleeping. I think about what I need to accomplish the next day or ruminate on a problem that I haven’t quite figured out yet. In the morning sometimes I have a solution, or at the very least I have an action list for the day,” she said.

Jones said she also tries to say a prayer each morning before opening her eyes (“There must be a reason why God wants us here on earth another day, right?”)

She also always think “I can do better.” “This motivates me in a positive way. That attitude brings freshness to daily tasks, reassurance to things I consistently fail at and perseverance to large jobs that take a long time to accomplish,” she added.
Jones had a taste of work when she was 12 at their family farm called the “Bar K Ranch”’ on Tinian. Equipped with a business sense at a young age, coupled with a bachelor’s degree in international business and finance from the University of San Francisco, Jones honed herself and with the support of others to be who and where she is now.

“One of the secrets to my success is that I ask for help and I am able to recognize good advice when I hear it. I also have the confidence in myself and abilities to create my own path,” she said.

One other little mental motivation that Jones uses, which she calls her little “click” and not “trick,” is to tell herself, “I get to” instead of “I have to”—like “I get to pick up my kids now,” “I get to go to work,” “I get to call my husband, etc.”
“This makes me feel grateful and empowered at the same time,” she said.

“…I also look to simplify life. I think most people can handle themselves but it gets so hard when you are trying to balance other people’s lives and priorities too. I try to be very realistic about how long things will take and stick to those limits. Proper planning, scheduling and empowering people, even children, to pull their fair share is good for everyone’s development,” she added.

In addition to running many businesses, Jones is a dedicated mother. “Since school has been at home for most of the year, my worthy cause has been helping my children with online classes and the PTA,” she said. That experience has created in her a sense of empathy for families that have two or more young ones at home. “It must have been next-to-impossible. …My heart goes out to them,” she said. “I think this ‘missing year’ will be the most serious issue we’ll need to address as a community.”

Jones said she continues to support and be supported by the Women’s Chamber and the Chamber of Commerce because sharing information and best practices “are so important during unusual circumstances,” she added.

For the new year, Jones is looking at how to effectively implement customer satisfaction, which is crucial in any business. “A lot of what we are focusing on now is digital advancement of our existing business to align with what our customers want. …While our business can’t wait for the whole tourism engine to roar back to life, we are looking at other revenue opportunities in the next few months…and trying to figure out the right way to prepare for visitors’ to return and adjusting to supply chains that are out of whack,” she said.

Jones added that being authentic and engaging with co-workers is always part of her day. “I would love for them to have fun when we are working together. I love to laugh with my co-workers. If they can walk away with a smile on their face and clear meaningful purpose—happy, super-charged, and raring to go, then that is my goal.”