An insight into the life of a Private Jet Charter CEO

In a recent interview, I was asked: “what is the best part of your job?” I responded that the best part about being an entrepreneur – and more specifically, a private jet charter brokerage company CEO – is hearing our clients say they are grateful for our services and appreciate what we do for them.

There have been many times when clients have come back to us and expressed their thanks, for various reasons. These affirmations make me feel my work, and our work as a team, means more than simply making a living, earning a paycheck or growing a business. It represents giving something back and contributing to the greater good of our planet and the universe.

Having said that, it’s not that financial gains are not important. We all have needs and desires and families to support, and I’m no different. Furthermore, when I am successful in business, it allows me and my team to contribute to other causes to improve and contribute to the greater good. In short, by doing well financially, we can do more for others.

My company, Paramount Business Jets, had a fantastic year in 2017. We were very busy; in fact, we made the INC 5000 list of fastest-growing companies for the year. What did I do? I sought out people I could help, from giving homeless people money to buy food, to organizing a supplies drive for McDowell County in West Virginia.

I spent a considerable amount of time doing work that would satisfy my soul. I would load up tools and a rope in my truck and drive into the worst snowstorms looking for people in need of help. Over the course of a few months, I worked to be a walking, living solution, wherever I went and for whoever came my way. And it felt amazing.

I looked for people, animals or things I could help in whatever way I could and wherever I went. I once stopped heavy traffic to rescue a deer and fawn that were stuck in the median. I organized several neighborhood and county cleanups, delivered flowers to a distressed bank teller, pushed a student’s car that broke down during rush hour to safety, by myself while everyone watched. Together with much help from leadership and staff at ProJet Aviation, Leesburg Executive Airport and many others in Loudoun County, we went back to McDowell County, one of the poorest areas in our nation, to help even more.

Richard Zaher's Best You Best Me Neighborhood Cleanup Finale
Richard Zaher's Non-Profit, Best You Best Me, celebrating the finale of their 2018 Neighborhood Cleanup Campaign
Richard Zaher cleaning a road with his sons
Richard Zaher cleaning a road with his sons, as part of the Best You Best Me, Cleanup Campaign

All these experiences made me feel on a spiritual level as though I have a purpose, and none of these experiences would have been possible without being successful as an entrepreneur. It’s great to be able to give back financially as well as through with words and actions; indeed, often a kind and genuine conversation is more beneficial than a generous donation of cash, but having financial resources at hand allows me to be even more creative and valuable in finding ways to help out where I can.

I love private jets, our industry and the successful, educated and amazing people in our industry. My job can be quite challenging at times, but what makes it all worth it for me is the ability to contribute to the greater good. Making others happy is precisely what makes me happy, and without question that is the best part of being a private jet charter company CEO and an entrepreneur.