2024 started with a bang as far as my ToRead list. I loved this audiobook so much, that I couldn't hit pause and finished it in 4 days.
I'm talking about Unreasonable hospitality by Will Guidara. This book was not on my radar until a few months or so ago, but thanks to Jamie Farmer's post, I added it to my list. Guidara shares remarkable leadership lessons from turning Eleven Madison Park into the world's #1 restaurant.
Here are some themes that standout:
* Great culture is not accidental; it's cultivated daily.
* Details matter – the little things make someone feel special.
* Hire passionate, talented, and committed individuals.
* Feedback fosters growth; it's support for excellence.
* Being unreasonable achieves the extraordinary.
* Create memorable experiences; go the extra mile.
Shortly after I moved to US, as a young immigrant with a thick Eastern European accent at the time, I worked in the hospitality business myself. Every minute listening resonated with the grueling challenges and joyous victories of the industry that I experienced as well. The book reflects the very principles applied at the restaurant I worked, Pazo, for and the Foreman Wolf Group in Baltimore ran by distinguished chef Cindy Wolf and her business partner.
While it has been long since I moved on to the investment industry, Guidara's philosophy on "unreasonable hospitality" resonates deeply. Every minute is a lesson in perfection and delivering unforgettable experiences, which is something that it's not exclusive to the hospitality realm and can be applied in any industry. I think this is a book that everybody should read, no matter how early or far along you are in your career or the industry you are in.
Thanks for writing such an inspiring and energizing book. Here's to a year filled with equally inspiring reads!
#unresonablehospitality #bookrecommendation #leadershiplessons