Success & Happiness = Being The “Supply” Rather Than The “Demand”
For the first time in awhile, I don’t have a management role where I work. Right now, all I want to do is moonlight at a restaurant, rather than invest the hours into running some aspect of it. Currently, I have too much else to do. So I’m not a leader there. Technically. However, that […]
More01.05 Next Level Conscientiousness: Engineering Unique Moments
Discusses the user experience in hospitality. I study Danny Meyer and the high benchmark of service that his restaurants are responsible for setting. He puts mindfulness to work by creating unique, precious moments for their guests. I look at how this high level of conscientiousness can be applied to court success in all areas of life. And, most importantly, we look at how the “inner game” of service takes these possibilities of this even further.
More01.04 Taking The Higher Ground With Skill, Strength & Compassion
Whether at work or in our personal lives, it is not easy to remain gracious and steady when someone is being abusive and unreasonable. I talk about techniques that can be used to penetrate through someone’s difficult shield towards a collaborative solution. And also how to effectively use the emotions you feel getting churned up in the process. Sometimes being mindful involves being a hostage negotiator.
More01.03 Meditation: The Most Powerful Tool For Upgrading The Way We Serve
Here, I talk about the power of meditation to simply make us better humans (serving well is dependent on our ability to own this “human vessel” we’ve been born into). I go through the unexpected ways it transforms your life and the ways it upgrades us that not enough people are talking about. You’ll learn how to meditation in about 3 minutes flat (thought I do recommend referring to the meditation guide for more details) and how to adapt these seemingly mystical Eastern philosophy principles to your life in a very practical.
More01.02 Servers With Attitude: When & Why We Love Them
A look at the phenomenon of “snarky server” restaurants and bars. What attracts people to them and, more importantly, what is repelling them from somewhere full of friendly accommodating staff.
More01.01 Good Service = Self Awareness: Interview w/ Kevin von Behren
Kevin owns Fly Awake Tea House in Portland Oregon, a uniquely social space that seems to gather the most interesting people in Portland to enjoy a quality of tea not often provided to Westerners. It started in his garage and received such a powerful response that he soon had to move to a cozy space off a main commercial strip. This success didn’t just happen because of the quality of Chinese tea he was serving (though that definitely represents the level of care and intentionality that infuses every aspect of the venue). Kevin and his servers seem to provide people with a rare feeling of comfort and intimacy amongst strangers. They accomplish this by…well, being themselves, effortlessly inspiring almost anyone to come out of their shells and join in on some elevated tea-fueled conversation. Even…actually, especially…if they are introverted. Kevin was kind enough to speak with me over some tea (of course) and share some of his insights about service, self-awareness, tea and human connection.
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