Unlocking the Entrepreneurial Mindset: Finding Inspiration Beyond the Rut

A 1 min read.

Find myself stuck in a bit of a rut this week, with the reasons remaining unclear. Seemingly, my mindset had decided to take a vacation in dismal land. The solitude of working from home for the first time in my professional journey was weighing heavily on me. Initially, I attributed my gloom to the approach of autumn, but the radiant Tucson sun quickly negated that theory. 

Determined to shift gear, I began mentally curating a list of tricks I'd successfully employed in the past, or suggested to my clients when they found themselves in a similar spot. This list spanned journaling, spending quality time in the desert, hanging out with friends, pampering my doodle tribe, and keeping busy.

Despite diligently journaling my past week's victories, my slump persisted. Attempting random acts of kindness, like buying coffee for a stranger, also didn't help. My daily outings with my dogs and weekend trail and training runs under the sunny sky were futile too.

Even diving back into the industry that I adore by taking up shifts at my buddy's upscale dining venue didn't do the trick. Nor did brainstorming sessions with my entrepreneur friend during our hikes, manage to kindle any sparks. 

However, an unexpected experience brought along the desired shift. I ventured far from my comfort zone of the hospitality sector, to attend an unrelated speaker session. Without any preconceived notions about the subject or the speaker, the task was to simply be present for 90 minutes and absorb. In coaching, we dub it as level 3 listening.

The unexpected happened. I found myself drawn to the speaker's message, their narrative striking a chord within me. I emerged from that session feeling lighter, brimming with optimism, and infused with renewed vigor to dive back into work. 

Sometimes, to trigger a mindset shift, stepping out of your own headspace, discovering new concept, and setting aside the 'me' notion helps. Your work will diligently stand by, awaiting your return, and if your passion fuels it, sustainability is a given. 

Allow yourself that well-deserved break from the daily grind. It's neither selfish nor unnecessary, rather it's healthy, responsible, sustainable, and fulfilling. Essence of life encapsulated right there.

Entering the break mode casts a positive ripple effect on your life, your loved ones, your pets, and your colleagues. 

To start a conversation on how to shift your mindset, let’s connect.

P.S.

Whenever you are ready, here are several additional ways I provide daily support to hospitality leaders.

• Calling all restaurant owners and operators!!! The No Hesitations Leadership Podcast is here. There is no time like the present to listen in and level up your leadership. Click here to subscribe or follow.

• If you are a restaurant owner looking for a strategic partner to scale your business, retain and develop your managers, let's connect. Email me at christinlmarvin@gmail.com or you can even text me at 719-494-6074.

(Rest assured, I won't attempt to sell you anything.)

• If you are a hospitality leader looking to level up and position yourself for career advancement without sacrificing work-life balance, let’s start a conversation. Email me at christinlmarvin@gmail.com

• Each week, I provide hospitality leaders with valuable tools and resources to shift from surviving to thriving by embracing mental fitness. Subscribe to my newsletter below to receive these helpful tips directly in your inbox.

Love, Christin

Seven Essential Elements of a Strong Restaurant Training Program

A 2 min read.

It's no secret that the restaurant industry has witnessed unprecedented levels of turnover in recent years. In 2020, the industry saw a staggering loss of six million jobs, and although many of those positions have since been recovered, full-service restaurants still face challenges in this regard. A significant portion of the newcomers to the industry lacks prior experience and demands more comprehensive training than ever before.

Training has always played a pivotal role in the success of any business, but it has become especially vital in the context of the hospitality industry today. In this discussion, I will present seven strategies to help you improve or establish a training program. I'll also provide guidance on how to implement these methods without increasing your workload, but instead, fostering the growth of your team.

Customized training programs are imperative within a restaurant setting, tailored to suit the requirements of each individual position. Consequently, it may be necessary to develop over ten distinct training packages for a single location, encompassing roles such as bussers, hosts, food runners, servers, bartenders, prep cooks, line cooks, dishwashers, and managers. Each of these roles demands a specific skill set to ensure success in their responsibilities and maintain the seamless operation of your establishment.

Is your restaurant in need of leadership development? Take this 10 second survey.

Creating such a comprehensive array of training materials can seem like a daunting undertaking, and it's often most feasible to establish them prior to the restaurant's opening. However, for existing restaurants, I will later discuss how you can construct the necessary training resources by harnessing the expertise of the professionals within your team.

You have the flexibility to add as much detail as you prefer to your program, but every training program should, at a minimum, encompass the following components:

Orientation

Provide your team with an overview of the concept, owners, vendors, all training materials, and their training schedule.

Floor Chart

Include table numbers, bar seats, and position numbers. These are easily created using tools like Google Docs.

Menu Descriptions

Offer comprehensive descriptions for all food and beverage items, covering ingredients, preparation methods, vendors, and allergen information.

Steps of Service

Clearly define expectations for your team, including actions such as greeting a table within 30 seconds, inquiring if the guests have dined at the restaurant previously, and offering cocktails, wine, beer, or mocktails.

Daily Checklist

Provide a structured list of what the trainer needs to cover and what the trainee is expected to learn. This checklist helps maintain a sense of organization in daily training sessions and enables trainers to tailor the training pace to the trainee's learning style.

Evaluation

Implement a testing mechanism to gauge the effectiveness of your training program. This step is crucial for ensuring accountability among both trainers and trainees.

Ongoing Training

Recognize that retention may wane within 3-7 days of initial training. Conduct regular meetings, line-ups, or staff training sessions to ensure your team can confidently discuss every facet of your menu, from vendor information to production methods and execution procedures. This ongoing training is vital for maintaining a well-informed team.

To start a conversation on how to develop your team, let’s connect.

Within each of your restaurants, you'll find experts in each of the aforementioned areas. Involving your team members in the development or enhancement of a training program for your restaurant represents an excellent way to empower them to think like owners. It demonstrates that you appreciate their input and dedication, ultimately leading to streamlined operations, an enhanced guest experience, and a more robust bottom line.

If you want help streamlining your restaurant’s operations, let’s connect.

Don't hesitate to start the conversation with your top-performing employees today, asking them if they'd be willing to contribute to the improvement of the business by taking on this vital responsibility.

If this is your first training program, don't stress about achieving perfection in every detail. The key is to establish a strong foundation, and you can refine and expand from there. Rest assured that your training team will provide valuable feedback to help identify areas for improvement.

Additionally, be cautious not to let technology become an obstacle. I've effectively managed restaurant training programs with nothing more than a binder located by the POS station.

In the restaurant industry, each day brings unique challenges, but one aspect you can consistently control and manage effectively is your training. The stronger your training program and trainers, the more confidence your new hires will gain. This, in turn, provides them with the space they need to build connections with their guests, ultimately leading to increased productivity and fewer order errors, positively impacting your bottom line.

Just as you craft a memorable experience for your guests, it's equally important to create a nurturing environment for your team. By establishing a robust foundation, you enable your team to thrive.

Maintaining consistency throughout your restaurant operations allows you to focus your time and energy where you want to, rather than where you have to. This sustains the restaurant's success and helps you direct your efforts to areas of strategic importance.

If you want to discuss this topic further, let’s start a conversation.

P.S.

Whenever you are ready, here are several additional ways I provide daily support to hospitality leaders.

• Calling all restaurant owners and operators!!! The No Hesitations Leadership Podcast is here. There is no time like the present to listen in and level up your leadership. Click here to subscribe or follow.

• If you are a restaurant owner looking for a strategic partner to scale your business, retain and develop your managers, let's connect. Email me at christinlmarvin@gmail.com or you can even text me at 719-494-6074.

(Rest assured, I won't attempt to sell you anything.)

• If you are a hospitality leader looking to level up and position yourself for career advancement without sacrificing work-life balance, let’s start a conversation. Email me at christinlmarvin@gmail.com

• Each week, I provide hospitality leaders with valuable tools and resources to shift from surviving to thriving by embracing mental fitness. Subscribe to my newsletter below to receive these helpful tips directly in your inbox.

Love, Christin

How to Cook Up Mental Fitness: A Recipe for Success in the Hospitality Industry

A 3 min read.

Before I drop this little leadership tip on you, I'm stoked to let you know that I've just launched my podcast, "No Hesitations!"

The goal of this show is to help leaders be more effective so they can evoke personal and professional transformation.

I’d love it if you gave it a listen and hit that “subscribe or follow” button.

Click on the image below to start listening

(note, we are on 18 directories including Spotify and will be live on Apple Podcasts next week).

Thanks for all your support!

Picture your mind as an eclectic, bustling restaurant that never closes shop. Throughout the day, tables are filled with a diverse clientele of thoughts - the good, the bad, the ugly. 

No VIP reservations, no dress code, the door is always ajar. 

But there's a unique group - a set of regulars that are incredibly persuasive, constantly demanding your attention. Known as Negative Thoughts, these “guests” have a way of dominating the ambience if left unchecked. 

Allow me to introduce you to these 9 unwelcome guests so you can think about how they show up in your “restaurant”:

The People Pleaser 

The owner who is always looking to make others happy, often neglecting their own needs. How do you manage these thoughts? Start by setting boundaries. Saying 'yes' to everything might win short-term points, but it's detrimental to long-term relationships and your own well-being. Ensure you are saying ‘no’ to something before you say ‘yes’ to something else.

The Hyper Achiever 

Visualize the ambitious chef, tirelessly chasing that elusive Michelin star. The antidote for them? Balance. Learn to appreciate every dish well prepared, every small victory scored. Each dish, each day brings you one step closer to your star. Make time daily or weekly to slow down and recognize the wins from the week; celebrate those clean plates coming back from the kitchen and the ‘compliments to the chef’ coming from the dining room.

When you are ready to discover how these “guests” are holding you back from being more successful, let’s connect.

The Avoider

The manager whose motto is 'Out of sight, out of mind.' Confrontation becomes their kryptonite. The solution? Practice. Confrontation gets easier with every difficult conversation you dare to initiate. Think about what you want for the person on the other end of the conversation so you have clear goals on what you want to communicate. Also, think about what you want the relationship to look like on the other side of that conversation and always start with empathy.

The Controller

Perhaps a maître d' who insists on overseeing every reservation, every seating arrangement. The remedy? Trust and delegation. Let your team handle some tables - they might surprise you. The more control you let go of, the more you help people grow. Let your teams shine and their voices get louder!

The Victim

Ever met a sous chef who feels the Head Chef has it out for them? The counter is accountability. Burnt the sauce? Overcooked the steak? Own up to it, learn and let's get you back to the station. Challenge your team to think about how they want to show up as a leader everyday, the impact they can make and what they can control. Put the focus on them and not others.

These were the cutest villians I could find ;)

The Hyper Vigilant 

Resembling the ever-anxious restaurant owner, always fearing that one bad Yelp review. The fix is mindfulness. Root yourself in the present moment, attend to the many satisfied customers dining right now. Living like this is challenging, but you can change your course by acknowledging and confronting these thoughts. Ensure your decisions are grounded in facts.

The Hyper Rational

Picture the manager who values cold logic over spicy emotions. How to balance them? Empathy. Every kitchen mishap can be a lesson if tackled with understanding and empathy. Treat your managers like humans and you will show them how to do the same for their team. Challenge them to be vulnerable.

The Restless

The ever-busy bartender, juggling all tasks at once. Prioritize, make one cocktail at a time. Show this employee how to slow down, take a step back and look at the entire restaurant. This will allow them to see the big picture and identify what needs to be adjusted, corrected or cleaned up before moving onto the next task.

The Stickler

Think of a pastry chef, obsessed with each dessert looking Instagram-worthy, dreading the slightest imperfection. The solution? Acceptance. The soufflé will sometimes fall, the éclair may not always have the perfect glaze. It's okay, there's always another batch. Set the tone for your team that failure is encouraged and a great opportunity to learn so you can do it better the next time.

Making tiny shifts to your thought process will save you time, frustration, resentment and energy. Find out how here.

Acknowledging these regulars at your '’restaurant’' is just the first course of your mental fitness meal. The main course is learning to manage them, to find that sweet spot between being overwhelmed and maintaining a harmonious dining experience in your restaurant of thoughts. 

Let’s start a conversation about learning how to quiet these negative thoughts so you can have better work-life balance.

As you start making these subtle shifts, you'll notice a ripple effect. 

• Stress levels start dropping like a poorly performing item off the menu. 

• Seamless communication flows through your team, like a perfectly timed kitchen during peak hours. 

• Productivity soars, akin to a smooth, busy service on a Saturday night. 

• Job satisfaction saturates the atmosphere, like the inviting aroma of a delectable dish. 

The benefits seep out of the kitchen, reaching your patrons - their satisfaction, their repeat visits, their positive reviews lighting up your online presence. That's the power of a mentally fit hospitality business.

P.S.

Whenever you are ready, here are several additional ways I provide daily support to hospitality leaders.

• Calling all restaurant owners and operators!!! The No Hesitations Leadership Podcast is here. There is no time like the present to listen in and level up your leadership. Click here to subscribe or follow.

• If you are a restaurant owner looking for a strategic partner to scale your business, retain and develop your managers, let's connect. Email me at christinlmarvin@gmail.com or you can even text me at 719-494-6074.

(Rest assured, I won't attempt to sell you anything.)

• If you are a hospitality leader looking to level up and position yourself for career advancement without sacrificing work-life balance, let’s start a conversation. Email me at christinlmarvin@gmail.com

• Each week, I provide hospitality leaders with valuable tools and resources to shift from surviving to thriving by embracing mental fitness. Subscribe to my newsletter below to receive these helpful tips directly in your inbox.

Love, Christin

How to Show Up as a Leader when Something Terrible is Happening

A 1 min read.

Watching the news in recent days has been incredibly difficult. The reports of families being tragically affected and brutal acts like beheadings are something I find it challenging to come to terms with emotionally. In the past, I would often choose to numb my emotions or simply switch off the news.

However, this morning, I took a different approach. I dedicated 10 minutes to a peaceful meditation session with my Peloton community, focusing on sending love and peace to the world. 

I've heard that today is supposedly a global day marked by hate, but I'm unsure of how to react or prepare for it emotionally. What I'm experiencing today is a mix of fear and a strong desire to contribute something positive to the world, even if it feels somewhat self-indulgent.

This situation reminds me of my experiences leading teams during the pandemic. At times, I felt utterly helpless, yet I had to show up every day to support others. Today, I still have that desire to support and lead, but I also realize that as a leader, I don't have to possess all the answers, and that's perfectly okay.

 It's essential during time like these that we grant ourselves some grace during moments like these and take the time to process our own emotions as well as the emotions our teams may be sharing with us.

I opened my inbox today to find a generous gift to 2 books sent to me by a dear friend (thanks Adam). This is what humanity is all about, serving others. I would challenge everyone reading this to spread love today (and everyday) and perform a random act of kindness. 

Peace and love to everyone who is suffering during this challenging time in our world.