Hospitality Growth Without Burning Out
By Daniel Zolinski | November 1, 2024
In October of 2023, I had my first ever panic attack. People told me they had occasional panic attacks, but I never understood what they meant because I never experienced one. It was a hot, sunny afternoon with an occasional breeze that rustled the leaves still hanging on to the branches. I was living alone in Virginia, which was an experience as it was my first time on my own since graduating college. The girl I was pursuing was 600 miles away and I was facing some intense pressure in my business endeavors. My online business meeting just ended and there were, what felt like, 100 different tasks to complete in a short amount of time. Although anyone observing me would see a successful 25-year-old entrepreneur, inside I was a lonely, anxious kid that was facing a quarterlife crisis. As my heart raced, my body impulsively shot me up from my chair and walked outside. I grabbed a chair, took my shirt off, and sat underneath the intense heat of the sun. I stared at the ground, watching ants crawl over my bare feet as I profusely sweated out every ounce of misery built up within me. “I can’t keep living like this,” I thought to myself. Something needed to change.
I tell you this story because I have 3 principles to share that you can implement into your own hospitality company. These principles will help you 1) counteract a similar situation you may have experienced or 2) avoid experiencing this altogether.
Principle 1: Never Allow Outside Forces to Take Away Your Peace
Entrepreneurs, business owners, CEOs, Presidents, and the like all face intense pressure in hospitality. The greater the position = the greater the responsibility. People will constantly ask things of you, sway you in different directions, and tell you what they think is best for you. You don’t always have to take their advice. Knowing your purpose and having a clear vision will keep you on the straight path. Be confident in the direction you want to go and be at peace with it, even amid disagreements.
Principle 2: Delegate
“You can do anything, but not everything.” – David Allen. Early in your hospitality career, you tend to do everything by yourself. Community engagement, content creation, administration work, design, and sales. This is good. You should do everything yourself in the beginning, so you know what works and doesn’t work. As you grow, you need to hire a team. There’s a hard limit to how far you can scale as a one-person show. Evaluate what tasks are necessary but can be delegated to someone else and what tasks are high leverage that you need to do to move the needle.
Principle 3: If You Don’t Like It, Change It
I knew I needed to get away from Michigan. The growth, both personally and professionally, was slow. I packed up and moved to Virginia only to realize it wasn’t what I had envisioned. Although I learned more about myself and my business in the process, I also realized it wasn’t the place I was supposed to be. The same goes for your hospitality journey. If there are people you need to let go, or a shift in direction you need to take, do it. Only YOU know where you, and your business, needs to go.
I hope these principles serve as a reminder when things get difficult. Never lose your vision and motivation. Make necessary adjustments along the way that keep propelling you forward in the best way possible.
