Innkeeping

You Did This Just For Me

The result of the courageous and caring act is to change something for the better without condition and despite review or constraint. This is what makes the thing we do so meaningful. It makes someone feel like they're the center of the universe, even if just for a moment. What if we make space and let the car into the crowded lane, precisely because no one else will.

Merely act kindly. Maybe it will start a movement.

Hostess vs. Innkeeper

Hostess...
  • hides behind a podium 
  • smiles and says hello
  • moves you along
  • processes
  • assigns tables
  • takes you to your seat
  • keeps things moving along
  • says good bye and thank you
Innkeepers...
  • position themselves to “dance"
  • welcome
  • get to know
  • seek to understand why you’re here
  • pick up clues
  • deliver the unexpected
  • make new friends, and...
  • remember old ones
  • create comfort and trust, so...
  • they can get the truth when people leave
Innkeeping requires vastly different skills than hostessing. But first you need to understand why you’re doing it…so you know who to hire.

Arrive 5 Minutes Early

That’s all it would take…to deliver the unexpected…to change your image.

Imagine the power of making this statement..."I care more about you than me”. Imagine how this would foster trust, respect and friendship.

And it’s really not that hard. Assuming you already plan your arrival to be “on-time”, then you can certainly plan to arrive at a new, "double secret" on-time…that only you know about. And by doing so, you’re guaranteed to meet everyone’s expectation, every time. The free prize is that you’ll be there noticeably early…every time. And that’s unexpected…and it begins to send a message about you and your belief system, your core values, and how you set your priorities. And it shows that you care.

Give it a whirl…what’s the downside?