The Blog

At The Hearthstone, a popular neighborhood restaurant, the new season was underway, but the team’s rhythm was far from seamless. The kitchen buzzed with energy, but the front-of-house felt uneven—some shifts flowed like clockwork, while others stumbled through avoidable mistakes and missed moments. Among the staff, there were two servers whose journeys embodied the team’s […]

By Ace Angaza Don’s granddad had hands like tree bark—rough, worn, and always carrying the scent of earth. He was a gardener, the kind who didn’t just grow flowers but spoke to them like they were old friends. Every summer since Don could remember, he was forced to tag along and help. “Whatever you plant […]

In a small village at the edge of a great forest, there was a blacksmith named Elara, known far and wide for her skill in shaping the strongest, most beautiful tools and weapons. Her forge was a place of great importance, not only to her, but to the entire village, as it supplied the villagers […]

Once, a wise king grew troubled, seeing his people grow too comfortable, too reliant on life’s conveniences. To challenge their resilience, he placed a massive boulder in the center of the main road leading into the city. Then, hidden nearby, he waited to see how his people would respond. At dawn, travelers arrived, busy with […]

By Amanda Murray   | Vice President of Strategic Branding & Partner, AMP Up1 Hospitality & Your 3rd Spot In 2017, my husband, Dan, and I left the Boston suburbs for the city, looking to shorten his commute and delay the commitment to suburban life. We moved into a small condo complex on Louis Terrace in […]

In a bustling city, a seasoned chef named Marco finally opened his dream restaurant: Alba. It was small, intimate, and focused on seasonal, locally sourced Italian cuisine. Friends congratulated him.“This is amazing news!” they said. Marco simply replied,“Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.” A few months in, Alba received a glowing review from a prominent […]

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking up and gently throwing things into the ocean. Approaching the boy he asked, “Young man, what are you doing?” “Throwing starfish back in the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them […]

by Josh Rossmeisl Who doesn’t love a firefighter?  They are heroes who risk their lives to fight fires and save people.  In the hospitality industry, we have a different definition of “firefighter”. Firefighters put out fires quickly and save the day for all to see.  Their team loves it when they swoop in and extinguish […]

By Josh Rossmeisl “You have 1 year to make 100 mistakes or you’re fired!”  This was an expectation I implemented several years ago and shared at orientation with all new leaders.  I asked them to write them down so we can reflect in a year and see how much they’ve grown.  My only rules were “show […]

One day a mouse looked through a crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife opening a package when they got home from the store. It was an ordinary day like any other for the mouse. She was wondering what food did the farmer and his wife bring home? But instead of […]