#2 - LEADERSHIP - Who did you mentor that now makes you think, “Yep. That’s part of my legacy”?

Published 21.08.2025

There’s one person who comes to mind immediately. I won’t name names, but they started as a colleague and quickly became a friend. We connected over the same values—guest experience, team wellbeing, business mindset—you name it. Whether it was in a team meeting or a one-on-one, their presence always lifted the day. Most of the time.

That said, there were definitely moments I wanted to bang my head against a wall. Repeatedly. But those moments weren’t just about them—they were also about me. They pushed me to be a better leader. To step back, to listen more, to let go of needing it done my way if it still got us to the right outcome. And that was a huge lesson: if you’ve aligned on the key pillars—the KPIs, the vision, the non-negotiables—then the path people take to get there can, and should, look different.

Mentorship isn’t about creating a copy of yourself. It’s about growing someone who challenges you, learns from you, and then builds something with their own voice. If they borrow your ideas and tweak them? You should be flattered. I know I am.

And if you’re reading this and thinking, “Wait—is this about me?” Well… if you ever made me laugh, made me swear, made me proud, and made me question my own leadership style—all in the same week—then yeah, it probably is.

That’s LEADERSHIP in this business—helping someone figure out their own way to carry three plates, even if you know damn well they’re going to drop one the first time. 

Movie Reference - Dinner Rush" is a 2000 independent film set in a popular Italian restaurant in New York City. The movie, starring Danny Aiello, focuses on the restaurant's staff and patrons, with themes of family, love, gambling, and the clash between traditional and modern cuisine.