Step into Your Freedom

When you lead a hospitality business, it’s easy to think you’re chained to the space, need to work on days off, and be perpetually on call for any possible emergency. It’s one thing to be dedicated; it’s another to punish yourself. The nervous system isn’t designed for chronic stress.  

A former client of mine, a chef-owner of a successful restaurant, recently shared that she was going away for two weeks. A worthy brag—two weeks! I was delighted for her. Only a year before, she was working around the clock, stepping in for employees who called out sick at the last minute, and never taking time to nurture her own life. The burnout was real.

Overworking herself was steeping into the way she showed up for her team and in how the team failed to collaborate effectively, ultimately influencing the customer experience. In the time we worked together, she stepped into her freedom bravely—and I say bravely, because goodness knows how hospitality glorifies sacrifice at all cost. To change the dynamic, she closed the restaurant for another day a week, empowered her team to do their jobs (and held them accountable when they didn’t), and stayed away from the restaurant on her days off.

The results were impressive: she started taking care of herself better, improved her health, helped solidify a positive work culture, and let her team sweat the small stuff on their own. In the process, she found her joy again…and it wasn’t by working harder, but smarter. It was no surprise when her business started getting widespread accolades.

To lead a restaurant or winery is a marathon—not a sprint. When you treat every day like a fire drill, your body and mind never know homeostasis, making grounded decisions impossible. Exercising your choices with intention not only helps you find the coveted work-life balance, but teaches you how to grow your business sustainably. When we step into choice—to have a life of our own, to lead differently than our peers, and to empower rather than micromanage—we find a new path to personal and professional freedom.

And the cherry on top? We start redefining hospitality in the process. Giving with a full heart and serving others doesn’t need to come at our own expense.

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