Embracing Imperfection: The Stoic Path to Excellence in Hospitality

In the hospitality industry, we often face our own reflection, not just in mirrors but in the eyes of our guests and the quality of our service. Marcus Aurelius, the Stoic philosopher-emperor, is known to have said, “Celebrate behaving like a human being... pick yourself back up when you fail.” These words resonate deeply within our profession, where perfection is a pursuit rather than a practical reality.

In his reflective moments, perhaps not unlike the introspection of a manager after a challenging dinner service, Aurelius would not always find satisfaction in his self-scrutiny. We are told in his 'Meditations' that he did not always see the man he aimed to be, echoing the sentiment in Bruce Springsteen's lyrics, “When I look at myself I don't see / The man I wanted to be.” In hospitality, it’s easy to dwell on what went wrong – a dish returned to the kitchen or a less-than-perfect review.

Yet, as leaders in this space, we must heed the Stoic advice to "try to take that step forward." Our work is a constant dance of progress and retreat, but always with the aim of moving ahead. We strive to embody the philosophy we hold, acknowledging that few of us are ever "fully actualized" or "totally on track."

Marcus Aurelius and Seneca offer a dual perspective of self-compassion and accountability. To "be a good friend to yourself," as Seneca advises, is to foster resilience in our teams, to create cultures that celebrate the small wins, and always to encourage that next step forward.

Let us, as food and beverage professionals, adopt this Stoic mindset: not to condemn ourselves for the inevitable stumbles, but to rise with humility and persistence. Our industry thrives on the human touch – imperfections included. We continue, therefore, to "Keep going. Keep working. Make progress when and where [we] can."

This post was inspired by insights from Ryan Holiday's Daily Stoic email. For those who find these reflections on Stoic principles enriching, especially within the context of our professional lives, I highly recommend signing up at DailyStoic.com for a daily dose of wisdom.