1: A decade before their restaurant Eleven Madison Park (EMP) would be recognized as the world’s best restaurant, Will Guidara and Daniel Humm were young and hungry entrepreneurs.

The year was 2007.

“We wanted to be one of the best restaurants in New York,” Will writes in his book Unreasonable Hospitality. “We wanted to make our restaurant excellent without sacrificing warmth, contemporary without compromising standards.”

“But before we … continue reading

1: As leaders, when we are short-staffed, it is difficult to resist the temptation to hire the first person who walks through the door.

“I know what it’s like to think, We need someone so desperately—how bad could this person be?” Will Guidara writes in his wonderful book Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect.

“I’ve also (unfortunately),” he recalls, “been in a position … continue reading

1: In 2006, renowned New York City restaurateur Danny Meyer offered twenty-seven-year-old Will Guidara a career-changing opportunity.  

Will was to become the General Manager of Eleven Madison Park (also known as EMP), a New York City fine-dining restaurant.

Will and Chef Daniel Humm were charged with reinventing the restaurant.

Eleven years later, the pair achieved the highest honor in dining when Eleven Madison Park. was named No. 1 in The … continue reading

1: “When initiating change,” Will Guidara writes in his inspiring book, Unreasonable Hospitality, “I look for the best lever, whatever will allow me to transmit the most force with the least amount of energy.”

In 2006, Will became General Manager of the New York City restaurant Eleven Madison Park, or EMP. He inherited a culture with two warring factions, “the fine-dining squad” and the “old guard.”

“The servers … continue reading

1: The thing about Laura?

“She never complains.” Will Guidara writes in his terrific book, Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect.

Will was about to assume the General Manager role at Eleven Madison Park (also known as EMP). This New York City fine-dining restaurant was part of legendary restaurateur Danny Meyer‘s Union Square Hospitality Group. 

One “should never waste an opportunity … continue reading

1: “You’re not being realistic,” someone would tell Will Guidara and Daniel Humm.

“You’re being unreasonable.”

“That word ‘unreasonable’ was meant to shut us down—to end the conversation, as it so often does,” Will writes in his book Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect.

“Instead,” he says, “it started one, and became our call to arms.”

Daniel and Will were partners in … continue reading