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: “My dad had his own platoon in Vietnam,”  Will Guidara writes in his terrific book Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect.

“He’d be the first one to tell you it wasn’t a great one,” Will shares, “In fact, it’s highly likely he got it because nobody else wanted it.”

One of the soldiers in the platoon was nicknamed Kentucky after his home … 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