Live with Hospitality from Within

Speaker A: Oh my gosh, It's January of 2026, and we're back.

Speaker B: Uh, here for it. Here for it.

Speaker A: Oh, good. So good. Well, I think it's just, you know, we're excited to be here. You know, Liz and I have spent many hours, Minutes. Um, thanks, uh, perfect bite for joining us.

Speaker B: Um, that's Ms. Sarah Perkins and the Perfect Life podcast. Thank you, Sarah, for joining us.

Speaker A: Uh, yeah, we've spent last year, you know, lots of moments in time connecting with community on these lives, and, um, actually kind of took some time away, um, took, uh, some time away from being actively on these lives, which kind of feels weird. I'm like, wait a second, we get to dance here again? But that's because we've built some. Some really beautiful spaces for community which we're going to talk more about. Um, but we just wanted to reintroduce ourselves to do, do, do. Um, and, um, you know, what hospitality hyphenate means and, and, and, um, how we're. We're building around it and, you know, introducing and inviting other people to join us in this. In this space. Space. So, um, yeah, thanks for being here, everyone. Um, for anyone that's joining us live now and that will be watching this later, um, you know, it's January, it's a new year. Um, there's a lot that's happening in our world, and more than ever, everyone is seeking community that is really intentional and aligned, um, and finding spaces where we can be ourselves and creative. Um, and so Liz and I, um, you know, are really excited and proud because we formed Hospitality Hyphenate, um, last year and this space. And, um, you know, I think we start with explaining maybe what it is. Right? What, what is Hospitality Hyphenate as we've learned more about it in the last year, especially that we've built a community and we have people that are in. That are in our community with us now, which is really exciting. We've learned so much from. From everybody as well.

Speaker B: Absolutely. Yeah. I always. Wherever the on ramp is for our conversation, I'm always here for it. You know that, um, and, you know, for the folks out there, you know, listening live or actually listening to this later, you know, Kim and I talk about how we dance together both, um, both out in. In the, uh, interwebs as well as sort of behind the scenes. And I think that that's a great, A great place to start because in 2025 we really were able to take that, uh, that question that so many people in hospitality are having right now. Which is like, what's stable work, what's sustainable work, especially for creatives, um, who are always moving between roles in hospitality. Right. Um, we talk so much about in the. The hyphenate life of, um, all the hats that people wear and how it. It really translates into this. Right? Um, and in 2025, we got to truly open the community doors for the first time. Right? For, you know, those who have not tuned in with us before. Kim and I started this work before we called it Hospitality hyphenate back in 2020, um, moved into what we were understanding that so many people wanted to do, sort of what we were doing. Right. And for folks out there, um, Kim and I have a lot of crossover in our work, and we also have things that are unique to our own in our creative spaces. And so, um, this is really. It was really the first time that we opened our doors and people came, which was awesome and exciting. You know, you. You always. Anytime you throw a party of any kind, you definitely worry about whether or not people are going to show up. Um, but in this hospitality hyphenate space, um, what we really are making room for is the discussion for Front of House, right? Because even though we've never really heard the term hyphenate before, Matt, stuff with hospitality mentality, we have seen examples of it back of House often, right? We definitely see chefs who then have a product line, have a merch line, have a book, have a podcast, all of these things, which is awesome. You know, it's. It's great to see so many people, um, in our industry embracing the hyphenate life, even if they're not calling it that. And, um, at the same time, we have not had a lot of paths, um, that have been cleared that we've seen for Front of House. And I really do think that people are going to continue to gravitate towards this hyphenate, um, as we talk about over and over again, um, a writer that I absolutely adore planted this seed in my brain. And I think it was 2023, which was Emma Gannon. She's got a great book, Multi Hyphenate Life. And, you know, reading that book really set the tone for, you know, or plant a disease rather than set the tone for, oh, this, this could be a thing in. In for hospitality folks. And then to be building my own thing for you, to be building your own thing, and then to sort of come together and say there's. There's an opportunity for us to help other folks here and build not only A community, but uh, a strengthened network.

Speaker A: Mhm. Yeah. And I love that you brought up the like, you know, the difference between anybody that's front of house, back of house, right. Is like, you know, you always have, you know, there's a craft, right? There's an obvious tangible craft, right? When it comes to somebody that is creating, that somebody can consume. Especially in our industry, because we think of how are people consuming, right? And it, it's true. When you kind of look at yourself, if, if you are somebody that may be more service oriented, um, you know, you're like, well, what do I create? Like, where am I creative in that? Or like what else could I be doing? And you know, we've talked about this last year when we were on these calls is I'll never forget, I mean I used to be uh, an operator and deep, um, in restaurant operations for 20 years. Still I'm in a different capacity is um. And I remember when the pandemic hit and I was on the call with a call with one of my best friends who's a chef, and I just said to her, you know, what are we going to do if restaurants don't open again? Like what, what do we do? And I think that that for me that was that first seed of like, where does my skill set, right? Like where is it that what I do can develop into something else? And when I told her, I said, yeah, but you're a chef, like you

Speaker B: could write a cookbook.

Speaker A: Like you could, you could, you could feel prep from home and like, uh, you know, build a business for other people. But I remember sitting there going, what do I do? Like what do I do with my skillset and how does it translate? And I a, you know, that's a lot of the premise of what we have explored ourselves is analyzing and just recognizing our skill set and how does that translate to something else? And where does the creative side also get fulfilled? Right. Sometimes that's even creativity, right. I think Liz and I, you know, there's. There, we're creatives in very different ways. And I myself had to define what a creative is in my own essence and person. Um, and you know, I think it is, it is really empowering and impactful when you're feeling stuck in a place of there's an outlet or there's a part of me that is not really utilizing the best of my or, or is not um, dipping into something that could really light me up or make me feel more inspired or fulfilled. It doesn't also, I mean I'm jumping Ahead here, but doesn't need to be a revenue stream. It could just be something that brings you energy, which is like the most potent. Right. Um, is translating that of, oh, I have this skill, or I do this, and this is what lights me up, and this could be something else that I fill my cup with. Uh, and that becomes a hyphenate life. Right. It just becomes hyphenate, and it expands your communities and who you connect and relate to versus feeling maybe a little stuck or mundane in conversations, being, like, I don't want to just talk about the guest experience.

Speaker B: Right.

Speaker A: Like. Or I don't want to talk about, like, the lighting of the restaurant all day long. Like, I don't care. Like, that's not cool to me. I don't, you know, um, and so, you know, to create these spaces, where is that. That we're. We're. We're putting it out on the table. Right. Like, and I think more importantly, we love to share how we got to where we are and. And the storytelling of that, because we know that that draws. Aligns people in. Um, something Liz said on my podcast that I've taken a very big pause from and will continue to take a pause from from now. Um, but, you know, when we were on our collaborative conversation, and I'll never forget this, I thought about it this morning. As Liz said, nothing ever comes out fully baked. Right. And I think that there is also a big fear of when we want to take a leap into something that we may not feel like is part of our skill set or something that we know how to do or are we truly an artist? Right. Like, where's our creative. Remember, you just have to start. Yeah. And see how it feels. And then who can you connect with in community around that? Right. And build. And that's what we're really honored that we've. We've, you know, we've done that. And. And we have people that are dancing with us, um, on a consistent basis now. And we're excited to continue to share and share that with everybody who's just curious. Right. And sometimes that's. That's the spark.

Speaker B: Yeah, absolutely. We. We talk about sparks all the time. And, you know, that's really what the kickoff of 2026 is all about. Right. Is to just keep this language circulating through our ecosystems. Right. And that language is highlighting that being a hyphenate is a. It's not a side hustle. And it's also no longer fringe.

Speaker A: Right.

Speaker B: It's. It's definitely mainstream in a lot of industries. Um, and while it's been a, ah, response to the changing nature of work, um, it's also you know, important to recognize that again there's been no real path front of house, outside of consulting. Right. Which, which we both do and I, I do think um, that's an important sort of maybe starting point for the conversation today is that um, you know, how are you moving from thinking something's a side hustle or you know, this is just something I like to do for fun on the side. And how are you integrating it into a ah, sustainable structure that can support you?

Speaker A: Right.

Speaker B: And where that starts is getting in the community, right. So that you can. And one of the things that you always talk about and yes, nothing comes out fully baked. Start before you're ready. Like these are, these are always like my one liners, right, that I've got. But you know, something that you know, you have also said to our community over and over is that um, you, you have to be uncomfortable a little bit. Right? You, you have to, you have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Right. Um, to sort of figure out what's the next step for you. Right. Um, and front of house, outside of consulting, which has been very gatekept, very guarded. Right. People, they don't really talk about their consulting work because they're afraid someone's going to swoop in and take that work away from them. And it's like let's build this community where we can actually learn from each other. And we've had multiple people who have come through our community calls, our co working sessions where they're like, this is what I want to do, these are my roadblocks. Can you help me? And literally just sitting in a room and giving each other ah, praise, giving each other shout outs like pumping people up and saying well what have you tried this. We had a great community member also building community on substack, um, who joined one of our co working sessions and he gave one of our other colleagues some great advice. Like it didn't even come from us which was like ah, it was so exciting to see our mom, um, our community interact with one another and feel supported and find value.

Speaker A: Yeah. And I think that there's like to that point as well is sometimes it can feel really intimidating to put something new or just to like I want to do this crazy silly thing that feels silly that's really uncomfortable. Um, but, and when you find those spaces of people who are actually just doing the same thing is like you're, you've not put anybody up on A pedestal, right. Or you're not saying this person has done it and better, therefore I cannot ask them. Right, right. And that's something that I'm really proud of, and I know we both are, but for me it's so important to be consistently checking in, to be like, what kind of energy are we setting in this space? Um, as somebody, that part of my consulting is to help businesses build safe cultural spaces is so that people can raise their hand at any moment in time. Right. And they can out, out. I'm feeling this way whether it's good, negative, neutral, doesn't matter. Right. Or saying, hey, I need help with this. Right. Or can I just talk out my thought and like, actually don't answer. I just need to talk it out at something that's not my own brain. Um, and I think it's really important for us to have that, that space and those spaces because a lot of times we've also felt like we have to do it alone. Um, because if we, if we do it with somebody else or if we say it into whatever ether that, you know, somebody may steal the idea or somebody may put it down. Um, or sometimes people like to give unsolicited advice around it. Right. There's the entire, the entire spectrum. But I, I think it is really important, um, that everybody knows that the, this is the space that we've created. And, and yeah, we may have like built it, right. Like we like birthed it. But, um, what's actually more interesting is that like we're now co creating with everybody that's also in our space with us. Um, and to reflect back on that co working session. Yeah, we opened it up. Right. Like we're like, here's the plan. But like, we actually don't want to be the only ones talking. Right. And, and we're not here to listen to ourselves. We want it to be everybody contributing. And so, um, yeah, it's, it is, it's so just, I mean it, it lights me up. Right. And when we get to find and, and be in spaces, and now more than ever, people are also being like, you know, I think people are coming a little bit out of the technology, social like connection place and they're looking for, you know, the, in real life, which I'm going to put in quotations because Liz and I actually have built all of this through technology like uh, zoom calls and, and text message because we don't live in the same place. Um, but that's, that's, that's a powerful tool. But we actually get to make sure that it's like video time and we're seeing each other's body language so that we can really support each other and anybody that comes through our doors with us, um, to connect and just expand our network in that way.

Speaker B: Yeah, absolutely. And it, it's such a great example of how hospitality translates to this work, right? And you know that I use this term all the time, analog sandwich, right? Yes. Like, you've got the online work that you do, you've got the analog middle, right? And then you've got the sandwich where you follow up online as well, right? And I think a great example of that is, um, someone who is on this call, you know, Sarah, who I met through someone in real life at another event, right? And now we're a part of each other's ecosystems. You and I met in real life, we did not meet online, right? And then once we met online, we eventually. Excuse me. Once we met in real life, we eventually found our way to coming back together online. And so I definitely feel as though it's really important for folks to remember that there are a lot of ways to be collaborating that don't have to be in per. Don't have to be in person. And that this, that hospitality translates, right? Because, you know, you and I do this thing and you know, you know, in, uh, my own work, I have a whole OKR that is all about energy, right? Um, um, and you and I leave space for being hospitable to one another when we come to work together every single week. And so, you know, that's one part of how this translates, how the hospitality translates to the, this hyphenate work, right? But also to really get into some of the weeds on. On hospitality hyphenate. And why it translates for front of house is that the situational intelligence that hospitality folks, is at such a high level, right? Where we are like, what is this situation? Let me read the, Let me read the room, whether that's a physical room or a metaphorical room, and say, what is this situation and how am I going to approach it? Right? And that cannot be undervalued in any way. People need to understand that. That situational intelligence that we have so intuitively as front of house hospitality folks, um, that is what really translates into to being able to say, I'm going to add A and B to my already main income, that I have to test these out, right? And like, we do tiny experiments all the time. We talk about AB testing all the time. Um, and that situational intelligence, like, if you have in your gut telling you you want to create, you want to be a writer, you want to start a podcast, you, you want to bake, you want to make soap, you want to make zines, you know, whatever it is, you know, that situational intelligence that we've had forever as hospitality pros that really transfers to be hyphenate. And I think that we don't give ourselves enough, um, enough credit for all of the things that we have managed in being owners and operators down through time. That's not only reading the room, but, you know, navigating power dynamics, managing energy. Right. Like we are the conduit between the kitchen and the guest. Right. And, um, you know, I really wanted to highlight for folks that we have also emotional intelligence. Right. There's a lot of EQ there as well that comes through that can be applied and be really, um, beneficial when you get out into the world and start testing. Being a, uh, hyphenate.

Speaker A: Yeah. And I will also say too, is this, this type of, you know, work and curiosity of one's life. Right. And what does hyphenate mean? Actually? I mean, it may be a little, it may be a little too soon to say this, but it can also help you avoid the route of burnout. Um, and I'll say that, I say that because it's my own experience. Um, and I, you know, we burn out, we burn out really quickly as hospitality humans and because we are, we are literally people that are of service to others and we forgot to be of service to ourselves. And um, you know, in the little small pieces of time that you can be of service to yourself, is that ab testing or what we call following the spark, right. Is like that little piece just reminds you that, oh, there is another, there is space that you can make to um, kind of engage with something outside of your. Absolutely. You know, your like 12 hour days and um, what will it bring to you? Right. And again, that could be energy. It could eventually become a business. It could be, it could be so many different things. It could be a community. Right. Like, it could be so much that, that just builds out your portfolio of your life. Um, and that does actually enhance, you know, what your, your career path could be. Um, and so I do like to say that because there's so many times that people are like, I don't see a way out, I don't know how to get out. I don't know how to take better care of myself. And you know, if this is, you know, if, if this is the spark, if this Conversation here is like, oh, I want to be a part of that conversation. Like, dope. Like, we'd love to see you. Right? We'd love to have you. Um, Liz just dropped in into the chat here too. We have, we do have a resource. We have a free workshop that we, that we also dropped last year. We, um, did. And uh, you know, again, it's just, it's the, it's the introduction to this language, it's the introduction to this concept. It's the, the introduction to what hospitality hyphenate means. Um, and is. And like kind of little things to be looking out for. Um, so, you know, I just say that especially, and this is deeply personal is like just feeling when you're at a place of overwhelm and suffocation. And I can't. What, what else can I be doing? That fills me up is, um, you know, maybe it's, it is looking at that link, right? And seeing and seeing just the possibilities. And maybe we are the right community for you. Maybe we're not.

Speaker B: And that's okay.

Speaker A: And that's also okay, right? It's like similarly to restaurants, thank goodness there's so many because not. You do not want to be able to accommodate everybody.

Speaker B: For sure. For sure. Yeah. And you know, one of you know, again, me and my one liners, but you know, I've been doing, doing that for 15, maybe 20 years, is I have had this phrase for a long time that is hospitality starts at home, right? And we too often pour from an empty cup because we don't take care of ourselves and. Or we aren't able to support the people who are in community with us because we have that empty cup, right? And so hospitality starts at home. Like one of the things that, when people feel, when I talk to folks, colleagues and clients, um, in this space, one thing that they are saying, they, they often say to me is like, you know, I can't keep up. Like, I can't take care of myself and you know, the hours, et cetera. And one thing that I say to them is do one thing for yourself before you walk out the door. And like, maybe that's like take out the garbage, right? Like, it could literally be take the garbage out of your house, right? But it could also be like, sit with a cup of tea and just take some deep breaths in the morning, right? Or, or dance in the morning. You and I both talk about, we dance it out, right? Like, I dance out my days now. Like, that's definitely a thing that I do. But it's like hospitality starts at home is really like do, do some things for yourself before you have to go pour into the cuffs of others. And that really translates here too of, of being a hyphenate, right. Because so much of the work is solo. And you know, you mentioned this on one of our social posts is that we often front of house, we're so interconnected in our work, but then, you know, with our goals and dreams and our plans, like, we get real siloed. And um, that is, I want to say that that is, it's common like, and you know, that's the opportunity when you are feeling siloed. It's like if you feel thought about it, someone else has probably thought about it too. And you've probably got your people out there, right?

Speaker A: Yeah. You just have to like send out the signal, right?

Speaker B: The bad signal. Put the bad signal up.

Speaker A: Just put it out there. Right. And I, I, it's so it, it enjoy it like, enjoys me. Like, it like brings me such joy. Like I, I think it's um, you know, I guess for me with these conversations and even just being back in this dance and on a sub stack live, because we haven't engaged with, with like the um, in a while is just like, you know, I'm excited for anybody that's curious, um, because there's so much ahead, there's so much uncertainty and that. But in a good way, we're not going to talk about the bad way, but like in the good way, like being uncertain, right. Is like, it is actually a spark is like, oh, wait a second, right. To me it's that uh, discomfort. Right. And I always tell people, if you come to me and you are not both nervous and excited, then it's not the right thing, then don't engage with it any further. But if you are feeling nervous and excited, it is worth the investment of time and energy to just take a peek. It doesn't mean you have to be full body in. It doesn't mean it has to be fully baked. It's just like dapple with it. Right. Be curious the same way that you're curious with your guests, right. When you can like see that their body language is maybe like crossed arms or like they're looking cold or they're like looking around or whatever. It is the same way that you explore that curiosity with your guests and with your team, like give that to yourself and um, you know, see where it brings you.

Speaker B: Yeah, for sure. And you know, hyphenate is a practice, right? It's a Practice, it's not a hustle. Um, and being in community is what makes the work sustainable to your point. And um, we saw a need for it, we created it and we are so excited that we continue to bring people in um, to, to have the conversation. And so, um, we do. We are going to do another community call in Q1. So I think that's definitely important, um, to share with people that'll be coming up in February and next week we're again like we just got back on the bike, right? This is definitely, this is the first conversation of the year. We're just getting back on the bike, having a conversation. Um, but next week we are going to give a little bit more practical like behind the scenes, you know, what, what the hyphenate life looks like for him, what the hyphenate life looks like for me. And really giving people a peek into um, those sparks again of like what could I be doing? Right? Is it again, is it writing? Is it making art? Is it craft? So we'll be doing a community call. We may even have a special guest in our community call. Um, we are, we're calling on um, folks that Kim and I both have, um, in our, in real life, uh, uh, communities for people who are finding success in being a hyphenate, whether that's. They're still fully in hospitality or they've taken hospitality into, into like an art practice for for example. So um, we've definitely got some, some good things coming in uh, in the next couple of weeks.

Speaker A: Yeah, so much to tune into. So you know, Liz already dropped in there. The, the one resource that we have that's free that is very much um, it is fully hospitality hyphenate. Another way to also just stay in touch with us and, and, and be in the know and follow along of our separate hospitality hyphenate lives. Like what we're doing separately and then together is also subscribing to um, both of our substack our newsletters. Um, because we share, um, we share a whole lot on there. Um, and it's actually kind of cool to you know, see how actually different Liz and I are and what our focuses are, but also how there's a lot of themes that are very similar. Um, and maybe also will help you understand why the two of us have built together and just give a little bit more insight of who may be part of our community already. Um, so that you don't have to, if you don't feel like you, you're ready to fully dive in, um, with us. Um, and, yeah, we'll be back next week.

Speaker B: Is it next week? Yeah. Yeah, it is. Yeah. The fifth. The fifth. And those invites will come for me, so just so that, uh, everybody knows, like, Kim and I alternate. So that, um, hosting. So that, um, each of our networks can find other folks.

Speaker A: Yeah. Exciting.

Speaker B: It is very exciting. Thanks for joining, y'. All.

Speaker A: Thanks for joining. And we'll see you next week. It's a new month. Bye. Bye.