Stop and Smell the Roses
By Matthew Hagnauer
Matthew Hagnauer, Assistant General Manager of the Dormie Network’s Victoria National Golf Club, encourages chefs to enjoy their success as often as possible.
A few nights ago, my wife and I were walking through our neighborhood and she was looking around and announcing every type of flower we crossed paths with. She looked at me as I continued with my walk and asked when was the last time you literally stopped and smelled the roses? I laughed, but think about it.
When is the last time you took a moment to look around and enjoy the success you have had?
At least once a day I try to either when arriving at work walking through our dining room overlooking 9 and 18 green or even leaving work. I take a moment to look around and be thankful for the beauty that is Victoria National. I have the pleasure of being associated with Dormie Network and pulling in through the gates of a Top 100 golf course every morning. Sometimes I need to remind myself of that success and the hard work that brought me to this point.
When my wife said that to me that evening it was not just in that moment, I begin to understand my unfortunate ability to put on my blinders when life gets busy. I realized I do not smell the roses often enough. I do not take the moment to enjoy what I do. I let my schedule dictate my life instead of it assisting me.
I know this may sound like a proverbial speech of Ferris Bueller’s quote, but I feel after the year our industry has had it’s more important than ever. We have all had to make a pivot with uncertainty, but a pivot non the less. Find the good in a day, keep your staff motivated and never be afraid to ask them when the last time is you stopped to smell the roses.
It takes just a moment a fraction of a second to take time to smell the roses. Get your staff to enjoy the place, the sound, the smell, and the view. Once they start to stop and smell the roses you will have your teams understand what it is we are here to do.
My number one goal for our members and guests is not to overshadow our golf course but to extend that feeling of coming off the 18th green. They have been grinding through the gauntlet and we can provide them with a moment of assuaging. If our members and guest look back, take a deep breath, and smile, we are doing something right.
Find your moments. Find your roses.
Original Article written by Matthew Hagnauer of Club and Resort Chef on July 23rd, 2021
Read the original article HERE
