Today, legendary hotelier Horst Schulze joins us for the final episode in his series with us this week, sharing his deeply personal journey of facing death 30 years ago and how it completely reshaped his approach to excellence, purpose, and the power of intent in every aspect of his life and work.

The big idea: Don’t forget the bigger picture if you want to thrive in hospitality.

[Facing death] was the most beautiful thing that ever happened to me.

Horst Schulze

Why this matters: As hospitality professionals, it's easy to get caught up in the daily grind and lose sight of the bigger picture. We focus on putting out fires, meeting deadlines, and hitting targets but rarely take the time to reflect on our purpose and impact on others. Horst Schulze shares how a life-threatening illness forced him to reevaluate his priorities and approach to work, ultimately leading to a renewed sense of purpose and a commitment to excellence in everything he does. His story serves as a powerful reminder that our work in hospitality is about more than just the bottom line - it's about creating meaningful experiences and making a positive difference in people's lives.

Put this into action:

  • Take time each day to reflect on your purpose and the impact you want to have on others. Before starting a task or project, ask yourself, "What is my intent here?"

  • Look for opportunities to contribute and add value, even in small ways. Whether helping a colleague, going above and beyond for a guest, or sharing your knowledge and experience with others, every action matters.

  • Cultivate a sense of curiosity and wonder. Notice the beauty and details around you, just as Mr. Schulze did when he saw the tree in the parking lot with fresh eyes after his diagnosis.

  • Encourage your team to approach their work with a higher purpose in mind. Help them see how their role contributes to creating exceptional experiences for guests and making a positive impact on others.

  • Never stop learning and growing. Seek out opportunities to gain new knowledge and skills, and share your wisdom and experience with others.

If you found this helpful, please forward this email to a friend or colleague who might also enjoy it:

Click here to forward this email.

(Or, if it’s your first time reading this, you can subscribe here.)

If you enjoyed today’s insight, you may also enjoy these episodes…

Some news from around the industry, brought to you by my friends at 10 Minutes News:

A few final things:

  • If you have any thoughts, ideas, questions, or suggestions for Hospitality Daily, please reply to this email. I’d love to hear from you!

  • If you have something that would benefit the hospitality professionals who read, listen to, and watch Hospitality Daily, let’s work together to help you help more people.

Thank you for reading.

-Josiah

Keep Reading