We’re in the final days of the holiday season. Energy is low. Adrenaline is gone. This is usually when things surface. This lesson is a pause, not a push. 1. Check In With Yourself Before service. Before leadership. Start here. Ask yourself: - Am I tired or fully depleted? - What emotion has been showing up most lately? - What have I been ignoring because “now isn’t the time”? - What do I need after this season ends? Write it down: “Right now, I feel ______ because ______.” 2. Check In With Your Team Your team may not ask for help—but they’ll show you. Watch for: - Short tempers or withdrawal - More mistakes than usual - High performers going quiet Simple check-in questions: - “How are you holding up this week?” - “What’s been the hardest part lately?” - “What do you need from me right now?” You don’t need solutions. You need presence. 3. Check In With Your Peers Leaders isolate when they’re overwhelmed. Ask yourself: - Who do I trust enough to be honest with? - Who might need to hear, “You’re not alone”? Send the text. Make the call. 4. 5-Minute Reset (Do This Once) Before the season officially ends: 1. One thing you’re proud of 2. One boundary you want next season 3. One recovery habit you’re committing to Small resets matter. Burnout doesn’t arrive loudly. It shows up when we stop checking in. Taking care of yourself and your people is leadership.

This lesson helps leaders replace self-doubt with alignment by tightening systems, presence, and standards—so confidence is built through execution, not recognition. Core Insight Imposter syndrome isn’t a confidence problem. It’s usually a process problem. When systems are unclear, presence is inconsistent, or standards drift, doubt fills the gap. The Framework: PROCESS • PRESENCE • INTEGRITY 1. PROCESS — Build systems you trust When doubt shows up, audit the work: - Are expectations written or assumed? - Are standards clear or flexible? - Can someone else execute without you? Leader check: If you stepped away for a week, would the outcome stay the same? 2. PRESENCE — Lead where the work happens Visibility creates confidence—yours and theirs. - Be close to decision-making - Listen before correcting - Teach in real time, not after failure Leader check: Where have you been delegating presence instead of responsibility? 3. INTEGRITY — Execute the same when no one’s watching Quiet moments reveal leadership. - Slow days - Internal meetings - Behind-the-scenes decisions Leader check: Are you modeling the standard you expect others to keep? Common Trap to Avoid Chasing validation: - Titles - Recognition - External metrics of worth These don’t eliminate doubt. They usually amplify it. Application Exercise (10 Minutes) Write down: 1. One system that needs tightening 2. One place you need to be more present 3. One standard you’ve allowed to slide Pick one to fix this week. Key Takeaway Imposter syndrome fades when leadership becomes repeatable. Alignment beats affirmation. Process beats pressure. -BL

The Networking Myth Most chefs think festivals are about networking with other chefs. They’re not. Festivals are ecosystems: - Vendors bring the money and product - Event organizers control the stage - Chefs are the talent If you only network sideways, you miss the people actually moving the pieces. Why Vendors Matter Vendors didn’t show up to socialize. They paid for access. They’re there to: - Promote product - Increase sales - Find talent who can represent their brand They’re constantly asking: “Who helped us sell more?” Those answers get passed directly to event organizers. Why Event Organizers Matter Just as Much Event organizers: - Curate the experience - Decide who fits the story of the event - Listen closely to vendor feedback They’re not just booking chefs. They’re building a reliable roster. When a vendor says: “We want that chef again” Organizers don’t question it. They call you. How This Actually Works Here’s the loop most chefs don’t see: 1. Vendor invests in the event 2. Vendor looks for talent who elevates their product 3. Organizer watches who shows up prepared, professional, and easy to work with 4. Vendor requests you again 5. Organizer locks you in 6. Your name gets passed to other events That’s how momentum builds. Quietly. The Real Question Chefs Should Be Asking It’s not: - “Do other chefs know me?” It’s: - “Are vendors and organizers asking for me by name?” That’s the same power shift as: - A guest requesting you in a dining room - A client demanding your presence Demand creates leverage. How to Build These Relationships Intentionally With Vendors: - Understand their product - Help them sell without being asked - Follow up after the event With Event Organizers: - Be early, prepared, and flexible - Respect timelines and logistics - Make their job easier - Thank them after the event—most chefs don’t Organizers remember low-friction professionals. Today’s Mise en Place

We obsess over guest experience — reviews, service steps, hospitality language. But the most honest review of your restaurant already exists. It lives in your kitchen. On your floor. In your team. If your employee were allowed to leave a Google or Yelp review… what would it say? Flip the Lens Ask yourself the same questions you ask about guests: - What is their daily experience really like? - Do they feel welcomed when they walk in? - Are their needs heard and addressed? - Do they feel safe, supported, and respected? - Would they recommend working here to a friend? If a team member doesn’t feel like a happy guest, your dining room will never consistently feel that way either. The Employee Experience Is the Brand Guests feel what your team feels. - Burnout shows up as rushed service - Resentment shows up as indifference - Pride shows up as care - Trust shows up as consistency You can’t script hospitality if the culture behind it is broken. The Google Review Exercise Take 5 minutes and do this honestly: “I work here. Here’s what it feels like…” Rate yourself: - Leadership - Communication - Scheduling & balance - Growth & learning - Respect No defensiveness. No excuses. Just awareness. Practical Shifts That Matter You don’t need a wellness program. You need presence. - Greet your team like you greet your best guests - Check in before things break, not after - Listen without fixing immediately - Follow through — every time - Say thank you when no one is watching Hospitality starts internally. Your dining room is a reflection. Your food is a reflection. Your service is a reflection of you. If you want better reviews, better energy, better retention start by becoming a place your own team would five-star. Pre-Shift Question If your staff reviewed you today… would you read it with pride or defensiveness? Sit with that. Then lead differently.

Happy to be here! Can’t wait to interact and learn more about what this group has to offer!