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Toro Team Photo by Caitlin O’Brien |
LEADERSHIP ain’t easy. So let’s talk Star Trek.
Think Kirk. The crew of the Enterprise would follow him to hell & back. He was passionate & made us all want to explore the stars because it FELT right. Kirk was all Pathos and that’s great for taking charge but—what made him an EFFECTIVE leader was the two at his side: Spock & McCoy. Pathos alone won’t get you through the worst of space (Tribbles).
So what else do effective leaders need?
Think Spock. This one literally. Though no crew would follow him to hell, he’s the one who gets them back again. Logos is the word within: a rational, contemplative kind of leadership that may not inspire but typically endures. Live long & prosper, anyone? When excitement turns to adversity, an effective leader turns from passion to REASON. That’s why Kirk always had Spock by his side.
But if all you do is reason your way out of trouble, you won’t get very far either.
Think McCoy. He’s a doctor not an elevator & getting to the top was never his goal. When it all goes wrong, Ethos gets EVERYONE through it. Great leaders capture hearts & minds but effective leaders HEAL us and learn how to do the right thing next time. That’s why Spock wasn’t enough. To truly lead, Kirk needed McCoy, too..
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PEOPLE
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Humans of Toro Photos by Caitlin O’Brien |
PEOPLE are our business.
In the restaurant, that’s important to remember. People! They’re not machines. They’re messy. They’re inconsistent. They’re demanding. But they’re also spontaneous, fascinating, and beautiful. There’s no reward in making homemade meatballs for a machine—just malfunction. But serve amazing meatballs to real people and what you get back is something special. It’s joy. It radiates outward and it catches you in it. Hopefully, that’s why you’ve decided to make people your business.
But, honestly, that’s easy to remember. Just look around the restaurant. There they are! That’s your business: make them happy.
What’s equally important and easier to forget is this: PEOPLE MAKE OUR BUSINESS. People! They’re not machines. They’re messy. They’re inconsistent. They’re demanding. But they’re also spontaneous, fascinating, and beautiful. Amazing meatballs aren’t made on an algorithm. A machine can’t serve them with a smile. Only a human can care.
Remember to cultivate your people. They ARE your business. Make them happy: give them opportunity, ignite their passion, help them achieve new heights. In return? They’ll make your business grow.
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MEMORY
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Humans of Toro Photos by Caitlin O’Brien |
MEMORY is our greatest tool and it’s hiding in plain sight.
We all have a well of inspiration that walks with us every day and every where we go. Do you draw from it?
Take Pizza Night!
Pizza night was rare, maybe once a month, when mom needed a night off to study for the Master’s degree that she achieved while both working & keeping the family running (THANK YOU, Helen Wells-Obrien).
My brother wanted Pepperoni. I wanted Sausage. We were on a strict budget so the extra cost of split toppings was not an option. Daniel was younger and pickier, so he got his way, of course. But hey, it was still pizza! Even missing out on sausage, I thrilled for the gooey cheese & crunchy crust.
Fast forward to now. Kent Spellman sent us a bottle of Mike’s Hot Honey to play with at Toro’s bar and a reference to slathering it on pizza jogged my memory. Pepperoni or Sausage? Why not both? So we infused one bottle of Bourbon with Chorizo & a second with Calabrian chili (i.e. pepperoni spice!)
Add Mike’s Hot Honey, High West Double Rye, peach bitters and there you have it: a delicious cocktail conjured from memory!
Reach back and drink deep from the well of memory, my friends. You never know what amazing material is hiding in your past! |
CREATE
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Humans of Toro Photos by Caitlin O’Brien |
CREATE something beautiful:
1. You can’t do it alone! Take this Gin-Tonic. To get before you, here in this gorgeous photograph, it took our photographer, Caitlin O'Brien and her amazing eye for capturing beauty; it took David Baez, our talented mixologist, paying attention to every detail of the mixing and the presentation; it took Gina-Marie Ciccotelli, our fearless leader, who helped assemble this amazing team and keeps us all on course and stuck around for the photo session, as you do; it took Ryan Hampton, who brings me all of Winebow’s best products and introduced me to Ryan Maybee who created J. Rieger & Co. and the fabulous Gin that we use in every single one of our Gin-Tonics; it took Chef Jamie Bissonnette and Chef Ken Oringer who opened this amazing place called Toro NYC to all create and work together and become our best selves in service to the Culinary Arts. Always remember that: you can’t do it alone.
2. Beautiful things don’t just happen, it’s always hard work. So when you do make something beautiful, take a moment to step back, savor it, share it and tell the people that helped you create it: Thank You!
3. So here it is: Thanks to my team at Toro! Today & always, you’re amazing!
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