Danny Meyer – Serving a smile

Danny Meyer, CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group has brought us: Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern, 11 Madison Park, The Modern, Shake Shack and many other culinary favorites. Given the consistent, exceptional reviews, top rankings in restaurant guides and numerous awards, Danny Meyer’s commitment to excellence is recognized by many.

I first met Danny years ago through our involvement with NYC’s Olympic bid.  Through our interactions as well as my own experiences at his establishments, I recognized first hand that there is something special going on.

In addition to the great food and service (or “hospitality” as defined in Meyer’s best selling book “Setting the Table”), there is something else that sets a USHG establishment apart.  It’s hard to put your finger on what exactly “it” is. But, if you are open to it, you can feel it.  It’s emotional not rational. Although it was a completely different environment, circumstance and menu 😉 this distinction is similar to what I experienced in the Annapurna foothills of Nepal with the Sherpas. Someone is on your side.

Through our discussion, I came to find that Danny indeed has several “Sherpa-like” characteristics, including:

– pursuing his true passion

– embracing and empowering others

– applying power appropriately

– feeling good about the pursuit of achieving loftier goals

Give yourself eleven minutes to listen and please comment on how this applies to your Path.