It is said that every decade in our life we discover different things for ourselves. Our needs change. The world around us changes. WE change. Change is inevitable and several times painful. But on the other hand, it is the reason we still exist on this planet as humankind. We evolved, we moved on, we stayed strong, we reinvented ourselves, we found solutions, we survived, WE CHANGED. Thus, every decade we learn new things, we close older chapters, and we open new ones. We meet new people, new perspectives, new lands, new hopes, new dreams, new goals.
Along all this journey of growth and self-discovery, almost half of our everyday life (if not more) is related to work. I am not only talking about the financial and contractual aspect of work but first and foremost about the coverage of our need for connection, creativity and sense of usefulness. Under this perspective, I cannot think of any other Industry that can contribute in a deeper or stronger way, in our personal journey of self-discovery. Hospitality & the extended Tourism Industry can absolutely be so revealing and transformative for those who choose to follow it intentionally and wholeheartedly.
Hospitality employees who consciously choose this Industry, have the change in their veins. And if they do not have it at first place, they eventually discover it within them and develop it to the extent that it becomes their strength and their passion. Hospitality employees are kind of nomads in their soul. They love discovering new places. They are chasing new experiences. They love meeting new people. They embrace the unknown and the different. They learn to listen carefully, understand, support and eventually “read” people, in order to meet their needs. Because this is what they do. This is their mission. To meet and exceed other people’s expectations and needs. To serve people with empathy, enthusiasm, and generosity.
They also learn to communicate and collaborate better because several times, they have to share the same room with completely unknown people and at the same time work with these people, at a new place and in a fast-paced environment, where there is limited to no time for adjustments and smooth transitions. They become solution-oriented because crisis is their second nature. Every day is a new day for a Hospitality employee, because they literally do not know what the day will bring: a huge or lower workload, an accident, an unfortunate weather condition, a flight or boat cancellation, a power outage, a machine or system failure, a shortage of resources, a pandemic… you name it! But in every case, they have to manage a large number of people, under difficult circumstances and keep them safe and happy. To do that, they first have to manage themselves. It’s not an easy condition, is it?
To sum up, I strongly believe that a job in the Hospitality and the extended Tourism industry is a transformative and often a healing occupation. It’s like onboarding a ship, in the 15th century, along with other sailors, to discover new lands. You have no idea what you are going to find on the way and what challenges you will face. But you are completely sure that you will not be the same person after that journey. You may discover strengths and heal fears you didn’t know you had. For me it is certainly the industry that can create and attract the most resilient people. And this privilege is a precious life skill. And it’s all worth it!
