Perspective: Past to Present

2023 was a year filled with valuable learning experiences, but no single word could better encapsulate it than ‘Perspective.’ One definition of perspective that resonates with me is; “the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance.” As I embark on writing this blog and finding my rhythm, it feels important to share more about my history. I believe this perspective will provide context for my exploration of new hobbies in 2024. 

During my teenage years, I was on the lookout for opportunities to make a buck. Whether I was helping my neighbors with landscaping projects or working my first lawn care job as a weed wacker, my drive to earn and spend on my interests fueled my desire for a ‘real job.’ I soon found myself working my first job in the restaurant industry, as a dishwasher. Despite the less glamorous duties of the job, I enjoyed the diverse people, intriguing menu, and the hustle and bustle of the restaurant business. 

After about a year, I applied to another restaurant, and throughout my high school years, I found myself in various positions. Restaurant work and my passion for hospitality ultimately led me to Johnson & Wales University in Denver, Colorado, where I pursued a degree in Hospitality. Once I graduated, I immediately pursued a job with a luxury hotel in Denver, where I worked as a stewarding supervisor and later, a room service supervisor. After a year and half, I made the challenging decision to move back to Minnesota to be closer to family and friends. Feeling burnt out and a little lost due to financial hardship, I decided to take a sales role with a traditional 9-5 schedule. However, I soon discovered my preference for face-to-face interaction and missed the unpredictability of the hospitality environment.

I decided to jump back into hospitality and work on the process of attaining a management role within the company I applied and secured a job with. I started in a supervisory role and eventually worked my way up to the Assistant Director of Outlets helping oversee our hotel food and beverage operations. The hard work, long days, and continued learning, were the ingredients that helped me secure my next role with the company I currently work with. I started with a focus on guest and hospitality management and ultimately landed in my current role as the Director of Operations.

Present day, I find myself in an interesting position as I have climbed the ladder to the highest career rung I previously set out for. While I have laid out goals for my current role for the next year, I haven't thought about much beyond that. However, I started this blog to help discover what may be next, one blog and hobby at a time. In my next 'Why Not Try' blog post, I am going to lay out one of my favorite 2023 hobbies I discovered, along with some of my current hobbies I've kept up into 2024. If you've read this far, I appreciate you sticking along for the journey and look forward to having you back!