Hey Beloved,
We just wrapped up hosting the VIP hospitality experiences at the World Athletics U20 Championships at Hayward Field.
The days were long.
Really long.
The air was smoky for a few days.
My feet hurt.
And somehow, I came away completely juiced.
Because hospitality is just so much fun.
There is something deeply joyful about serving alongside a group of people who are fully committed to creating a space for others.
To noticing.
To anticipating.
To welcoming people in.
It reminded me that there is a quiet nobility to this work.
To create space for someone else is noble work.
No matter how grand the space is.
Or how ordinary.
Sometimes, we are welcoming people in to celebrate a world championship.
Sometimes, we are welcoming them in to celebrate a lifelong friendship.
And sometimes, we are welcoming them into a space where they can be loved, supported, and given enough strength to keep going through one of the hardest seasons of their lives.
The occasion changes.
The posture does not.
We create the space.
We welcome people in.
We remind them that they are not alone.
That is noble work.
And noble work can still be a whole lot of fun.
But here is the thing…
The fun does not happen by accident.
Hospitality is real work.
It requires preparation.
It requires attention.
It requires the pursuit of excellence.
Because chaos steals presence.
When the details are neglected, chaos enters.
When chaos enters, our attention fractures.
And when our attention fractures, we struggle to be fully present with the people right in front of us.
We do not pursue excellence just so everything looks impressive.
We pursue excellence so we can be present.
So we are not scrambling.
So we are not consumed by the thing that was forgotten.
So we have the freedom to look someone in the eyes.
To notice what they need.
To laugh.
To serve.
To enjoy the people in the room.
Excellence clears away the chaos.
Presence brings hospitality to life.
And presence brings the fun back into serving.
Hospitality is noble work.
Hospitality is excellent work.
And hospitality is just so much fun.
Nathan 🧂
P.S. On September 10, I’m hosting a Unreasonable Hospitality workshop here in Eugene. We are going to spend an entire day diving deeper into the posture and practices that help us serve people with greater excellence, presence, and care. I would love to have you in the room.
