The Hospitality Leader's Roadmap: Move from Ordinary to Extraordinary

In "The Hospitality Leader's Roadmap," Christin Marvin, a seasoned hospitality professional, shares her inspiring journey from a line cook at 15 to managing partner by 30. With over twenty years of industry experience, Christin provides a candid and insightful memoir filled with leadership lessons and personal growth stories.

In this book, you will:
Discover the characteristics of a great leader.
Learn the importance of hiring people smarter than you.
Understand how to create systems for success.
Explore effective methods for developing managers.
Gain insights into achieving mental fitness.

"The Hospitality Leader's Roadmap" offers an inside look into the highs and lows of the restaurant industry, providing practical wisdom for aspiring and seasoned professionals
This book serves as a beacon of hope and a guide for navigating the demanding yet rewarding path of the hospitality world, addressing the critical issues of burnout and the unhealthy influences of alcohol. Embark on a transformative journey to becoming an extraordinary hospitality leader. 

Grab your copy now at christinmarvin.com/book

Author

Restaurant Leadership Podcast

The Restaurant Leadership Podcast : The show that teaches restaurant owners and operators how to be world-class leaders without wasting time and energy.

Podcast Host

CHOW - Culinary Hospitality Outreach & Wellness

CHOW’s mission is to support wellness within the hospitality industry and to improve the lives of our community through shared stories, skills, and resources.

Board Member

Solutions by Christin

My company, Solutions by Christin offers one on one coaching, group coaching, leadership workshops and consulting for local restaurant leaders who are looking to be in the top 1% of the industry.

Hospitality Catalyst

Denver, Colorado

Area Manager

I had the pleasure of developing leaders, opening new locations, connecting with the community and making our restaurants more sustainable in the Colorado market. My passion lies with developing people, building culture and operations excellence.

Regional Manager

I had an active role in helping the company expand from 2-7 locations that spanned a variety of concepts. I also implemented a wellness program, hired and developed leaders and implemented systems to drive sales.

Managing Partner

Christin Marvin is a distinguished restaurant coach, author, speaker and host of the restaurant leadership podcast, No Hesitations. With over twenty years of experience, Christin has established herself as a preeminent authority in the field, having spent time in both fine dining and high-volume growth concepts. 

As the founder of Solutions by Christin, she partners with independent restaurant owners to address their most pressing leadership and business challenges, enabling them to focus their time and energy where it matters most. Christin excels in personalized one-on-one coaching and facilitating impactful leadership workshops. 

When you embark on a coaching journey with Christin, it's not merely about coaching; it becomes a transformative adventure, breaking down barriers and propelling you to levels of success you may have never imagined possible.

Christin Marvin

The restaurants that survive the next 5 years won't be the ones with the best food.


They'll be the ones with the best systems.

Great food keeps people coming back.

But systems are what keep your doors open.

Systems for:
✅ Hiring and training people who don't need you to babysit them
✅ Managing food costs without sacrificing quality
✅ Creating consistent guest experiences across every shift
✅ Building leaders who can run the business without you

Good food gets you noticed.

Strong systems keep you profitable.

#RestaurantBusiness #RestaurantSystems #HospitalityLeadership

We coach multi-unit restaurant operators to build systems that drive profitability and reclaim time—so they can scale with confidence and spend their time and energy where they want to, not where they have to.

If your managers are working 70-hour weeks during the holidays, you have a systems problem.


Not a dedication problem.

I get it (December is insane in restaurants).

But if your leadership team is burning out just to keep things running, something's broken.

The Process pillar in the IRF is designed to prevent this.

When you have strong processes:
✓ Your managers aren't the only ones who know how to solve problems
✓ Your team can execute without constant supervision
✓ Systems reduce the chaos instead of adding to it

Your managers should be leading, not just surviving.

And if they're barely hanging on, it's time to build better systems.

Watching your managers burn out trying to hold everything together? Comment "SYSTEMS" and I'll show you which processes are breaking them.

#ProcessPillar #ManagerBurnout #RestaurantSystems

Curious about how restaurants can effectively implement NA beverage programs?                         

Join us for a transformative conversation as Dana Bonelli , a veteran in the wine and spirits industry, unveils the evolution of inclusivity in the non-alcoholic (NA) beverage space. Discover how the hospitality sector has shifted from exclusive, patriarchal beginnings to a more welcoming and inclusive environment. Dana reflects on her journey starting in the mid-90s and provides a comprehensive look at the industry's progress in response to technological advancements, cultural changes, and increasing consumer demand for wellness-oriented options. 

#nonalcholicdrinks #hospitality #leadershippodcast

Know a restaurant leader who's burned out, questioning their path, or ready for a transformation?


Give them The Hospitality Leader's Roadmap.

This isn't a tactics book.

It's my story of going from line cook at 15 to managing partner by 30, navigating burnout, struggling with alcohol, and finding a better way to lead.

Inside, you'll find:
✓ Raw, honest stories about the reality of restaurant life
✓ Lessons on resilience, mental fitness, and sustainable leadership
✓ Practical wisdom for leaders who want to thrive, not just survive

This book is for anyone in hospitality who's ever felt like they're giving everything and getting nothing back.

It's a reminder that you're not alone, that burnout isn't a badge of honor, and that there's a better way forward.

If you know someone who needs this message, this is the gift that could change their life.

Grab your copy at the link in the comments. Sometimes the best gift is knowing someone else gets it.

#HospitalityLeadership #BurnoutRecovery #RestaurantLife

Things I know at 44 I wish I knew at 30:


Burnout isn't a badge of honor (it's a warning sign).

You can't lead effectively when you're exhausted.

Your team will rise to the expectations you set (if you actually set them).

Saying no is a superpower.

The best leaders aren't the ones who do everything (they're the ones who build people who can).

If I could go back and tell my younger self anything, it would be this:
Working harder isn't the answer.

Leading better is.

What's one lesson you wish you'd learned earlier in your career?

#LeadershipLessons #RestaurantOwner #CareerWisdom

Short and sweet today because it's the weekend before Thanksgiving:


Take 10 minutes today to thank your team.

Not a generic "good job."

A specific "I see what you do and it matters."

Name the thing they did well.

Tell them why it made a difference.

Mean it.

Your team is about to bust their asses this week.

Let them know you see them.

#RestaurantLeadership #TeamAppreciation #Thanksgiving

Most restaurant owners confuse being busy with being productive.


They're not the same thing.

Busy is working 70-hour weeks putting out fires.

Productive is building systems so fires don't start in the first place.

Busy is doing everything yourself because "it's faster."

Productive is training someone else so you don't have to do it anymore.

Busy is reacting to whatever crisis pops up.

Productive is planning so crises become rare.

You didn't open a restaurant to be busy forever.

You opened it to build something sustainable.

What's one thing you're doing this week that's busy work vs. productive work?

 #RestaurantLeadership #ProductivityTips #WorkSmarter

How to lead your restaurant through market saturation without burning out.                          

Kevin Morrison explains how knowing your numbers and leading with clarity helps your brand stand out, even in crowded cities like Denver.

Learn more on The Restaurant Leadership Podcast.

#restaurant #leadership #innovation

Your team doesn't need more training.


They need better systems.

Training without systems is just setting people up to fail.

You can train someone on your service standards all day long, but if:
⁉️ You don't have a clear onboarding process
⁉️ Your managers aren't reinforcing those standards
⁉️ There's no accountability when standards slip
...that training doesn't matter.

Systems create consistency.

Training teaches people how to work within those systems.

You need both.

But systems come first.

What system is missing in your restaurant right now?

#RestaurantSystems #RestaurantTraining #OperationalExcellence

Joel Brody

Ethical Recruitment Leader | Mid to executive-level placement | Helping Qualified Candidates Grow Their Careers by Matching Them with Thriving Companies

Six months. That’s how long a construction firm searched for their next Director of Operations.

Hundreds of resumes. Dozens of interviews. Zero results.

When the CEO finally called me, he was exhausted. The business was growing, but without the right leader in place, he was stuck in the weeds, running operations himself instead of focusing on scaling the company.

Here’s what happened next: I clarified the role, tapped into my hidden network, and within six weeks placed the leader they’d been chasing for half a year. That hire streamlined operations, stabilized the team, and gave the CEO his time back.

This is what I do.
I help mid-market and growth-stage businesses—in construction, real estate, healthcare, and e-commerce—find the executives and senior managers who can turn chaos into clarity and growth into something sustainable.

Not by flooding inboxes with résumés.
Not by recycling candidates who happen to be “looking.”
But through our Right-Fit Recruiting Method™️: deep discovery, targeted headhunting, and cultural alignment that ensures leaders don’t just stick, they scale with you.

Here’s why clients come back:

8 years recruiting across industries that don’t tolerate mistakes

92% retention rate at the 12-month mark for senior hires

A reputation as a trusted advisor to CEOs and founders who are serious about growth

One client put it best:
“Joel didn’t just send resumes, he delivered the leader we’d been searching for. His process saved us months of wasted time and gave us the confidence to scale.”

At the end of the day, I’m not just a recruiter. I’m a headhunter.
I don’t stop until the right leader is in the seat.
I don’t just fill roles, I help companies build futures.

Outside of work, you’ll find me with my family and involved in my community. That same people-first mindset drives everything I do: relationships first, results always.

Looking to make your next senior hire the right one? Let’s talk about how we can find your perfect fit.

Executive Level Recruiter

The Resume Illusion

We still judge candidates by resumes.
But here’s the problem:

A resume tells you what someone did.
It doesn’t tell you how they did it.

Two candidates can have the same job title.
One built trust.
The other burned bridges.

The paper looks the same.
The story doesn’t.

How much longer will we pretend resumes measure character?

𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭?
If you want to see more
𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 🔔 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞!
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭

The real signal it’s time to move on?
When you don’t recognize yourself anymore.

It’s rarely about the workload.
It’s rarely about the hours.

It’s about the mask you’re forced to wear every day:
⚡ Saying “yes” when your gut screams “no”
⚡ Laughing at comments you know are wrong
⚡ Biting your tongue when ethics are crossed
⚡ Apologizing just for having boundaries

You start telling yourself this is what being “professional” looks like.
That everyone deals with it.
That this is just how work works.

But then one day, you catch yourself in the mirror —
and the person staring back feels like a stranger.

People don’t quit jobs.
They quit the version of themselves they had to become to survive there.

The exit doesn’t have to be dramatic.
Start small:
✔ Leave on time without apology
✔ Update your resume tonight
✔ Reach out to one new connection in your field

Because there are workplaces where boundaries are respected.
Where disagreement isn’t punished.
Where you don’t have to pretend to fit in.

You deserve to work somewhere you don’t have to lose yourself just to belong.

—
𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭?
If you want to see more
𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 🔔 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞!
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭

Post Inspired by Dora Vanourek

The Resume That Lied

I once reviewed a resume that looked flawless.

Perfect progression. Perfect titles. Perfect formatting.

But when I spoke with references, a different story emerged.
Yes, the candidate had the job.
But they left every team worse than they found it.

On paper, they were a star.
In reality, they were chaos.

Resumes measure history.
They don’t measure impact.

What matters isn’t what someone did.
It’s how they did it — and who they became along the way.

What do you think — should we start “fact-checking” resumes like we fact-check news?

𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭?
If you want to see more
𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 🔔 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞!
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭

The Hiring Trap

Hiring managers say:
“We want someone who fits the culture.”

Translation?
Someone who looks, talks, and thinks like us.

That’s not culture.
That’s comfort.

And comfort kills growth.

The best hires don’t fit your culture.
They stretch it.

What do you think — should “culture fit” be retired as a hiring standard?

𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭?
If you want to see more
𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 🔔 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞!
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭

The Ghosting Manager

A candidate once told me the worst part of their job search wasn’t rejection.

It was silence.

Weeks of waiting.
No email.
No feedback.
Just nothing.

They said, “I can handle no. I can’t handle being treated like I don’t exist.”

And they’re right.
Ghosting doesn’t just kill trust — it kills reputation.

Every unanswered email is a brand decision.

What do you think — is ghosting now the biggest stain on company reputations?

𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭?
If you want to see more
𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 🔔 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞!
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭

The Broken Metric

Companies love to measure “time-to-hire.”
But here’s the reality:

Speed doesn’t matter if trust is broken.
A fast hire who leaves in 90 days isn’t a success.
It’s a revolving door.

The only real metric is:
Did they stay, and did they grow?

What do you think — should time-to-hire even be a metric anymore?

𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭?
If you want to see more
𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 🔔 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞!
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭

The Overpaid Era Is Over

Let’s be real.
A lot of people got overpaid during Covid.

Capital was cheap.
Companies were desperate.
Salaries inflated far past reality.

Now the reset is here.
And candidates don’t like it.

But here’s the thing:
The market isn’t broken.
It’s just back to normal.

Companies aren’t going to pay pandemic premiums forever.
They’ll pay for value.
For proof.
For leaders who bring ROI — not just big asks.

🔥 The “easy money” era is done.
The reality era is back.

Are candidates ready?

—
𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭?
If you want to see more
𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 🔔 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞!
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭

The Wrong Fit

A client once insisted on hiring “culture fit.”

They found a candidate who looked like them.
Talked like them.
Agreed with everything.

Three months later, the team was stagnant.
No new ideas. No pushback. No growth.

They didn’t hire a culture fit.
They hired a comfort fit.

The best hires don’t fit your culture.
They stretch it.

What do you think — should companies retire “culture fit” once and for all?

𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭?
If you want to see more
𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 🔔 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞!
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭

I used to waste too much energy on things that didn’t matter.

What others said — or didn’t say.
What others did — or didn’t do.

And all it did was drain me.

Because deep down, I was waiting for someone else to make things better.
Someone else to recognize me.
Someone else to fix it.

But no one’s coming to save you.

That’s when I learned what real ownership means:
Taking full responsibility for your life — without excuses, without waiting.

It means focusing only on what you can control,
letting go of what you can’t,
and being grateful for what’s already yours.

That’s where your power lives.

No one owes you success.
No one owes you happiness.
Everyone’s fighting their own battles.

So stop waiting for permission.
Stop expecting others to lead your change.

Own your mindset.
Own your actions.
Own your future.

Because happiness isn’t something you get.
It’s something you build.

When you expect less from others and more from yourself,
you stop feeling disappointed — and start feeling unstoppable.

Freedom starts the moment you take back responsibility.

🔥 What’s one thing you’re taking ownership of this week?

Post Inspired by Cristina Grancea
—
𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭?
If you want to see more
𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 🔔 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞!
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭

AI Won’t Replace You. But Someone Using It Will.

We’ve seen this before.

• Typewriters → Word processors
• Blackberry → iPhone
• Spreadsheets → ERP systems

Every time, the same thing happens:
Those who refuse to adapt get replaced.

Not by the tool.
By the people who learned to use it better.

AI is no different.

The companies I work with aren’t scared of it.
They’re hiring people who already know how to use it to drive results.

—

Don’t fear the tool.
Fear being the one who didn’t pick it up.

𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭?
If you want to see more
𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 🔔 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞!
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭

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The Battle

Christin Marvin

Joel Brody

Followers

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The Battle

Christin Marvin

Joel Brody

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Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Christin Marvin's LinkedIn Performance

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Performance ScoreChristin Marvin's LinkedIn Performance