The Power of Unreasonable Hospitality
Every so often, a conversation with a client becomes much more than an exchange of ideas. It turns into an epiphany—a moment when everyone in the room pauses, reflects, and realizes we’ve touched on something deeper than strategy or tactics. That happened recently during a foundation team meeting when the discussion shifted to a book assignment: Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect by Will Guidara.
The room lit up. People weren’t just summarizing chapters—they were quoting lines, reflecting on stories, and connecting the ideas to their own work. It became clear that this wasn’t just a book about restaurants or customer service. It was about life, leadership, and the pursuit of meaning in everything we do.
Two quotes came up that day, both of which I’ve used as a formational core for decades of who I am and what I do….and share liberally with my kids (they can quote them from rote). Hearing them repeated back from the team underscored just how universal these lessons really are.
The first comes from Vince Lombardi:
“Gentlemen, we are relentlessly going to pursue perfection, knowing that we will never find it… but in that pursuit, we will find excellence.”
This mindset is the heartbeat of any great endeavor. We know perfection is out of reach, yet the striving—the willingness to push ourselves beyond what’s comfortable—creates excellence. In philanthropy, as in sports, we may never achieve flawless execution. But when we aim higher than what seems possible, we uncover opportunities, relationships, and impact that far surpass what we imagined.
The second is equally powerful:
“People will forget what you say, but they will never forget how you make them feel.”
That phrase captures the essence of Unreasonable Hospitality. Whether in donor meetings, board gatherings, or team interactions, the words often fade, but the emotions endure. Did we leave someone feeling valued? Did we give them the sense that they were truly seen and appreciated?
That’s what they’ll carry with them—and that’s what shapes lasting partnerships.
As the foundation team wrestled with Guidara’s stories, we realized that Unreasonable Hospitality isn’t about extravagance. It’s not about spending more money or creating grand gestures. It’s about intentionality, attentiveness, and the courage to go a little further than expected.
Sometimes, it’s as simple as remembering a small detail from a past conversation and bringing it up at just the right moment. Other times, it’s finding a way to celebrate someone that feels deeply personal. In every case, it’s about creating an experience that lingers far beyond the transaction
That meeting left me both humbled and energized. To watch a team of professionals, connect so deeply with a single book reminded me that the best learning moments happen when ideas move from theory into practice—when they shape culture and inspire action.
For me, Unreasonable Hospitality has shifted from being just another book on the shelf to a must-read priority. It reinforces the lessons I try to live daily, at work and at home. If you’re looking for a resource that will challenge your thinking, deepen your leadership, and help you reimagine what it means to serve others, I can’t recommend it enough.
Because in the end, our work—and our lives—are defined not by what we say, but by how we make people feel in every interaction.
