Unreasonable Hospitality in Action

Have you ever had one of those days where everything that could go wrong, does? Last week, I faced a massive tech fail that stopped me from joining the final class of our Level 2 summer school students. As someone who genuinely cares about my students' success and creativity, I was super bummed. But then I remembered a book I recently devoured, (after binge-watching The Bear on Hulu), Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara, and decided to turn this setback into something special.

In Unreasonable Hospitality, Guidara shares principles like attention to detail, personalized service, creativity, and a genuine desire to make others feel valued. These ideas resonated with me as I navigated the tech mess. I knew I had to go above and beyond for my students.

Although a team member stepped in to cover the last class and ensured the students received the promised information and tools, I decided to take additional action. I spent 4-5 hours creating a series of 2-3-minute videos to cover all the crucial points of our final session. This wasn't just a quick fix; it was a labor of love. I wanted each video to be personalized and address the unique needs and challenges of my students. Breaking the session into bite-sized segments made the content easy to digest and review at their own pace.

Recording, editing, and posting these videos was a marathon, but my goal was clear: make my students feel valued and special. I believe in their creativity and their potential to do amazing work. This effort was my way of showing them that their learning journey matters to me, even when things don't go as planned.

Creating these videos reminded me of the core message in Unreasonable Hospitality – going above and beyond can transform experiences. As educators and professionals, we often hit unexpected bumps in the road. It's how we handle these challenges that defines our commitment to those we serve. By embracing a mindset of unreasonable hospitality, we can turn obstacles into opportunities for lasting impact.

I invite you to check out the videos and see these principles in action in our Level 2 Gamification Journeyman Certification Summer School Program. And remember, those small extra steps we take can make a huge difference in the lives of those we serve.

The series starts here with the short introduction: https://youtu.be/aT_ot-s4xwg?si=_xyVLamchQeacUzA

As we dive into the Back-to-School season, I challenge all educators and professionals to find ways to exceed expectations and create memorable experiences. Whether it's through personalized service, attention to detail, or creative solutions, we have the power to make others feel truly valued.