The Hospitality Roadmap

In my years learning about and practicing hospitality, I have observed a predictable pattern that emerges time and time again. If I try to change the pattern or think I can outsmart it, I find myself bumbling around, feeling overwhelmed, and quickly reminding myself of the importance of the pattern.

This pattern, the method and way of practicing hospitality in a manner that allows us to create space for others without losing our marbles along the way, is the focus of what I want to share with you today.

I call this pattern The Hospitality Roadmap.

Last week I published an episode of the podcast that described this roadmap in full. The analogy I used in that episode is a road trip. Specifically, imagine if you were in Texas traveling north to North Dakota. What route would deliver you there with the least amount of time and effort? You would travel through Oklahoma, then Kansas, then Nebraska, and then South Dakota.

If you tried to travel through those states in a different order, you might give up on ever reaching North Dakota. It would feel confusing, hectic, overwhelming, and defeating.

In our context, our destination is called Lovely Living Land. The name is kind of laughable, but hang with me. Lovely Living Land is the place where we are flourishing, our needs are met, we are the best version of ourselves, and we are able to serve and love others well with our time and resources.

The best thing about Lovely Living Land is that the minute you set your course in that direction, the borders envelope you, and in essence as you keep traveling, you have already arrived. It’s a beautiful paradox, one of the stunning facets of hospitality.

If Lovely Living Land is our destination, the highway that takes us there is hospitality.

Don’t miss this important detail. Hospitality is not the destination. It is the method, the road, the path we take to reach where we are going. For me, this brings a sense of relief. Hospitality is not a goal or a place I am trying to reach. It is a lifestyle, a continual ribbon of road in front of me that will gently guide me. I don’t reach hospitality. I live hospitality. Huge game changer.

So here we are, on the highway of hospitality, pursuing Lovely Living Land, thrilled to have a plan and a way forward. How do we know if we are going the right direction? What markers can we expect? What is the order of operations on this trip?

Welcome to the Hospitality Road Map. There are four markers on this roadmap, and if you take them in the right order, they will serve you and your journey well. If you attempt to take them out of order, it can be done, but the long-term results will be less sustainable. Trust me. You want to go in order.

The Hospitality Roadmap Markers are Live Well, Create Home, Share + Extend, Welcome + Invite.

Live Well.
Create Home.
Share + Extend.
Welcome + Invite.

These are the markers, in order, ready to facilitate your journey and deliver you safely to your destination.

Are you ready to begin your journey? Lovely Living Land awaits, and hospitality is ready to take you there!