Can you explain the idea of gathering around the table to me? What do you mean by "Southern hospitality"?
I always say that sharing a meal across the table from someone is a very intimate experience. Our purpose is to create spaces where people can come together, connect with their friends and family, and celebrate life. Well, it's hard to connect in an environment if, say, the seats are not comfortable, the temperature's too hot or cold, the service isn't good, the lights are too bright, the music's too loud or low... All those things play a part in allowing people to be able to focus on whoever they're there with. If we can create an environment where that can happen, then we know we did a good job.
How are you finding ways to enjoy other people's hospitality and to gather with the people you care about? How are you pouring into yourself so as to not pour from an empty cup?
I think my faith plays a big part in that. And, one thing about me, is I'm mature enough to know when I need rest and when I can go full blast for two or three months. What gives me joy is either going out to my ranch [with] my son to hunt, going to see live music or to a nice dinner, and vacations with my family, those are things we do that help me get recharged and keep me going. As I've gotten older, I've certainly learned the value of good friends. Certainly, I'm around people all the time, engaging and visiting, but my inner circle that I just do life with is very small.
How has your heart for service played into your role as a dad and a husband?
Anytime that you're in the hospitality or service business, your goal is to please and do good. The good news for me is that my wife's love language is acts of service. So one of the things I do to try to honor her is just to help keep the house in order. And I think the number one thing you can do to be a great dad is to love your wife and model what that looks like.
How are you passing down the value of hospitality and service to your kids?
All my kids have worked for me. Brooks, my son, he's 17. When he's not playing football, he works either at Marty B's Coffee or Ice Cream, so he's learning what it's like to serve others and how to deliver those things. Both of my two daughters are definitely gifted with the hospitality gene. They're both very people-oriented and eager to please and serve. Madison, my middle daughter, worked for me all through high school and some in college. Now she's working for Glacier, selling wine and spirits. Then [my oldest], McKaley, works for me, she's our Director of Training and Development for Marty B’s Coffee, Marty B’s Ice Cream, and the upcoming wedding venue called The Reserve at Marty B's. She's all in. She has a hospitality management degree and she's very involved and understands what we do every day to make it all happen.
How do you balance not letting service become just a job? How do you keep the actual servant's heart behind it?
I really think about it in two different lights. Service is the physical aspect of the job, the things you do, the act. Hospitality is how you make people feel, any good business demonstrates warm Southern hospitality.
I could have done all the things, but if I'm doing it with a flippant attitude, well, that's not the same. If I'm doing it from a joyful heart, then it’s totally different. If people are going to work and show hospitality, then they need to do it with a joyful heart.
How has serving people guided your relationship with God?
I would say my relationship with God is what guides my business, more than the other [way around]. I pray that God uses me and my businesses to benefit our community, our employees and our customers. And hopefully, the way we make people feel when they're in our business says more about our faith than anything we say.
A Final Thought
Jesus is probably one of the first restaurateurs. He had dinner with his disciples, washed their feet, and then went on to do the most selfless thing and died on the cross for our sins. We don't wash people's feet obviously, but we certainly wanna love them. People are in our businesses celebrating all things, it could just be life, friendship or annual celebrations. People choose our business to connect and celebrate at, and that's a big responsibility, we wanna honor those customers who do that.
If people are going to work and show hospitality, then they need to do it with a joyful heart.
The number one thing you can do to be a great dad is to love your wife and model what that looks like.