Is Everything in Hospitality Broken?

If you were to believe the news, everything in Hospitality is broken.

Guest contributor Aaron Barnett argues that this is nonsense.

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Usually, January is the month when we all sit in the office staring at P&Ls, moaning about the "quiet," and trying to figure out how to pay the bills after the December madness. It’s a bit of a miserable tradition in hospitality. We spend the whole month looking for things to cut, people to blame, and reasons to be stressed.

But after the last couple of years I've had, I’m done with that.

I’ve had two rounds with cancer and a neck dissection that changed how I look at everything. When you spend months wondering if you’re even going to be around for the next January, you stop sweating the small stuff. You realise that most of the "disasters" we deal with in hospitality aren't actually disasters at all. They’re just part of the job.

I’ve spent 24 years in this game. I’ve been a KP, a waiter, and an Area Manager. I’ve written the rants about no-shows. I’ve complained about "sickness season" and the staff who don't care. I’ve been as guilty as anyone of focusing 90% of my energy on the 5% of things that are broken.

But here’s the reality: if you spend all your time looking for fires, you’re going to spend your whole life smelling of smoke.

The real "Honest Shift" for 2026 is about looking at the other 95%. It’s about the legends who actually show up five minutes early. The ones who handle a four-table walk-in without blinking while the kitchen is in the weeds. The ones who actually give a toss about the guest experience when nobody is watching.

My perspective has changed. If you’re healthy, your doors are open, and you’ve got a team that shows up, then you’re already winning. Most industries don't have the camaraderie or the "in it together" spirit that we have. We should probably start appreciating that a bit more.

Instead of looking for the next problem to fix this month, go find the person in your team who "just gets on with it" and tell them you appreciate it. No corporate "Employee of the Month" nonsense or HR-led initiatives, just a genuine word. That’s where the culture actually starts. It starts with you noticing the good stuff.

I’m glad to be here, and I’m glad to be working in this industry across Herts and Essex. Let’s stop waiting for things to get "easier" and just enjoy the graft a bit more.

The Honest Shift

The Old Mindset: Spending your January (and your energy) trying to "fix" the staff and customers who let you down.

The New Mindset: Double down on the people who actually show up. Invest your time in your superstars, and the "bad eggs" will eventually find the exit themselves.

I want to hear from you. What’s one "small win" you’ve had this week that reminded you why you stay in this industry?

If this gave you a bit of perspective for the week ahead, please share it with another manager who might be feeling the January burnout.

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About The Author: 

Aaron Barnett

Hospitality Recruitment Specialist. Temporary Staffing: Chefs, Front of House & Events. Herts, Essex, Cambridge & Luton. 15yrs Industry Experience

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/aaron-barnett

The original article "Not Everything In Hospitality" was published 13/01/2026 in The Honest Shift newsletter and has been reproduced with kind permission for Talking Hospitality.