🎙️ MISTAKES WERE MADE — Special Series on Hospitality Strategy Lab

The heaviest episode of the series. Shawn Soole has opened bars twice in Victoria, BC. Both times, his partners burned him. The first time: investors, a shared lawyer (huge mistake), and a bar that collapsed after 16 months. The second time: a partner who changed the locks, stole his equipment, drained the company bank account, and texted from Mexico.

John Garda had a dream — a 6,000 square foot distillery-bar in Jersey City. Investors lined up, lease negotiated, favors called in. Then a family member defrauded him. Personal bankruptcy. Everything gone. He turned that devastation into In-Service Society, a nonprofit fighting for bartender advocacy and career sustainability.

Matt Friedlander closes the series with the story of a KDS crash during peak service — 47 tickets backed up in 45 seconds — and watching his team self-organize like a Rolling Stones concert.

Mistakes were made. People got back up. The show must go on.

Featuring: Shawn Soole (Victoria, BC), John Garda (In-Service Society), Matt Friedlander (MF Hospitality)

🔗 In-Service Society: inservicesociety.org

🔗 Follow Jason: jlittrell.com