There are a time-tested few that have spent most, if not all, of their adult lives working on seasonal guest ranches and lodges. They are peak performers and with guest occupancies about to skyrocket and stay high until the snow flies, peak season is their time to shine. These are the days when contractors pack up tools while housekeepers make beds, plumbers turn on the water while cooks peel potatoes, new staff members get on-the-job training, and the only time the boss gets a break from the phone is to answer a call on the two-way radio. A lot of first-timers think it’s all a bit crazy. But for owners and operators who’ve been here before, there is calm when everything is happening all at once, because this is the only way they know the job is going to get done.
Don’t be fooled, there is a method to the madness. A surge of activity is exactly what’s needed to ramp up an operation and bottom lines don’t finish in the black when seasonal staff is brought on too soon. Likewise, seasonal operators know when to pump the brakes as peak seasons draw to a close. Over the years they’ve learned a lot, and if you get a chance to talk with a peak performer, these are a few nuggets of wisdom they might have to share:
There is No Off-Season
There is a common misconception that operators of seasonal ranches and lodges must have a dream job. After all, who wouldn’t want to work for a few months and be on vacation the rest of the year? Peak performers know that is not how it works. The best operators carefully plan and organize their work schedule in such a way as to pay 110% of their attention to the guest experience during peak season. The “off-season” is really the only time they have for working on improvement projects and systems enhancements that can set their business up for future success.
Be Prepared for Anything
Peak performers understand the next situation they’ve never encountered before is probably right around the corner. In other words, if it hasn’t happened yet, it most likely will, and it is only a matter of when, not if. Experts in taking care of people 24/7 are prepared for anything. So, if it’s an off-the-wall scenario that most would consider “unbelievable”, or a downright emergency that requires fast action, owners and operators are conditioned to respond promptly rather than waste time scratching their heads. Best of all, in such moments, they are well adept at maintaining a sense of humor and keeping their head on straight, whichever quality is needed most.
The Best Don’t Think About It
It’s one thing to want to be the best, and it’s and all whole other matter to get there. There is an old industry saying that “there are no magic wands”, and by that, it means there is no substitute for hard work. What’s more, anyone who has ever found themselves on top for a moment, soon realizes what a tough job it is going to be to stay there. Peak performers at guest ranches and lodges are inspired by this challenge, and therefore one can learn a lot by studying the approach they take to running their business. One common trait they all share is the knowledge that being “the best” is a standard better left to the judgment of others, and they serve their own ambitions by focusing on the tasks at hand.
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