We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lindsey Beddard a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Lindsey , we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
In order to really succeed in the restaurant industry, resilience is the name of the game.
I find my resilience in a few key places.
First, the fast-paced environment of the restaurant industry really builds character. Every shift brings new challenges, and I’ve learned to adapt quickly and stay focused under pressure.
Support from my team and partners is also crucial; we lean on each other during tough times, which helps us bounce back stronger.
Additionally, I draw inspiration from the satisfaction of creating memorable experiences for our guests and community. Knowing that our hard work contributes to their happiness fuels my determination.
Lastly, I remind myself to celebrate the small victories—whether it’s a compliment from a guest or a successful service. Each of these elements helps me stay resilient and passionate about what I do.
It is incredible how resilient you can truly be when you have an amazing support system behind you!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
After 25 years of committing myself to hospitality, covid happened. We found ourselves reinventing everything the industry stood for while saying goodbye to the team we called family. It reached a point and I found myself wondering where the road would lead me next.
I was very lucky to know two wonderful people, Nick Swanson and Paul Nashak, who share my values in hospitality and truly felt that breaking bread over a dinner table could bring a community together against all odds. I decided to take a huge leap of faith and join in their journey to open Urban Field Pizza.
It was the best decision I have ever made. Urban Field Pizza is more than just a restaurant, it is a place where everyone is welcome. When you are within the four walls of Urban Field, you are family. We have created our own rules, and if you know the restaurant industry, you know how truly challenging it can be.
Everyone is treated equally and makes the same money whether you are in the back making award winning pizza, or in the front creating an experience for the guests choosing to dine with us over so many other wonderful establishments.
At any given time, if you walk into Urban Field Pizza the owner may be cooking your food, serving your table, or in the back doing dishes. We understand that to be successful, everyone must be in the trenches together.
It is also our mission to give back to the community we are a part of. We do monthly Giveback nights when we donate 10% of dinner sales to a local school or nonprofit. We use fresh, local ingredients whenever possible.
After spending most my life in an industry that can beat you down, it feels so good to know my partners and I have created something truly unique and special.
We have two wonderful locations, one in downtown Longmont and the other in downtown Loveland. We can’t wait to break bread with all of you!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Wow, this is such a tough question…
Starting as a host when I was 15, I couldn’t imagine owning two restaurants of my own.
I think the three things that stand out the most to me are:
1. Don’t take anything personally (this one is HUGE for me)
2. Treat everyone with kindness and compassion. We are all human beings doing our best. Get to know the person next to you as a person and not just an employee or someone paying to eat at a table in your restaurant.
3. You can’t lead a team from the bench. As a leader, if you are elbow to elbow with the person doing the least favorable job in your business, people will work hard because they know you won’t let them fail.
When I feel like I am starting to let these things slip, I remember where I have come from and how I have been treated. I want to give others the same opportunity I created for myself. I will always lead by example and be the hardest worker on the floor.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
I am a person who can be very sensitive and never feel like what I am doing is quite enough.
When I read the book The Four Agreements it was a truly pivotal point in my hospitality career.
The Four Agreements are
1. Be Impeccable With Your Word.
2. Don’t Take Anything Personally.
3. Don’t Make Assumptions.
4. Always Do Your Best.
I find myself repeating these agreements and checking in on myself to make sure I am following what they represent.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.urbanfieldpizza.com
- Instagram: urbanfieldpizza
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urbanfieldpizza
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