The Wisdom of Doing One Thing Well: A Lesson in Hospitality and Life
Winter has always been my version of a summer break. It’s the season where hosting slows down, giving me time to reflect, reset, and dream up ways to improve my spaces and my business. This year, I found myself full of grand plans—renovations, new offerings, improvements that would elevate every detail of the guest experience. But as the to-do list grew, I had a realization: I cannot do it all at once, and I shouldn’t try. The true wisdom is in doing one thing well and seeing it through before moving on to the next.
This lesson isn’t just for business. It applies to anyone planning anything—a baby shower, a birthday, a bridal brunch, even just a dinner at home. We dream in big, beautiful pictures, imagining the perfect setting, the flawless details, the kind of gathering people will talk about for years. But perfection—when we chase it all at once—often comes at the expense of something. Time, energy, money, or even our own ability to be present in the experience.
So, what if we redefined how we approach planning? Instead of overwhelming ourselves with every moving part, we ask: What is the most important thing? What is the one thing that, if done beautifully, would make everything else feel worthwhile?
What is the most important thing? What is the one thing that, if done beautifully, would make everything else feel worthwhile?
Choosing the Foundation Over the Frills
As I prepare for the upcoming season—not just for L’Eau Hill, but also for Norwood Vineyard and two other venues I’ll soon share more about—I’ve had to apply this principle in real-time. With so many exciting projects ahead, I had to pause and ask: What matters most? The answer for me was clear—hospitality. Before I touch a single renovation or expansion, I need to ensure that my core offering—how people feel when they enter my spaces—is impeccable. If I can get that right, the rest will follow in due time.
The same holds true for anyone bringing people together. You might not be running a business, but you’re likely planning something—whether it’s a gathering at a venue like ours, hosting in your own home, or organizing a special moment for someone you love. And in a world that pressures us to get everything right—the guest list, the décor, the music, the catering—we have to ask ourselves: At the expense of what?
Striving for a beautiful gathering isn’t wrong, but there is something powerful about focusing on one foundational element and doing it so well that it carries everything else. For some, that foundation might be the setting—choosing the perfect place and letting that be the anchor. For others, it might be the guest experience—focusing on creating a moment so meaningful that it wouldn’t matter where it happens. And for some, it’s about the feeling they want their guests to walk away with, whether that’s joy, nostalgia, or a sense of being deeply cared for.
Letting Go of the Illusion of “Everything”
We are often led to believe that we have to do it all. But the truth is, trying to perfect everything at once can sometimes dilute the experience rather than elevate it. The gatherings we remember most aren’t the ones that checked every box—they’re the ones where something felt undeniably right.
This doesn’t mean neglecting the details; it means being intentional. If the most important thing is the atmosphere, invest in that—maybe through thoughtful lighting, a well-curated playlist, or a layout that invites connection. If it’s about making people feel welcomed, perhaps the best investment is in small, personal touches that guests will carry with them long after they leave. If it’s about the food, maybe it’s choosing one standout dish rather than overwhelming yourself with a menu that stretches you too thin.
An Invitation to Host with Intention
As L’Eau Hill prepares to welcome overnight guests starting May 1st, I’ve had to remind myself of this truth over and over. There is so much I want to do—so many ways I want to make it special, so many improvements I envision. But none of it will matter if the heart of hospitality isn’t at the center. So I’m committing to getting that part right first—before I worry about the renovations, the extra details, the things that can (and should) come in due time.
And maybe this is an invitation for you, too. Whether you’re planning something big or small, personal or professional, I encourage you to ask yourself: What is the most important thing? What is the one element that, if done beautifully, will make everything else secondary?
Because hospitality—true hospitality—isn’t about how much we can pile onto an experience. It’s about creating something that people feel, something that stays with them long after the gathering ends. And that often starts with doing one thing exceptionally well before moving on to the next.
So whatever it is you’re planning, give yourself permission to focus on what matters most. Let that be enough. Let that be the thing that makes all the difference.
With love,
Erika