The power of positive thinking: 5 questions with Steve Mendivil, Director of Operations at Porto & Beatnik West Town
Sometimes a life-changing experience can happen when you least expect it. Just ask Steve Mendivil, who was working part time at a video store — "For the kids out there, ‘video stores’ were like Netflix, but you never found the movie you wanted because someone hadn't returned it yet," says Steve half-joking — while going to art school and decided he needed another job. His stepfather connected him with the owner of a well-known steakhouse in Arizona and off Steve went for a job interview.
Truth be told, he had no idea for what position and didn’t think he was qualified to do much of anything at the restaurant. He started bussing tables that night — and hasn’t looked back. "Before I left that job, I had become lead server, bartender, maître d’, manager and lifelong hospitality professional," he says. We, at Bonhomme, think Steve’s stepfather deserves a big thank you.
What do you like best about your job?
The collaboration of ultra-talented individuals within Bonhomme Group is inspiring on a daily basis, but very rarely does a profession offer real-time creative impact and immediate emotional return with people we call our guests.
“It’s an intensive undertaking but strangely rewarding to engage with thousands of strangers, welcome them into your world, and craft an experience for them.”
What skills does someone need to be successful at your job?
Balance and synergy are the fundamental elements most often neglected. Service and culinary expectations, across all echelons of hospitality, are constantly rising, and it's a level that can't be sustained without individual mental acuity and collective effort of ourselves and our coworkers.
Challenges you’ve faced in your career?
I feel it's important to remember that we all face challenges and that you may never know what another person is going through or what they had to overcome to be where they are today. These nuances and hallmarks that have molded the diverse amount of people's character that I have come in contact with have been the biggest lesson and defining factor of how I see myself in my own challenges.
What’s your superpower?
The idea of acknowledging one's superpower is fascinating because we often feel powerless to make change in this world. But deciding to be a positive change in one's job and in life has a contagious impact on everyone around you. Power is letting go of the idea of having a fixed or concrete way of approaching all challenges. We can unleash strength and power in ourselves when we embrace high expectations and encourage the talent of our teammates.
Your perfect day off?
I truly love exploring the other restaurant and bar destinations in the city and being taken on a journey by our other wonderful hospitality colleagues & friends that make Chicago a world destination for the culinary arts, wine and beverage programs.
