It’s easy, as a club chef, to get stuck inside your bubble. Our business is a nonstop whirlwind of activity, be it special events, tournaments, weddings or the day-to-day grind of a la carte. Days, weeks, months, even years go by without ever taking time to recharge our batteries, connect with our peers—and come back with new ideas, ready to lead, grow and expand our programs.

The past few years, members have found safety and solace in their clubs. Coupled with reductions in workforce, rising costs and the ever-increasing demands of our position, it can feel almost impossible to get away and become inspired.

Many of us have educational funds set aside to facilitate that need—to make us better leaders. Yet we always seem to find a reason that takes precedence over our own growth and rejuvenation, and those dollars go unused.

In my experience, the annual Chef to Chef Conference provides the most bang for my buck. I always take something meaningful away from the sessions and demos. And no other event I’ve attended does more to reinvigorate me than those few days spent at C2C.

Reconnecting with colleagues and discussing all our similar issues makes me realize I am not alone in my bubble, and hearing other chefs’ points of view helps me see things with new perspective.

There is always a reason to say, “I can’t.” You can always find a reason to put your needs on the back burner. The world of a club chef never slows down. As a true leader, you owe it to yourself and your team to invest time in your growth.

Whether you’ve been to every Chef to Chef, or this would be your first, I encourage you to join us in Miami. It is time and money well spent.