Defining Hospitality

For the last year and a half, people have holed up in their rooms, unable to go anywhere. Now more than ever is when people are craving the need to explore, travel and interact with other people. 
Dan is joined by thought leader in the industry, SVP and global director of Wimberly Interiors, Margaret McMahon! Margaret has seen the world and is a travel enthusiast, and she’s here to share why she thinks travel can really lift someone’s spirits. Listen to this week’s episode as she shares #hospitality insights with Dan Ryan today!
 
 
Takeaways: 
  • You can go and get anything you set your mind to. Using phrases like “call me back if you want” won’t do you any favors. 
  • Visualisations of what you want to achieve are incredibly important. Creating a vision board can often help you focus your goals and terms and make them achievable. 
  • Travel is incredibly important. It doesn’t matter whether you are down the street or going across to another country, seeing the beauty in this world is something that can provide a whole new outlook on life. 
  • Hospitality is all about service and whatever that means. It’s not just delivering room service but it’s a service that is provided to give an experience. 
  • You have to be able to read a room and understand what is appropriate and what isn’t. Not only do other cultures view actions in a certain way, but even other co-workers might not think like you do.
  • We all have to want each other to succeed. In this day and age, everything is extremely competitive but we still need to be human and hope for the best for everyone, including the competition. 
  • Residential projects have skyrocketed lately. With people moving away from the cities, the need for residential projects and houses has really exploded since the start of the pandemic. 
  • Margaret’s advice to her younger self: Lighten up. We all do a million different things each day but we should try to lighten up. 

Quote of the Show:
11:05 “Whether you're driving down the road to a Holiday Inn Express, or you’re hopping on a plane, or you’re taking a road trip or you’re glamping, whatever it is, I think that brings joy to everyone. I bet that if you were to survey people that have been holed up in their houses for a year and half, everyone is really craving not only travel but interaction. 
I think that what’s really about is all us giving service to create a memorable experience and bring joy to people. I know that sounds super lofty, you’re not finding the cure for cancer, you’re not splitting the atom or anything like that. Whether you're staying in an AirBnB, whether you’re staying in a pension, whether you’re staying in a tent, traveling our planet to be able to see it is a really beautiful thing.”

Links: 

Shout Outs: 
 
3:33 The Power of Intention by Wayne Dyer
 
5:38 Slaughterhouse 5  by Kurt Vonnegut
 
6:10 Rodney Dangerfield’s film, “Back to School”
 
7:26 Margo House
 
8:43 Charian Cerilo 
 
8:54 Hotelier of the year award
 
9:13 Four Seasons
 
9:14 Ian Schrager
 
9:20 Forbes Travel
 
11:05 Holiday Inn Express
 
12:27 AirBnB
 
17:06 Pan-Am
 
23:03 Wimberly Interiors
 
25:11 Trishia Wilson
 
25:52 Entenmann’s Donuts
 
32:30 Soho House
 
39:34 Starbucks
 
42:35 Boca Raton Resort
 
44:34 Laws of Attraction book
 
55:52 Dr. Faucci
 
1;01:11 Balthazar Restaurant
 
1;02:03 Bill Murray in Stripes

Ways to Tune In: 

Creators & Guests

Host
Dan Ryan
Host of Defining Hospitality

What is Defining Hospitality?

Welcome to Defining Hospitality, the podcast focused on highlighting the most influential figures in the hospitality industry. In each episode we provide 1 on 1, in depth interviews with experts in the industry to learn what hospitality means to them. We feature expert advice on working in the industry, behind the scenes looks at some of your favorite brands, and in depth explorations of unique hospitality projects.

Defining Hospitality is hosted by Founder and CEO of Agency 967, Dan Ryan. With over 30 years of experience in hospitality, Dan brings his expertise and passion to each episode as he delves into the latest trends and challenges facing the industry.

Episodes are released every week on Wednesday mornings.

To listen to episodes, visit https://www.defininghospitality.live/ or subscribe to Defining Hospitality wherever you get your podcasts.

[00:00:00] Dan Ryan: Hello, everyone. Today's guest is a thought leader in hospitality and design SVP and global director of Wimberly interiors, a mentor confidant and breakfast partner to me, ladies and gentlemen, Margaret McMann. Welcome
[00:00:16] Margaret McMahon: Margaret. Thank you, Dan. You're S you're too kind. You're too kind, but I love the part that we're breakfast partners that I love.
[00:00:23] I love our breakfasts that we have, we solve all the problems of the world first thing in the morning.
[00:00:29] Dan Ryan: Um, okay. So going into the solving of the problems agreed. Cause every time I connect with you and we sit down and we're just vulnerable with each other and talking about what's going on. I know for me, I would like to think for you, we walk away with new ideas and a new perspective.
[00:00:45] Margaret McMahon: Without a doubt, without a doubt, you always make me feel better. Actually. There's some people that I get together with the depressed me and I think, holy shit, the world's ending there. I thought everything was okay, but you're one of the people where, and [00:01:00] I think we feed off of one another and that sense that it's like, oh my God.
[00:01:04] And we T we can't, we can't even get what we want to say in, because we're both so excited about what the hell we're talking about. So it is fun. You're one of those people. Well, I
[00:01:14] Dan Ryan: appreciate that. And, but being, I was not always one of those people and just, you know, before we get into the meat of everything, I just want everyone to know that there was one time.
[00:01:25] One time I called Margaret in the office and I didn't get her. I got her voicemail. I said, Hey, Margaret, call me, call me back. If you want. It's not important. Call me back if you want. And I hung up and I guess like three or four days later, my phone rang. It was you and you tore me a new one. You're like, what the fuck are you doing?
[00:01:45] You cannot leave a voicemail like that. You have to like manifest things. I didn't even know what manifestation was. Okay. And you, you sent me this book called the law. I think it's the laws of attraction. Um, and it basically [00:02:00] talks about like envisioning an outcome and putting things out there. And it's really funny because I was just out to dinner the other night with some people that we know, and they were saying, Dan you're you're, you're doing this podcast and you're manifesting all this stuff.
[00:02:14] And I said, you're just that guy, but I wasn't always that guy. And I think that my road turned after you sent me that book and I read it and that must've been 10 or 12 years ago. So I just want to say thank you for that.
[00:02:27] Margaret McMahon: Well, it's interesting. Um, and I, I think that we actually had a conversation. You may have been in the office and I said, do you want to work with us?
[00:02:38] And you're like, yeah, of course I do. I said, well then why are you saying, like, call me back if you want. Um, and listen, we're all out there looking for work. It doesn't matter who you are. Does it matter if your supplier, it doesn't matter if you're an architect, a designer we're all out there trying to basically bring home the bacon and, and support our teams.
[00:02:59] So [00:03:00] it's two want is sort of, they're very wishy washy thing. And I think that, oops, sorry, my laptop just fell. Holy shit. Anyway, um, doc, the book that really resonates with me is Wayne Dyer and the power of intention. And we were just on the phone. Um, with a client yesterday for, um, exclusive resorts. And we were talking about mirror ball, which was designed by one of my heroes Clauda and, um, you know, she's such a smart, spectacular woman, and the whole property is based on a guest comes and you set your intention.
[00:03:40] And, you know, I live by Wayne Dyer's book of the power of intention, what, and its intention or manifestation, we can all sort of wallow around and say, I wish this, I wish that. But if you really intend and set [00:04:00] the intention that this is what you want, you can go and really get anything. And I think the reason that I got so upset with you was because you're a really smart, good guy, you know?
[00:04:11] And you, you certainly know what you're doing. And a lot of times like myself, I needed, I needed to be edited all the time. You know, our, our marketing director is constantly like Margaret, oh God, please don't say that. But when we want something or when we desire something, it's totally up to us to go get it.
[00:04:32] And it really is up to us to express, to. Our clients that we really want to work with them and it's not sounding desperate. It's not sounding like overly salesy. It's just really expressing how much we would love to work with them and how great their project could be. So I think that sometimes, um, we get trapped in these [00:05:00] places where, ah, you know, I, I don't want to come across as too eager or too needy, you know, I think it's perfectly okay.
[00:05:07] And I think that's why you are, my relationship is special because we're so brutally honest with you.
[00:05:12] Dan Ryan: Totally. And I think going into the call me if you want, like, there's that old saying? I don't know if it was real or not, um, about, oh, who wrote slaughterhouse five? Oh gosh, I can't remember his name. Um, anyway, it doesn't matter, but he there's this like graduation speech that he did where.
[00:05:34] He said like live in California for so long before you come to soft live in New York for so long before you come to heart. And I think my call me back, if you want had more to do with that was like my California, no pressure part of me coming out. Right. But actually Kurt Vonnegut, Kurt Vonnegut, which reminded me, yes.
[00:05:52] Kurt Vonnegut, which reminds me of Rodney Dangerfield movie back to school when he had Kurt Vonnegut write a paper about Kurt Vonnegut and [00:06:00] he failed and Rodney Dangerfield picked up the phone. It was like, Vonnegut, you don't know shit
[00:06:04] Margaret McMahon: about Vonnegut. Right. And by the way, anyone listening, I didn't know that I just Googled it.
[00:06:10] So I'm not there yet. I'm not that smart. I just Googled it for
[00:06:13] Dan Ryan: you. I don't know. I'm really upset. I didn't remember that, but actually going into the attention and outcome and getting what you want, it's really about visualization and seeing the outcome that you want or that we all want. And I think that that's a great segue into the main question here, which is like, how do you take that visualization?
[00:06:30] Or outcome or manifestation and use that to define what hospitality means to you.
[00:06:36] Margaret McMahon: Well, I want to step back for a second because you and I could go on and on forever, but I, I want to step back for a minute. Visualization is really important because we have so much going on in our lives that sometimes it's hard to remember what intention you're setting, you know, and it's not only from a business perspective, but a personal perspective, you know, we've, we've, [00:07:00] we've gotta be very whole, um, contributing human beings to what's going on in the world.
[00:07:06] And I think that visualization, I think about, um, I know, you know, her Margot house, um, she was doing vision boards and I'm a big, big believer in that. And, um, since COVID, it hasn't been able to happen, but it takes so much more than just thinking about it. It's visualizing it, whether it's in a notebook that you have.
[00:07:28] Or whether it's a big board that sits in your office or your bedroom or whatever. Um, because there is so much that is coming at us, uh, from the standpoint of hospitality that you asked me. Now, I'm going to flip it on you. How do you define hospitality? And, you know, listen, there are all sorts of ways to think about it.
[00:07:47] And what I did, I did the really lame approach. First, I went to the dictionary and you know, how, how do you define it? Well, according to the dictionary, it's an adjective or a noun. [00:08:00] It's not a verb by the way. And what they say is generous and friendly treatment of visitors and guests or hospitable treatment.
[00:08:09] And then hospitable is friendly, welcoming strangers and guests. But as we all know, there's so much more to it. Um, And to me, I started thinking about my friend and I'm going to give you like the longest, most circuitous answer in the world, which I typically do, but I will get to it. I promise you. So Sharon's a real dear friend of mine who just won the hotelier of the world award.
[00:08:40] And I know I'm going to get that wrong, but the top hotelier of the world, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And Jerry started off. He grew up in Brooklyn. Um, once you UNLB for hotel school, along with John, sorry, Ellie, another one of his pals. And he started working for four seasons. Then he worked for an Schrager.
[00:08:59] [00:09:00] Then he worked for Sol Kerzner. Um, And then he was CEO of Forbes travel. And now he's, um, one of the top CEOs with MBS and Saudi Arabia. And the reason that I, that I use Jerry as an example is that he uses the term. So he's lived his whole life in the hospitality world. It, you should actually do a podcast with him because the guy is just incredible.
[00:09:25] And he said, it's all about service and whatever that means, it's not just delivering room service and it's not just, you know, delivering on a problem with spas, but it's a service that we're all providing to give an experience. And I, I look at that and sometimes, you know, people, even in my office are like interior designers or are we, are we really doing something that matters?
[00:09:53] And, um, I was just in Dubai, in Paris last week. And what [00:10:00] it was my first international trip since COVID, and I don't know about you, but during COVID, it was actually nice to take a breather and not be traveling for a little while.
[00:10:09] Dan Ryan: Well, you define like you, you are another level when it comes to traveling.
[00:10:14] So breather is
[00:10:16] Margaret McMahon: good for you. Anyway, I've always said that travel really inspires me. And so I took the trip to Dubai and to Paris. And what I realized is that, um, really not only does it inspire me, it energizes me, it fulfills me, it brings me joy. It brings me a new perspective. Um, and that's what I think happens for everyone who travels, whether you're driving down the road to a holiday Inn express, or you're hopping on a plane, or you're taking a road trip or you're glamping, whatever it is.
[00:10:59] I think that [00:11:00] that brings joy to everyone. And I bet that if you were to survey people that have been holed up in their houses for a year and a half, everyone is really craving, not only travel but interaction. And I think that what it's really about is all of us giving service to create a memorable experience and bring joy to people.
[00:11:26] And I know that sounds like super lofty. Like Margaret, you're not finding the cure for cancer. You're not, you know, splitting the atom or anything like that. But really when you think about experiences and now I'm going to get really weird. We've got one planet and I have a dear friend who's, who's traveling right now and she's just this travel maniac.
[00:11:49] And she hikes everywhere. She throws out a backpack, 61 throws on a backpack and just travels she's in Portugal. Um, she hiked the fishermen's [00:12:00] trail and is now off somewhere else. And what we both talked about was how much joy that brings us, whether you're staying in a Airbnb or whether you're staying in a Penske out, or whether you're staying in a tent, traveling our planet, to be able to see it is a really amazing thing.
[00:12:23] And
[00:12:23] Dan Ryan: also say that, you know, you say you're not, we, we are not splitting the atom, right? We're not saving lives, but those experiences in the built environment that we're all doing and the joy that we were bringing others, I think it can change perspective and maybe help someone speed up their way to split the atom or do something remarkable
[00:12:43] Margaret McMahon: without a doubt, without a doubt.
[00:12:45] I also think that, you know, the world is kind of a crazy place. And I remember when I brought my husband and his best friend, um, To Morocco. It was right before I didn't [00:13:00] realize how lucky he were. It was in, um, September, right before COVID, you know, that year right before COVID and, um, they, they were both good, good friends, both, um, suffering from cancer.
[00:13:16] And I kind of called it the cancer tour. You know, they wanted to go to Portugal then and wanted to go to Morocco. And my husband was so freaked out going to Morocco because he'd never, he'd been to Asia as a kid. He had done far more traveling than I'd ever done. And, but he hadn't been anywhere in that part of the world.
[00:13:36] And you know what we hear on the news and everything else about, well, listen to the middle east Syria, um, is, has their own problems right now. But when you really go there and experience the people in the culture, it's such an eyeopening. Amazing. Mike had such an epiphany. It's like, this is, I was so freaked out about going [00:14:00] and I was so nervous and he absolutely loved it.
[00:14:04] So it opened up a whole new world for him. And that is where I think, you know, sometimes I, I, I was talking to someone from South Africa that was traveling with last week and I said, you know, of my generation, the world revolved around the United States, you know, it just revolved around in the United States.
[00:14:24] And it wasn't until, um, I was fortunate enough in college to take my first trip to your Europe, which was Portugal to my friend Marie's house. And then I was so inspired that I convinced my dad to send me to Denmark for school, you know, because I suddenly realized there's a massive, big, beautiful, interesting, fascinating world out there that I absolutely.
[00:14:51] And I think that all of our jobs in hospitality is to create those environments for people where it's something that they'll always remember [00:15:00] and they'll find joy.
[00:15:02] Dan Ryan: I love that. And because that joy that we're bringing the bringers of joy, or maybe that you're bringing more, I'm a, I'm a small part of that.
[00:15:09] But, um, and that experience, it really makes other people feel comfortable and it changes perspective. So as you're going around to all of your teams and clients all over the world and, and doing that, like what do you do to make yourself feel comfortable? I know that you're bringing joy to so many others, but how do you make yourself feel comfortable on the road?
[00:15:31] Margaret McMahon: I, um, you know, and I'm just going back to last week, um, the person that I was traveling and she's from Beirut, we were talking about Britain, which I love. Um, she said, how do you handle. Like aren't you jet lagged. And I said, I just never think about it. I never think about when I go to China or go to another place.
[00:15:54] Oh my God, once I'm there, I'm there. I don't think about what time is it New York or, [00:16:00] you know, sort of that difference. The only reason I do is because my team is waking up and if I need to talk to them, but it's never the sense of, um, oh my God, I'm functionally on a totally different time zone for me.
[00:16:13] It's about immersing yourself in it and being really, really open, um, to where to wherever you are. I listen, it's not all rainbows and unicorns. I can be super cranky. I can be super bitchy. I can be very ungrateful. Um, in the sense of, you know, where I am, I need to remember to look up and really appreciate it.
[00:16:38] You know, you and I, and everybody in this industry, We get to travel and places that people only ever dream up. You know? Um, my mom we're best friends with one of the heads of Pan-Am. There were our neighbors. I traveled to all sorts of interesting places, but my mother never made it to California before she died.
[00:16:58] And when, when we really [00:17:00] think about the things that we get to do, it's pretty freaking amazing. So all I really do, I am guilty of flying in and doing my job and flying out and getting to the next one. Um, I would, I should allow me self more time, um, personal time, but you know, just don't have the luxury of that right now, but it's really appreciating where you are.
[00:17:24] And, you know, I remember when I went into Syria, um, I was in Damascus and I was, I wasn't freaked out. I was just kind of like, well, this is going to be really, really interesting. And, um, I think I, yeah, I did just Syria and my husband actually said to me, he goes to any idea of like, where you're going, he's a super history buff, you know, and knows everything about everything.
[00:17:54] And, um, I said, no, not really. I'm just, I'm just going to go. Um, and it was probably [00:18:00] after the fact that I learned really the significance of Syria and where it sits in the middle east and, and all of that. But I think how I function when I travel is just accepting where I'm going and see where it takes me.
[00:18:17] Dan Ryan: Yeah. It sounds like, um, just being present emerge, emerge, emerging yourself. Giving yourself and being immersive, sorry. I'm like all 10 times and just being comfortable. And then, so, and then as you're going from place to place with the teams and the clients, and what are things that you do to make other people feel comfortable?
[00:18:41] Like how do you deliver that experience and make them feel comfortable?
[00:18:49] Margaret McMahon: Well, when I'm in Paris well, and I also think it's just trying to understand the culture that you're entering into my big line for Paris is Chappelle called sale, but [00:19:00] tipper, that's all I know, Declan. So I I'm trying to somehow instead of walking into a, you know, a front desk and saying, hi, and like my room, you know, I always start with, I speak very little French and then they kind of smile and giggle and then, you know, that's how that works.
[00:19:15] But, um, I think, and you know, I'm normally. When I, when I traveled internationally, I'm by myself until I meet my teams. Um, it's kind of a, it's kind of an interesting thing. Uh, when I go to China, I'm meeting Leo, our guy on the ground there. Um, I don't really know. Maybe I don't understand that question. Can you run that by me once more?
[00:19:44] So you're, you're this
[00:19:45] Dan Ryan: whirling, dervish you're being present everywhere you are, and you're kind of flying in for a meeting. And how do you make, how do you, like you're sitting down, you want to get things done, but you also want to be present and immersed. Yeah. How do you make everyone get onto your
[00:19:57] Margaret McMahon: wavelength?
[00:19:59] Well, I think [00:20:00] that you have to focus and you have to know that, um, you're there to do a job. You're there to communicate with your client. You know, and remember in China, many times we're just working through our interpreter, but it's having that, um, positive energy and knowing that you're you want to be there?
[00:20:18] You know, no matter where you go, I used to say to Trisha Wilson. Oh wait. Remember when the world like fricking ended. Um, I used to say to her, I'll say, I'll get a flak jacket and go wherever I got to go. You want, you want me to go into, you know, wherever you want me to go, I'll go. And I really, I really don't have, there's no place that's off limits.
[00:20:44] So I think that that's, I hope that that energy comes across. You know, like clients don't care that you've just flown 13 hours. No one cares. Everybody does that. You know, you gotta walk in, you gotta switch on and you gotta, you gotta be ready to go. [00:21:00] Whether you want to, whether you're exhausted or not, no one cares.
[00:21:03] You're there to do a job. So for me, it's about being positive. It's listening. You also have to make sure that you're respectful, um, and that you understand the culture that you're stepping into. Um, and that's really important. I was just with a really lovely client. Um, the project is in Dubai and I had to go meet them in Paris.
[00:21:33] And it's just the loveliest client that I work with probably eight, nine years ago. And, um, went to their personal home in Paris. And you've just got to be really careful and very respectful because I can be a runaway train. I mean, you know, there are lots of boat PAs that I commit on a daily basis and I'm always checking myself.
[00:21:57] I realized dad that I've had to really [00:22:00] learn how to check myself
[00:22:01] Dan Ryan: well, and that's also, that's a cultural thing too, because you know, A new Yorker, born and raised, and the workers are not known. They're known for being super direct, but maybe not the most respectful. So, or it could just be taken the wrong way.
[00:22:16] There is respect in it, but it's just taken the wrong way because we're cutting to the chase.
[00:22:20] Margaret McMahon: Right. Well, and I don't even think it's that as a matter of fact with, with clients. So when I was at Wilson, um, and you know, I was there for a very long time. Um, I have a mouth like a longshoreman, you know, my favorite word is as fuck as everybody knows.
[00:22:36] And to this day, Trisha could be anywhere in the world and she find something that has fuck on it. She sends it to me. Well, when I joined, um, w H T G and started Wemberley, that was not part of their lexicon. They didn't think it was charming. They didn't think it was funny. They didn't think it was professional.
[00:22:55] And suddenly I had to realize within all these offices, [00:23:00] because there was LA, there was Irvine, New York, London, The Monday crew didn't seem to care very much. Um, Honolulu in Singapore, I realized that as I went into each office, my cadence had to change. My body had to change my vocabulary. Most certainly had to change.
[00:23:21] And that was a little, that was a little humbling. I got to tell you, you know, um, and it, it, it works with clients too. You got to walk in a room and you've got to read a crowd and it's like, you know, when did you start school? And you go into the playground, you got to figure out, which are the nice kids.
[00:23:39] Are you going to the lunch room? And you have to figure out whose table you're going to sit at. That's, that's a life lesson right there. You know, you have to do it with clients too. You gotta be able to read a room and understand, you know, what's appropriate. What's not, and sometimes it, it, it definitely shifts.
[00:23:58] You
[00:23:58] Dan Ryan: mentioned Tricia a couple of times. And I, [00:24:00] I had her as just like a. A visionary, almost industry creator for all of us. Like how old are you? You said you were with her for a long time. She's so amazing and incredible. I've met her a couple of times. I don't know her super well, but like when was the first time that you met her and then you take this Trisha Wilson, this, uh, D my perception is just demure Texan.
[00:24:23] And then you get the brash new Yorker. How did you guys come together and make that work?
[00:24:27] Margaret McMahon: Well, she's not that dimmer Jimmy or exactly.
[00:24:32] Dan Ryan: That's why I said that's.
[00:24:35] Margaret McMahon: Um, so you know how I got into this business and, um, it was 39 east, 67th streets, beautiful brownstone. And they had a floor of it. There was a bedroom.
[00:24:49] Um, Liz Morehouse ran the, uh, the office. There was a bedroom where this woman, Trisha Wilson came to stay. There was a library like this one [00:25:00] bedroom, and then there was an office. And then Liz was like in living and she said, you know, Trisha, Wilson's coming to town. I have no idea who this woman was. And remember, I was a temp at the time I was temping for them.
[00:25:12] They answering phones, cleaning up the disaster. That was the sample room. Um, and this was a whole new world for me. So Trisha Wilson comes to town and, you know, I meet her. And, um, the first morning that she wakes up at, you know, I'm an early riser. So I'm always in the office early, whether I was doing anything, I was always early.
[00:25:34] She said in her sweet Texas voice, would you go and get an intimates donuts? And I said, sure. And, um, I went out and it's the donut with like the crumbled sugar on top. And I got her donuts and she's like, thank you so much. And, um, for a couple of reasons, We clicked. First of all, [00:26:00] she realized that I was a person that, you know, I'm not beneath going to get someone donuts, like who cares, you know, in this day and age, I think that people would be horrified.
[00:26:08] Like if I ask them to go get donuts or pick up dry cleaning or anything, I've never asked anyone to do anything like that. But, um, maybe Joshua a few times, but we have a different relationship we're so close. Um, but she realized that I was a super hard worker. Um, I think she realized that I'm switched on and I think she thought it was funny.
[00:26:32] Um, so I kind of entertained her, but. First and foremost, she knew that I was suited super hard worker. She, she knew that I did that and that, you know, there was nothing that I, I wouldn't do. So we, we clicked in that sense. And, and, and I had been temping for how many months, and I walked in one day and she was there.
[00:26:55] She was in town. And I actually said to her and Liz, more houses of listen, [00:27:00] I swear to God. I said, this it's kind of unbelievable. I said, you know, my mom said that I had to go get a real job. I can't, I can't temp anymore. I got to go get my, this. I said, my mom said I had to go get a real job. So they hired me and it just took off from there.
[00:27:15] And, um, Tricia is a real straight shooter. And, um, you know, so, so am I, and I learned so much from her. She is not demeanor. She is incredibly, um, she's brilliant. I feel like she and Michael Bedner, um, and Howard Hersch really started our industry that the three of them just started it and it was pretty incredible and it was sure dumb luck that, um, I wound up in home world and, um, it was just through hard work and dedication.
[00:27:53] You know, I was a poly psy major. I was going to be a lawyer. I, you know, I did not grow up in a family that had interior [00:28:00] designers designing their house, but it's absolutely
[00:28:02] Dan Ryan: amazing because you also said like, thinking about that word respect and having known or knowing Michael really well, not knowing Trish very well, but whenever I would hear Trish or Michael speak of each other, there was just this tremendous deep respect that each of them had for each other.
[00:28:20] And we're celebrating each other's successes
[00:28:24] Margaret McMahon: and that's exactly, um, What we all need to do. And I think that we do listen. There are some people who don't, there's some people who, I, I don't know if it's a giving spirit or what it is, but, you know, uh, Christina O'Neill of Africa, I just love her, you know?
[00:28:46] Um, Alisandra Sean Paul and what I love her. I love all the guys at Africa, all four of those partners. You know, when you look at Meyer Davis, those guys, um, when you look at Inc Adam and his partner, you, [00:29:00] you really need to celebrate people's successes. And it's also the people that you really respect too, are doing amazing work.
[00:29:08] You know, when Trisha and Michael were sort of forming this and Howard, um, As we all know, Trisha would always say to me, there's plenty of work to go around Margaret. We're going to get what we're supposed to get. And that's really very true. I believe it, to this day that we're going to get what we're supposed to get.
[00:29:25] There's some people who don't necessarily feel that way in our industry, but to respect and to have relationship with your, I don't want to say competitors. Um, you know, we aspire to be like Africa, you know, I'm going to be perfectly honest with you, the work that they do and the opportunities that they get, um, are just incredible in the work that they do.
[00:29:48] We should be as good as they are. And I feel like, you know, we are, we're in, you know, a little bit of a different realm. They're certainly known for Feb and they're also really a [00:30:00] good place. And I think that Trisha and Michael were so much alike, there were sort of like, you know, sprinkling their fairy dust and starting this and molding, motivating everyone and, um, encouraging everyone and teaching everyone.
[00:30:17] And what they really did is pretty incredible when you think about it.
[00:30:21] Dan Ryan: And if you think about just how many careers, both of them started, and I can't speak to Trish, but I know for Michael, so many people that came under his umbrella and to tillage and love Michael hate Michael, whatever, like he makes pulling their own shingles up and became competitors.
[00:30:40] He would always be so proud of them and so positive and supportive and never said. A negative thing. And, and I think that that sometimes is missing. And I think that we just have to all want each other to succeed. And that's also, you know, being hospitable as well, like truly [00:31:00] believing in success for all.
[00:31:01] Margaret McMahon: Well, and that's an issue. So I just had a Cedar designer. Uh, I'll tell you funny story. So two weeks ago I came, I flew to Tucson, which by the way is very hard to get to, I don't know if you've been into Tucson lately, but dear Lord, it's hard to get to. So Lou down in the, in the morning, Liana and I, uh, worked on our project and hopped on a 6:00 AM flight to get back to me.
[00:31:31] So I pull up to my house in an Uber and my senior designer is sitting outside my brownstone and she was bringing me a presentation that I had to do the following week. But she said, you know, can I need to talk to you? You know, none of us like to hear that shit. So, um, and I tend to, I consider her a personal friend as well.
[00:31:51] I said, come on up to the living room. So it's like not, no, I'm, I'm sure you need to like refresh or take a shower. I said, no, no, no, let's just do this. Let's do this now. So we [00:32:00] went upstairs and she, she got teary-eyed and she said, I decided to leave. And I said, ah, you know, my heart was broken and said, where, where are you going?
[00:32:10] And she kind of hesitated for a minute. I said, well, I think I deserve to know. And she goes, I'm going to Soho house. And I said, wow. Wow. So I think, and she started crying and I said, I tend to, I. I think that this is going to be good for you. And I said, why are you crying? She goes, I've been so stressed out and wanted to tell you, I didn't know if you're going to be mad.
[00:32:36] And I said, why would I be mad? Um, I said, quite honestly, I'd be mad if you're going to a competitor, but you've gone to an operator and I'm just, that's full disclosure. And I said, you know what? You need to do this. And all I want for any of my staff anywhere is for them to be happy. And I genuinely feel that way and people are going to come and people are going to go.
[00:32:59] We do [00:33:00] not have a revolving door in any of our studios, which I'm very proud of. You know, I tend was with us, I think for eight years, I think. And, um, yeah, almost 10. And I tend to, and I have been through a lot together personally. No, her dad passed away when she was with us and everything else. She's a lovely, super talented girl.
[00:33:21] And, um, you know, we have to be. We have to be happy for, for people that we've had. The,
[00:33:28] Dan Ryan: I saw her shortly after that and she you're leaving out a store, a part of it, which I think is really important. That also goes into your leadership, which is, she said you were very empathetic. Like you were like, I was there with you wrestling with a decision like this before, like there was like, I've been in your shoes.
[00:33:44] I know.
[00:33:45] Margaret McMahon: Oh, I did. I did actually. Yeah. And I told her, um, when, when I resigned to Trisha Wilson, I mean, I was a wreck and I told her, I said, yeah, that that's right. Thank you for reminding. But I told her, I said, it's okay. [00:34:00] It's okay. I said, we're still friends, you know? Um, you're I said, you're not moving to London.
[00:34:07] Or, you know, when she lives just a couple blocks away from me, I said, we're still friends. None of, none of that changes, you know? And I think that that is a mistake that sometimes gets made. Now, the one thing that I hate is when. Um, people refer the groups that we're a family, there's a creepy cultish thing to me there.
[00:34:27] And I think that what we need to do is we've got to strike a balance. Listen, my team doesn't want to hang out with me on weekends. That's the last thing I want to do. Quite honestly, you know, we all need to have a separation. You've got to have a personal life and business life, but I also firmly believe that you need to be switched on to your teams, what their desires are, what their problems are, if you can, if you can help them in any way and understand what's going on with them.
[00:34:56] So for me, and Trisha was [00:35:00] very much like that. And that's where I get that from up. It wasn't just about, um, you know, are you meeting your deadlines? Are you, you know, Is this client happy and also she's a woman. So she, you know, we would get together and she'd be like, Margaret, you got, you got to color your hair, man.
[00:35:18] Your roots are like out of control or, or she'd say, you know, how, how are your sisters or where'd you get those shoes or things like that. So it's that human level. That is, that's always been important for me. And, um, anyone who knows me that the culture in our studios is really important. Cause everybody works really, really hard, you know?
[00:35:39] Oh, you
[00:35:40] Dan Ryan: have incredible teams all over the globe. And I think a lot of that, even though much in the same way where I was kind of not manifesting the way that I was. You as, as much of a force as you are, you're also supremely empathetic. And I'm curious, like where did you learn that empathy? And like, how did you come to [00:36:00] just when, when she dropped this big news on you to just be like, no, I'm happy for you.
[00:36:04] Like where did that come from when you program that way? Like who taught
[00:36:07] Margaret McMahon: you that? No, I was, I was programmed that way. Listen,
[00:36:11] Dan Ryan: no changed the course of my life with respect to manifestation, like who helped you change direction
[00:36:18] Margaret McMahon: there? Well, my husband, um, you know, when I was doing all my color boards, I think, you know, that, that, you know, I had books on every board and my husband and my sister said I'm like the queen and self-help book, which, which I am, I could use all the help I can get.
[00:36:34] I don't know about you, but, you know, I can just, all the help I can get. My husband actually got me, um, the power of intention by Wayne Dyer and, um, My husband, you know, a lot of people don't know my Huntsman. Some people don't think I have a husband. Some people think, you know, for years there was a rumor that I was a lesbian, you know, all our all sorts of stuff is flying around.
[00:36:58] But Mike [00:37:00] has been really critical in what I do in the sense that he knows when I'm, when I'm on a, when I'm on the Lynch, he knows when things are going really well. And he can definitely tell when I'm cratering. Um, and he can very subtly just do something for me that I course correct. Um, so he got me the book, the power of intention also to our mutual friend, Christine, Michelle, who, um, introduced me to funkshway and, and, and what all that does, but it was really, um, I think Trisha was really important in that too.
[00:37:47] When I took over the office, you got to remember we're we're, we're, you know, we're dealing with, um, personality and, [00:38:00] um, really in some cases, fragile, very talented, very artistic human beings. I remember one instance, I had a conversation with Tricia and she said, what have you done for your team lately? I said, what are you talking about?
[00:38:16] She said, well, you know, have you planned any parties? Have you planned any atoms as a Trisha to you? I employ these people isn't that enough. And she goes, no, it's not enough. It's not enough. And she said, you have got to engage them. In other ways, you've got to make sure that they're happy and that they're fulfilled.
[00:38:34] So that primarily came from Tricia because I so badly remember that conversation with Jesus really I've got to do more. And she said, yeah, you have to do more.
[00:38:46] Dan Ryan: I love that because I I'm guilty of that as well. Where, you know, everyone's so busy, you're dealing with all this stuff coming over the transom.
[00:38:54] And I oftentimes forget to celebrate the little wins and sometimes just a [00:39:00] little thing, making this small moment and celebrating it with everyone has such a profound impact. It doesn't even have to be a huge party. It's just like, here's
[00:39:08] Margaret McMahon: good news. Oh, listen. It is the simple thing. So like I was in the studio this week and you know, when you can feel the energy, I would just stand up and say, I'm going to Starbucks.
[00:39:19] I think everyone here needs coffee, you know, and just treating people to coffee. Or I 10, I knew something was going on to be perfectly honest with you. I could just sense it. And she and I were on a call and I said, listen, I'm going to be in Brooklyn. Do you, do you want to go, um, for a manicure and pedicure, you want to meet me and we'll just go and we'll catch up.
[00:39:40] And she said she had deadlines, which she did, which we didn't do, but it's, it's also being intuitive and being able to hear, you know, we're in the studio three days a week, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, but where on top of that, that I'm traveling. So I have to make sure that I'm really in touch with everyone.
[00:39:57] That, that doesn't mean that I'm in touch with everyone, [00:40:00] but through Joshua, through Liana, um, Through Adam, I can tell what the pulse is and they can tell me if, you know, people are really stressed out. They're working really hard, what we need to do. Um, so it's, it's realizing that, uh, during the pandemic we did Daniel Englander, who, you know, in London, um, he called me up during the pandemic.
[00:40:26] He says, we just had a magician. And I said, what the hell are you talking about? He goes, well, we needed to have an event. So we, we need to do, um, we did a magician said, oh, you gotta send it to me. And it's this guy, Pete heat was so amazing. I can't even tell you. So we had him on a zoom call. Uh, we did a second zoom with him, where we brought in London and LA and then the architects got him too.
[00:40:59] [00:41:00] So we did that. We did an escape room. We did a. Uh, animal rescue upstate. So even when, and, and that can come from, you know, people need to remind me all the time, cause I can go deep into my trench and forget about the world, you know? Um, and it's also, I'm a big believer of, I run into people I'm meant to, I meant to run into people and have a conversation with them.
[00:41:27] I meant to see certain people to get. And I know this sounds like ooky spooky, you know, I'm not religious, but I'm pretty darn spiritual. I'm supposed to get, it's supposed to hear certain things at certain times. And as crazy as that sounds, um, That's important to me and Daniel called me, you know, during the pandemic from London, it's like, oh, we're doing this.
[00:41:49] So we all started sharing that information. And I, I am going to explain, because people listening will probably think that I'm really weird, but I'll tell you when I really learned that [00:42:00] we were working on the Boca Raton resort and club, and it was a big competition, five firms HBA was there. We were there, uh, three other firms.
[00:42:09] It was super stressful. And I remember flying down and being so stressed out about the presentation the next day. And it was staying in the tower. Now, the Bowker Thomas Wharton club through sequesters. There's a tower there's yacht club and the beach club. And I was staying in the towers and I ordered room service.
[00:42:31] And the man who brought me wound service. Now, the towers are far from the main kitchen. The man who brought me room service clearly had. A health issue where it was difficult for him to walk. And I swear to God I'm cheery up.
[00:42:53] I remember getting that tray [00:43:00] and sitting in my room saying, how lucky are you and how amazing was it that you met this man who was so cheerful? So nice had just walked about half a mile to bring my food to me and had, you know, he was so joyful and so kind, and I thought, Margaret, count your blessings, count your blessings.
[00:43:24] So it's things like that where I run into people and they'll say something to me I'm like, I so needed to hear that today. I so needed to see this person today. And it's kind of amazing because I think that. Manifest that too, you know, when you're, when things are tough and you're having a bad day and suddenly someone it's all about looking up and remembering to see people that are around you.
[00:43:51] I would say,
[00:43:52] Dan Ryan: thank you for sharing that story, by the way. I mean,
[00:43:55] Margaret McMahon: I didn't mean to get all weepy and girls. I
[00:43:57] Dan Ryan: love it because ultimately I call those [00:44:00] spikes of gratitude and I used to have these spikes of gratitude with things like that would happen, but not that particular instance, but you know, someone has a health problem.
[00:44:09] Um, someone dies. I'm like, oh my God, thank you so much. Right. However, since reading that book laws of attraction and going on this journey to like kind of opening up to things and manifesting and writing a lot, I I've developed this kind of hum of gratitude that goes on in the background. So it's not as spiky.
[00:44:29] It's still a little bit, but it's also, it's just that matter of like being open and doing things in practice that make me open. And also just trying to recognize when the planets are aligning. Like you're saying that the world speaks and sometimes yells at us. If we don't have that openness, it's very hard to hear.
[00:44:51] And make it happen. So by thinking, like, learn, thank you for sharing all those stories about you and super meaningful. I, I, I love it. And [00:45:00] I, I really want to get Trish on here too, because as a trailblazer, like she, I think she would just be amazing. Um, but switching gears to the present now still like we're all here.
[00:45:10] We're kind of coming out of COVID everything's here. Like what's keeping you up at night right now.
[00:45:16] Margaret McMahon: Um, what is keeping me up at night right now and Adam, um, farmery from Africa and I were talking about it and here's an interesting one for you, uh, finding talent because what happened was, you know, everyone had to course correct.
[00:45:36] And now suddenly there's a tsunami of work coming at us and having the right talent. And, um, I had a phone call with the head of design for a brand who had called up to say. I tend to sleeping. I'm seeing a trend. I'm seeing a trend of operators now coming to design firms to [00:46:00] get talent. We've had it happened in London.
[00:46:01] We've had it happened in New York. Hasn't happened in LA yet or Singapore, but you know, people are, people are moving around and I then called another person at, from this operator who was specific to the project. And he said, oh yeah, we totally know what you mean. We just poached some designers from X firm.
[00:46:22] And I thought, God, this it's sort of, oh eight all over again. It's trying to get the right talent. Um, you know, Liana said to me the other day do not make a desperate hire Margaret, which I've been known to do. You know, we don't want to just put seats and chairs. We don't want to do that to our clients and we want to get the right people.
[00:46:42] And I understand that, um, you know, people are reprioritizing their mind. You know, this is a tough business. It's tough to deliver on this. And you made a comment earlier that you're just a small part of it. Listen, it truly [00:47:00] takes a village is a word, but it takes the whole team. It takes everybody in this process to make a project successful everybody.
[00:47:11] And then you hand that over and then to run it. So everybody is as important as the next person. But, um, so what's keeping me up right now is finding the right talent.
[00:47:22] Dan Ryan: I think, as you were saying that I'm saying what I'm thinking is I'm going back to you being a temp worker with Trish and bringing her donuts.
[00:47:30] I think it's also a tremendous opportunity for everyone to start building benches, younger, inspiring younger people, giving people opportunities that they don't have. There's going to be a lag. But I think if, if you can connect with other younger versions of yourself, In the way that Trish connected with you, it creates a sticky, um, re culture of recruitment and, and empowerment.
[00:47:54] Margaret McMahon: Yeah. Yeah. It's, it's true. Now. I, I do want to give, [00:48:00] um, a shout out, you know, when we had to, uh, course correct me, how to let a few people go, Mike Sumi picked up, um, two of my team members, which was, I was, so I was so thankful that he did that. And, um, I've seen, you know, people move on to, uh, to hotties office took on, um, one of our designers, which is great, and I'm so grateful that they were able to do that.
[00:48:29] Um, and that's another thing about, you know, having a network of people that you really respect that really do help one another, you know, um, Adam farmery and I were talking about, um, So certain conditions and things, and I, I really value that relationship, um, that we can, we don't compete, but we also can share experiences, which I think is really, really important, you know, and, um, that we can [00:49:00] support one another.
[00:49:00] But when you do talk about sort of giving people, um, opportunities that may not, may not have existed, I think what seeing is that residential has just skyrocketed, you know, I was talking to Matt Berman in my car the other night, um, say I have had this residential project. I mean, it's kind of like murder that's, that's not for us, but the fact that he and I, you know, I'd always see him at events and I just loved that Berman, but the fact that we're talking back and forth now with resources and here's a project you want it, you know, is this something for you?
[00:49:37] Um, but being able to have all those conversations and, um, What I worry about is that people have gone. Residential is booming. I think that the schedules that we've all been keeping up with in hospitality are tough to sustain. And I think this year and a half for a [00:50:00] lot of people has, um, they reprioritize what's important, you know, and some people have left the industry completely.
[00:50:11] Some people have gone over the operator side, which we know will always happen. You know, there's, you're shifting lanes, you're staying within the industry, but it's really tough. It's really hard. Uh, you know, we deal with schedules that are insane. Um, budgets, listen, we've always worked with that, but it's re it's really challenging and it's, it's hard.
[00:50:34] Dan Ryan: Go ahead. You said something that I really love, which I believe in, and that we all can learn from it. It's like sharing experience with others. So if you take the Adams and the mats and the, um, the mix and all those people, those that respectful Kadra of competitors, and like, if you were to think about this experience, share, what, what, what could that look like for all of you?
[00:50:56] Margaret McMahon: I think it probably makes all of us better. Like, [00:51:00] I'm going to, are you going to summit? You're going to summit. Yeah. Okay. So I'm really looking forward to going to summit and seeing Kathleen daughter from HBA. You know, I love her. Um, it was an HBA when I was an intern there. Well, I remember her telling me years ago, Martin is you start to go into China pack, like, you know, Protein bars and stuff in your suitcase when she was advising him, like, if you hate, if you hate the food that's in the dormitory.
[00:51:28] Cause we were staying out in, um, on high island in the middle of nowhere and she was great, but it's also things like that. But it's also commiserating, which is really important. You know, you've got to say, is it me? Or has the world just gone crazy? And when you can commiserate with your peers and say, okay, I'm not crazy or I'm not totally incompetent.
[00:51:53] Or I, I know I have a great team, but now I know I have a really, really great,
[00:51:59] Dan Ryan: [00:52:00] I think that's an important distinction because I said compare that cadre of competitors, but you said peers. And I think it's looking at those people as peers and sharing experience is really going to be important to everyone's success going forward.
[00:52:13] Margaret McMahon: Yeah. And listen. The guys at Inc are off the charts, you know? And, um, I, I don't look at, and I always tell my team do not worry about, cause we do a lot of competitions, do not worry about what everyone else is doing. Just know that you are doing the right thing, just do the right thing. That's it. So I don't like to look at and listen, there are some people in the industry that I don't necessarily like to hang with.
[00:52:40] They're not there. Um, it's a spirit thing, you know, it's a giving spirit to me and there's some people that are not so giving and I just don't, you know, I just don't gravitate towards that. And I certainly don't gravitate towards me, but I consider myself very lucky for the relationships that I do have.
[00:52:59] Now I know [00:53:00] we've totally brought a piece on this whole hospitality thing or you and I just talking mumbo-jumbo or
[00:53:05] Dan Ryan: because I know this all fits into it because when, when people ask me how I define hospitality, I don't have a specific answer. So this is like part of my discovery process. Yeah. So we can look in the dictionary, but there's this, it's almost like a multifaceted Venn diagram in this gray area in the middle that I'm,
[00:53:25] Margaret McMahon: it's a spirit, it's a, it's a giving spirit of wanting to do great things for people wanting to make it something great, wanting
[00:53:35] Dan Ryan: to do great things for others.
[00:53:38] Again, it's that idea of service. So like all of this stuff or all these data points, that's helping me shape and define what I want, because I don't think there is a reason. Definition for, I mean, there is in the dictionary. So looking at what's keeping you up now, which is kind of a bit of a downer, but like also some good stuff came out of that.
[00:53:54] Yeah, I know. But then you want me to be honest, right? That's what totally keeps me up at night. If it's [00:54:00] keeping you up at night, it's a downer and like talent is really hard to come by and retain and, and grow. And leaders are hard to grow. But now switching gears, I'm thinking about what excites you, like what's exciting you about the future?
[00:54:13] Margaret McMahon: Oh, well I think that, um, us going back into the studio, we started on July 6th. Our studio has been open since last July, last July. So people could go in and out. We've all been working remotely, but starting July six, I put some guard rails around this thing and said, I'd like people to be in the studio Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursdays.
[00:54:36] We have to start to engage with one another. Um, That really excites me. Um, we did have to start going back to masks, um, starting yesterday, which bummed me out a little bit. Don't even get me started on the debate between vaccinated and not vaccinated. Um, that's just a whole other podcast. Yeah. That's a whole other podcast for [00:55:00] sure.
[00:55:00] Um, but that we're starting to get more on track again, you know, that the world is waking up and things are start. People are getting on planes. Airports are, um, more populated. Uh, restaurants are getting coming back online. Um, people are engaging. People are hugging one another. Um, all of that I think is very, very encouraging.
[00:55:29] Now. I think that what will happen and obviously I'm not Dr. Fowchee, but I just hope and pray that it'll, it'll become like the fluid, you know, the different strands will become. Like that, and we'll all learn how to live with this. Um, which I, which I think is important,
[00:55:47] Dan Ryan: no matter what the virus may throw at us or vaccines or anything, I love the, how you say engage because getting back in the office, having these longer conversations, even on these podcasts, [00:56:00] disengagement, I look at it as collisions and when things collide, new, new ideas come out of them.
[00:56:05] And if I feel like we lost a year and a half of collisions and engagement and, or it's been different, we haven't allowed that simmering time. Right. Of just, yeah.
[00:56:16] Margaret McMahon: And what's interesting. So, um, I was with Cindy Allen for the first time, you know, of interior design magazine a couple of weeks ago. The reason I was with her was that, um, it was my friend's birthday and Cindy and I did this, this whole thing together.
[00:56:34] And then she came over to Morris house, something else, and Cindy and I had been, yeah, Constant contact. She has a house up near here, and we were, it's amazing how you start to have different conversations. You know, Cindy Allen is like a God to me. She always scared the hell out of me. And I can say that because I've told her that, uh, she used to scare the daylights out of me because she's such an icon and hangs out with such [00:57:00] fancy schmancy people.
[00:57:01] I, to say
[00:57:01] Dan Ryan: the same about you when I was first starting,
[00:57:04] Margaret McMahon: oh dear God. Oh dear God. That's ridiculous. But anyway, but you realize that your conversations completely change and they become much more personal. And even during, and to see her, I was just so happy to hug her and her husband Marino. And to have that physical contact and engage them.
[00:57:27] And that is so important. And my team, I have to tell you, Dan, that we would do roundups every week and just talking to people about anything. And we wouldn't even talk about work and how much more. I got to know them during COVID than being in the office. Now we're back in the studio and Calvin who comes in early, has his headset on now back to Kelvin.
[00:57:50] I don't talk anymore. I think I'm just going to have to call them on a Monday or Friday to catch up, but it is all about that engagement. That [00:58:00] is, that is so important. I think I actually think so. At one point I got super healthy during COVID that I got super fat and was eating everything that wasn't nailed down.
[00:58:10] I told the owner the other night, I think I almost ate myself to death the other night because so stressed out, you know, that's just how I'm coping with it right now. But being in the office yesterday, I'm in the studio with Joshua and Noel and Catarina and Kelvin and Martin Rida, and Josh held that makes such a difference.
[00:58:34] So I've now gotten my shit together. I had a conversation with myself yesterday morning, you know, I'm walking to Williamsburg to grab the subway and I'm getting off at 14th street and I'm walking down Lafayette and, um, I'm back to the world. Just feels more normal to me. So for my, for my own personal neuroses, um, getting back with [00:59:00] people has been huge for me.
[00:59:01] Dan Ryan: Yeah. Now I know you said you were eating, eating yourself. Yeah. So, but like, I love this question because again, I think food has so much to do with how people feel comfortable in hospitality when you're on one of your whirlwind trips and what food do you crave the most when you're away? When a craving comes.
[00:59:23] Margaret McMahon: And I'm not a foodie. You know, if you look at a lot of our friends in the industry who were true, gourmets I look at the stuff that Brad Wilson, um, cooks for David and I, I always tell them I'm coming over. I'm coming over right now. Uh, so I'm not a real foodie. I'm not the most important thing for me when I'm traveling, it's being able to get coffee.
[00:59:46] I know that sounds so simplistic and stupid.
[00:59:50] Dan Ryan: It's hard to find
[00:59:50] Margaret McMahon: a good cup, but coffee is really important, extremely important to me. Um, I love middle Eastern [01:00:00] food. I just die for it. So, um, what I'm in the middle east, I love having middle Eastern food, uh,
[01:00:09] Dan Ryan: or you go down to Broadway, Broadway and get, uh, a little lamb and lamb
[01:00:13] Margaret McMahon: and rice.
[01:00:14] Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. But, um, So China is a tough one for me is Leo is says, Margaret, I know you just want a salad and some chicken, you know, I'm not a super adventurous heater. Um, no jellyfish for, you know, jelly and I don't eat seafood. I don't see which cancels out a lot for me. Um, but yeah, stupid.
[01:00:40] And as unsophisticated as that sounds, it's not like, yeah, it's not like I was eating escargo in Paris. Listen to, okay.
[01:00:49] Dan Ryan: I was hoping you were saying you would crave a breakfast of Balthazar.
[01:00:53] Margaret McMahon: Well, you know, I love bounces art and we had to get Michael Bosworth. We have to get David, [01:01:00] um, and we have to get Tony, the child, we gotta get them.
[01:01:03] And, um, that I'm traveling until like mid September, if you can believe that. So we'll do a September one. Yeah. We'll figure that one out.
[01:01:12] Dan Ryan: Okay. So just kind of wrap rounding third right now and thinking about this is my journey. Shortner uh, this question. So like, let's say you appear in front of your eight year old self in Douglaston Queens.
[01:01:26] What advice do you give your eight year old self? Oh, that's that powerful young girl knowing what you know now, what, what do you tell yourself?
[01:01:38] Margaret McMahon: Like lighten up? I don't know if you ever saw the bill Murray movie. Where he goes into the military. I'm like stripes. My husband often says to me the line lighten up Francis,
[01:01:58] Dan Ryan: like for instance, [01:02:00] I love,
[01:02:04] Margaret McMahon: I find that highly insulting. Finally, one day I just broke down because as Jerry ans really said to me, one day, he's got this great saying you could wear the balls off of a pool table. I don't really know what that means, but isn't that brilliant. I know that I could wear the balls off on pool table. So Michael said, well, Mike said to me, lighten up Francis.
[01:02:28] And he finally showed me the clip from stripes about what that was. And it was pretty damn funny, but it's so true. I, um, I'm probably my own worst enemy. As a matter of fact, I know that I am, you know, I'm not happy unless I'm doing 15 million things at once. My husband also said I'm like a shark. I've never stopped moving.
[01:02:52] Um, and I need to really, I need to lighten up. I really need to lighten up self care. [01:03:00]
[01:03:00] Dan Ryan: Yeah. I think we're all I think really, if you get down to it, we are all our own worst enemies could be. Right. I like that lighten up Francis. I think I've been looking for all these great eighties movies to dust off and
[01:03:13] Margaret McMahon: watch I'm going to send you the clip.
[01:03:16] Cause I sent it to, I sent it to someone. I can't remember. I'll send it to you
[01:03:21] Dan Ryan: lighten up Francis.
[01:03:22] Margaret McMahon: Yeah, that's it.
[01:03:26] Dan Ryan: I love it. So I'm envisioning that little girl that stands in front of the, uh, New York stock exchange with that big bull somewhere down there. And you're walking up to her and you're just saying lighten up Francis.
[01:03:36] Yup.
[01:03:37] Margaret McMahon: Yup. Exactly. Awesome.
[01:03:42] Dan Ryan: Uh, okay. So Margaret, where can people connect? You can connect with you. How can they find you?
[01:03:46] Margaret McMahon: Um, Margaret with three, the number three dogs that is my Instagram. Then we have Wimberly interiors. We have Wimberly interiors website. Um, so they can certainly reach out to me [01:04:00] there.
[01:04:01] Dan Ryan: Awesome. Margaret, I want to say just thank you so much. I, I, I love all of our conversations and thank you.
[01:04:09] Margaret McMahon: Thank you, Dan Ryan, you're the best.
[01:04:12] Dan Ryan: Have a great weekend. Yes, you too. And thank you to all of our listeners. I hope this talk has evolved your view on how to deliver hospitality and also to make sure others feel cared for on their journeys in life.
[01:04:26] I'm sure. I sure learned something. And if you did too, please share this podcast. Thank you everyone. Thank you. Margaret lighten up Francis.
[01:04:39] Margaret McMahon: I'll talk to you soon.