Why Good Decisions Sometimes Make Life Worse
If you wanted a better life, you certainly wouldn’t choose something that would make you less happy. Yet surprisingly, many people do, and without even knowing it.
Multiple studies show that people who travel longer distances to work are less happy than those with shorter journeys. The irony is clear. Many accepted those roles because the higher salary promised a better life. In practice however, this decision undermined the very outcome they hoped to achieve.
Hospitality owners can fall into this same trap. Decisions look smart on paper, but over time they drain energy, limit growth, and weaken financial stability. The trade offs are hidden, and the cost becomes visible only when the strain has already set in.
When decisions seem helpful but hold you back
Restaurant and café owners often choose paths that appear financially responsible but move them further from the goals they truly care about.
Examples include:
- Accepting every customer or event because it feels wrong to say no, only to end up exhausted with no time for planning or improvements.
- Using low cost systems or suppliers that create more manual work and slow the team down.
- Dropping prices to attract customers, only to end up with pressure on margins and cash flow.
- Delaying a key hire in the kitchen or front of house, believing it saves money, when the strain leads to mistakes and missed opportunities.
Every decision feels right in the moment. Each one carries a hidden cost.
Look beyond the surface number
Good financial choices rely on understanding the full impact, not the headline figure. Use three lenses for every major decision.
1. Time
Does this choice protect time for service quality, operational planning, and leadership, or does it take time away? Time is a cost even if it does not show in the accounts.
2. Energy
Does it create clarity or confusion? Hospitality performance depends heavily on energy, focus, and the ability to keep calm under pressure.
3. Financial strength beyond turnover
Does the choice strengthen margins, cash flow, and resilience, or does it only look attractive in isolation?
When you apply these three views, apparent wins often reveal themselves as losses.
How you can avoid hidden trade offs
Start by naming the outcome
Better margins, smoother service, more predictable hours, less chaos. Once this is clear, the right decision becomes more obvious.
Value your time properly
One of your most valuable assets is your time and your team's time. When you give it a value, you stop taking on work that does not make financial sense.
Measure decisions by how they improve your working life, not just the numbers
If turnover goes up but stress goes up too, the choice has not helped the business.
Simplify
Hospitality thrives on simple, reliable systems. Pick tools and processes that are easy to use and that do not end up costing you more time than they save.
How we help hospitality businesses
If you take one idea away from this, let it be this: a business decision is only a good one if it moves you towards the life you want, not away from it. At MSF Associates, we do more than keep track of numbers, we help restaurants and cafés build a more stable and sustainable business. If you would like to work with us, call 0113 240 4100 or book a call with one of our team.
Restaurants, cafes, and takeaways can benefit greatly from working with a specialist accountant. If you hadn’t noticed already, we are specialist accountants in Leeds for food service businesses, so unlike most accountants, we have years of experience working with businesses just like you. If you're interested in finding out more about how we can help your restaurant become more profitable, book a call with one of our accounting experts.
