Jim Meehan is a bartender, journalist and author of The PDT Cocktail Book and Meehan’s Bartender Manual. He has spent half his life perfecting the art of hospitality. Jim has founded award-winning bars like PDT, and written award-winning books like Meehan’s Bartender Manual. And he always operates at the top of his game.

In this latest episode of our Masters Series, Jim discusses how his desire to ‘lead’ in the industry brought him to the brink of burnout. He talks of preparing for the marathon, not the sprint, and managing your career devotion. It ties into themes of health an wellbeing that persist in the industry today. 

If you work in the bars or own the bars, there’s a curtain between the people who host the party and people who are at the party. That’s a dangerous line, I think.

Jim Meehan

The value of service

When he was younger, Jim Meehan wanted to be a doctor who wrote books. Fast forward a few years and his desire to serve others persists in what has been an outstanding bartending career. Oh, and he has two books under his belt, too. 

Together, we discuss the themes of service that can be seen in both medical and hospitality industries. Jim argues that this is boosted by the strong values of community and teamwork that holds the bartending industry together.

What I was doing in the bar, which was like helping people- sometimes just with food or drinks, but sometimes it would be more than that. Granted, it’s self-serving but I feel that great bartenders and great restaurateurs have a community-serving function that is equally valuable as the medical practice.

Jim Meehan

In The Master Series, The Living Proof Podcast will be taking in the advice, stories and opinions of those considered to be legends of the industry. You can listen to our latest episode in the series here. Stay up to date by following us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.