David Hayden was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. He took his first serving job in 1996. Since that time, he has worked for over a dozen different restaurant companies. He has held both hourly and salaried positions at independent and corporate restaurants. He has waited on over 100,000 guests and trained hundreds of servers. In 2010, he was the winner of the Reader’s Choice Award as the Best Server in Kansas City by the local weekly newspaper.
In 2007, David set out to determine exactly what skills and techniques separate the average server from the exceptional server. The findings of this research became the focus of his first book, Tips2: Tips for Improving Your Tips.  This work expanded into examining other parts of the hospitality industry. In 2010, David launched The Hospitality Formula Network, a series of sites designed to address a variety of topics related to the restaurant industry.
David Hayden continues to work in the hospitality industry. When not working at restaurants, or writing about them, he enjoys spending time with friends and family. He is an avid theme park enthusiast and history buff. David resides in Kansas City, Missouri.
