Just asking, because you’re probably too busy to reflect on this: how are you feeling today, chef? Treat yourself to a moment of connection with yourself. We don’t do it often enough, but how can we show up in the world
Own who you are
Five Guys founder Jerry Murrell was served this warning by his teachers at school: that if he continued to underperform, he would have to spend his future flipping burgers. But isn’t he doing just that in style today, at over a thousand
Focus your energies
It is wise to direct your anger towards problems – not people; to focus your energies on answers – not excuses. – William Arthur Ward That’s the cornerstone of leadership, chef. If you can embody that, and instill that into your team culture,
Swept away
In an intense kitchen, you confront so many things that pull you off-centre or into some kind of reaction. Even if it doesn’t involve you, you can be swept away by the energy of the room or the people around you. The
Know who you are
As a human, one of our greatest needs is to belong. When we’re part of a team, a culture or a clique, we can prioritise being accepted so much that we forget who we are. You’ve experienced it, no doubt,
Faraway dreams
Sometimes we dream of something so big or so faraway, that it’s sometimes hard to keep a sense of perspective. You want to get to your destination instead of being where you are. You want to be in control of the situation
Good vibes
Whether you’re a true romantic, or you care more about the commercial opportunities that come with Valentine’s Day, did you notice that tangible feeling of softness in the air yesterday? You can assume it’s because people stepped out of their heads to
Love
Love Letters to Chefs won’t distract you today as you celebrate the love of your life, dream of your future Valentine, or simply focus intensely on the busy service ahead. But today is a good day for a reminder that love is also:
Not being appreciated
This is a hard one for most of us. When we’re not fully appreciated for what we bring to the table or for our contribution. It can be something as simple as not being thanked for supporting someone or maybe it’s
Experiment
Designer Bruce Mau has great advice for us. “Love your experiments (as you would an ugly child). Joy is the engine of growth. Exploit the liberty in casting your work as beautiful experiments, iterations, attempts, trials, and errors. Take the