Motivational Wisdom From A Chef Rat - Part II
Motivational Wisdom From A Chef Rat
Let’s face it: unless you’re some kind of magical, cooking-possessed being, most kitchen tasks can be a drag. Sure, the end result is usually worth it – but that doesn’t mean we want to actually go through the process of getting there. The same goes for feeding yourself and others to greatness every day.
A few weeks ago, I shared a quote from Emeril Lagasse – arguably one of the most famous chefs in America – and one of his secrets to success, “Do what you love to do. Don’t do what you don’t like to do. It’s simple, but it’s not easy.” In the article I wrote about how this applies to life – not just cooking. The advice is as true in business as it is in food.
Now, I’m not a chef; I'm not a businessman; I’m not even a real person. Not only that, I'm just an average guy who loves to cook up some stuff and share some of the knowledge he's acquired over the years. But what I am is motivated.
You see, anytime I get into the kitchen to make something new – not just a recipe, but something new and different – I get inspired. Inspired by chefs I've studied; it's fun to watch the “masters at work” so to speak.
I also tend to get motivated by other things in life as well (such as studying martial arts) but cooking is a passion of mine. The end result of my cooking is that I get to enjoy the fruits of my labor – food that's fresh, flavorful, and nutritious. Food prepared with love and affection.
Once you figure out what motivates you, it's then time to decide if there's a way you can use it to your advantage. For many people, it's money. You have to have a reason why you're going to do something, and that reason should be compelling enough to push you through the hard times. So what's your reason?
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That's exactly how Chef Jamie Oliver sees it. In order to succeed in life, you need to serve a purpose – whether that's making a statement, creating something new and exciting, or just getting your name out there. He doesn't have a problem with people being paid money to do what they love to do though:
Maybe taking paid jobs comes with some added benefits that motivate you more. Maybe you get paid well enough so that you can afford a nice home and car, and maybe you can provide for the family you love through this income. If you don't have children, perhaps you get to travel around the world for free – or at least to some exotic place that most people will never see.
Maybe you can use the money to buy your own car, or at least have enough extra money to open up a modest business of your own. Or maybe after doing a job for an hour or two, you find yourself spending the rest of your day thinking about how cool it would be if you owned that type of place and made that type of food. Whatever your reasons are, you need to come up with a compelling reason to get yourself out of bed and into the kitchen every day.
Chef Jamie Oliver's tips on getting motivated:
You don't have to work in a kitchen (or be a chef) to be inspired. If you love doing something as much as I do – or as much as Chef Jamie does – then what can stop you? Passion is contagious. It spreads faster than any sickness known to man. The people who want to be around it get infected, too. Sometimes they don't even realize they've been infected until they start to get sick – just like me with cooking. So ask yourself, “What's my real passion?”
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Use that to your advantage. Find out what motivates you, and then find ways to make money off of your passion. If Emeril is correct, you’ll succeed in no time!
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The first excerpt is from a book titled “ In Search of Excellence ” by Thomas Peters and Robert Waterman. It’s on my list of all-time life-changing books - along with “ The One Minute Manager .”
The second excerpt comes from a talk that Chef Jamie Oliver gave at the TED conference.
Conclusion:
Use whatever motivates you to your advantage. Don't let difficult tasks or life situations get you down. It's not enough to go through the motions of getting things done - you need to choose the right reasons and follow them. If someone else is doing it for a living, great! If that's not the case, come up with a plan and make it happen yourself!
Chef Jamie Oliver's Six Tips for Motivation:
1. Cook with purpose.