What Top Chefs Can Teach You About Being A Better Professional

I had a strong revelation recently, it started when I was reading Kitchen Confidential and culminated during a conversation I had with a head chef at a notorious restaurant down here in big hair country.

It was mentioned that,

You can teach someone to do anything, but you can’t teach character.

My head practically splintered open when I read that comment, as it set off a chain reaction of mini epiphanies in my mind that helped me understand why certain situations in my life, and in others, worked out in the obscure way they did.

Just like how you feel about that guy in your office who bitches that he doesn’t make enough money,

Building one’s character is infinitely more important than learning new skills.

Everyone always tries to get on the forefront of the new technology that is in the market, from eight track players to social media, there is always something new and exciting to learn that ultimately becomes as important as table manners to a regular KFC patron.

But as I have seen time and time again, character is something that is not only more important than skills, it is something that cannot be learned

If you have a bartender who free pours for regular customers just so he can procure extra tips, you won’t be able to save him.

A graphic designer who panics during all pending deadlines and ultimately makes excuses for his lack of timeliness while touts his win percentage in Starcraft 2, he is screwed.

A Harvard graduate who has more extracurriculars than the valedictorian from every high school in America combined won’t be able to do jack shit for a company if he can’t even give a proper handshake.

Character is something that some people have, and others don’t

You develop it over time (or you don’t) and you can’t pick it up like a how to guide on making your own wine.

People who strive to build their character, who not only read books on that sales technique that all the cool kids are using, but more often than not, seek to help build up the lives of those around them and are not afraid to fail, those are the types of people who succeed in life.

Recognize the character of yourself and the people in your lives, are they the type of people who are ready to kick ass and chew bubblegum? Or are they the type who do the bare minimum to get by?

Bubble gum or mellow yellow?

Gabriel