Motivational Thought for Today

"Remember that winners do what losers don't want to."

A Work in Progress

As you learn to become a cook, as you train and practice your technique, you will soon discover that you are a work in progress. None of this happens overnight. Practice patience along with the technical needs of your classroom learning experiences and/or the competition which you are about to embark upon.  

Motivational thought for the day

"It's not who we are that holds us back, it's who we think we're not."

Seek out a Mentor

A mentor is someone who can help you connect your classroom experiences with that of the real world. Mentors provide direction and guidance based upon their own professional experiences. What we desire of students is taught and learned by example, this is the job of the teacher, coach and mentor. A mentor can bring new opportunities to the table for you individually and for the team. It is the job of each student to pick the brain of his or her mentor. A mentor will help you assess your plans while learning how to set goals and objectives.

Find out what your mentor hasn’t told you. Is he leaving you wanting more?

Coaching Culinary Champions: You, the Team and Competition

Available at all book outlets mid February '08.
ISBN:978-0-9799608-0-2

Watch for next week's guideline --- "Seek out a mentor."

Why does taking shortcuts fail to get you to the target?

I’ve lived this one and I'm here to tell you that there really are no shortcuts. The reality is if you are looking for shortcuts and ways to cut corners you don't belong here. And yes competitors are always trying to use shortcuts. Surprising? No! Of course competitors do, or in my experiences, they try to. Competitors try using short cuts in order to save time. They believe this time savings will provide them with a more direct route to their target, “winning.” Wrong! Practicing shortcuts is just another means of cheating, You cheat yourself, your team, your school and yourself. Cheating in any light is unacceptable and you need to examine why you are cheating right now. Focusing on shortcuts means that you're not practicing the techniques and skills that is required of a winning team. It also means that you are not a team player, you believe it's only about you. What competitors lose sight of is the actual target. Suddenly saving personal time and finding an easy way out becomes the priority.

The target has now changed and can no longer be identified and one becomes a self proclaimed martyr. This is the first sign of “chef action.” Chef action is when you believe you have already arrived at a level of stardom and importance at a level higher than everyone else. Better than all of your team and better than your coach. Chef action means that you believe you are the chef and that you have arrived, you know it all.

Should you even be here? Is it time to get off the competition train and do something else like selling shoes? Who are you really to think that you have arrived? And best of all, where is it that you have actually arrived?