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Okay, I admit I have always been inspired by Steve Jobs – one of the founding partners in Apple Computers and frequently referenced sage of Silicon Valley. So, when I discovered his listed “Habits of Successful People” I knew they would wind up in a blog post. Jobs was not universally loved as a boss, but he was always admired for his leadership vision. Does his list of habits apply to cooks, chefs, and restaurateurs? I think so. Let’s look at them as well as a few add-ons from my own experience.

Steve Jobs Habits of Successful People:

[]       READ EVERY DAY

Reading allows you to travel to places previously unknown, it helps to build your vocabulary and your understanding of others, it opens your mind to possibilities and stimulates creative thinking, it can provide a needed escape, and it will always provide reference to possible solutions for problems yet encountered.

[]       MAKE YOUR HEALTH A PRIORITY

Success is shallow unless you are healthy enough to enjoy it. Make the time in your schedule – every day, for exercise, relaxation, sound nutrition, and regular visits to the doctor, dentist, chiropractor, and optometrist.

[]       LEARN FROM PEOPLE YOU ADMIRE

Identify those whom you admire as professionals and as citizens of the planet. Listen to them, read what they write, connect with them, and make them part of your network. Know what you admire in them and reference that through your own actions. Avoid investing time in relationships or even encounters with those who fail to inspire.

[]       PLAN YOUR DAY, THE NIGHT BEFORE

Build a challenging, yet realistic list of tasks and objectives for the next day before you sleep. This level of organization will clear your mind and set a course of action when you wake. Check off those items, once complete and try to not let other tasks into your day if they take you off a designated course.

[]       KEEP YOUR GOALS IN FRONT OF YOU

Always, at the top of that list, post your ultimate goals and ask yourself whether your daily list is bringing you any closer to achievement of those ultimate objectives and goals. Stay the course – keep your focus.

[]       TAKE ACTION – EVEN WHEN SCARY

As a chef or restaurateur, you are either in a position to lead or are aspiring to get there. Leaders are doers, not just visionaries. Make decisions, implement plans, do what others expect of you even if it involves some uncharted waters and a chance of short-term failure. Be an implementer, it’s part of the job description. Just make sure your actions are thought out and based on best use of knowledge, experiences, and wisdom.

[]       HAVE AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

As a chef or restaurateur, you are very fortunate to have the experience that brought your career to this point. As a cook you have an incredible opportunity to work with ingredients that farmers, ranchers, bakers, and fishermen invested their lives in bringing to you. You have an opportunity to work with a diverse team of technicians and serve the public, giving them a chance to enjoy their place on earth – be grateful.

MY PERSONAL ADD-ONS:

[]       WRITE EVERY DAY – TELL YOUR STORY

Each of us has a story to tell. Our life experiences, especially those that involve the kitchen for cooks and chefs, are rich and interesting. Hang on to them, they help to define who you are and will, at some point, define your menu – your style of cooking. Keep a journal, write stories, jot them down in any way that you can.

[]       APPROACH EVERYTHING WITH EXCELLENCE IN MIND

Push the word mediocrity out of your vocabulary. Never let it take hold, never sacrifice quality and excellence for its evil twin: “good enough”. Approach every job, every task, every opportunity with a commitment to being first-class, try to hit the ball out of the park every time. Successful people always swing for the fence.

[]       LISTEN TO MUSIC – EMBRACE IT

One of the great inspirations for creativity, for energy or sometimes calm, and for realignment and a call to arms – is music. Whatever genre you listen to, use it, enjoy it, lean on it. When you are upset listen to music that gives you hope and calms your nerves, when you are confused listen to music that inspires and adds clarity, when you are nervous listen to music that puts you at ease, when you lack energy listen to music that makes you shout with joy. Music works.

[]       MAKE YOUR BED – SET THE TONE FOR THE DAY

As Admiral William McRaven stated in his moving commencement speech – Start the day by making your bed – literally and figuratively – it sets the tone for the day – the first thing you can check off your list.

[]       VIEW PROBLEMS AS OPPORTUNITIES

Don’t let challenges stop your forward progress. Problems are challenges that you have given up on. Successful people don’t give up, they find solutions, they lean on those in their network, they stand tall and work a little harder and a lot smarter. Problems are really opportunities in disguise.

[]       WALK TO THINK CLEARLY

Walking is so therapeutic. Breathe in the air, listen to nature, or tap into your favorite music and know that as your feet move so too does your brain begin to make sense of things that seem to get in your way. Some of your best ideas will come from a brisk walk in the woods.

[]       RELISH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Nothing is more important. Your real success in life will come from those strong bonds with others. In your quest for success bring them along and never push them aside.

[]       TALK LESS – LISTEN MORE

Successful people train themselves to be exceptional listeners. Know the difference between passive hearing and paying attention to what others have to offer. Your best ideas will likely come from listening to others, and your most remarkable solutions will come from the same.

[]       TAKE THE TIME TO COOK WITH PASSION

Remember why you got into this business in the first place – you love to cook, to create, to taste and savor, to build flavors, to protect traditions, and most importantly to make others happy. Even the busiest chef should take the time to cook something every day. You can always spare a few minutes to cook an omelet or grill a fresh piece of fish. It will revitalize you and help you to remember what is important.

[]       STICK TO YOUR STAKES IN THE GROUND

We all have them – beliefs that are so important that we refuse to waver from them. This is important! Don’t work for anyone who asks you to push them aside, don’t give in to the temptation of mediocrity, and never allow the demands of the job to trump your need to feel good about the person you see in a mirror.

[]       BE KIND, GENEROUS, AND HAVE EMPATHY

This is what your family always hoped for you. This is what will be your legacy if you allow it to be so, this is what is important in the long run. Be the kind of cook, chef, or restaurateur who is known to be a good person. That is real success.

PLAN BETTER – TRAIN HARDER

Harvest America Ventures, LLC

Restaurant Consulting

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