Love, love, love Gordon Ramsay (the famous, foul-mouthed, chef and restauranteur).
Years ago, he had this show, Kitchen Nightmares, where he’d go in and rip these restaurant owners apart.
Usually they deserved it because their food was awful, service awful, and the owners were in denial.
Actually that was my favorite part. Ramsay would have the chef make him several dishes from the menu. He’d critique them, and that’s when the fun started.
The chef was usually oblivious to, or in denial about, his bad food.
And Ramsay would just lay into the chef and usually the chef would just burry his head and refuse to believe things were as bad as they were.
In one episode, Ramsay finds a dead mouse… in the kitchen, AND… cockroaches.
Can you imagine that? What if you sat down to order some food and when it came out… you found a roach in your spaghetti or on the floor or… when you left (AFTER eating)… a dead mouse near the front door?
Mayhaps you’d make an appointment to see your doctor the very next day to make sure you wouldn’t die or something?
Meanwhile, the staff was completely in denial about it all.
At one point, the chef tells Ramsay they’re a better chef than he is.
I find that sort of posturing amusing because it’s Obvious as Adams why Ramsay is there.
Reminds me of how some people posture about their finances.
It does them no good but… they do it anyway.
They’re only hurting themselves which is why I sit and wait for them to come around. Sometimes they do. Usually… not.
Anywho, one thing everyone can learn from Ramsay is persistence.
No matter how in denial the chefs are, he keeps on them until they “get it.”
That kind of persistence can serve you well. When things seem hopeless, just remember… you only lose if you give up. That fact is why Ramsay is a winner while most restauranteurs lose. Ramsay has had spectacular failures but… he never gave up.
Never give up.
Also published on Medium.