Inspirational Message from a Chef Rat
Posted: Sunday, October 21, 2007
by Sharif Khan
Hero Soul
Theres a new management breed springing up in high Paris society led by a motivational talking rat who happens to cook.
If you dont believe me, watch Disneys feature-length animation film, Ratatouille. The movie takes place in Paris and is about a rat named Remy who dreams of becoming a gourmet chef.
Only problem is hes a rat! Go figure. Remy has a highly developed sense of smell and a keen appreciation for food. He yearns for a better life and desires to raise himself out of a meager existence of living in sewers and scrambling for crumbs and rotten cheese.
Yuk! Talk about one stinking job! Im treading on dangerous ground here, but cant we all relate to this story on some level? I mean, sometimes we just fall into doing work thats less than desirous and not even close to what were really, really passionate about in our hearts.
Sometimes we just settle for far less than the best we deserve in order to make a living or meet other peoples expectations of us. Pretty soon we fall into a rut a routine and get cozy. Welcome to the Rat Race! The never-ending treadmill of constant busyness. A dream stealer disguised as a golden ladder to nowhere.
Ratatouille is a story about one rats dilemma to either play it safe by sticking to his normal rat routine and winning the approval of his friends and family or enter the forbidden human world and risk everything in pursuit of his dream to become a gourmet chef in the most prestigious restaurant in Paris .
We can all learn from Remys adventures and wisdom. I certainly did, and Id like to share with you some insights I took away from the movie:
> LOOK UP!
After being chased away by a gun-totting human and being tossed and turned in a raging river, Remy gets separated from his friends and family and ends up shivering, stranded and feeling utterly lost in a dark, cold gutter. This is what mythologist Joseph Campbell would call the approach to the inner most cave.
Remy spends days in this gloomy dungeon paralyzed by fear and never venturing out. In this moment of darkness and delirium, a mentor figure appears in his imagination the late Auguste Gusteau , France s culinary genius.
Gusteau gently encourages Remy to look up and venture out! And so, with some trepidation, Remy climbs up the drainage pipes and enters a brave new world. He is shocked to see the magnificent city of Paris unfold before him with its shimmering lights and the Eiffel Tower beckoning him forward.
All these years Remy has been scrounging around underground with his fellow rats while getting occasional peaks of his hero Chef Gusteau work his culinary magic on TV in glamorous Paris. Now, hungry and tired and being stranded for days in some dingy gutter, he realizes that hes in the very heart of Paris at the doorstep of Gusteaus famous restaurant!
So whats the application here?? I mean, its not like were living in some kind of rat hole! (Sorry Remy). Well, first of all, its important to realize that with each seed of failure and loss theres an equivalent seed of new hope and opportunity. And second, when we get into a rat of a rut, its important to look up and venture out.
How do we do that as humans? One of the fastest and most memorable ways to look up and develop a higher perspective is to once in a while upgrade some of our routine experiences: flying first class instead of economy, staying in a five star luxury hotel, joining a pricier, more exclusive business or fitness club, or attending a prestigious auction or art gallery.
Upgrading some of our experiences serves the multiple purpose of sending a message to our subconscious that we value ourselves while opening up higher learning and networking opportunities and developing friendships with people that can help us grow.
Of course, you dont always have to shell out big money to accomplish this. You can offer to volunteer and help out at these types of establishments or events; you can join an online newsgroup at one of the higher brow establishments such as Washington Post, New York Times, or Harvard Business Review and participate or eavesdrop on some of the conversations; you can read a biography; or if you can muster up the courage you can ask to meet with someone you admire to learn how they became successful.
I used this last strategy once when I was working at a bookstore quite a few years back. Harry Rosen, world renowned mens clothier, once walked into the store looking for a Kiri Te Kanawa opera video. Of course, as Murphys Law would predict, we didnt have the video and he left the store promptly.
I then wrote a letter to him saying I tried various suppliers but could not find the video but really admired his success and was wondering if he could give me a tour of his head office and share with me how he became successful in his field.
A couple weeks later I got a reply letter back from his secretary to call and arrange for a time to meet with Mr. Rosen. I ended up meeting him at his penthouse office and getting a brief tour. He showed me his architectural design concept for a new store he was opening up in Chicago and we spent close to an hour chatting. (Actually, he was doing most of the chatting while I was listening and taking notes).
I later learned that there were a number of very important people wanting desperately to meet with him and that theyd be lucky if they even got fifteen minutes with Mr. Rosen.
One thing I never did get a chance to do is watch that Kiri Te Kanawa video
> BE REAL - BE YOURSELF
When Anton Ego, France s most notorious food critic who can make or break a restaurant with a single review, makes his appearance at Gusteaus, Remys culinary talents are finally put to the test.
But instead of preparing a fancy delicacy worthy of Gusteaus esteemed patrons, Remy chooses to make a homily Ratatouille (a vegetable stew made of eggplant, tomatoes, green peppers, and squash). Its a common folk meal fit for peasants" the assistant cook declares.
Remy ignores this slight and goes with his heart. Its genuinely him and what he knows. He prepares an exquisitely rapturous, mouth-watering Ratatouille dish that just blows away the critic. As Ego takes his first bite, his cold exterior immediately melts in delight as he is brought back to sweet memories of his Moms home-cooking.
This was an emotional scene for me as well. In my case, it brought back sweet memories of my fathers home-cooking. My father passed away in a car accident eighteen years ago, and yet, I can still fondly remember savoring his Ratatouille. It was one of my fathers favorites and he used to brag all the time about knowing how to make this French specialty. My brothers and I used to laugh as kids at the funny sounding name and how my father would roll the word off his tongue with such relish.
Bottom line: be yourself and ignore the critics.
> TALENT CAN COME FROM ANYWHERE
When Linguini (I dont come up with these names), the supposed up-and-coming star boy chef at Gusteaus, reveals that the real inspiration behind his cooking is Remy the Rat, the entire staff thinks hes lost his mind and promptly leave the establishment.
Lesson: the best talent and ideas can come from anywhere and sometimes do come from the most unexpected places.
Dont pre-judge people. Just because someones a rat doesnt mean they cant cook!
Likewise, dont be easily impressed by degrees, pedigrees, fancy titles, wealth, or so called experts. You have to carefully evaluate whether their talent or ideas will help move YOUR career or business forward. Sometimes that means seeking a second or third opinion.
> CHECK YOUR EGO AT THE DOOR
When famed critic, Anton Ego, asks to personally speak with the head chef of Gusteaus, he is told to wait.
Check your ego at the door and tell it to wait. Dont let success get to your head. And give credit where credit is due.
When Linguini steals all the limelight and attributes Gusteaus new found success all to himself and his love interest, it breeds sour resentment in Remy who eventually leaves Linguini to his own devices.
You decide whats more important to you: your ego or your career. An effective leader always shares the limelight and generously gives credit, while a poor leader hogs up all the accolades creating resentment and unwanted enemies.
f you want to fast-track your success, go out of your way to catch people doing something right and give them the credit they crave so desperately and rightfully deserve!
> ASK FOR A NEW PERSPECTIVE
When Anton Ego makes his grand appearance at Gusteaus to put the final nail in the coffin, he literally asks for a new perspective. Surprise me!" he demands asking for something new off-the-menu.
We dont always have to go with the canned selection thats offered us whether its provided in a menu, business proposal, job offer, meeting agenda, or course curriculum. We can ask for a new perspective.
I suspect Ego was a management guru in his past life as this is great advice for managers as well. The next time you hold a meeting, ask for a new perspective. Or ask in advance of the meeting that each person come prepared to attend the meeting with at least one new idea or new way of doing things.
Ask them to surprise you. The results may indeed surprise you and hopefully for the better! (For added emphasis or just for fun and humor, take your team out to see Ratatouille or play clips from the movie at your meeting once it comes out in DVD).
Speaking of management gurus, Im thinking of co-authoring a follow-up to Dr. Spencer Johnsons Who Moved My Cheese." I think Ill call it: Who Made My Ratatouille: Motivational Wisdom from Remy the Rat."
Sharif Khan is a business writer, book consultant, and author of the leadership bestseller, Psychology of the Hero Soul (www.HeroSoul.com). If you need help with an important writing project or ongoing assignment and would like a no-cost, no-obligation quote, call 416-417-1259 or email sharif@herosoul.com.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Inspiring read! I never knew a rat could be so inspirational!
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