Starting a business is a head fuck, you take yourself out of the life of comfort and routine that finds time for Netflix and golf, to go to the edge of strategically winging it. I have ideas, to a point I can even tell you what I need to do to keep the business going forward but these ideas bounce around my head like Tigger on cocaine. To try to get Tigger to sit down, stay quiet and get in line so the ideas flow seems to be my downfall.
I thought it would be easier to be honest, this isn’t me typing as I cry in the corner wishing it would all go away but my optimism had told my brain it would run smoother. BUT there are two ways to look at it.
1. Its hard, my old life was probably easier and less headwork with more time for life. I kind of gave it a go but I’ll probably have to except it wasnt for me as I didn’t know everything before hand and was out of my comfort zone.
OR…..
2. Yes its hard, anything worthwhile has to make you grow as a person, you never give up and keep grinding until you become that person you dream you are. I don’t know everything but its an opportunity to learn, to better myself and create a legacy.
Its a no brainer really, even Stevie Wonder could see which option to take. Become someone or become a whiny bitch. So what do you do when you don’t know, your out of your depth on certain issues, your feeling its a lot to do, you have an area your not confident in….. You get some mentors.
This doesn’t mean embarking on years of apprenticeship with some wise Obi won Kenobi, following every action and being their sidekick learning some kind of zen catering force. (may the forks be with you). It means not being a dick and realising that you don’t have all the answers. Im not sure many people do when they start but its by the experience of dealing with the issue previous that someone has more knowledge than you. If you want a life hack, one I’ve learnt many years later than I should. “Get around people who have done it, and can do it well”. Look at it this way, if you get around a chef who has been working to build a career for 30 years and you learnt everything they can teach you in 5 years then you’ve just saved 25 years and can then find someone else to take you further. The chef who spent his 30 years getting to that stage has filtered out all the shit not worth teaching, they have refined their craft overtime and are teaching what they know is good and works. In essence you are taught their learnt lessons, from their mistakes, without you having to waste that time yourself.
Now I’m a businessman (that’s not to sound pretentious, its knowing I have to accept this identity to think more business like. as opposed to a chef on a jolly) its important to get as much knowledge out of relevant people as possible. Being positive and friendly and open to admitting I lack confidence in certain situations, or just saying I don’t understand has led to people being very generous with getting back to me, giving advice, recommendations and generally just being good human beings.
From my journey so far and very much asking questions it seems you can have direct and indirect mentors. Direct being people you know to some level, probably local or social media groups who will speak directly to you. Indirect being books or any form of media to give you inspiration and guidance.
Directly, I know the BFG. The BFG is the guy who trained me, (a big unit of a man with hands the size of bear paws, who could be very imposing if chosen to be, but in reality is as friendly and caring as they come.) ,he took a green commis and taught me a lot of what I know now. He is the reason that even though I’m only mid thirties (my face says I had an uphill paper round and don’t look a day over 45), I get described as old school. And ain’t no school like the old school. More importantly he has worked in many catering aspects from owning successful restaurants, cooked for the queen on numerous occasions, ran his own chef company and has catered just about every type of event going. This guy is mustard. And I’m very proud to say my friend and I think a blog dedicated to the BFG will occur in the future. This experience is vital and someone who is so forthcoming, will warts and all tell you the pitfalls to avoid as well as being a rolodex of contacts. This is important to understand, its not just a person who has knowledge, they have their own contacts who expand the web of knowledge and resources.
This was evident in my dilemma of an old water heater I need removing from the van. I called the plumber I have always used in the house. He was gracious enough to ring me for a chat and to explain it was not his kind of thing but he knew a guy from the local pub who worked on van conversions. After leaving a message with van man he was a gentleman and gave me a ring and explain it was not in his ball park but he knew another guy who works on conversions more suited to my needs. Not one of those people had to go the extra step but did, to link people, business but suddenly I have contacts for any future needs.
Another valuable resource is social media, by joining a couple of groups I have been pleasantly surprised at all the strangers who work in the relevant field who are so forthcoming with information and again, ways to avoid pitfalls. Now of course with social media you have to be careful what you read and believe but the dedicated groups should be treat like mentors. Although you may never meet these people this is a resource that allows you to speak directly to people, share pictures and its as valuable as going to chat with one of these mentors down the pub. Plus I can do it in my pants and the pub isn’t that casual.
Indirect mentors are more conceptionally inspirational and people that its unlikely you will speak to. This could be following certain chefs philosophies, watching certain business/specialist people give a TED talk on YouTube, following blogs, reading relevant cookbooks, its anyone who helps shape you and your business. I have never met Felicity Luxmoore from Jabberwocky, a toastie van based in Lemington Spa, but her book “Street Food Soliloquy” has been hugely helpful in educating me and giving direction towards getting the van rocking and rolling.
I’ll probably never meet some of my heroes from the food world but it doesn’t mean they haven’t profoundly shaped how I work and the standards I give myself on a daily basis. The personal development books, the positivity audio on YouTube, Guy Fieri showing me what Americans are eating, it all shapes my decisions. The flip side is if I was to watch mind numbing tv, reading nothing, jacking off to porn or just scrolling facebook aimlessly those things would shape my motivation and decisions this time in a negative sense. Its about surrounding yourself with resources that shape your mind in a positive way, and shape you into who you wish to become. For me, a businessman and blogger.
its your choice,
happy eating
FOOD ANARCHY 