Not long ago I was a soccer player. For a short tenure of my career as a soccer player, I had a certain young coach who wasn't the best, but a certain lesson was garnered from him.
Thinking back, I seem to think I had this coach for two years time. In no way was he a good coach for soccer or a whole team, we would get screamed at during half time(this was serious soccer leagues.) But I did learn one lesson that has been applicable to life. One that was drilled into us everyday, one that you carry with you.
Always, give it your all. As he would say, "110%." Every, single, day, he would say this. And never had I realized that how important it was or that I had taken it upon myself until the Tuesday night practice after a tournament when at the beginning we were told to stand on the line. He began to ask whom had been substituted during the first game and if the answer was yes, they were to sit. Again with the second. Third. And finally the fourth game, the Championship game, who had been substituted during the game, and if yes, to sit. Who was still standing? Just me? Weird. He pointed it out, in front of the whole team. Why was Collin the only one standing? Because he thought I had been giving it my all, no matter the circumstance, 100% at all times. and that's it. He went as far to say that should you have energy or spirit to run off the field at the end of a game you didn't work hard enough during the game. And this is the way I feel after a difficult dinner service that requires 110% percent concentration. No, I won't clean up quickly. My brain and emotion is shot, and drained. I just gave my all to the service, and haven't much left. It doesn't matter your skill level or intelligence in the end, should you give it your all to a difficult task, in the end promise and success will come.
I carry this philosophy with me in the kitchen. No matter the day circumstance or "weeds" you should be in, if you give it your all in the end no one can be mad at you. You might not be quick enough but who cares, that's you and you worked as hard as humanly possible. That's it.
Kitchen work is hard and grueling. Should you work hard enough respect will come and no matter the circumstance those around you will notice.
