Jiro and Rene run Michelin-starred restaurants and are among the most respected chefs in the world. For twelve minutes they drink tea and talk about mastery. I wanted to share parts of their conversation. You can tell both chefs have built great habits of hard work and good attitude and pushing, always pushing.
Jiro: If you start saying “I don’t like this” or “this isn’t the job for me” you won’t become an expert in anything
Rene: When did you feel like you were finally a master?
Jiro: 50.
Rene: Did [you] ever want to stop?
Jiro: No. Never. I never considered that question. The only question was, “how can I get better?”
Rene: What makes you happiest?
Jiro: I can work. That’s the first and most important thing. I can work. After that, it’s especially great if you enjoy what you do.
Jiro: If you don’t learn to love your work and remind your brain to make new steps every day, there can be no progress.
Jiro: [on Rene] You are stubborn, right? If you aren’t a strong willed person, you can’t get to this. And you are sensitive, too. Both have to be there to become like this.
Jiro: The people who are truly at the top won’t say they want to retire after they are 70 or 80. They just fasten their belts after that.
Two masters discussing what they do best. A highly recommended video. 12 minutes long. Simply filmed, well executed.