Two of world’s best chefs have tea: Jiro Ono and Rene Redzepi

I already shared this before, but I love the video and conversation so much that I rewatched it and took notes again.

Rene Redzepi and Jiro have a cup of tea

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

If you don’t learn to love your work and remind your brain to make new steps every day, there can be no progress

How does he balance tradition and innovation
Innovation is good if what it creates is tastier than what existed before
If you are doing something new, it has to be an improvement on what came before

When did Jiro san feel he was a master?
Let’s say it’s 50. There is a lot of failure before that. You go through failures and success and more failures for years until it feels like you have achieved what you had in mind the whole time

Did he ever wanna stop?
No. Never. I never considered that question. The only question was, “How can I get better?”
Son: “I have been working at this for 37 years and I still feel I have only achieved half of what my father has. I am always chasing my father. Sometimes I feel like I am getting closer, but then I remember just how far I have to go”

I didn’t think to myself that I didn’t want to lose. I told myself that I wanted to overtake the others.

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.

The person who has hit 60 or 70 and has achieved what they originally set out to do will never say “That’s enough”. They’ll keep looking for the next step, the next goal. I can assure you. Human are like that. When you have achieved something or begun to have a sense of accomplishment, you’re not going to say “This is enough”. You think about how you can challenge yourself in a new way

But from that struggle you can be bold and improve

If you aren’t a strong willed person, you can’t get to this. (Son: And you are sensitive, too). Both have to be there to become like this. See, the person who is recognized by the whole world wouldn’t ever quit so easily. They have so much skill. That’s why they have garnered so much attention.

World famous chefs Rene Redzepi and Jiro Ono on habits: “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.”

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.