Thread
René Redzepi created the world's best restaurant
Five times over
10 lessons from René on achieving the extraordinary 👇
Five times over
10 lessons from René on achieving the extraordinary 👇
René was born into adversity
Growing up, his family was poor
He dealt with racism daily as a Macedonian living in Copenhagen - people called him a "Balkan Dog"
At age 11, he started a paper route a to help provide his family with money
Growing up, his family was poor
He dealt with racism daily as a Macedonian living in Copenhagen - people called him a "Balkan Dog"
At age 11, he started a paper route a to help provide his family with money
At 15 he's expelled from school and begins a journey that would shape him into the world's best chef
At 25, René opens @nomacph and changes the world's idea of what food can be
At 25, René opens @nomacph and changes the world's idea of what food can be
1. Work With What You've Got
René limited Noma to using only ingredients from Nordic countries
They started foraging and harvesting their own produce
Constrained to the bounty around them, they turned things like Sea Buckthorn and Lingonberries into incredible components
René limited Noma to using only ingredients from Nordic countries
They started foraging and harvesting their own produce
Constrained to the bounty around them, they turned things like Sea Buckthorn and Lingonberries into incredible components
Constraints breed creativity, but only if you apply the right mindset
Find beauty in your surroundings
Opportunity is found everywhere
If you look hard enough for it
Find beauty in your surroundings
Opportunity is found everywhere
If you look hard enough for it
2. Consistency Shapes Greatness
One of his chef's says that he hasn't perfected a dish just yet
René asks him: "Have you done it everyday for a month? No? If you had, it would have worked."
One of his chef's says that he hasn't perfected a dish just yet
René asks him: "Have you done it everyday for a month? No? If you had, it would have worked."
We sit around waiting for motivation
Or that big idea that we just know will change our lives
But, success comes from consistent, hard work, each and every day
Or that big idea that we just know will change our lives
But, success comes from consistent, hard work, each and every day
3. Reward Loyalty
This is Ali Sonko
He started at Noma as a dishwasher in 2003
Today he's a co-owner of the world's best restaurant
This is Ali Sonko
He started at Noma as a dishwasher in 2003
Today he's a co-owner of the world's best restaurant
.@naval says "Play long-term games with long-term people."
Investments in your relationships compound just like investments in the market
Don't become blind to the wealth of your relationships
Investments in your relationships compound just like investments in the market
Don't become blind to the wealth of your relationships
4. Give Direct & Honest Feedback
Operating the world's best restaurant is a team effort
But it's led by one man
René always provides clear feedback to his team
He pushes them - Challenges what they believe they're capable of
Operating the world's best restaurant is a team effort
But it's led by one man
René always provides clear feedback to his team
He pushes them - Challenges what they believe they're capable of
This has been one of my own biggest learnings from René
I never hold back feedback from our team
And I ask them to never hold back from me
We practice this every Wednesday during "Weekly Crit" and it's open to everyone in the company
I never hold back feedback from our team
And I ask them to never hold back from me
We practice this every Wednesday during "Weekly Crit" and it's open to everyone in the company
5. Create in the Open
For years Noma hosted Saturday Night Projects
Their chefs submit a dish they've been working on
René and the other chefs critique and give feedback
In front of an audience of thousands via live streaming
For years Noma hosted Saturday Night Projects
Their chefs submit a dish they've been working on
René and the other chefs critique and give feedback
In front of an audience of thousands via live streaming
How long have you worked in secret because "it's not ready yet"?
Show the world what you're working on, build in the open
You'll create a valuable feedback loop and identify early adopters that want to follow your journey
Show the world what you're working on, build in the open
You'll create a valuable feedback loop and identify early adopters that want to follow your journey
6. Ignore the Critics
Critics said that working with only Nordic ingredients would never work
They called René the "Seal Fucker"
He ignored the critics and stayed true to his vision
Critics said that working with only Nordic ingredients would never work
They called René the "Seal Fucker"
He ignored the critics and stayed true to his vision
You'll always be faced with detractors - ignore them
If you dedicate yourself to achieving something remarkable you must commit yourself to seeing it through
How often have you been told you couldn't do something and gave up?
What if you had persevered?
If you dedicate yourself to achieving something remarkable you must commit yourself to seeing it through
How often have you been told you couldn't do something and gave up?
What if you had persevered?
7. Never Lower Your Standards
René knows that allowing just one dish on the menu that doesn't meet the Noma standard could ruin everything
Suddenly you will have changed and lowered your expectation of quality
Maybe you're not chasing perfection like René - that doesn't matter
René knows that allowing just one dish on the menu that doesn't meet the Noma standard could ruin everything
Suddenly you will have changed and lowered your expectation of quality
Maybe you're not chasing perfection like René - that doesn't matter
Setting and maintaining high standards separates you from almost everyone
It requires tremendous amounts of work
But it speaks volumes to your commitment and over time, people will take notice
It requires tremendous amounts of work
But it speaks volumes to your commitment and over time, people will take notice
8. Stay Curious, Keep Learning
Rene travels the world in search of new ideas and ingredients
Forages through forests, eating leaves, tasting ants on the ground
He seeks out new knowledge and flavors in every way that he can
Rene travels the world in search of new ideas and ingredients
Forages through forests, eating leaves, tasting ants on the ground
He seeks out new knowledge and flavors in every way that he can
Now, I'm not telling you to go eat ants
But, if you have access to a new culture or city - ask questions and listen deeply
Soak in your surroundings
Look for knowledge and wisdom - it's all around you
But, if you have access to a new culture or city - ask questions and listen deeply
Soak in your surroundings
Look for knowledge and wisdom - it's all around you
9. Challenge Yourself When Things Feel Stale
Noma had been the world's best restaurant 4 times
Then René decided to shut it down
Start over, from scratch - he bought and renovated an old bunker to be the new Noma
After reopening, it took only 2 years before Noma was #1 again
Noma had been the world's best restaurant 4 times
Then René decided to shut it down
Start over, from scratch - he bought and renovated an old bunker to be the new Noma
After reopening, it took only 2 years before Noma was #1 again
René was on top of the world - and he was bored
Complacency kills
René knew this and decided to risk it all
To bet on himself and team
But most importantly to keep challenging himself to create greatness
Complacency kills
René knew this and decided to risk it all
To bet on himself and team
But most importantly to keep challenging himself to create greatness
10. It Takes Extreme Amounts of Hard Work
René published his journal "A Work in Progress" after winning World's Best Restaurant for the first time
He asks himself what the secret was to his success
His answer?
Tremendous amounts of hard work
René published his journal "A Work in Progress" after winning World's Best Restaurant for the first time
He asks himself what the secret was to his success
His answer?
Tremendous amounts of hard work
I'm not preaching hustle culture - whatever that even is
Like René, I know that consistent, hard work is how you'll win
To live an extraordinary life, or achieve something great - you have to put in the work
"Luck is preparation multiplied by opportunity." - Seneca
Like René, I know that consistent, hard work is how you'll win
To live an extraordinary life, or achieve something great - you have to put in the work
"Luck is preparation multiplied by opportunity." - Seneca
I hope you've found this thread helpful.
Follow me @_hunterhammonds for more.
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