An entrepreneur talks Top Chef

Photo by scragz

Having seen the first two episodes of the current season of Top Chef (set in Las Vegas), I've been thinking about what makes a great chef, and there are similarities to what makes a great entreprenuer. First, let's take a look at the skills that define a great chef:

• Imagination is rooted in knowledge and experience. If you're told to make an hors d'oeuvre to go with a tequila shot, do you know traditional pairings are? What techniques do you have to draw on? Bryan’s meringue macaroons with guacamole and corn nuts shows incredible imagination, and it inspires the imagination of the person eating it. On the other end, a chicken lettuce wrap feels neither well-matched or original.
• Bravado makes and breaks great dining experiences. Cooking with tofu is daring--many people won't like it. But Hector pulled that off, to the delight of the judges. Cooking with seitan was also bold, but it was the disaster that got the first contestant eliminated. This is where judgement comes in.
• Execution trumps all. You dish may be neither creative or brave, but if it tastes great, people are happy. This is the frustrating part about watching a cooking show. Last season, Carla would win with a dish like "beef and peas". Sitting at home, not being able to taste it, you couldn't understand how she made it so far into the competition. You have to trust the judges that what she cooks tastes really great. The danger is, if you're up against other people with flawless execution, things like Imagination and Bravado are going to move to the front.
• Judgement floats above all of this. You have a great idea, but can you pull it off? You find out your dishes are going to be sitting in the sun before they're served--do you change your menu? Or the composition of your dishes? (Note that Top Chef Masters' Michael Chiarello beat Anita Lo for this reason.)

How about entrepreneurs? Let's take another pass:

• Imagination gets companies started. Visualize a product (or more daring, a market) that doesn't exist, and figure out a way to make it happen. It takes both knowledge and creativity.
• Bravado gets you to stop talking and start doing. When you're blindsided by a new competitor, you'll need to rally again. You can't be a successful entrepreneur if you aren't willing to do things you've never done before.
• Execution trumps all. Even the best idea doesn't manifest itself. I've seen weak and safe ideas succeed because of extraordinary execution. This is why you need to find the most talented people to work with.
• Judgement tells you when you're risking too much or too little. When is it time to change your gameplan? When do you revisit your assumptions?

Comments

[rachel]

I predict Kevin will quietly take it all - if Jennifer doesn't explode and totally blow it.