Lessons in Excellence from Charlie Trotter: 75 Ways One Visionary Is Setting New Standard Book

There is a lot of fear today and when coupled with expectations and entitlement, look out, you'll probably become an activist because effort and commitment cramp your style.

Also, an incredible amount of revisionism takes place today, and that makes sense when you consider the above because it allows you to back out. I remember a scene in Grace where the young Chef returns to Trotter's restaurant, after having been part of a successful lawsuit against the restaurant (I am fairly certain it closed shortly thereafter) and the GM told Duffy to take a hike.

It's hard, the quest for excellence, the nurturing of commitment, it's incredibly frightening, but whether Trotter was a prick or not doesn't really change what he accomplished, in fact it might even tie into it. It reminds me of a quote from the B'Sh'T. "There are two reasons people become angry with others. The first is, what we despise in ourselves we point out in others. The second is, when we have overcome our shortcomings we might find ourselves with little patience for those who entertain their's."

I am paraphrasing of course, but Chef Charlie Trotter reached the summit, he overcame the obstacles, and if you've tasted that, even a little, you know, quitters and naysayers will find you deeply flawed.