“The Bear” - Excellence, Perseverance, Learning

Source: YouTube

I just finished watching season three of the television show “The Bear.” And while there is lots of chatter about how season three just isn’t as good as the first two rounds, I have to say that I think I learned the most from this season. The first two were perhaps the most engaging and the most entertaining and the most novel for sure, but this time around I really dug into what was happening and I finally understood the meaning behind the story lines and finally understood what the writers are trying to tell us.

I finally got the lessons learned.

Excellence. Through all the screaming and shouting and fighting, what I witnessed was a lot of people aiming for excellence in their craft. Constantly raising the bar on what they do for a living and aiming to be the best they can be. Like a new menu every single day … that’s constantly raising the bar. Like mastering a new pastry invention. Like turning a customer’s special occasion into a dining experience.

Perseverance. These folks hit many obstacles along the way but they had a goal and they were determined to meet it. And when one person fell down or didn’t think they could make it then the other person picked them up or made up for it and covered the gap whether they realized it or not. Like coaching the technique for a new dish. Or managing the financials. Or overcoming childhood demons.

Learning. These folks are in constant learning mode. They never stop learning, never stop trying to be better, and are always trying to help the other person get better too by teaching them something they know and passing it along. Like watching others who have come before you. Like observing all that is around you. Like striving to parallel what is the best in the industry.

So yes on the surface the show may seem like it’s a story about a dysfunctional team running the front and back of a restaurant and kitchen, but it’s really about how to hone your craft and how to mesh your craft with others to form a efficient team that fixates on a goal and works tirelessly towards it, with each person mastering their own craft.

Sort of like a marketing team.

What’s your experience? JIM