I have a goal so lofty it's almost embarrassing to talk about. And that's to be the best restaurant in the world.
Interpretation
Aspiring for greatness can feel daunting, yet it's essential for achievement.
This quote expresses the ambitious spirit required in pursuit of success, particularly in a challenging field like the culinary arts. Charlie Trotter acknowledges that having an extremely high goal, such as becoming the best restaurant in the world, may seem intimidating or even embarrassing to discuss, but it is this very ambition that drives individuals to surpass their limits and achieve remarkable success.
In practice
In a motivational speech for aspiring chefs, you could say, 'As Charlie Trotter once said, I have a goal so lofty it's almost embarrassing to talk about.'
If you know what you're doing, you can make a meal happen with any kitchen knife. But using a top-quality knife versus a low-quality one is the difference between driving a Jaguar and a VW Jetta across the country. They'll both get you there. But the Jaguar will give you a much smoother ride.
There has been no great surprise, no sudden revelation. I knew pretty much what I was getting into. What I've learned is that a restaurant can be as much of an art as you want it to be, but it has to be a successful business first.
Take a moment to think about your answer to this question: Am I prepared to have great success and not get any credit for it?
The middle of every successful project looks like a disaster.
Ideas are cheap. Ideas are easy. Ideas are common. Everybody has ideas. Ideas are highly, highly overvalued. Execution is all that matters.
When I went into the Montreal Games, nobody expected much out of me.
Our success at Cisco has been defined by how we anticipate, capture, and lead through market transitions. Over the years, I've watched iconic companies disappear - Compaq, Sun Microsystems, Wang, Digital Equipment - as they failed to anticipate where the market was heading.
I don't regret any of the places I went in football. Everything gave me an experience or memories that I'll have forever. We had more success in San Francisco, but it was a great time everywhere. I always had fun.
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