Passion: Path to Vision
Chef John Doherty shares his path to success and what got him there.
ALBANY, N.Y. (Aug. 28, 2013) — “There are no great people, just ordinary people who do extraordinary things,” Chef John Doherty, former executive chef at the Waldorf=Astoria and now of Merchant Hospitality, told more than 220 participants of the 2013 National Angus Conference & Tour in Albany, N.Y., Aug. 28-30.
In his experience delegating at the Waldorf=Astoria, Chef John Doherty learned that instead of telling someone how to do something, he got better results when he asked them how they were going to accomplish the task.
These ordinary people can accomplish excellent things when they apply their passion to a clear vision. Vision is necessary to success, and so is initiative, effort, knowledge and walking the walk, he said.
“We as people don’t grow or learn when we just sit back and enjoy life. There are moments when we’re supposed to enjoy life, but we’re not growing. God put us on this Earth to grow,” he asserted.
Surround yourself with good people, he said, and your level of success is dependent upon your ability to help good people reach their full potential. To do this, there are two schools of thought. The first is to “beat” it out of them with fear and intimidation. The second is to inspire people to have the desire to get the best results.
He elaborated that effort is fueled by desire; desire comes from passion; passion comes from appreciation; and appreciation comes from knowledge. Knowledge is the seed of passion, and it is important to create an environment conducive to learning and growth. This can be done with vision, structure and discipline, knowledge, accountability, and communication. He quipped that the simple things needed are the hardest to accomplish.
In his experience delegating at the Waldorf, he learned that instead of telling someone how to do something, he got better results when he asked them how they are going to accomplish the task. No one likes to be told what to do, he noted. By listening to their thoughts, he can offer advice, but they take ownership of the task.
“No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care,” he concluded.
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