I'm not a fan of cooking shows
I love a reality competition. Survivor. The Amazing Race. Traitors. Claim to Fame. But for whatever reason cooking competitions have never really appealed to me. I love to cook. And I certainly love to eat. So I'm not sure what the disconnect is, but I've just never gotten sucked in. But while in Vancouver last month I was looking for a show to watch one night with a friend and we stumbled upon the ultimate gift that is the Netflix algorithm. Culinary Kitchen Wars. It didn't immediately grab me but we watched the trailor and decided to give it a try.
Black spoons vs. white spoons
The premise was simple enough. Two master judges. 20 White Spoons, or Michelin and other famous chefs in Korea. And 80 Black Spoons, or lesser known chefs competing to be the best in the country. Of these 80, many owned restaurants in Korea, some were influencers, some were home chefs but all were known by a moniker only. Their name only to be revealed if they won. Names like Auntie Omakase, Naptoli Mafia, Three Stars, Cooking Maniac and more.
Explaining all the winnowing down would spoil the neverending genius of the show, but basically they got down to the same number of white and black spoons and then faced each other off in a series of challenges. Each one more creative than the next. And more grueling. And as the show progresses we learn more and more about many of the contestants.
Why they chose to do this.
What cooking means to them.
How they got their start.
And of course the star of the show — the food. I admit to googling a lot of the food since the names in Korean weren't always obvious to me, but wow did they sound amazing. And the level of creativity was next level. You could almost taste them through the screen. As each round progressed it became harder and harder to eliminate people and the criteria for who won each round became almost imperceptible. But as we got to the end, the one thing that seemed to be rising to the top in terms of importance was...story.
Your life in a dish
Like any discipline, talent gets you far but it's not the only thing you need to win. Creativity. Effort. Calm under pressure. And story. Because story taps into emotion and emotion is what wins people over.
Presenting their dish with no story relies on the food speaking for itself. It's still delicious but the judges have no context. No intent.
But when they provide the story behind the dish: why they chose the ingredients; what it means to them; their struggle; how they learned to cook; why they learned to cook; who taught them; and everything they went through, now the food tastes not just delicious but meaningful.
Now it tastes even more special. More delicious. Because the judges can taste their story in each bite. Each decision has clarity. Purpose. Meaning. It's not just food, it's a part of them. The story makes the judges more invested.
Just like your story.
Whether you're applying for a job, trying to attract clients, or aiming for a promotion, your story, your ability to connect, is what could make the difference between yes and no.
Share your story
I want more people to be able to do this. Almost every client who works with me ends up saying "everyone needs this."
Everyone needs help shaping their narrative.
Positioning them as an expert.
Sharing their experience and expertise.
Highlighting their accomplishments.
And showcasing what they're good at and what they bring to the table.
This isn't just about a list of skills, it's a full picture of who you are as a human and a professional.
It's who you can help and HOW you can help.
And no one can do that alone.
I'm working on a new way to deliver this to you. It's going to be actionable. It's going to be supportive. It's going to be engaging and it's going to be affordable.
I'll still work with clients one-on-one but in a much more limited and bespoke way. So, if you've been thinking about working with me directly, I highly recommend you book a session before the end of the year.
But, if you're excited for what else is up my sleeve, watch this space for all the details.
Speaking of story
Whip your story into shape with my 15-minute LinkedIn audit.
Whether you're:
• looking for your next opportunity
• leveling up in your current company
• want to be more of a thought leader
• have your own business and aren't attracting the right prospects
...this quick, down and dirty audit will give you the jumpstart you need.
And of course, if after the audit, you want some additional help, I got you!
You won't believe how much ACTIONABLE info you'll receive in just 15 minutes.
Ready to whip your bio into shape? Buy your session now!
If you enjoy my content, have attended a free workshop, or simply want to do something nice, I'd love for you to buy me a coffee (or glass of wine). This simple tool was built to allow readers or fans of creators to easily thank them for putting out content. So I'm giving it a whirl.
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