How to Live, According to Anthony Bourdin
Anthony Bourdain, who passed away today at the age of 61, has given us bold wisdom on how to make the best burger , how to find good food at airports, and why fish can be ordered on Mondays .
But above all, the man taught us how to live.
Here’s what we learned from the late chef about how to navigate the world, no matter how unique and glorious we are in.
Come on time.
“Come on time. I learned this from my mentor, whom I call Bigfoot in Confidential Kitchen. If you didn’t show up exactly 15 minutes before your shift – if you arrived 13 minutes earlier – you missed your shift, you were sent home. The second time you got fired. This is the foundation of everything. I make all of my major decisions about other people based on this. Give the people you work with, or do business with, or maintain a relationship with, respect so that they show up at the time you said you were going. And by that I mean every day, always and forever. Always be on time. This is a simple demonstration of discipline, good work habits and, most importantly, respect for other people. As an employee, this was an extremely important show of respect, and as an employer I quickly realized that there are two types of people in this world: there are people who will live according to what they said. they were going to do yesterday, and there are people who are full of shit. And that’s all you really need to know. If you are not worried about the appearance, why would anyone come? It’s just the end of the fucking world. ” ( Men’s magazine )
Don’t be sure of anything.
“Several years ago the words“ I’m not sure of anything ”were tattooed on my arm. This is what makes travel what it is, an endless learning, a joy to be wrong, to be confused. ” ( Unknown parts of Anthony Bourdin )
Fuck the sensitivity.
“Who, after all, wants a ‘smart’ relationship? Can it follow from this that we should not strive to always live by smart choices? That what’s good for us in the short term isn’t always “best”? Always living up to what’s right in front of our faces, and the imperatives of ensuring smooth operation for me and me, good business, no problem – this is the shopkeeper mentality that got the world back in shit again. day. So maybe, just maybe, fuck is reasonable. ” ( Details unknown, medium )
Write as if nobody else is reading.
“The absolute certainty that no one will ever care, buy or read Kitchen Confidential allowed me to write this. I didn’t have to think about what people expected. I did not care. As a result, I was able to write this book quickly and without pain. ” ( Evan Carmichael,YouTube )
Don’t lose sight of the weirdos.
“Create a corporate spirit and the feeling that you are the elite, that even if you have the shittest job in a big organization, you should be proud to be a part of something. Recognize excellence. Celebrate weirdness and innovation. Weirdos need to be cherished if they can do what other people cannot do. ” ( Men’s magazine )
Do not pretend.
“Don’t put me in the kitchen and ask me to act up enthusiasm for the damn Denver omelette.” (Entrepreneur )
Be prepared to stumble.
“I really believe that this is necessary. I strongly believe that you will never find the perfect city trip or the perfect food without a constant willingness to experience bad experiences. I think a lot of vacation routes miss the opportunity to let the fluke happen, and I’m always trying to push people to make it happen instead of sticking to some hard itinerary. ”
Admit your weaknesses.
“I believe in momentum. As a former drug addict, I am not one to be distracted. Inaction, time to think – this is not good for me. I work a lot, do a lot of different things, but I think that in a sense I am overcompensating for the inner, hidden knowledge that somewhere deep inside me a lazy hippie is waiting to get out, what if they give me the opportunity I lay down on the sofa, including Adventure Time or The Simpsons , smoked a joint and lay there for the next six months. If I go to work, I will be doing something. I keep them. ” ( Fast company )
Move.
“If I’m for something, it’s for moving. As far as you can, as far as you can. Across the ocean or just across the river. The fact that you can walk in someone else’s skin, or at least eat their food, is a plus for everyone. Open your mind, get off the couch, move. “
If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).