Did you have a chance to listen to my interview with Kristina Paider yet? Her book The Hollywood Approach helps the reader use characters and movies as a way to look at their own story and design what they want it to be. It has changed everything about how I watch movies and see the strengths and flaws of characters.
Recently I was introduced to a new show on HBO MAX called The Big Brunch. Yes, I know you are thinking really another cooking show and what does this have to do with visibility? Bear with me for a moment, I promise it will be worth it. The Big Brunch is hosted by Dan Levy, who co-created and starred in Schitt’s Creek with his father and actor, Eugene Levy. The premise of the show is to bring together chefs who create a community in their hometown and connect people with food.
I promise not to give away any spoilers if you want to check it out. But as I thought about Kristina’s work with the story, I watched this show and thought about the work that I do around visibility and impostor syndrome. Here are my four big takeaways from the show through my lens of visibility.
The Power of Story
Each of these contestants comes to the show from a different background and experience. They have a shared passion for food and want to do good in the world. Each of them has a bigger purpose and why behind the work that they do. The challenges that the contestants had to do each week were unique and different from any other shows I have seen. It really allowed each contestant to tell their story through the food that they created.
The judges would ask questions to better understand how the food fits into that chef’s story of themselves. As they shared more each week, it revealed more about them as people: who they are, what their values are, and who they want to become. They each have a big dream to create what is important to them in a bigger way.
Takeaway – Do you know your own story, what your dream is and can you communicate it?
Impostor Syndrome is Everywhere
The chefs who were on the show were not famous (except maybe in their own hometowns!) and some of them were never even classically trained to be chefs. Some of them learned from family members and had knowledge passed down to them. Many had been cooking for many years and were intended to try to find their place in the world.
The judges were clearly impressed with the unique foods and combinations that were created by the chefs. As the show progressed, even though they would hear this feedback and see how impressed the judges were, the chefs couldn’t believe what they were hearing. They were surprised that the judges loved their food! They doubted themselves and their talent. This was the first time that they really started to own who they were as chefs and the future that they were building.
Takeaway – Impostor syndrome happens to everyone – trust yourself and play to your strengths.
Mentors Can Help
Each of the final contestants were given a mentor to help them think about their specific dream and how to reach it. These were people who had already lived the dream that each of these chefs was going after. The mentors shared their lessons learned and ideas to consider. They offered their own experiences and learnings to show the chefs that they could do more if they wanted to…the mentors were helping them to think bigger and see what is possible.
The venture that each of the chefs wanted to move forward on required some level of capital investment. The mentors knew that it would take more than being a great chef to achieve the dream. It was important for the chefs to take their chef hats off and put on their business hats. They would need to think about their brand, their marketing, their ideal customers, their products, their method of distribution, and their financials.
Takeaway – Focus on what you are great at, leverage those who are ahead of you on the journey, and ask for help from people who can complement your strengths.
Building Confidence
Each of the judges had their own style of critiquing the dishes that were set before them. They shared their thoughts on the dishes, what they liked about the food, and what could have made them better. It is a cooking competition after all! What was unique though is that they were thoughtful with their feedback and used it to coach and guide, not to diminish the contestants and their dishes.
The judges set the tone and created a place of safety for the contestants to take risks and try things. They encouraged them to step into who they were as people and chefs. The contestants themselves also supported each other in a way not often seen and actually offered to help each other when one or another ran into issues. They became a community of support for each other. Each of these things contributed to a huge increase of confidence for the contestants as they continued throughout the competition.
Takeaway – People will take bigger risks to step out of their comfort zone when they feel it is safe and it creates higher levels of confidence and community.
Credit to Dan Levy for creating a show that was funny, kind, clever, inspiring, and supports people who have a dream. Helping others to see what is possible with their own dreams is what I love to do every day! You may not be an up and coming chef, but do you know what your story and dream are? What if you took one small action that is out of your comfort zone to get you closer to that dream and as a result, it builds your confidence?
You can change your story at any time. All you have to do is decide and then take some action! If you need my help to think bigger and see new possibilities, let me know! It is an option that is always on the menu! 🙂