The Picasso & Thomas Keller Sense of Urgency Day #2 Week #5

 

Sense of Urgency

In each of our restaurants and bakeries, we have a clock accompanied by a sign that reads "Sense of Urgency". We have to begin our day with a sense of urgency and continue on through the rest of if with that same drive. It is a reminder for us to push ourselves -- for the need to be organized and focused so that we are able to compete our job and the ones following it successfully. Located within sight of our chefs as they cook and of our dining room staff as they proceed to and from serving our guests, this sign serves as a daily reminder. 

Thomas Keller

Today's workout is 10 Minute Warmup VERY FRESH; 14 x :45 Seconds 4 FRESH, 3 GOOD, 2 FRESH, 3 GOOD, 2 FRESH; 1 Minute recovery jog in between each; 5 minute Warm Down VERY FRESH. 

Translated that means run 10 minutes as a warm up at a VERY FRESH effort then do 14 forty-five second pickups with varying efforts. The 1st through the 4th all FRESH effort. The 5th through the 7th all GOOD effort, the 8th and 9th FRESH effort, the 10th-12th GOOD effort and finally the 13th and 14th at FRESH effort. Take a 1 minute recover jog between each. Then finish with a 5 minute Warm down VERY FRESH. 

Yesterday I missed posting because I was at jury duty at the Daley Center. Fortunately I did not get called to stay for a trial. But I was able to look at the Picasso sculpture in front of the building. The Picasso was a gift from the artist to the city when the Daley Center was built in the 1960s and was quite controversial at the time. Now its just a part of the city that seems to be universally loved. Although it always reminds me of a horse, there is no meaning to it that Picasso ever shared. 

I am also spending some time in the evening re watching the first two seasons of The Bear, which is a great show based in Chicago. I highly recommend. In The Bear, there are a number of references to the chef Thomas Keller who is famous for his restaurant The French Laundry in California and for winning all sorts of prizes including being named best American Chef. Keller has a sign in all his kitchens reminding his employees about the importance of a sense of urgency in their work. 

Although I don't think of artists like Picasso as having a sense of urgency I do think of him as definitely pushing himself to create great work. 

I know many people feel that a sense of urgency can be overwhelming. However, if you read what Keller means by it maybe its not so different than the sense that anyone has who wants to produce great work.