Give Away the Secret

[Work – IV]

Chick-fil-A won’t give it’s batter or seasoning recipe away. They’re secret.

In-N-Out Burger’s special sauce is under lock and key.

But the Michelin star restaurant up on the hill, an hour outside of town, that charges $100 plate minimums . . . they give all their recipes away. The chef is kinda a celebrity. He has a popular blog and he sends out monthly newsletters to show you exactly what he’s cooking up at the restaurant with seasonal produce.

Why not the batter and sauce recipe?

An expert knows something about his or her product: it’s not the measurable inputs that make it great. I can’t measure out a 1/4 cup this and a pinch of that and produce $100/meal fine cuisine. There’s a magic behind it. There’s technique and touch. There’s a deep love for the craft. There’s feel. Devotion. Inspiration. Calling.

None of that is at In-N-Out. Measure X amount of ketchup and mayo and relish. Mix. It’s an assembly line, so it has be protected. But up the hill, there are no secrets because there doesn’t have to be.

A good sign of your special thing, true gift, or calling is that your are compelled to give it away.

Now, master it.
And give away the secrets.