Chefs vs Cooks
A mindset switch that expands possibilities
We are at the beginning of what feels like an inflection point in how we work and think about how we work, especially people that work in technology.
Artificial Intelligence is just the latest inflection that has emerged. These challenges we face call us to be chefs, not cooks. This idea is from Gabriel Weinberg’s book Superthinking. This mindset will enable you to expand your thoughts about work and increase your ability to recognize growth opportunities. Below is a description of each mindset accompanied by real-life context.
The Cook
A cook follows a recipe already created and is judged based on how accurately the outcome matches the recipe. This approach limits you to a specified formula, and you are only as good as that formula is. Also, in the non-metaphorical world, automation and AI may be used to replace you. Automation and AI are also judged based on how well they follow a formula. One of the differences between you and this technology is that technology does not take bathroom breaks or require health care.
Don’t get me wrong, executing a plan or a formula is essential, but it should not be the key differentiator that sets you apart. You should be concerned when your work becomes a mindless exercise of following steps. Adopting a chef’s mindset is more effective for a future-proof career.
The Chef
A chef creates the recipe from their chosen ingredients. In contrast to the cook, the chef is judged based on whether the customer enjoyed the food. To them, the recipe is simply a framework that can be adapted to serve the ultimate goal of enjoyment. In the real world, this requires a disciplined practice of understanding every part of a formula or recipe enough to recognize other options, inform your foresight, and anticipate any problems. This mindset also requires curiosity about the world outside our version of our work.
A chef may have to execute their recipe, but they have the capacity to change it, break the rules, or abandon it altogether. This calls for us to remain engaged in our craft so that AI or any inflection will be recognized well before it affects your work.
Always great to explore and share these ideas, and I hope this was helpful to you.