The documentary: Jiro Dreams Of Sushi. Watch it.
Jiro makes sushi for a living in Japan. He’s done it for the last 75 years. His sushi and restaurant is coveted as one of the best in the World. Reservations are booked a year in advance. His sushi is flawless.
For an engaging 80 minutes, this documentary gets into the World of Jiro, and his Sushi Restaurant.
Here are the 8 Things I Learned:
1. Money is a byproduct: He and his team don’t care about money. They care about making great sushi.
2. We’ll never know where the top is–so keep climbing. Jiro states, “I do the same thing over and over again, improving bit by bit. There’s always a yearning to achieve more. I continue to climb and continue to reach the top, but no one knows where the top is. Even at my age, after decades of work, I don’t think I have achieved perfection.” – It’s this mentality which has lead to Jiro’s greatness.
3. Find and follow your bliss: Jiro fell in love with his work, and gave his life to it. He says he feels ecstatic every day, and most alive while making sushi.
4. To create great work, be a devout fan and consumer of great work: Jiro said, “In order to make delicious food. You must eat delicious food.” Him and his team eat only the finest foods in order to develop a palate for creating their own mouthwatering masterpieces.
This is so true for any field. Writers need to be great readers. Directors, actors, and producers love movies created by others. LeBron James loves the history of the basketball legends who played before him. Great marketers study the pioneers of advertising and persuasion. I’ve heard many times to be interesting, be interested. Likewise, to create, also intake.
5. Simplicity reigns supreme: All of Jiro’s sushi is simple. As said in the documentary, “Simplicity equals purity and purity equals amazing taste.” It’s true in life. The simplest answer is usually the best, most pure, and in alignment with the flow of life.
6. Create a union, a balance in life: The key to great sushi, according to Jiro, “is a union between the rice and the fish. If there is not complete harmony, the sushi will not taste good.” Life is about being aware of the balance.
There will be times of the relentless pursuit of goals. Then, times of slowing down will follow. There will be times of tough circumstances and failures. Times of thrilling exultations and success. Night and days, dark and light, fast and slow, right and wrong, up and down, health and illness. You name it you’ll see both sides on this journey.
Be aware of this never-ending duality. Realize the balance and union between these dualities. This realization will give you a portal to harmony and perspective. It will help you on our journey.
7. Don’t do it alone: Jiro has a great team around him. He admits 95% of the work is already done by his team through preparation. However, he also said he has trained each one of them diligently how to prepare and make exceptional sushi.
Seek a great supporting team in your life, personally and professionally. Share your philosophy with them. From your core to their core. Elevate them, as you elevate and work together.
8. Always try to improve yourself: I quote Jiro’s son: “Look ahead and above yourself. Always try to improve yourself. Always strive to elevate your craft. That’s what he taught me.”