Non-Negotiables

A favorite show the last couple of years is The Bear, available from FX on Hulu. It's an extremely intense and stressful glimpse into restaurant life, as Carmy tries to take his family's humble Chicago beef sandwich shop from the depths of bankruptcy in the wake of his brother's suicide to the heights of a Michelin-rated fine dining establishment.

A big part of his plan are what he calls his 'non-negotiables' - which are incredibly high standards for him and all those working for him. For those of us in the self-help, motivation space, these are nothing new - we usually think of them as 'never settle' lists, or 'must-do/must-not-do' lists, or mission statements or mantras or manifestos or...you get the idea.

For your reference, here is his list of 27 non-negotiables:

1. Constantly Evolve Through Passion And Creativity
2. Change Menu Every Day
3. Technique Technique Technique
4. No Surprises
5. "Something" About Teaspoons
6. Personal Hygiene
7. Shirts Perfectly Pressed
8. Break Down Boxes
9. Clean As You Go
10. Push Boundaries
11. Respect Tradition
12. No Excuses
13. Perfect Means Perfect
14. Not About You
15. Time - Every Second Counts
16. Service
17. Focus
18. Know Your Shit
19. Details Matter
20. Pursuit Of Excellence
21. In + Out Service
22. Confidence + Competence
23. Consolidation + Speed
24. No Repeat Ingredients
25. Vibrant Collaboration
26. Less Is More
27. Of The Place

Gotta admit - comprehensive, challenging, and pretty applicable to almost any business, or even general life, for that matter.

I could probably consolidate/whittle down the list to about ten non-negotiables, just for brevity - but then brevity can be a non-negotiable of its own, which just ADDS to the list.

Which of these are most applicable to you and your business? Or, more importantly, which of these are important, but you're not living up to the standard? I know my office could be cleaner and more organized. And my focus needs work - I haven't written an article here since 2023, for goodness sake. I don't press my shirts, but I don't really wear shirts that need to be pressed. Maybe I should.

#27 - Of The Place - is fascinating to me. It means being of your origins, essentially. Be true to who you are. No matter what you aspire to, hold on to what makes you, YOU. For me, that means embracing my comic book/super hero/Star Trek side - even if I think I should hide it. In truth, those interests inform everything I do, from my creative side to my value system. To hide it, or be ashamed of it, is to deny part of who I am to the people I'm offering my experience to. They deserve the best of me as a speaker and a coach. Which means I have to be my authentic, unique, somewhat wacky and nerdy self.

I'd love to read which of these really resonate with you - and what you may be doing with them in the future. Do you already have non-negotiables? Will you be creating some, or more?

Is your staff facing failure in the face of today's market? Dealing with frustration and self-doubt? How is that affecting their family and future, and your bottom line? Bring me in to show them how to live their #WinAnyway Life.