Gordon Ramsay: The Guru We All Need

Have you ever watched an episode of Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares? If not, you can find them on YouTube for free. I first watched Kitchen Nightmares over Christmas 2021 when I was bored and couldn't find anything else to entertain me. As soon as the first episode ended, I wanted to watch another.

I did not know why it had this effect. Was it because I enjoyed watching a fellow Brit being rude to Americans? Did the pain on the faces of failing restaurateurs give me pleasure? Did I think I could run the businesses any better?

Of course, every episode runs along the same lines. Chef Ramsay turns up at a restaurant facing bankruptcy, tastes the food, spits it out, and then explains why they are not bringing in the money they should as a business. He swears a lot in every show. He is completely rude to the owners and most of the staff and holds back no punches when it comes to telling the truth. It is trash TV, or at least, that's what I thought. It contains hidden knowledge.

The show at its heart is a lesson on how to avoid failure by accepting personal responsibility. The fact that it revolves around restaurants is immaterial. The lessons are universal and timeless. Each episode highlights a set of problems that must be fixed: poor-quality food; poor customer service; obnoxious owners; unprofessional staff; a lack of hygiene; no clear management structure; and no passion. Gordon jumps in feet first, sparks fly as individuals are forced to explain themselves and accept personal responsibility. He forces them to move out of their comfort zone and face the problems they have created through their incompetence.

Nobody likes to be held accountable or to face their own mistakes, especially when they were foreseeable. Our internal defence mechanisms kick in to guard our egos. We have poor behaviours to excuse, wrong decisions to validate, and a bucket of blame to pass around. We call this type of behaviour human nature.

The owners blame the customers for being too picky or uncouth. The chefs blame the owners for poor-quality products or for controlling the menu and not allowing change. Serving staff blame a lack of organisation in the running of the venue and never accepting customer feedback. Customers blame the quality of the food and poor service.

No one ever mentions the dirt, grime, and unhygienic practices until Gordon points them out: sticky carpets; dirty surroundings; chipped plates; out-of-date food; raw meat stored with salad; rat droppings. Even a dead mouse in the lobby of one venue. The underlying problem in every restaurant is always the same: a lack of personal responsibility from the owners. Where else should the blame lie? Staff simply do their job and go home. It is the owner who has to plan for the future while ensuring today is successful — they are the boss, the head honcho, the proprietor. They deserve the credit when things go well, so they must take the blame when things hit the fan. All problems stem from this basic lack of personal responsibility.

Except for a couple of infamous episodes, Gordon manages to turn around the restaurant by getting back to basics and forcing owners to accept responsibility. Just like these restaurateurs, our lives are our responsibility. We can bitch and moan with our heads in the sand, but ultimately, if we want to be successful, we must ensure we are in control of our destiny. Success never knocks on your door unannounced; it only appears through constant invitation.

Are you continuing to do the same things every day, yet expecting a different result from yesterday and the day before? Not happy with your job but carry on doing it while moaning? Cannot find a life partner and think the blame lies with the opposite sex?

What sort of advice would the Great Chef give to these everyday problems if we could remove the swearing and obscene language? He would tell it as it is. No sugar coating. No BS. A painful reality is always better than a painful unreality; at least with reality, you can influence it with action.

So, if you are wondering why your life is not going the way you wish, then you cannot go too far wrong by watching a few episodes of this TV show and allowing Guru Ramsay to educate you on personal responsibility. Do not worry if you do not know how to make a roux or how to use a bain-marie. Any chef can inform you of this. But if you want to be the chief of your own vessel and sail the high seas to success, then check out Gordon Ramsay. He has a few lessons for you.

"Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it." - George Bernard Shaw