Every master was once an apprentice. Whether it’s a chef perfecting their knife skills or a CEO learning the art of negotiation, mastery is the culmination of curiosity, practice, and persistence. This journey from apprentice to master isn’t linear – my own journey was more zigzag than most. Mastery simply means embarking on a process of constant learning, adapting, and growing.
The Early Days: Learning the Basics
In any field, the first stage is about absorbing knowledge. In the kitchen, this might mean peeling potatoes or learning to julienne carrots. My first couple of days at Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saison, my fingers bled from peeling langoustines for hours and hours. When that job was cleared, the less painful but even more tedious task of taking the thin brown skin off kilos of walnuts followed.
It’s repetitive and sometimes thankless, but it lays the foundation – both the langoustines and walnuts were, of course, essential to the lunch and dinner menus, and having suffered through prepping these, you learn a whole new level of gratitude when, during service, you can simply reach for these perfectly shelled and deveined gems of the sea, knowing someone else bled for them.
Foundation Building in Business
Where the walnuts and shellfish were essential ingredients in Raymond Blanc’s recipes, in business you may start with developing team members’ foundational tasks, such as data entry, documentation, and shadowing senior leaders. These tasks, while seemingly simple, provide crucial foundational knowledge and skills that are necessary for success in any role.
I liken these entry-level tasks to Kata, the Japanese practice of mastering fundamental forms through repetition in martial arts. Just as a martial artist must perfect their basic stances and movements before advancing to more complex techniques, so too must employees in a business master these foundational tasks before taking on more challenging responsibilities.
Data entry, for instance, teaches attention to detail and accuracy, while documentation fosters clear and concise communication. Shadowing senior leaders provides invaluable insights into leadership styles, decision-making processes, and overall business strategy. By diligently performing and mastering these foundational tasks, employees gain a deeper understanding of the business, its operations, and their role within it.
Being good at the basics shows you’re committed and reliable – and that makes people trust you and opens doors for promotions. So, it’s really important that everyone on the team nails these basic tasks before taking on bigger challenges. This helps create a culture where everyone’s always learning and growing, making sure they have the skills to succeed and building a strong team.
The Role of Mentorship
Masters rarely achieve success alone. Mentors play a critical role in guiding apprentices, sharing insights, and providing feedback. In kitchens, mentorship is often hands-on, with experienced chefs teaching techniques through demonstration. At Shutta, we’ve embodied this philosophy through the Ajax Academy, our internship program that has been running for the past five years.
The name Ajax Academy pays homage to my favourite Dutch football club, AFC Ajax, known for its exceptional youth academy that has produced some of the world’s greatest football players. Much like the football academy focuses on nurturing talent and emphasizing discipline, strategy, and teamwork, Shutta’s Ajax Academy mirrors these principles in a business context.
Designed to cultivate a systems-thinking mindset, the Ajax Academy immerses participants in real-world digital transformation projects. Interns don’t just observe; they actively contribute, gaining practical experience and insights from seasoned professionals. It’s a rigorous yet supportive environment that builds resilience, problem-solving skills, and collaboration—key traits for any master-in-the-making.
The Ajax Academy has become a cornerstone of how we foster growth and innovation, building a pipeline of skilled talent ready to tackle complex challenges.
Embracing Challenges
Growth happens when we step outside our comfort zones. A young chef might take on the daunting task of preparing a complex sauce for the first time, risking failure but gaining invaluable experience. In business, this could mean leading a project or delivering a presentation before feeling fully prepared. These moments of challenge accelerate learning and build confidence.
At Shutta, I’ve seen first-hand how pushing people slightly beyond their comfort zones unlocks their potential. Two standout examples are Huy Doan and Phuoc Nguyen, both of whom came through the Ajax Academy and spent four to five years with us. Their final project at Shutta, Saigon My Way, was our entry into the Digital Transformation in Tourism challenge organized by the HCMC Department of Tourism.
Our concept won first prize, but the real victories were personal: Phuoc discovered a love of video editing and flourished on stage, gaining the confidence to speak, lead, and train others, while Huy, having discovered his self-worth, took the bold step of enrolling in a tertiary degree in Berlin—his first time abroad and a remarkable achievement for a young man from District 5 in Saigon. These experiences highlight how stepping up to challenges not only accelerates professional growth but also transforms individuals in profound ways.
Continuous Learning
Mastery isn’t the end of learning—it’s a commitment to lifelong growth. The best chefs and business leaders stay curious, constantly refining their skills and adapting to new trends. Take Ferran Adrià, for example, whose groundbreaking work at El Bulli transformed modern gastronomy. He didn’t settle for mastering classical techniques—he relentlessly experimented, pushing the boundaries of what food could be.
The same principle applies in the business world. Companies that believe they have nothing more to learn often stagnate, as was the case with Kodak. Although Kodak pioneered digital photography, it failed to embrace this innovation, leading to its downfall while competitors thrived. In contrast, Amazon exemplifies a company that thrives due to a continuous learning and growth mindset. This is evident in Amazon’s relentless experimentation with new products and services, as well as its willingness to fail. For example, Amazon Web Services (AWS) was initially developed to meet Amazon’s internal needs, but the company recognized its potential and began offering it as a cloud computing service to other businesses. AWS has since become a major source of revenue for Amazon and a leader in the cloud computing market, demonstrating how the company’s commitment to learning and growth has enabled it to identify and capitalize on new opportunities, ensuring its continued success.
True mastery lies in an ongoing willingness to adapt and evolve. Leaders who embrace change, seek new knowledge, and challenge conventional wisdom remain relevant and effective. Adaptability is the hallmark of true mastery, whether in the kitchen, the boardroom, or any other field where innovation drives success.
Practical Tips for Lifelong Learning
- Stay Curious: Ask questions and seek out new knowledge, even in areas outside your expertise.
- Reflect Regularly: Take time to evaluate what’s working and where you can improve.
- Seek Feedback: Constructive criticism is a gift; use it to grow.
- Teach Others: Sharing your knowledge reinforces your own understanding and helps others grow.
Closing Thoughts
The journey from apprentice to master is never truly complete. Each step brings new challenges and opportunities to learn. Whether you’re at the start of your career or leading others, remember that mastery isn’t about perfection—it’s about persistence. Keep learning, keep growing, and enjoy the process: Mastery is a journey, not a destination.