“Mise en place” is a French culinary phrase meaning “everything in its place” and one I became very familiar with during culinary school. For me, it stood for proper planning and preparation and basically having my shit together for whatever was on the menu for the day. Not only did it mean having my ingredients prepped, it also meant having my station, my knives, and the required tools and utensils at the ready. More importantly, it meant having a strategy to successfully execute the entire menu from appetizer to dessert. Anyone who has spent time working in a restaurant kitchen knows no amount of planning and preparation can prepare you for every eventuality to come throughout the course of a service. It doesn’t matter how organized you are or how well thought-out your plan may be, there will inevitably be hiccups.
As 2018 kicks off, I find myself contemplating the year ahead and the goals I want to accomplish and what it might take to accomplish them. Whether it’s completing (or starting) another writing project, focusing on my health and fitness, losing weight, improving my diet, having a successful year in business, or becoming a better partner and father-figure, without some idea of what my goals for the year are, it would be pointless to try and accomplish them. In effect, I must prepare my “mis en place”.
A notorious list-maker, as indicated by the current list on my desk with 11 items on it and only two crossed out, I’ve found lists to be an effective way of helping me stay focused on the things I feel are important enough to keep on my radar. Generally speaking, the items on my list are not in any priority order. I will cross some out within hours of writing them down and others may stay on the list for weeks. Recurring items will find themselves on my list over and over and over again. I’ve also found it helpful to remain flexible and avoid getting frustrated if I have to keep pushing the more-interesting items further down the list due to other priorities. I find comfort in knowing that as long as I’m patient and stick to my plan, I will eventually cross out all of the items on my list. This also means I will either accomplish my goals or make some progress on my way to accomplishing them in the future.
As I return to the next item on my list, I’d like to wish you and yours a Happy New Year and all the luck with your own “mise en place” on the way to successfully accomplishing any 2018 goals you may have!
James
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