Fine Dining and Fresh Starts

Grant Achatz and Alinea

In the world of culinary innovation, few names are as revered as Grant Achatz. Achatz rose quickly through the ranks of elite kitchens, eventually opening Alinea in Chicago (one of the few restaurants in the US to earn the coveted Michelin 3-Star rating).

Then life punched him right in the mouth…Literally.

Just as his career was soaring, Achatz received a diagnosis of stage 4 tongue cancer, threatening not only his life but it also affected his ability to taste.

Despite the personal adversity, he continued to lead his team through it and reinvent how he operated. Eventually, he beat cancer. And instead of just going back to the old way of doing things, he created something even better.

Alinea didn't just reopen; it redefined what a restaurant could be. Each meal is a multi-sensory experience with an innovative presentation (e.g. edible balloons) and diners never know what may come next.

Every part of Alinea was designed to challenge assumptions and open up new possibilities. It was fine dining flipped on its head, fueled by creativity and a relentless refusal to do "what's always been done."

The name "Alinea" itself carries powerful symbolism: It is derived from a typographical symbol, which signals “the beginning of a new paragraph/thought.”

Alinea represents a fresh start. A new beginning. It’s not just a restaurant, it’s a symbol for reinvention and limitless possibility.

Just like Achatz's life after his diagnosis, Alinea represents what happens when you choose to see challenges as invitations for new opportunities and possibilities.

The Power of Fresh Starts

Here's a sobering reminder: Life’s going to get messy. Not "if," but "when."

You can't always prevent the hard moments, but you can always choose what you do next. You don’t get to choose the obstacles life presents for you, but you do have a choice not to view them as dead ends.

Perspective isn't just motivational fluff. It's the lever that shifts failure into fuel. It's the decision to stop mourning what was and start creating what could be.

It’s an invitation to embrace fresh starts.

Sports are literally built on fresh starts. Baseball resets every pitch, every batter, every game. Basketball gives you a fresh shot clock and a new possession. The best performers in the world? They are absolute pros at turning the page. They learn from the last play, adjust, and show up fully for the next one.

The ones who struggle? They let it pile up. A bad pitch becomes a bad inning. A bad inning becomes a bad game. A bad game becomes a bad season. Before you know it, they're stuck carrying around a backpack full of old mistakes.

Fresh starts aren't automatic. They're a choice. High performers make that choice, moment after moment.

Drop Your Backpack: A Fresh Start Routine

Fresh starts aren't just about bouncing back, but they're also about being present.

The present moment is the only place where you can actually start something new. It's where the opportunity lives. But to play present, you have to be willing to drop the heavy backpack you're carrying (e.g. full of bad plays, bad decisions, missed opportunities). If you're still lugging around yesterday’s failures, you’re going to miss today’s opportunity.

As a coach, part of your job is to help your athletes let go and lean into the fresh start that's right in front of them.

When they hit a wall, make a mistake, or feel stuck, ask them:

• "What's the opportunity hidden inside this challenge?"

• "If this is the beginning of something new, what do you want it to be?"

• "What will you reinvent about yourself moving forward?"

And here’s an idea for how you can make it stick: Build a "Drop Your Backpack" routine.

Before practices, games, or meetings, take a couple of minutes as a team to pause, breathe, and mentally "drop" anything they’ve been carrying. Visualize setting the backpack down at the door or removing the mental weight they’ve carried.

No more holding on to old mistakes. No more regrets. Simply create time and space for them to be in the present by letting go of their past.

Remind your players: Setbacks don't have to be carried forever. Teach them that presence (being right here, right now) is their superpower.

Final Thoughts

Fresh starts are always available if you're willing to shift your perspective, let go of the past, and embrace the present moment. High performers don't just move on; they move forward with purpose. The choice to begin again is always yours to make.

Inspiration for This Piece:

• Milkman, K. L. (2021). How to change: the science of getting from where you are to where you want to be. Portfolio/Penguin, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.

ICYMI: New Podcast Alert!

In case you missed it, I recently launched a new podcast called The Threshold Lab — where I explore fundamental principles that help high performers think, lead, and live at the highest level.

This past week’s most downloaded episode was “You Get to Be the Author”

• https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-get-to-be-the-author/id1809845911?i=1000704925675

If you haven’t checked it out yet, I’d love for you to give it a listen and share if anything resonates for you!