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Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Anova’s Values Blog Series – Craftsmanship: Julia Child

Anova Consulting believes that one of the keys to success lies in the ability to adapt and learn from the challenges we face. These shared beliefs, essentially our corporate ethos, are values we strive to put into action every day. This is the third in a series of blogs that explore Anova’s values through the lens of people we feel embody them.

Craftsmanship, defined as the mastery of a skill through patience, discipline, and continuous improvement, is exemplified by masterful talents that spend years honing the skills required to become exceptional in their field. Julia Child, the celebrated chef who dedicated her life to perfecting the art of French cuisine, exemplified craftsmanship.

Child’s passion for cooking began late in life when she moved to Paris with her husband. She enrolled in the renowned Le Cordon Bleu culinary school, where she spent years perfecting her skills in the art of French cooking. She was known for her meticulous attention to detail and her commitment to learning the complex techniques and flavors of the cuisine. She famously (and patiently!) practiced making omelets for weeks, each time making only slight adjustments to achieve perfection.

After leaving Le Cordon Bleu, Child teamed with two French colleagues to write Mastering the Art of French Cooking, a cookbook that would soon become a classic in the culinary world. The process of writing the book was itself an exercise in craftsmanship, as Child and her colleagues tested and retested recipes to ensure accuracy and quality. There were no shortcuts.

At Anova, we also believe there are no shortcuts. We take a long-term view of success, and we too pay special attention to craftsmanship. Like Child, we strive to maintain a quest for continuous improvement, and we understand that the key to mastery is not just in acquiring a skill but in applying it repeatedly and evolving with changing times and market conditions.

Many of our clients have integrated a similar quest for continuous improvement in the evolution of their “voice of the client” programs. They understand the importance of patience and discipline in pursuing excellence, and they value the art of craftsmanship as much as we do.