How I invented the quesadilla
(but actually didn't)
When I lived in the US, I loved grilled cheese sandwiches. The concept is easy. Take 2 slices of bread, put cheese in between and throw it in a pan. Keep it in there until it’s crispy and the cheese has melted. I must’ve eaten 3 of those a day.
But one day, we were out of bread.
I opened every cupboard, searched every drawer—but there was no bread to be found. But then I opened one cupboard, where a fresh pack of wheat tortillas awaited me.
I had an epiphany: The grilled cheese tortilla!
As I was frying up my new invention, the sister of the family I lived with came home. I was all excited and told her “Look, grilled cheese tortilla! Do you want one?”.
She looked at me like I had just told her that water is wet. “That’s called a quesadilla, Finn.”
Most of us dream of creating:
A great business or non-profit
Works of art (writing a book, painting something, etc.)
A team that achieves things together
etc.
To excel at any of this, you need to practice. Work on the business, write that book, paint that painting, whatever. That much is obvious.
But if you don’t also consume, you wouldn’t get far:
You could study mathematics all your life to create one big equation to change the world. But without learning what other people already found out, you might get to Pythagoras’ equation in your lifetime—and be no smarter than a 6th-grader.
Or—if you know nothing about Mexican food—you could “invent” the quesadilla…
"If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot,"
-Stephen King.
The Stephen King quote above outlines this perfectly. To be a great writer, you need to read. The same is true in every field:
To be a great leader, you must be a great follower.
To make great movies, you should watch great movies.
To create great visual art, you should visit art museums.
To build a great business, you should see what makes other businesses great.
If you don’t, you’ll learn what everyone else learns, but take longer to do it.
Stay proactive,
Finn “not a chef” Lobsien