Master Chef - A Career OverviewWritten by Liz Smith
In ordinary conversation term “master chef” is often used casually, and applied to anyone who is a notably good cook. What many people do not realize is that term is also a professional classification, like a Certified Public Accountant or Registered Nurse. To be a Certified Master Chef (CMC) is highest qualification in American professional culinary world.The certification to become a CMC is provided by American Culinary Federation (ACF), largest and most prestigious organization dedicated to professional chefs in United States. The goal of ACF is to promote professional image of American chefs worldwide through education and certification programs for chefs of all levels. The AFC certification program was established in 1981 to further that goal and improve quality of professional competency throughout industry, and ACF chef certification is only kind currently recognized by U.S. Department of Labor. The Certified Master Chef level is highest and most demanding of all ACF’s certification levels. CMC certification is granted only after candidate has passed an intensive 10-day practical test of culinary skills and knowledge. The practical test covers food safety and sanitation, organization skills such as work flow, timing of service and follow-up, proper utilization of all ingredients, etc., cooking skills and culinary techniques, and taste and presentation skills.
| | Mid Life Crisis, Life Transitions, & Ontological CoachingWritten by Robert Wummer
Recently I have been watching a TV show called Blowout. It is a reality show about a hair designer, Jonathan Antin who struggles to get his Beverly Hills salon up and running. Not only do Hollywood stars visit his shop but also many other women come in for makeovers with hope that they too will look like rich and famous. In fact, when their makeovers are finished they really do look more glamorous than when they walked in. Actually, TV is filled with shows like these including famous Extreme Makeover and Dr. 90214, which depicts Beverly Hill’s plastic surgeons reshaping and changing appearances of women of all ages. In these shows women, in particular, discuss how they feel stuck in a midlife crisis or are anxious about a life transition. When I am at fitness center I observe women and men of all ages and sizes feverishly working out. Personally, I think it is tremendous that women are working to create a new persona for themselves. It would be simple to conclude that these women are just focusing on their outward appearances. I do not know if this is case or not. My hope would be that women are just as concerned with their mental and spiritual health as well as their physical appearance. I believe many are doing just that, but what about those who are not? What about those women who sense a lack of direction or purpose in life, which can be associated with a mid life crisis? What about those women who are dealing with a life transition and are anxious about their abilities to handle it or just feeling overwhelmed by life itself? Often there is a stigma attached to seeing a psychologist, entering into therapy or counseling or seeking guidance from a religious institution. Certainly if one is severely depressed, suffering from addictions or other mental and spiritual disorders then counseling or therapy is indeed appropriate. But what about a healthy person who does just feel stuck, lacking a direction in life, or overwhelmed, is there a place for them to turn? The answer to that may lie in being coached. Ontological Coaching, in particular, is not about transforming one’s personality. It begins with premise that person is healthy and their self is intact. Ontological Coaching is about opening up new horizons of learning, which in turn expands how you observe future possibilities and opportunities. In essence, this is how you view your very being or soul. How is Ontological Coaching different from other forms of coaching? The answer lies in its expanded view of language. The desire to alter outcomes or improve an individual’s performance is a central goal in traditional as well as ontological coaching. The difference is found in process. In traditional coaching one typically observes an action, results of that action is assessed, a determination is made as to what is missing, actions are then modified, modified actions are taken, and then cycle is repeated. This approach does tend to improve effectiveness and efficiency of known actions. However, assessment is only concerned with known actions or possibilities that client sees as reality. I believe when someone is suffering, perhaps in throes of a mid life crisis or a life transition it is because their self or ability of self to observe future possibilities or opportunities is limited or narrow in scope. In Ontological Coaching a new element is added to process. This critical piece is language of observer. Suffering is a linguistic or social phenomenon as opposed to pain, which is a biological phenomenon.
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