Not long ago, I had lunch at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Paris. The place is tucked away in a patch of greenery at the bottom of the Champs-Élysées, near one of my favorite square in the city, Place de la Concorde.
I expected a great meal, but I didn’t expect it to turn into such an inspiring experience for my work.
The level of care throughout the lunch was constant. The servers were incredibly attentive. They were always watching, without being intrusive. We never had to pour our own water or ask for more bread.
In the kitchen, it was just as impressive. The show was on the plate, but also in the open kitchen right in front of us. Flames crackled, the chef led the dance, and everyone followed with sharp “Yes, Chef” responses. Despite the frenetic pace, the quality never slipped.
We finished lunch a bit late and got to watch the cooks clean up, the head chef leading the way. Everything was scrubbed down: the stovetops, the walls, even the insides of the drawers.
Beyond having a timeless moment, I found the whole experience deeply inspiring and closely connected to my life as a freelancer.
First, the experience.
The welcome, the service, the organization. They all matter when you work for yourself. A tailored onboarding with a Google Doc outlining the first steps of the collaboration; a well-organized Notion workspace for clients; fast, clear communication on a channel like WhatsApp. These habits may seem like small details, but in the end, they’re what raise the perceived value of your work.
Then, the discipline.
It’s continuous. Right down to the cleaning, despite two exhausting hours of service. Let’s be honest, we’ve all felt the temptation to cut corners now and then. You know, that urge to finish early, even if it means doing a bit less. But that extra bit of effort makes all the difference. Because sometimes, it only takes a few extra minutes to take something from good to truly excellent.
Walking out of that restaurant, I realized I was more than happy to pay extra for an experience like that. It’s the same for clients.
Thomas
C'est la réalité. Vite et bien ne se marient pas. Bravo pour cet article