Home Vida Be a Go-Getter. That’s What Life Is About

Be a Go-Getter. That’s What Life Is About

by Komal Patel
Master Chef USA on Fox

So if you are into food reality shows as much as I am you know that season 9 of the Fox show Master Chef, premiered last Wednesday.

The first episodes depicted epic battles between 43 of America’s top home chefs in order to receive a coveted white apron from the judges.

*le sigh*

Your girl didn’t make it to the top 43 but she did make it to the top 78!

Remember, earlier in the year when I kind of went silent? Well yeah, I was busy trying to bust my ass to get into the top 43.

Although I can’t discuss the details of my journey (the audition process etc.) I do want to talk about what it takes to make your dreams come reality.

For the last 4 years I would watch Master Chef, thinking to myself, “I can do this”. I can be one of the top home cooks in America. 3 years ago, while living in San Diego I decided that I would officially audition. I printed out the application, found out the time and place the auditions were being held, began to conceptualize a dish for the judges to try and then…NEVER WENT.

Honestly. I don’t know what happened.

Maybe I was scared? Maybe I was just too lazy. Either way, I didn’t go. The day came and went as I sat home.

Several months later when the show aired a woman named Claudia, from San Diego, took the title and won the show.

I couldn’t help but think that could have been me. What if I had shown up to the auditions that day? Would I have made it? Would Claudia have made it, let alone won?

It’s easy to look back on things and wonder “WHAT IF?” but I am so sick of asking that question.

Master Chef USA on Fox

I’d had enough.

Last year J and I drove to NYC to see what I could make of this Master Chef journey.

This time, I felt confident in myself. Not only did I show up for the audition, but I was first in line.

I showed up at 4 am, anxiously awaiting my fate. I was able to breathe sighs of relief as I made it through the first few rounds in NYC.

The rest though, as they say, is history. I didn’t make it to the top 43, but hey, top 78 out of tens of thousands is good enough for me!

Well, for now at least.

.now that the little backstory is over, let me get into what I am REALLY getting at here.

While I was with the other top 78 contestants I realized how many other people shared the same dream as me; so many people with the love of food.

It was overwhelming and humbling to see these individuals from all walks of life sharing their passion with the world.

Many of them are fighters and have been working on making their dreams a reality for a very long time.

Although Sweet and Masala had already been established for well over a year, after meeting these passionate personalities I realized that I was simply not working hard enough to make my dreams come to fruition.

For me, I wanted to use Master Chef as a stepping stone to ignite my career in the food space and to build my brand.

YES. That seems like the obvious thing to do.

However, numerous folks had already put blood, sweat and tears into their food long before their Master Chef journey had begun.

Although I know I am a hard worker I felt like there was…IS more that I could be doing.

With that, I began to educate myself on all types of cuisines, technique’s and flavors; reading books, articles, talking to people in the field.

Indian is my niche and I had always boasted about Indian Fusion food, however I had no idea what that meant.

Is it really fusion if I just throw some spices on it? I needed to know the answer to this question so when people asked me what Indian fusion meant, I had an answer.

More learning.

I started pop up restaurants from my home, (one of which is this Saturday in Boston, more info on menu and tickets HERE) inviting friends and family over to help me test out the market and see what works and what doesn’t.

Even after all of that I wanted to know more.

I want to learn MORE.

I want to be in control of my future and stop saying things like “I wish,” or “I dream.”

Master Chef USA on Fox

Instead I want to use words like “I am,” and “I will.”

My point is, if you do have a DREAM NEVER stop being hungry and NEVER get complacent.

There is always more knowledge to consume and there is ALWAYS another door.

I let my narrow mindedness get the best of me for over 10 years, thinking I was stuck in banking forever, but the only way you can get stuck is if you let yourself.

It has taken me along time to realize that I am to blame for my lack of progression. With the glass half-empty and a bad attitude 9 times out of 10 you will get in your own way.

Take accountability and MAKE MOVES.

I know you can do it.

Now, all you have to do is believe it and work your fucking ass off.

Life doesn’t come easy …well, unless you are a dog…they have the best lives, don’t you think? Sleeping, eating, and being pet all day…

anyways, yeah, life, easy, not.

Get out there and do the damn thing!

(no, I am not quoting Becca from the Bachelorette….she needs to stop saying that about EVERYTHING)

Lots of Love

Xx

K

Sweet and Masala

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21 comments

DEEKSHA TRIPATHI June 6, 2018 - 1:07 pm

You look so pretty Komal! I loved the message you gave in this post Be a Go Getter!! I will remember it!

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Komal Patel June 6, 2018 - 3:32 pm

Thanks Deeksha! Is there anything that you are working towards?

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Nayna Kanabar June 6, 2018 - 2:39 pm

Well done for bring in top 100 that it self is an achievement. I hope that you try again next time and get in to achieve your dream.

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cait June 6, 2018 - 8:19 pm

yes so agreed with us about being a go getter and congrats on being in the top 100! thats an amazing achievement so be proud and keep working hard!

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Elaine June 6, 2018 - 9:13 pm

You’ve got the passion! Keep at it 🙂 Looks to me as though you are sharing your craft with your community and that is already a great start! Good luck!

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Oliva wilson June 7, 2018 - 5:02 am

First of all, Congo being in the top 100, It has been an amazing achievement.
I really enjoy reading your article.

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sabrina barbante June 7, 2018 - 8:21 am

I always say “In life, you don’t try do to things. You just do things” . I definitely say you are the kind of person who does and get it! Well done, always be this passioned.

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Komal Patel June 7, 2018 - 11:43 am

Sabrina I love that!

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MELANIE EDJOURIAN June 7, 2018 - 10:48 am

Top 78 isn’t at all bad considering the number of entrants. It’s best to stay positive and pick yourself up from these things and push on. You can do it!

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Kate Andrews June 7, 2018 - 12:48 pm

Life is too short to just sit back and let everyone else control it. I am so with you on this one. Good for you!

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Danielle June 7, 2018 - 4:16 pm

Congrats on getting in to the top 100! It’s an amazing achievement and there is always next time if you want to improve on that 🙂

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Laura Dove June 8, 2018 - 9:02 am

I love this and I definitely need to do more. I have a lot of self doubt and feel unworthy of success at times, I need to change that.

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Autumn Murray June 8, 2018 - 3:55 pm

Your passion speaks volumes! We all need to stop doubting ourselves and just go out there and do what makes us happy.

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David Allen Elliott June 8, 2018 - 4:36 pm

You do need to put yourself out there if you are going to succeed. And it’s great that you kept at it even if you felt like someone got a prize you felt like you could have gotten. You kept going. And you are succeeding.

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Denni June 8, 2018 - 5:38 pm

your passion speaks volumes girl and you mad it to top 100 that’s really serious i would have cried of happiness ! i keep an eye on you because you will make number one

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Alison Rost June 8, 2018 - 6:04 pm

I’m glad you went and did your best! It’s all about taking that first step towards your goal and although you didn’t make it to the top 43, you made it to the audition and got in the top 78. That’s more than enough proof that it’s possible and that you can also keep trying!

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Nina June 9, 2018 - 12:30 am

That is so awesome that you went for it. You’ll always be glad you did. And 78 is amazing!

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Lexie Lane June 11, 2018 - 12:08 am

I always think that if an opportunity is really meant for you, nothing in the world would have stopped it from happening, whether you made it happen or not. That’s just me though.

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Julia Chiara June 13, 2018 - 1:27 am

This is by far my favorite post of yours – can’t even put into words how proud I am of you.

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Komal Patel June 14, 2018 - 12:37 am

Love you!

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Eloise June 13, 2018 - 3:00 am

that’s a great success to be in the top 78 out of a gazillion ; ) so congrats to that and most importantly, congrats to changing yourself into a go-getter and working hard to live your dream… I wish you the best of luck!

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