“A Baker’s Passion”

After Thom Kuk called and asked me to speak during
the opening session, I started wondering how to address a
bunch of professionals in the baking industry. I was thinking:
“Heck, these people don’t need me telling them about
passion, pride and history.” So maybe I can give all of you
some of my ideas about what we can do in the next couple
of years to keep the trade alive, ourselves motivated, and
how we can give back to our communities. As we get going,
I want you to know that you don’t have an experienced
speaker in front of you, and this is not your normal speech –
this is my version of the hard truth, telling it like it is.

So, here is the formula, so to speak, for what I believe is important to our
future and critical to the success of our profession. Take it from someone who
has been involved in the baking industry for more then 25 years. When I started
in the baking trade in 1977, I had no clue, absolutely no clue at all as to where I
would be today and the long and exciting journey that has taken me to where I
am. I kept at it, day after day, milestone after milestone, many times too busy to
be concerned about anything else around me. I believe that we still have a long
journey to get the real respect we deserve for our endless devoted hours to the
work we love and to find the right mix to have a balance in life without
sacrificing the people we love and who are important to us. Did we ever realize
that where we are heading is more important than how fast we get there?

Life for everyone is getting busier and life changes in a heartbeat, so keeping one’s
priorities in order is a constant challenge. We need to focus on new priorities; our hearts and
minds need nourishment, too. And the image of us professional bakers needs to be improved
by all of us, every day, while we work together. Most people have to work hard; I have fun
with whatever I do. I love what I do, so I never work. Do what you love, love what you do,
and then you’ll never work another moment. Remember that a common thing done
uncommonly well brings rewards, success and satisfaction. Listening is of top importance to
our and my success. As Mark Twain said: “If God had wanted us to talk more than listen, he
would have given us two mouths instead of two ears.” Listen intently in everything you do, if
you do, you will be richly rewarded. As I lead and manage people, my role is to coach. Great
coaches are leaders, not followers. If you are not the lead dog, the view never changes.

We live in the greatest country on earth. Don’t be afraid to fail; don’t be afraid to take
risks. Dream to achieve the expectations of those around you. Remember those that helped
you get to the top – hold them up on a pedestal and your success will shine even brighter.
Don’t hog the credit – share it with your co-workers. Treat people with respect and
remember that your assistants are equally deserving of it. They are willing to help you and
learn from you as well. Be a gentle giant! Remember not everyone has the same drive and
determination that you might have. Be patient and encourage co-workers. I guarantee when
you see them accomplish something they didn’t and perhaps even you didn’t, think was
possible, you will know true satisfaction. If you have to tell the world how smart you are, you
probably are not. There can be no lasting relationships without mutual trust and respect.
Anyone can be polite to a king, but it takes a gentleman to be polite to a beggar.

Let’s develop a culture in our industry
that permits the sharing of success and
laughter with those that have contributed to
your success. Without our support teams
our jobs would be twice as difficult, or
impossible. Learn to respect all of those
that will work for you, even the dishwasher
or janitor. Also remember to keep your
promises, both the big ones and the little
ones. Few things in the world impress one
as much as someone who does what he
says he will do.

Catch your people in the act of doing
good things. Recognition is magical.
Recognize your people in front of their
peers. You will reap more rewards and
loyalty than you could possibly imagine.
Laughter is the tonic of life. Find things that
make you happy and laugh often and laugh
much. Our industry commands more hours
and commitment than other professions so
we must find ways to release natural tension
and stress. Why not doing some
volunteering?

Always treat your family more seriously than your job. When it all gets
said and done, a lot of people wish they had spent more time with their
families. Nobody on his deathbed ever wished he had spent more time at
work. It has been well documented that wealthy people discover too late
that they have sacrificed the finest things in life – the affection, love and
attention of their family. Keeping perspective in your personal life will make
you better and happier in business. Assess your strengths and weaknesses,
your success and failures, and set new bars for your near and long term
expectations. Like everyone, we make mistakes, some small, some large.
Let’s accept responsibility for them and, more importantly lets learn from
them, then move on, remember tomorrow is another day.

Keep your eyes and mind open. Our learning in the past has been intense, but there is more to come. There is so much
we don’t know! I myself returned to school several times and some day you might call me Dr. Klaus! Look at every
person you meet as an opportunity to learn something. Be receptive to technological advancements and new ways of doing
things, but remember that there is no substitute for hard work, integrity and generosity. While a few decades ago a master
craftsman could rest assured that the knowledge once learned and acquired would last for a whole lifetime, today’s
working environment places increasing demands on any working person’s flexibility and ability and willingness to learn. The
available body of knowledge doubles in ever decreasing time intervals. To stay ahead of the competition and to keep
abreast of developments crucial to one’s trade, and simply to stay up-to-date and able to join in any intelligent trade
conversation, a continual learning process is absolutely essential. New machines and equipment, novel technologies, newly
introduced additives and substances and most recent findings from science and research all bring about a spate of data and
new knowledge which the master craftsman, totally caught up in the day-by-day work routine of his industry, can hardly
grasp or manage. This proverbial flood of knowledge-data, facts and findings- brings with it an amassment of new and
novel words, terms and expressions which often enough are not fully understood in the circles of the very industry to which
they apply. But still, equally often such understanding is absolutely necessary for optimizing one’s work and one’s business,
for reading articles and papers in trade journals and consequently for constantly updating and completing one’s knowledge
of the trade.

The American culture puts a lot of emphasis on youth, but we should not forget
to appreciate our elders and look to them for the wisdom and knowledge they have
acquired over a lifetime. The lessons of baking are the lessons of life and they take
many years to learn. Make sure that your goals are rooted in good will and solid
principles. While you may be respected for your abilities, you will be loved for your
kindness and compassion. The world has many proficient bakers, but it needs more
heroes. I came to America not so long ago and, when I left Germany, I had no
ability to speak English. I started from the bottom up and rose through the ranks to
my position today. My baking rivals the best, but it’s my goodness that I hope will
be my legacy. I never forget my own struggles and I have devoted my life to
educating others and myself and volunteering to the benefit of others.

Take pride in your profession. Dress the part. Arrive at
your assignment on time with mental and physical “mis en
place” and understand how important your function is. I
came to baking quite accidentally, but I remember the first
time I realized I could create something wonderful and
flavorful by manipulating flour, water, yeast and salt, and it
was magic to me. Many years later there is still nothing in the
world that I would rather be than a baker. We play a role in
nutrition, we nourish the body and the soul, and we provide
comfort, joy and happiness. We are privileged to be part of
some of the most important moments in life, sharing them
with the people we serve.

Support your colleagues. We can accomplish far more together than we can
on our own. Roland Henin, CMC a coach of the U.S. Olympic culinary team,
shared a wonderful experience with me. During preparation, the chefs used to
work at separate tables with their backs to each other. He moved the tables into a
square so that they could see each other and share ideas. It was so simple, but it
transformed them, they had more energy, they worked harder, they learned more
from each other and they shared. Maintain your professional status with continuing
education and professional development. Get certified through one of the
Associations, like AIB, RBA, BBGA, ACF, RCA or ASB. Strive to be better and
once you achieved the next level, turn around and help someone take that same
step. Keep learning, welcome change, and think outside the box.

Establish a scholarship fund or industry foundation or give to a worthy cause, where possible. Stay involved in your
community, children’s schools, and associations, contribute, and share your knowledge, your success and failure. Be
passionate and enthusiastic about things you believe in. Observe with a very critical eye, but reserve your judgment. Focus
on a course that is dear to your heart. Adopt a mentor and in return become one. Keep your dream alive, give yourself a
five-year plan, but be open to new ideas and changes and opportunities that come your way. There has never been a better
time or place in history of the world to be in the baking industry. We are fortunate, but with that good fortune comes great
responsibility to pass our knowledge on to the next generation of bakers and children. We have to work hard to make this
all happen. We are in the driver seat. But please drive carefully. What few Americans remember is a day before Julia Child
and Emeril Lagasse. In the not-so-old days, bakers weren’t the celebrities they are today. Indeed 25 years ago, “bakers”
were listed as domestics, rather than professionals, in the US Department of Labor’s Dictionary of Occupational Titles. I
have been baking and living for over 15 years in Southern Africa. Let’s learn from different cultures, near or far, let’s
accept that people are different!

We all know that “Yesterday’s bread will not satisfy today’s hunger,” so teach others: Let’s think about this for a
moment: Nothing is clearer to me then that I play an enormous role in the lives of many of my students. One of the rewards
for me is when I have success in making the students aware of their passion and love for baking while I promote tolerance
and understanding and increase the students’ knowledge. Over the last several years I have paid attention to the individual
student, to direct the individual to be successful. I expect a lot from my students, but leading them through examples is a
real motivation to them, knowing that I expect from myself what I expect from them. Good teaching is valuable to society -
in ways both obvious and obscure. I believe that education is important, and that effective teaching is the key to education.
Students need many skills and much knowledge to succeed in today's rapidly changing world, because there is a direct
correlation between students’ level of education and their chances of professional and economic success in life. But
education has another, less immediately visible, social value. For me it is a vehicle for creating knowledgeable, aware
students who are capable of looking critically at the world in which they live and work and making informed decisions
about their lives and the lives of others, beyond the subject that I teach. In the discouraging moments that I encounter from
time to time, it is worth remembering that when things go well, the reward is enormous, which makes me devoted to
education. We are the leaders of today; it is our responsibility to guide the leaders of tomorrow. Let’s aim high and follow
our dreams.