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httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIwrV5e6fMY

Whilst celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has had his fair share of critics over the years, I’ve always been a big fan. Not necessarily because of his culinary skills, but because of what he stands for.

Jamie has worked tirelessly to give young unemployed people an opportunity to become chefs and transform their lives through his innovative Fifteen restaurants. He’s campaigned to change the way schools and the government feed children to turn around the obesity timebomb.

So I was delighted to see that his work was rewarded last week at the TED talks, where was awarded the 2010 Ted Prize and gave the inspirational talk above about his wish to educate children on food and so eradicate obesity and dietary illnesses.

So how does a celebrity chef win such a prestigious award and be invited to speak in front of such an auspicious audience?

And what lessons can you learn from Jamie?

1. Care

There are easier ways to to sell cookery books and become an even bigger celebrity chef than trying change the way schools and governments feed kids.

So does why Jamie do it?  - because he cares.

And so should you.

Whilst in the past ‘caring’ may have been deemed a little ‘fluffy’ in the business world, over the coming years ‘caring’ will become one of the new watch-words in modern business.

The advancements in web technology and the growth of social media platforms have made all of us ‘naked.’ Anyone with a computer, camera and an opinion can say what they want about you and your business, and have a ready-made media platform to tell the world.

So individuals or businesses who don’t give a damn about people (customers, employees, suppliers), who are in any way unethical or don’t deliver on their promise will be exposed. And like anything on the web, this transparency can spread like a virus.

You can no longer control what is said about you and the message being put out about you. So instead of trying to control what people say about you and trying so hard to ‘market and sell’ yourself, start caring about what you do and say, and the message will often take care of itself.

2. Do something of value

More and more people these days are asking “how can I do meaningful work?”

The simple answer is a) find your unique talents are and b) offer those talents in the service of something biggest than yourself.

That’s precisely what Jamie is doing. Offering his knowledge of food and cooking  along with his celebrity face and name to do something of value – in the service of something beyond himself. Sure, there will be some commercial success for him from this work, but that’s a by-product of doing something of value. But fundamentally he’s following an inner drive – or as Dan Pink would say, an ‘intrinsic’ motivation.

How about you?

Are you doing something of value or simply going through the motions? Are you using your unique talents to do something of value – either in your day job or away from work?

3. Be passionate

Jamie’s talk in the above clip is not the most polished talk you’ll watch at this year’s TED event. But it’s probably one of the most passionate ones. And it’s that passion that makes the difference.

Knowledge and qualifications may have been the currency of the past – but in today’s workplace, people want to work with passionate individuals and do business with organizations with passionate people. Where does that passion come from? It comes from using your unique talents to do worthwhile work.

4. Put yourself out there

Since he began his crusade to transform the way children are fed – particularly in schools – Jamie’s had a hard time from some critics. That’s what happens when you do something worthwhile – people will criticize you. But if you care about something and are passionate about it – you’ll stick your head above the parapet and put yourself out there.

You may not win awards and accolades like Jamie has – and you don’t need to be on a crusade like him, but everyone has the ability to start doing work they care about, activities they’re passionate about doing something of value.

So what is it you really care about?

What’s the work that gets you energized and passionate?

What would be a good next step right to start doing more of it..?

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