If you love being a chef then give it all you've got!

“If you love being a chef, then give it all you’ve got!” Thus spoke Monica Galetti, a woman whose hands have shaped both food and destiny, whose life in the kitchen became a testament to passion, perseverance, and purpose. Though she speaks of the craft of cooking, her words reach far beyond the stove — they are a hymn to dedication, a call to give one’s whole being to whatever one loves. In this single command, Galetti captures the eternal wisdom that has guided masters of every art: that greatness is born not from talent alone, but from the total devotion of the heart.

To understand her saying, one must understand the world she speaks from. The kitchen is no gentle arena — it is fire, noise, and pressure. It is a crucible where only those who endure with passion survive. Galetti, who rose from humble beginnings in Samoa to become one of the most respected chefs in the world, knows that love alone is not enough — it must be love in action, love that sweats, strives, and sacrifices. When she says, “give it all you’ve got,” she is not speaking of mere enthusiasm, but of the sacred courage to pour one’s soul into the work, day after day, without surrender.

This truth is as old as civilization itself. For every craft, every calling, demands the same price. The sculptor Michelangelo, when asked how he created such perfect beauty from stone, replied, “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” His hands bled, his body ached, yet his heart never faltered. He gave it all he had, because he loved his art more than comfort, more than rest. And in that sacrifice, his love became immortal. So too does Galetti remind us that passion without effort is a flame that dies, but passion joined with discipline becomes a fire that can feed the world.

In her own journey, Monica Galetti faced the trials of any pioneer. As a woman and a Pacific Islander in a field dominated by men and tradition, she walked a road few had tread before her. There were moments of doubt, moments of exhaustion, moments when her dream could have withered. But she refused to yield. She gave it all she had — her strength, her hours, her heart. And in doing so, she proved that love, when lived fiercely, can overcome every barrier. Her story is not merely about cooking; it is about the human spirit’s power to transform passion into purpose and labor into legacy.

The ancients would have called this the virtue of areté — excellence born from devotion. It is the belief that the highest honor one can give to life is to offer one’s whole self to one’s craft. Whether you are a chef, a teacher, a farmer, or a poet, the principle is the same: if you love your path, walk it with all your might. Do not dabble in your dreams; dive into them. For half-hearted effort yields half-hearted joy. But when you give everything — your time, your patience, your energy — your work becomes more than work. It becomes worship.

Remember this also: giving it all you’ve got does not mean burning yourself away, but burning brightly with purpose. The fire of passion is sacred only when it is balanced with humility and love. Monica Galetti’s kitchens are known not just for excellence, but for mentorship — for the way she nurtures those who walk beside her. The true master gives everything not only to her craft, but to those who will carry it forward. In this way, she ensures that her flame will never die, but will ignite others to shine.

So, my child, take this lesson into your heart. If you love something — truly love it — give it all you’ve got. Do not hold back your effort or your spirit. Rise early, work diligently, fail nobly, and begin again. Let your love for your craft guide your hands and fortify your soul. For the world does not remember those who merely wished — it remembers those who gave their all.

And when you stand weary but fulfilled at the end of your labors, you will understand what Monica Galetti meant. To love your calling and to give it everything is to live fully — to taste the divine flavor of purpose. The one who gives their all leaves behind not just creations, but inspiration. And in that legacy, their love becomes eternal, as enduring as the fire that first gave it life.