6 All-You-Can-Eat Breakfast Bar Tips From a Navy SEAL!
Since Navy SEALs are the go-to information source for all listicles, we asked former SEAL Tim Lippert to tell us how he would apply his SEAL training to conquering the all-you-can-eat breakfast bar.
PREPARE FOR THE ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT BREAKFAST BAR
“By the time we dropped into Osama bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, we’d been training in a full-scale model of it for weeks. We knew exactly where the doors would be, how many steps it would take to get from point A to point B, where to expect resistance, where the laundry was hung, everything.”
Lippert’s advice on an all-you-can-eat breakfast bar scenario?
“Do reconnaissance first. Walk by, taking discrete photos. Study them. Build a full-scale model of the all-you-can eat breakfast bar in your garage. And train. Train and train until you intuitively know where the grits will be, how high the clean plates are stacked, and how proficient the guy who makes omelettes is.”
Also, Lippert adds, be prepared for what you don’t see:
“You’ll need to train to anticipate things — like some jackass leaving the scrambled egg spoon in the sausage tray, or someone not closing the pancake steamer.”
OVERRULE YOURSELF
“There are times when you’re going to wake up at 4:15am and not want to run to the all-you-can-eat breakfast bar. Don’t come up with excuses for why you should stay in bed. Don’t hit snooze. Just put your pants on and run to the all-you-can-eat breakfast bar.”
What’s the benefit of denying yourself pleasures like the snooze button? Lippert explains:
“When you start the day with something difficult, something you did not want to do, the rest of the day is easy-peasy. Covering your pancakes in a fake maple syrup that’s just chemicals and high-fructose? Bring it on.”
VISUALIZE SUCCESS
“During my SEAL training there was an exercise where we had to perform difficult tasks underwater while instructors attacked us and tried to disable our SCUBA gear. The ones who passed the test were the ones who had imagined a whole variety of scenarios beforehand, and worked out how they would react to each one of them.”
How can you apply that to an all-you-can-eat breakfast bar operation? It’s easy, says Lippert:
“Spend lots of time wargaming. Imagine what could happen and how you would overcome the obstacle. What if they run out of yogurt? What if a child takes the bagel you toasted? Uh oh, there’s no cream cheese spreader — what do you do? If you’ve already gamed out those scenarios, you’re way ahead of everyone else.”
SET MICRO-GOALS
“Navy SEALs are taught to think in small steps. Yes, we want to shoot a terrified bin Laden in the face, but how do we get to that point? Through a series of small goals that get us to our big goal.”
How do micro-goals help you at an all-you-can-eat breakfast bar?
“Easy,” says Lippert, “Get your plate. Get bacon tongs. Grab the bacon. If it’s sticking together don’t shake it in the hopes of some bacon dropping off — just drop it all on your plate. Time is of the essence. Drop the tongs. Move to the sausage… Small steps, one after the other, which lead you to the ultimate goal of conquering the all-you-can-eat breakfast bar.”
MENTAL TOUGHNESS IS KEY
“One of the things you learn as a SEAL is that failure in your head. You give up mentally before you give up physically. You can always push yourself harder. If you’ve eaten eighteen bacon strips and you feel nauseous because they were super greasy and undercooked — that’s just your brain trying to get you to stop eating too much undercooked bacon. Physically, you can still eat another pound of bacon. Just keep eating the bacon. Even if you throw up in your booth and go into cholesterol shock, you’re building mental strength that will help you throughout your life.”
YOU CAN’T WIN WITHOUT CONFIDENCE
“I survived my SEAL training by knowing that I was better than the people around me. There was no doubt in my mind, no insecurity or negative thoughts. I couldn’t allow it. You can do the same: I am better at Eggs Benedict than she is… I can fit more hash browns on my plate than that dude. That’s not how you use Nutella…
Armed with these invaluable SEAL skills, Lippert says that anyone can make the most out of their lives and the all-you-can-eat breakfast bar.
“Whether you’re pumping a few rounds into the face of the world’s most famous terrorist, or pumping carbs into your own face, everyone benefits from discipline, confidence, and hard work. Now, get out there and brunch.”
Next week: A Navy SEAL explains how to use iTunes.
