Just cut my 1,000th brisket flat for burnt ends... that number hit me

I was cleaning up after a big weekend order and counted the tickets in my book. I've been doing burnt ends for about three years now, but seeing that exact 1,000 mark on my tally sheet was a shock. It made me realize how much muscle memory I've built up for trimming and cubing that specific cut. I can almost do it with my eyes closed now, which is a weird feeling. Has anyone else hit a personal number like that in their shop that made them stop and think?

4 comments

4 Comments

henryp407d ago

Agree with you on that muscle memory thing, it sneaks up on you. One day you're still figuring out the trim and the next your hands just know where to slice without your brain having to think about it. I hit 500 racks of ribs a few years back and it was the same kind of realization, you don't notice the reps adding up until you're suddenly there. That's the part nobody talks about enough, the invisible grind that just becomes second nature over time.

danielnelson2mo ago

Congrats on the milestone, that's some serious dedication right there.

the_harper2mo ago

Exactly, it's like that 1% better every day idea. You don't notice Tuesday from Monday, but you sure notice June from January. The hard part is trusting the process when the results are invisible.

the_elliot2mo ago

Appreciate it @danielnelson. It's wild how sticking with small habits adds up over time, even when you don't see progress day to day. That consistency is what actually builds anything worthwhile.