What does “point of no return” mean? For most of my career, I believed it marked an end—quitting, failure, giving up. In my kitchen, the phrase sat etched beside the door as a symbol of defeat. To ring that bell, or even think about it, was a sign of weakness.
It took me 18 years, a conversation with a young culinarian, a long shift, and a barrel-proof bourbon to realize I didn’t need to carry that weight anymore. The bell and those words didn’t have to hold that kind of power.
I decided to shift its meaning. I wanted the bell to represent pride, not failure. Over the past two years, I’ve rung it for birthdays, milestones, and moments of joy, shaking off the old energy and replacing it with celebration.
But there was still that phrase—point of no return—boldly engraved on the side. I thought about having it re-etched, erasing its past. But this bell has hung outside my office for 18 years. It’s part of my story. Changing it would’ve been wrong.
So how do you move forward without forgetting where you came from?
The answer came through change. My Executive Sous Chef, who had been with me for 10 years, took on a new role leading his own kitchen. He had grown from a Soup/Saucier Cook to the opening Sous Chef of a new venue, and finally into his current role.
As his departure neared, I wondered what parting gift could possibly measure up. A knife? Thoughtful, but expected. A rare bottle of tequila? Nice, but fleeting.
It had to be a bell.
Not just any bell. His bell. One that marked the start of a new tradition—one rooted in positivity and progress. His bell would ring for wins, for milestones, for momentum. A symbol of The Path Forward.
That’s when I finally understood what “point of no return” really means. It’s not an ending. It’s a beginning. It’s a moment to let go of what came before and step into something new. Every win, every birthday, every achievement is its own point of no return—a milestone to build on, a launchpad for the next phase.
Now, the bell stands as a symbol of growth and celebration.
As you move through your own culinary and leadership journey, challenge the beliefs you’ve held onto for too long. Growth starts with perspective. And sometimes, the “point of no return” is exactly where you need to be.
