On May 18th, 2023, at around 4:00 pm West Central Africa time, a 27-year-old Nigerian chef named Hilda Bassey, from Akwa-Ibom State, the owner of “My Food by Hilda,” embarked on a ‘cookathon’—a cooking marathon—aiming to break the record set by Indian chef Lata Tandon in September 2019, which lasted 87 hours and 45 minutes. Hilda’s goal was to cook for 96 hours, but she surpassed it and cooked for over 100 hours.
From the third day of the ‘cookathon’, the event gained significant attention on the internet, with celebrities, friends, fans, and well-wishers posting, reposting, and commenting about it. The event became a buzzing topic, showcasing the power of success in attracting attention.
The purpose of this article is to extract important personal and business lessons from this inspiring story. Here are the key lessons:
- Plan: The cookathon’s success was evident due to the meticulous planning that went into every detail. It highlights the importance of evaluating and preparing for an event rather than simply acting without careful consideration. As the saying goes, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”
- Preparation Aided by Self-Awareness: Hilda’s journey included shedding weight, from 110 kg to 80 kg, and maintaining exercise routines to strengthen her core. She recognized the need for her body to align with her vision and understood that success occurs when opportunity meets preparedness.
- Resilience and Determination: Despite challenges like stress-induced menstrual cycles, dizziness, numbness, and exhaustion, Hilda remained committed to her goal. Her resilient spirit and determination were evident throughout the ‘cookathon’. She had intentionally built her capacity through a 24-hour trial beforehand.
- Creating Awareness: Hilda didn’t aim to break the record silently. She involved people and prepared their minds for the feat she sought to achieve. Whenever she had the opportunity, she spoke about her desire to break the record, creating awareness and generating anticipation.
- Excellence: The ‘cookathon’ showcased the excellence with which Hilda carried out her expertise. Attendees at the Amore Gardens in Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria, praised the taste of every meal Hilda prepared. She also maintained a clean and organized cooking environment, practicing personal hygiene by covering her hair, refraining from talking while cooking, and wearing an apron. This emphasized her commitment to high standards.
- Excellent Project Execution: The flawless execution of the project can be attributed to Hilda’s team. From assistant chefs to the PR team, health professionals, journalists, and independent witnesses, everyone played their roles meticulously. Thorough planning and intentional efforts contributed to the smooth execution of the cookathon.
- Having Foresight: In business, it’s crucial to identify and seize opportunities when they align with your business goal. As the ‘cookathon’ gained media momentum on the third day, businesses that had previously advertised with Hilda began reposting those ads to drive traffic to their pages. This increased visibility benefited the brands and potentially generated revenue. Furthermore, the sponsoring brands gained publicity, positively impacting their brand perception.
- People Currency: Assembling a team of individuals who share your vision, whom you can inspire with your ideas, and who are committed to working tirelessly day and night to achieve it is a remarkable accomplishment. Hilda’s ability to rally her parents, friends, and team members around her is a testament to her exceptional interpersonal skills. Their belief in her translated into the world also placing its trust and faith in her.
By analyzing Hilda Bassey’s ‘cookathon’, these lessons highlight the significance of planning, preparation, resilience, awareness, excellence, project execution, foresight, and people currency in personal and business endeavors.
