Ratatouille's Lessons for Success

Remy has a highly developed sense of smell. It's his gift. But if Remy didn't have a burning desire to cook, he would have spent the rest of his life being nothing more than a poison checker for his clan.

Remy knows what he wants out of life: He wants to cook. There is never any question about that. His passion drives him to take big risks, such as sneaking into the old lady's house to read her cookbook or raid her spice rack.

When you have a passion like that, a passion you can't help but follow, you have one of the most important ingredients for success. Passion is worth more than any talent or gift.

Early on, Remy found a role model in Chef Gusteau. The chef has all the qualities and skills that Remy himself admires and wants to emulate. Although Gusteau is dead, Remy still soaks in the chef's inspiring words by reading his cookbook and watching him on the cooking channel.

Remy's need for a mentor is so great that he makes Gusteau a living person in his mind. He has conversations with the great chef, which helps set him on the right path.

Napoleon Hill, author of Think & Grow Rich, talks about something similar in his book. He describes how he tried to be like the men he admired. For a while, he had imaginary councils with great men such as Edison, Lincoln, Carnegie, and Ford. His goal was to become more like them, but over time his imagination gave them life. In his mind they would walk around, crack jokes, and debate with each other.

Remy's imaginary conversations with Gusteau are oddly reminiscent of Napoleon Hill's experiences.

Remy is already a good cook by the time he teams up with Linguini, but he still has much to learn. Although he knows how to make a delicious meal, he still has to learn the importance of speed, efficiency, cleanliness, and finesse. Colette becomes Remy's mentor (though she thinks she is mentoring Linguini) and gives him the education he needs to become an even better cook.

Although Remy has the desire and the skills to be a great chef, he still needs other people to help make his dream a reality. First and most obviously, he needs Linguini. Poor Linguini might not know rosemary from a cabbage leaf, but without his trust and help, Remy might have simply gone on dreaming.

Remy also needs people like Linguini, Colette, and even his family to help make things happen. Remy might be talented and determined, but he would have been severely handicapped if he insisted on running the show by himself.

Remy has every excuse not to become a cook. He faces disapproval and criticism from his father. More importantly, rats don't fit into the human world. Humans just see rats as pests that must be exterminated.

It would have been easier for Remy to live a normal rat's life. He could have buried his dreams and played it safe, but he didn't. In the end, he would rather face death than live an unfulfilled life.