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Last night, I had dinner with Mau, Larry and Curly.  Not quite the 3 Stooges but it was a fun dinner altogether.

Mau is the chef/owner of Old Vine Restaurant.  Larry is the Operations Head/owner.  Curly is our pastor from Pioneer, Robert Hern.  Our wives were also with us.

As I listened to how Old Vine started, I was flabbergasted.  Mau started as a dish washer while Larry worked as a bus boy/waiter in their teens.

I learned so much from last night.  Here are a few things I got.

1. Dream big.

Starting as waiters didn’t stop them from believing God for greater things.

We cannot let our current circumstances hinder us from dreaming big.

2. There’s no such thing as overnight success.

Many people desire to be in the seats of successful people but are they willing to wear their shoes during the years of building to where they are today?

Malcolm Gladwell talks about the 10,000 hours needed to be excellent with our craft.  Check out OUTLIERS.

3. Stay focused.

Larry said that when he would share his dreams to his old bosses while still working as a waiter, they would discourage him and tell him that he’s reading too many books.

He didn’t let these comments derail his vision.  He kept going.

Now they have several restaurants and still growing.  What a story.

“Clear lots of ground for your tents!

Make your tents large.

Spread out!

Use plenty of rope, drive the tent pegs deep.

You’re going to need lots of elbow room for your growing family.

You’re going to take over whole nations; you’re going to resettle abandoned cities.

Don’t be afraid—you’re not going to be embarrassed.

Don’t hold back—you’re not going to come up short.

(Is. 54:2-4, Message Version)