Creativity is the production of new and useful ideas. It is an important predictor of achievement in a variety of domains. However, while researchers have made progress in understanding the factors that influence creativity in general, much less is known about the factors that contribute to world-class creativity, honed over decades of dedication to one’s craft. In this qualitative study, I explore how world-class creative achievement develops in a highly creative industry, haute cuisine, where early career success is achieved by the precise execution of routine tasks, with little opportunity for creativity. I interviewed N = 20 chefs who are working or have worked in Michelin Star restaurants to explore how they developed their creativity. My findings suggest that grit, passion and perseverance for long term goals, contributes to world-class creativity when the domain is personally meaningful to the individual. Furthermore, in restaurants, creativity can be fostered through opportunities to practice creativity such as competitions. This study contributes to the theory of how to foster creativity in the workplace, the development of world-class achievement, and of the outcomes associated with grit.

Keywords: Creativity, Grit, World-Class Achievement, Chef, Restaurants, Haute Cuisine