The First Pancake Gets Thrown Away (2024)

The First Pancake Gets Thrown Away (1)

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Terrence H. Seamon The First Pancake Gets Thrown Away (2)

Terrence H. Seamon

Smart Moves Coaching | Helping leaders and professionals achieve career goals while strengthening their resilience and well-being | Guiding executives, teams and professionals through challenging transitions to change

Published Sep 29, 2022

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Have you ever made pancakes? Sometimes the first pancake gets thrown away.

In Russia they say "The first pancake is a lump."

In France, "The first crepe is for the dog."

Why is the first pancake often so ugly that it gets tossed? Pancake experts say that there are some possible reasons, including the amount of butter being used, the temperature of the heating surface, and so on.

Perhaps the first one is a "tester." Once it is made, the next batches will be fine. And usually are.

In a recent leadership training program, the conversation was about encouraging employees to offer improvement ideas. The group, a senior leader team at a family-owned company, was a bit uncomfortable with the notion of encouraging employee ideas.

One manager said, "The first pancake gets thrown away oftentimes."

Another chimed in, "Sometimes that first one is wonky."

Indeed. The first ideas offered may be a bit wacky. But don't extinguish them! The process is just getting started.

Keep it going. The next batch may be golden!

About the author: Terrence "Terry" Seamon helps organizations to change and become places that bring out the best in people who work there.

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Gregory Morris

SVP Global Marketing, MBA, Specializing in B2B, B2C, & DTC Growth Strategies, Expert in Revenue, Lead Gen, Digital Transformation, Digital Marketing & AI Innovator. ROI optimization, Brand and GTM.

1y

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We must live in an alternate reality because when we make pancakes (or French Toast), no one throws any of them away. It's usually the one with the most butter. And, my kids (when they were younger loved getting the first one.It supports your article also. It might look funny. It might be wonky. Enjoy employee engagement. Once you start it - you might get a lot of golden pancakes! Don't worry about not using all of the ideas. And, I guess you can throw it away - but not at the Morris house. We'll munch on it.

Mike Horne, Ph.D.

Empowering Innovation from Within: I Guide R&D Executives to Excellence

1y

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Loved the wisdom Terrence H. Seamon!

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Terrence H. Seamon

Smart Moves Coaching | Helping leaders and professionals achieve career goals while strengthening their resilience and well-being | Guiding executives, teams and professionals through challenging transitions to change

1y

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Me too, Lynne.

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Lynne Williams, Ed.D. Candidate

ATS Resumes | LinkedIn™ Branding | Pivots & Reinventions | Keyword strategies to beat the bots | Data-driven decision-making | Strategic Job Search Guidance | Career Development | Techie Boomer Cheerleader

1y

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As they say Terrence H. Seamon - if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again! Now I’m craving pancakes! 🥞😋

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The First Pancake Gets Thrown Away (2024)

FAQs

The First Pancake Gets Thrown Away? ›

Why is the first pancake often so ugly that it gets tossed? Pancake experts say that there are some possible reasons, including the amount of butter being used, the temperature of the heating surface, and so on. Perhaps the first one is a "tester." Once it is made, the next batches will be fine.

What is the saying about the first pancake? ›

“The first pancake is always spoiled.” It's our way of saying that if your first attempt fails, just try again. Last week it literally happened, when I was making the green pandan-coconut-pancakes from yesterday's blogpost. Eventually they were a success.

Is the first pancake always rubbish? ›

There are two key reasons why the first pancake, fritter or pikelet is usually the worst of the bunch. The first is that heat hasn't yet evenly distributed across the surface of the pan when the first dollop of batter is added.

What is the first pancake rule? ›

The idea behind the first pancake rule is that it's okay if the first one doesn't turn out perfectly; it's a practice round for getting the cooking conditions just right. Once you've made the necessary adjustments, the subsequent pancakes are expected to turn out fantastic.

What is the first pancake theory of dating? ›

A bad pancake, according to the trusted source Urban Dictionary, is in its essence the first guy you have sex with or date after the end of a serious relationship. And much like the first pancake you try to make during breakfast, it gets burnt.

Why do people throw away the first pancake? ›

Why is the first pancake often so ugly that it gets tossed? Pancake experts say that there are some possible reasons, including the amount of butter being used, the temperature of the heating surface, and so on. Perhaps the first one is a "tester." Once it is made, the next batches will be fine.

What is the first pancake metaphor? ›

Its an old homily, quite possibly regional to the Midwest, meaning that your first try is never going to be perfect, so don't get upset if you have to throw it away. Grilling pancakes/waffles have the same problem - its easy to burn them.

What is the first pancake phenomenon? ›

The first pancake theory essentially means that. whenever you start something, the first try probably isn't gonna be the best one. When you make the first pancake, it's gonna be burnt, it's gonna be doughy, but then you're gonna be getting to the better ones.

Who ate the first pancake? ›

believe that people enjoyed pancakes as far back as 30,000 years ago during the Stone Age. In fact, researchers found pancakes in the stomach of Ötzi the Iceman, famous human remains that date back more than 5,000 years!

What does the first pancake is a blob? ›

Meaning: The first attempt is usually a failure. Origin: This phrase has its origin in a Russian proverb that translates as “the first pancake is always a blob.” It is meant to be encouraging—you must crawl before you can walk, failure is the mother of success, etc.

Why does the first pancake never come out right? ›

Basically, you're filling in those microscopic crevices so the wet pancake batter won't seep into the holes and stick to the pan, causing tears and awkward flips. As for the uneven browning of the pancake, your burner's to blame. Mostly. "Sometimes it takes one pancake to adjust your temperature," he explained.

What is pancake in 60 seconds? ›

Pancake is a happy dog with yellow fur. He is a Golden Retriever, He has a black nose and puppy cute eyes. He, unlike Sharikov, will bring items into the bunker.

What does the pancake rule mean? ›

The Pancake Rule assumes that during your Whole30, it will be much harder for you to reduce your cravings and change your habits if you spend all 30 days eating foods that look, taste, and smell just like the comfort foods you've been relying on.

What are the 3 rules of dating? ›

The Rule of 3s
  • Three dates: I hear so many women deciding so many things about men they haven't even met yet just based on their dating app profiles. ...
  • Three weeks: Much like the three dates rule, give it a couple of weeks to see if things grow or fade. ...
  • Three months: This might be the most important one.
Feb 8, 2023

What does pancake mean in dating? ›

We're just trying to help you navigate the wild, wild world of dating. Bad Pancake (n): Used to describe the first person you date after a breakup, the bad pancake is someone you don't see a future with whom you use to test the waters of dating again.

What is the 3 month dating theory? ›

Things You Should Know. The 3-month rule is a 90-day trial period where a couple “tests out” a relationship to see if they're compatible. During the 90 days, couples learn about each other's likes, dislikes, and possible red flags.

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