“If the recipe sucks, it doesn’t matter how good a cook you are”

“If the recipe sucks, it doesn’t matter how good (of) a cook you are” is a saying that has been printed on many images. American author, entrepreneur and public speaker Tim Ferriss (not to be confused with the science writer Timothy Ferris) wrote in the book The 4-Hour Workweek (2007):
 
“Don’t follow a model that doesn’t work. If the recipe sucks, it doesn’t matter how good a cook you are.”
 
The saying is sometimes used in cooking, but the analogy was meant to describe business practices.
   
     
Wikipedia: Tim Ferriss
Timothy Ferriss (born July 20, 1977) is an American author, entrepreneur, and public speaker.

He has written a number of self-help books on the “4-hour” theme, some of which have appeared on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestseller lists, starting with The 4-Hour Workweek.
   
Google Books
The 4-Hour Workweek,
Expanded and Updated
By Timothy Ferriss
New York, NY: Crown Publishers
2009 (Originally published in 2007.—ed.)
If everyone is defining a problem or solving it in one way and the results are subpar, this is the time to ask, What if I did the opposite?  Don’t follow a model that doesn’t work. If the recipe sucks, it doesn’t matter how good a cook you are.
 
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Dorian Benkoil
@dbenk
“if the recipe sucks, it doesn’t matter how good a cook you are.” Tim Ferriss
10:23 PM - 28 May 2008
 
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Dan Entin
@danentin
“If the recipe sucks, it doesn’t matter how good a cook you are.” - Tim Ferriss, The 4-Hour Workweek
6:30 PM - 25 Mar 2009
     
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Raluca Radu
@ralucaraduMTH
“If the recipe sucks, it doesn’t matter how good a cook you are. Also applies to business.” - Timothy Ferriss - 4hour workweek
10:18 PM - 19 May 2009
   
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Chief of Face
@ChiefOfFace
Don’t follow a model that doesn’t work. If the recipe sucks, it doesn’t matter how good a cook you are.—T. Ferriss
9:03 AM - 26 Oct 2009
     
Twitter 
Eduardo Calvachi
@educalvachi
Don’t follow a model that doesn’t work. If the recipe sucks, it doesn’t matter how good of a cook you are. (Tim Ferris, 4 hour workweek)
3:17 AM - 23 Dec 2009
 
Business Insider
These Tips Will Help You Escape The 9-To-5 Mindset
Max Nisen and Aimee Groth
Apr. 24, 2013, 12:43 PM
(...)
It’s incredibly simple to fall into easy habits, or just do things the way you’re trained. Ferriss writes:
 
“If everyone is defining a problem or solving it one way and the results are subpar, this is the time to ask, What if I did the opposite? Don’t follow a model that doesn’t work. If the recipe sucks, it doesn’t matter how good a cook you are.”
 
Twitter
Bill Benoist
@billbenoist
If the recipe sucks, it doesn’t matter how good a cook you are.  Don’t follow a model that doesn’t work.
12:10 PM - 9 Jan 2015
 
Twitter
Raymond Brown
@RaymondBrown__
If the recipe sucks, it doesn’t matter how good a cook you are. - Tim Ferriss #quote
6:42 PM - 18 Jun 2018