Brutal life lessons from the restaurant world | Mike Bausch | TEDxParkland
Four out of five restaurants fail within five years. Mike Bausch didn’t just beat those odds—he built 12 thriving restaurants across 7 brands, starting from scratch at age 22. In this TEDx talk, filmed in Miami, Mike shares five raw, brutally honest truths from the restaurant industry—truths that double as life-changing lessons in leadership, resilience, and success.From navigating chaos and burnout to building systems that create profit and freedom, this talk isn’t just for restaurant owners—it’s for anyone who wants to thrive in high-stakes environments.
Mike is the co-owner of Andolini's Pizzeria, ranked among America’s Top 10 pizzerias by CNN, Buzzfeed, and USA Today. He’s also the founder of the Unsliced Restaurant System, an online coaching program helping independent restaurant owners build businesses that don’t burn them out.
Mike Bausch is a renowned restaurant industry leader, entrepreneur, and two-time Amazon #1 best-selling author of Unsliced: How to Stay Whole in the Pizzeria Industry and The Pursuit of Pizza. As the owner of Andolini's Worldwide, Mike has built an award-winning portfolio that includes Andolini's Pizzeria--named one of the "Top 10 Pizzerias in America" by TripAdvisor, CNN, BuzzFeed, and USA Today--along with five pizzerias, two gelaterias, two food hall concepts, a food truck, and a fine dining restaurant. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
More from TED
- 16:36What If Your Dreams Are a Lie? | Ifeoma Okoye | TEDxEvergreen Schools YouthWe all have dreams—plans for the future, goals, and hopes that keep us moving.But what if the reason those dreams aren’t happening isn’t because they’re too big… but because we haven’t learned how to follow through?In this bold TEDx talk, Dr. Ifeoma Stella Okoye challenges us to face the truth. CEO, STM Magical Creations This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 17:44Beyond the Rearview Mirror: Are You Ready to Look Ahead? | Nadab Akhtar | TEDxParklandIn a world moving faster than ever, most decision models are still staring into the rearview mirror—relying only on the past to guess the future. In this powerful talk, Nadab Akhtar, Founder and Managing Partner of Excite, introduces a new way forward: quantum-inspired intelligence that senses the present and adapts in real time.Blending physics, finance, and frontier systems thinking, Nadab reveals how Excite's algorithms don't just predict — they anticipate — by modeling motion, causality, and uncertainty itself. Instead of clinging to static histories, Excite builds living, dynamic models of reality—allowing leaders to move faster, see further, and stay adaptive in an unpredictable world.Join us for a glimpse into the future of decision-making, where sensing beats guessing, and leadership means looking ahead. Mr. Nadab Akhtar is an entrepreneur and investment banker with over 15 years of experience, including nearly a decade in corporate advisory and M&A transactions.He is the Founder and Managing Partner of Excite (formerly Old Parkland Capital), a quantitative trading firm that leverages AI-driven strategies to predict market movements and manage risk more dynamically than traditional fund managers.Additionally, Mr. Akhtar is the Co-Founder, President, and COO of CrowdPoint Technologies, Inc., a leader in Quantum-as-a-Service (QaaS) and non-cryogenic quantum computing.He also serves as an advisor to Cardone Ventures and its M&A practice, 10X Buy/Sell.Previously, Mr. Akhtar was the Chief Operating Officer of Nexus Health Capital, a boutique investment banking firm specializing in middle-market healthcare services. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 7:37Mapping the Future of Human Connections | Lupemba Fisher | TEDxYouth@AISCTIn a world more connected than ever, why are so many of us feeling alone? This talk dives into the rise of loneliness in the digital age, mixing powerful poetry, personal stories, and real stats to show how social media might be pulling us apart instead of bringing us together. It’s a call to break down the walls we’ve built, reconnect with the people around us, and remember that none of us can make it out here alone. My name is Lupemba, a student at the American International School of Cape Town. I play football on our school team and at club level. In my free time, I play and listen to music, go to the gym, and spend time with my friends. I am interested in how to prepare and develop a solid future for myself after high school, this led me to understand what truly matters in life. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 6:53When Dreams Become Divine: Turning Inspiration Into Impact | Joe Mittiga | TEDxJabavuThis transformative message dives deep into the spiritual and human journey of bringing dreams to life—from the spark of inspiration to the courage it takes to manifest them. With vulnerability and wisdom, the speaker guides us through overcoming fear, silencing inner doubt, and aligning with divine purpose. Through personal reflection, collective empowerment, and a call to action, this talk is a soulful reminder that we are co-creators of change, capable of shaping a better world by doing what we love and becoming the best versions of ourselves. Joe Mittiga is a conscious CEO, heart-centered entrepreneur, author, and sought-after speaker with over 31 years of sobriety and freedom from codependency. As a highly evolved spiritual guide, Joe walks the path of healing and transformation alongside others, sharing the self-loving practices and emotional insights that helped him rediscover his power and purpose. His message is grounded in deep honesty and vulnerability, offering both spiritual wisdom and practical tools for living a life of love, clarity, and financial abundance. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Joe travels the world, inspiring business and personal development audiences with his lived experience and unwavering commitment to growth, authenticity, and service. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 10:06From Meters to Kilometers | Adrija Rastenytė | TEDxYouth@VISDiscovering my love for running after years of feeling stuck in my fitness journey. I hope to inspire others to take risks & understand that personal growth never truly stops. I'm an 11th grader. My speech is about discovering my love for running after years of feeling stuck in my fitness journey. I hope to inspire others to take risks and understand that personal growth never truly stops. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 5:18On the Path to Crossroads | Karolina Žakaitytė | TEDxYouth@VISBalancing school, family, friends, and activities can be tough—especially when everyone tells you what you should do. I’ll be sharing my experience with pressure and how I’m learning to choose what I really want, both now and for the future. Hey, my name is Karolina, and I am a student in gr. 9. Apart from school I attend many clubs and programs in order to develop my skills and interests. I am always choosing between school, my clubs, family, my friends and more. But when everyone else is telling you what you're supposed to quit, choose, prioritise it gets more and more difficult to remember what you want. During the event, I will be sharing my experiences with pressure and choosing what I want to do now and in the future. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx