Tag Archives: Restaurant Owner Bootcamp

Episode 173 – From Ruin to Renaissance with Lisa Gasparian

June 25, 2025PodcastCafe Cremerie, Donald Burns, Embrace the Suck, Ingredients, Leadership, Lisa Gasaprian, marketing, masterminds, Outstanding Mindset, podcast, profits, restaurant business, Restaurant Coach, restaurant masterminds, Restaurant Owner Bootcamp, Restaurant Success Summit, restaurants, The Restaurant Coach, TRC Method, Your Restaurant Culture Sucks, Your Restaurant Still Sucks, Your Restaurant Suckstherestaurantcoachpodcast

Lisa Gasparian’s Café Cremerie Comeback

She got hit.
HARD.

2020 didn’t just rattle Lisa Gasparian.
It tried to wipe her off the map.

When COVID strangled foot traffic in downtown Chicago, and looters ravaged her café during the riots, her small café was left gutted—physically and emotionally. Most would have folded.

But Lisa?

Lisa got F*CKING RELENTLESS.

She joined the TRC Method when the world was burning—and we got to work rebuilding her mindset, her brand, and her future from the ground up. Fast forward to today, and Café Cremerie isn’t just back.

She’s DOMINATING the Chicago café scene.
She’s building a brand that people line up for.
And now?
She’s not just ready for Chicago—she’s ready for the WORLD.

In this episode of The Restaurant Coach Podcast, I sit down with Lisa to talk about:

How to rebuild from NOTHING but belief and grit
Why branding saved her business—and how you can use the same process
The realities of being a female restaurant owner in a male-dominated space
The power of choosing COMMITMENT over COMFORT

Her story isn’t just inspiring—it’s your wake-up call.

Because if Lisa can rise from literal rubble to restaurant royalty—what’s your excuse for staying stuck?

👉 Hit play now and learn what real resilience sounds like.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.

And if you’re finally ready to take control of your restaurant like Lisa did?

🔥 Head over to www.TheRestaurantCoach.com and book a complimentary 1:1 Strategy Session with me personally to get a plan together.

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Episode 172 – No Coach, No Chance

June 20, 2025PodcastDonald Burns, Embrace the Suck, Ingredients, Leadership, marketing, masterminds, Outstanding Mindset, podcast, profits, restaurant business, Restaurant Coach, restaurant masterminds, Restaurant Owner Bootcamp, Restaurant Success Summit, restaurants, The Restaurant Coach, TRC Method, Your Restaurant Culture Sucks, Your Restaurant Still Sucks, Your Restaurant Suckstherestaurantcoachpodcast

Welcome to The Restaurant Coach Podcast, it is the cure for the common restaurant.

In this powerful episode, I’m joined once again by TRC Method™ Lead Coach, Michael Kontras, for a no-BS conversation about the harsh truth most independent restaurant owners ignore:

Running your restaurant without a coach is a guaranteed way to stay stuck.

Michael opens up about his own journey—what it really looked like when he was drowning in the chaos of running his restaurant. Overworked. Underpaid. And dangerously close to burning it all to the ground.

Until he made one decision that changed everything.

We talk about:

The real costs of trying to figure it all out on your own
Why information isn’t enough—you need transformation
The emotional weight of leadership and how a coach helps carry the load
What happened when Michael finally reached out…and the results that followed

If you’re still telling yourself “I can do this alone,” this episode is a wake-up call.

No coach. No plan. No chance.

But with the right coach? You unlock clarity, strategy, accountability, and momentum.

Listen in, take notes, and if you’re ready to stop surviving and start thriving—head over to www.TheRestaurantCoach.com and book a complimentary 1:1 Strategy Session with me personally to get a plan together.

Let’s go. Your future guests are waiting.

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Episode 171 – Leadership Drive Profits with Bo Bryant

June 9, 2025PodcastBo Byrant, Donald Burns, Embrace the Suck, Ingredients, Leadership, marketing, masterminds, Outstanding Mindset, podcast, profits, restaurant business, Restaurant Coach, restaurant masterminds, Restaurant Owner Bootcamp, Restaurant Success Summit, restaurants, Savage Restaurant Success, The Restaurant Coach, Your Restaurant Culture Sucks, Your Restaurant Still Sucks, Your Restaurant Suckstherestaurantcoachpodcast

Welcome to The Restaurant Coach™ Podcast. It is the cure for the common restaurant. I’m Donald Burns, The Restaurant Coach®, author of the Your Restaurant Sucks trilogy and Ingredients:Creating TOTAL Restaurant Success in 90-Days, creator of the TRC Method™, and founder of TRC Nation.

In this high-impact episode, I sit down with Bo Bryant—known across the industry as The Restaurant Giant. Together, we unpack the undeniable truth: your restaurant’s profits are a direct reflection of your leadership. Period.

Bo and I dive deep into the real reasons restaurant owners get stuck in survival mode, why systems won’t save you if your leadership sucks, and how to lead with clarity, conviction, and culture. We talk about the difference between managing chaos and leading transformation. If your team isn’t thriving, if your margins are bleeding, if you feel like you’re doing everything right but still losing—this episode is your wake-up call.

Because leadership isn’t a soft skill.
It’s a bottom-line skill.

Tune in and discover why sharpening your leadership is the fastest way to boost profitability, build a culture of excellence, and finally take back control of your restaurant—and your life.

Want to find out where your leadership gaps are stealing your profits?
Head over to www.TheRestaurantCoach.com and book a complimentary 1:1 Strategy Session with me personally.

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Episode 170 – The 5 F’s of Restaurant Success with Robert St. John

May 31, 2025PodcastDonald Burns, Embrace the Suck, Ingredients, marketing, masterminds, Outstanding Mindset, podcast, profits, restaurant business, Restaurant Coach, restaurant masterminds, Restaurant Owner Bootcamp, Restaurant Success Summit, restaurants, Robert St John, The Restaurant Coach, TRC Method, Your Restaurant Culture Sucks, Your Restaurant Still Sucks, Your Restaurant Suckstherestaurantcoachpodcast

In this heartfelt and wisdom-packed episode of The Restaurant Coach Podcast, I sit down with the legendary restaurateur, author, and Southern hospitality icon Robert St. John to uncover the secret sauce behind his enduring success—not just in business, but in life.

Robert breaks down his personal philosophy he calls The 5 F’s:
Faith, Family, Friends, Food, and Fun.

This episode isn’t just about building great restaurants—it’s about building a great life through aligned values, intentional leadership, and never forgetting what truly matters.

You’ll hear stories of early struggle, resilience, reinvention, and the powerful moment when Robert re-centered his entire life and business around these five principles. From creating community around the table to building teams that thrive on culture and connection, Robert’s message is a masterclass in perspective, passion, and purpose.

Whether you’re deep in the trenches of restaurant ownership or searching for renewed clarity in your career and calling—this episode will remind you of why you started and what really matters most.

Key Takeaways:

Why Faith grounds leadership and anchors resilience.
How Family is the compass that guides hard decisions.
The power of authentic Friendships in an industry that often isolates.
The role of Food as the universal language of love and service.
Why Fun is the fuel that sustains long-term success.

Quote of the Episode:
“If you’re not having fun, you’re doing it wrong.” – Robert St. John

🔥 Don’t Miss:
The part where Robert reveals the one thing he’d do differently if he could go back to the beginning—and why it’s a lesson every restaurant owner needs to hear right now.

Ready to put the fun (and the faith) back into your restaurant journey?
Head over to www.TheRestaurantCoach.com and book your complimentary Profit Recovery Call to get a plan that aligns your restaurant AND your life.

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Episode 169 – From Struggling to Savage with Michael Kontras

March 18, 2025PodcastDonald Burns, Embrace the Suck, Leadership, marketing, masterminds, Outstanding Mindset, podcast, profits, restaurant business, Restaurant Coach, Restaurant Growth, restaurant masterminds, Restaurant Owner Bootcamp, Restaurant Success Summit, restaurants, Savage Restaurant Success, The Restaurant Coach, TRC Conquest, TRC Method, Your Restaurant Culture Sucks, Your Restaurant Still Sucks, Your Restaurant Suckstherestaurantcoachpodcast

Most restaurant owners think they can figure it out on their own… until they hit a wall. HARD.

Michael Kontras from Bailey’s Seafood was grinding day and night, drowning in the chaos, and stuck in the same endless cycle.

Then he made a game-changing move—he got a coach. And everything shifted.

In this episode, Michael gets real about what it took to break free from the struggle, the brutal truths he had to face, and how having a coach gave him the clarity, systems, and strategy to scale his restaurant like never before.

If you’re tired of spinning your wheels and want a REAL plan to turn your restaurant into a powerhouse, head over to www.TheRestaurantCoach.com and book a complimentary 1:1 strategy session with me personally.

Let’s get your restaurant (and life) where it’s meant to be.

SHOW LINKS

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Episode 168 – From Special Ops To Restaurant Coach

February 5, 2025PodcastDonald Burns, Embrace the Suck, Leadership, marketing, masterminds, Outstanding Mindset, podcast, profits, restaurant business, Restaurant Coach, Restaurant Growth, restaurant masterminds, Restaurant Owner Bootcamp, Restaurant Success Summit, restaurants, Savage Restaurant Success, The Restaurant Coach, Warrior Restaurants, Your Restaurant Culture Sucks, Your Restaurant Still Sucks, Your Restaurant Suckstherestaurantcoachpodcast

Ready to 4X your restaurant’s revenue?
► https://www.therestaurantcoach.com/

From combat zones to restaurant battlefields.

As a former Air Force Pararescueman, I will teach you how to improve your restaurant’s survival strategy.

Warrior-level restaurant leadership strategies that cut through the chaos.

No fluff, just hardcore tactics to stop spinning your wheels and start dominating your market. Military precision meets restaurant management.

Learn how to lead your team, build unbreakable systems, and scale your business without burning out.

If you want the full playbook on growing your restaurant to 4X revenue and finally spending your time working on the business rather than in it, then…

CONNECT WITH ME:

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Ready to Get On The Path To Profits…

► Grab my TRC Vault Titanium Deal NOW!

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Episode 167 – Stop Running From The Pressure

January 22, 2025PodcastDonald Burns, Embrace the Suck, Leadership, podcast, restaurant business, Restaurant Coach, Restaurant Growth, restaurant masterminds, Restaurant Owner Bootcamp, Restaurant Success Summit, restaurants, Savage Restaurant Success, The Restaurant Coach, Warrior Restaurants, Your Restaurant Culture Sucks, Your Restaurant Still Sucks, Your Restaurant Suckstherestaurantcoachpodcast

Ready to 4X your restaurant’s revenue?

► https://www.therestaurantcoach.com/

Think pressure is just pain?

Let’s break that mindset.

Pressure is a privilege – it’s the fire that forges greatness.

Embrace the grind, push through the doubt, and let pressure transform you into an unstoppable force.

In this episode, I will reveal how the top players in the game leveraged pressure to build legendary careers and legacies.

It’s time to step up and embrace what separates the warriors from the weak.

Are you willing to step up and dominate, or will you let pressure crush you?

The choice is yours. If you want the full playbook on growing your restaurant to 4X revenue and finally spending your time working on the business rather than in it, then…

CONNECT WITH ME:

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Ready to Get On The Path To Profits…
► Grab my TRC Vault Titanium Deal NOW!

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Episode 166 – Broken Bonds Broken Life

January 15, 2025PodcastDonald Burns, Embrace the Suck, Leadership, marketing, masterminds, Outstanding Mindset, podcast, profits, restaurant business, Restaurant Coach, Restaurant Growth, restaurant masterminds, Restaurant Owner Bootcamp, Restaurant Success Summit, restaurants, Savage Restaurant Success, The Restaurant Coach, Warrior Restaurants, Your Restaurant Culture Sucks, Your Restaurant Suckstherestaurantcoachpodcast

Ready to 4X your restaurant’s revenue?
► https://www.therestaurantcoach.com

Is your restaurant running you instead of you running it?

Your life is like a car with four crucial tires: body, being, balance, and business.

When even one tire is underinflated, everything falls apart.

I will break down why most restaurant owners are heading for a crash by neglecting these key areas.

From physical health to spiritual well-being, relationships to financial growth.

Get the hard-hitting truth about what it takes to thrive in the restaurant game.

Stop the wobble before it’s too late.

Join the 8-week Restaurant Growth Challenge and build systems that give you your life back while creating consistent profits.

If you want the full playbook on growing your restaurant to 4X revenue and finally spending your time working on the business rather than in it, then…

CONNECT WITH ME:

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Ready to Get On The Path To Profits…

► Grab my TRC Vault Titanium Deal NOW!

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Episode 165 – Being Married to The Restaurant Is Killing You

January 3, 2025PodcastDonald Burns, Embrace the Suck, Leadership, marketing, masterminds, Outstanding Mindset, podcast, profits, restaurant business, Restaurant Coach, Restaurant Growth, restaurant masterminds, Restaurant Owner Bootcamp, Restaurant Success Summit, restaurants, Savage Restaurant Success, The Restaurant Coach, Warrior Restaurants, Your Restaurant Culture Sucks, Your Restaurant Still Sucks, Your Restaurant Suckstherestaurantcoachpodcast

Ready to 4X your restaurant’s revenue?
► https://www.therestaurantcoach.com

Is your restaurant taking a toll on your family?

Discover the true cost of being “married to your restaurant” – and how to finally create the balance and success you deserve.

This powerful coaching session lays it all on the line, pulling no punches about the sacrifices restaurant owners often make at the expense of their families.

If you want the full playbook on growing your restaurant to 4X revenue and finally spending your time working on the business rather than in it, then…

CONNECT WITH ME:

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Ready to Get On The Path To Profits…

► Grab my TRC Vault Titanium Deal NOW!

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Episode 164 – This Is WHY Your Restaurant Is Stuck

December 24, 2024PodcastDonald Burns, Embrace the Suck, Leadership, marketing, masterminds, Outstanding Mindset, podcast, profits, restaurant business, Restaurant Coach, Restaurant Growth, restaurant masterminds, Restaurant Owner Bootcamp, Restaurant Success Summit, restaurants, Savage Restaurant Success, The Restaurant Coach, Warrior Restaurants, Your Restaurant Culture Sucks, Your Restaurant Still Sucks, Your Restaurant Suckstherestaurantcoachpodcast

Ready to 4X your restaurant’s revenue?
► https://www.therestaurantcoach.com/

Evolve or die.

It’s not just a catchy phrase—it’s God’s law for restaurant success.

The world has changed, and if you’re clinging to outdated strategies, you’re on a fast track to extinction.

In this episode, I will explain why adaptability is crucial in today’s fierce restaurant industry.

I will share my insights on overcoming resistance to change and offer actionable steps to transform your mindset and business.

This is a no-nonsense guide to identifying what’s holding you back and embracing innovation to thrive in our rapidly evolving market.

Don’t get left behind—I’ll show you how to stay ahead of the curve and secure your restaurant’s future.

If you want the full playbook on how to grow your restaurant to 4X revenue, and finally move to spending your time working on the business rather than in it, then…

Ready to Get On The Path To Profits…

► Grab my TRC Vault Titanium Deal NOW!

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Lisa Gasparian’s Café Cremerie Comeback

CONNECT WITH ME:

Ready to Get On The Path To Profits…

CONNECT WITH ME:

Ready to Get On The Path To Profits…► Grab my TRC Vault Titanium Deal NOW!

CONNECT WITH ME:

Ready to Get On The Path To Profits…

CONNECT WITH ME:

Ready to Get On The Path To Profits…

CONNECT WITH ME:

Ready to Get On The Path To Profits…

Ready to Get On The Path To Profits…
► Grab my TRC Vault Titanium Deal NOW!