What Anthony Bourdain taught me about business | Leading With Levity

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When people hear that I’m launching a new show called The Good Business Tour, they often ask me where the idea came from. The answer usually surprises them: Anthony Bourdain.

Now, before you point out that I only cook Italian food and have never hosted a food show, hear me out. What fascinated me about Anthony Bourdain was never the food. It was the people he interacted with. Sure, he traveled the world eating incredible meals, but that wasn’t really what his shows were about. They were about culture, stories, struggles, dreams, traditions, and human connection. Food was simply the vehicle that got him there.

As I’ve reflected on entrepreneurship over the years, I’ve realized that business works much the same way. Most people think business is about products, services, marketing plans, spreadsheets and sales forecasts. Those things certainly matter. But, at its core, business is really about people. Every company has a story. Every entrepreneur has a journey. Every successful business was built by someone who saw a problem, took a risk, and decided to create something that didn’t exist before.

Over the last few decades, I’ve had the privilege of interviewing hundreds of entrepreneurs through podcasts, speaking engagements, classrooms, and networking events. One thing I’ve noticed is that the most successful business owners rarely spend much time talking about their products. Instead, they talk about purpose. They talk about why they started, the obstacles they overcame, the customers they’ve helped, and the people who supported them along the way. That’s where the real magic lives. The product may be what they sell, but the story is what people remember.

One of Bourdain’s greatest gifts was curiosity. He approached every conversation with genuine interest. He wasn’t trying to prove how much he knew; he was trying to learn. Imagine what would happen if more business leaders adopted that mindset. What if, instead of leading with a pitch, they led with a question? Or, instead of trying to impress people, they focused on understanding them. Instead of assuming they had all the answers, what if they remained curious enough to keep asking better questions?

Curiosity is one of the most underrated business skills on the planet. Curious leaders discover opportunities others miss. Curious entrepreneurs spot trends before competitors. Curious companies remain innovative because they never stop learning. Unfortunately, curiosity often gets squeezed out as businesses grow. We become busy. We become comfortable. We become attached to our expertise. We start relying on what worked yesterday instead of exploring what might work tomorrow.

That mindset can be dangerous. The business landscape changes quickly. Customer expectations evolve. Technology advances. Entire industries can be transformed in just a few years. The moment we think we’ve got everything figured out is often the moment we start falling behind.

Bourdain never stopped exploring. He never stopped asking questions. He never stopped putting himself in unfamiliar situations. There’s an important lesson there for all of us. Some of the best business ideas I’ve encountered didn’t come from boardrooms or strategic planning sessions. They came from conversations. They came from chance meetings at events. They came from visiting companies, touring facilities, and listening to people tell their stories. In other words, they came from getting out into the world.

That idea became one of the inspirations behind The Good Business Tour. I wanted to create something that celebrates entrepreneurs who are building successful businesses while making a positive impact. People who are creating jobs, strengthening communities, solving problems, and proving that profit and purpose can coexist. Like Bourdain’s work, the goal isn’t simply to showcase businesses. It’s to showcase the people behind them. Because people connect with stories. They remember stories. They are inspired by stories.

Perhaps that’s the biggest lesson Anthony Bourdain taught me about business. Facts inform, but stories transform. You may forget someone’s revenue numbers, their business model, or even their elevator pitch. But you’ll remember how they made you feel. You’ll remember the challenge they overcame. You’ll remember the passion in their voice when they talked about their mission.

Business is often portrayed as a world of transactions. Yet the most successful entrepreneurs understand that it’s really a world of relationships. Relationships with customers, employees, partners, and communities. Every one of those relationships begins with a story.

So the next time you’re tempted to focus solely on the numbers, metrics, and spreadsheets, take a page from Anthony Bourdain’s playbook. Be curious. Ask questions. Listen closely. Explore unfamiliar places. Seek out interesting people. Behind every great business is a great story waiting to be discovered. And sometimes, that’s exactly where the best opportunities are hiding.

David Mammano is an entrepreneur and workplace optimist who teaches leaders how to lighten up without losing their edge. He is known for blending compassion with just the right amount of crazy.  Find him at www.DavidMammano.com