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Overcoming Impossible: Learn to Lead, Build a Team, and Catapult Your Business to Success
Make achieving your goals and finding success possible with this one-of-a-kind guide by Robert Irvine, popular host of Food Network’s Impossible . Robert Irvine knows a thing or two about business. For over 200 episodes of Food Network’s hit show Impossible, he’s helped failing entrepreneurs make the necessary changes to reverse course and transform their businesses from the brink of collapse to sustainable enterprises. And he doesn’t just talk a good game; Irvine is a successful entrepreneur himself with a family of companies to his credit, from frozen foods and liquor to protein bars, restaurants, a traveling live show, and a namesake foundation that gives back to America’s veterans and first responders. Now Irvine is sharing the success secrets he has learned along the way so he can help others thrive. As he says in the “I’ve always wanted to write this book, and now I finally have enough hindsight to analyze the moves that transformed me from an aspiring entrepreneur to a successful one.” In this book, you
- GenresBusinessNonfiction
256 pages, Hardcover
Published February 14, 2023
26 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 12, 2025
This audio book should get an extra star because it was good enough that I didn't DNF it. I have been having a really bad run of audio books lately, but this one briefly ruined the audio book DNF streak I had going. But the next one went back to DNF Land, so.
I know he was writing this book about himself and leadership, but he really does come across as a genuinely good guy. He does mention the Bible, so the basis for his behavior is clear, at least to me anyway.
The narrator had a British accent, so natch as a Yank from across the pond, I loved it. Good volume modulation, I wasn't farfing about with the volume as I drove on my commute. Always a huge plus in my book.
Nothing much different from all of the other leadership books out there, but it was done well and there is always something to learn from others, even if it is the same thing you heard before, because you are hearing it a different way and it might hit you differently or in just the way you can best understand and learn from it.
It WAS cool to hear him mention one of his most trusted second in commands was Chef Shane Cash, who was the head chef back in the day at one of THE high up there restaurants in my area. I have eaten his food and it was definitely amazing. Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, I have been ONE degree away from Robert Irvine! (Chef Cash is also quite humble and down to earth, just as Robert Irvine seems to be. So I tend to believe the hype about Mr. Irvine too.)
I did enjoy this one. I will re-listen to it again and is one I definitely would recommend as one of the better offerings in this genre. It struck a good balance between memoir and leadership/business self-help.
4, this book was a breath of fresh air amongst all of the DNF audio books surrounding it, stars.
My thanks to libro.fm and HarperCollins Leadership for an ALC of this book to listen to and review.
I know he was writing this book about himself and leadership, but he really does come across as a genuinely good guy. He does mention the Bible, so the basis for his behavior is clear, at least to me anyway.
The narrator had a British accent, so natch as a Yank from across the pond, I loved it. Good volume modulation, I wasn't farfing about with the volume as I drove on my commute. Always a huge plus in my book.
Nothing much different from all of the other leadership books out there, but it was done well and there is always something to learn from others, even if it is the same thing you heard before, because you are hearing it a different way and it might hit you differently or in just the way you can best understand and learn from it.
It WAS cool to hear him mention one of his most trusted second in commands was Chef Shane Cash, who was the head chef back in the day at one of THE high up there restaurants in my area. I have eaten his food and it was definitely amazing. Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, I have been ONE degree away from Robert Irvine! (Chef Cash is also quite humble and down to earth, just as Robert Irvine seems to be. So I tend to believe the hype about Mr. Irvine too.)
I did enjoy this one. I will re-listen to it again and is one I definitely would recommend as one of the better offerings in this genre. It struck a good balance between memoir and leadership/business self-help.
4, this book was a breath of fresh air amongst all of the DNF audio books surrounding it, stars.
My thanks to libro.fm and HarperCollins Leadership for an ALC of this book to listen to and review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2023
[Reading Prompt: A Book Written in the Year of the Rabbit]
Overcoming Impossible is a book for those looking to get into business for themselves, whether that's running a restaurant or another type of business, or just simply following your more low key passions, this book is filled with motivational stories and case studies, as well as lists of rules that Chef Irvine has followed himself, that should all mix together and help propel you towards making that step. While this book does take a look at the logistics of starting a business, it isn't a 'how to' guideline, but more of a motivational read that is trying to impart wisdom and encouragement rather than actual logistical knowledge or business acumen.
I honestly really enjoyed reading through this book. While some of these lessons and insights certainly are not anything new, there are a quite a few good takes or perspectives that are distinctly Irvine's. His personality and manner of speaking is very prevalent in this book, genuinely feeling like he was there sitting there talking to you. Because of that, it makes the insights more personal. For me, his perspective on procrastination is spot on, particularly when it comes down to the fear of not wanting to see your idea or concept experience failure and tainting the initial excitement of said idea, is definitely something that has killed my passion for things in the past. So these insights were very well shared.
This is also a great companion book for fans of Chef Irvine's Restaurant Impossible TV series (Of which I'm not a huge fan), as it contains several 'case studies' where he takes a look at restaurants featured in that show to highlight an important lesson about running a business. My exposure to Robert Irvine has been mostly as a guest judge or competitor on some of my favorite cooking shows, so I didn't know any of these restaurants, but he was still able to paint the picture clearly as to what was hindering their success and what was needed for them to improve. I have no doubt fans of the show will enjoy revisiting featured restaurants to see what Irvine and the restaurateurs learned.
In the sea of celebrity tied biographies/how-to/business books, this may not stand out for many people unless you're already a fan of Robert Irvine, as it is a quick read and perhaps doesn't offer too many startling or new insights into the world of business. But I really enjoyed reading as Irvine's more direct and down to earth voice was prevalent in the book, identifying with many of the cores concepts he explores and loved the more humble approach he took to his success as he contributed a lot of it to his peers and team. If you're a fan of the show or the chef, this is definitely worth reading, and if you're not, this is definitely worth checking out at least.
Overcoming Impossible is a book for those looking to get into business for themselves, whether that's running a restaurant or another type of business, or just simply following your more low key passions, this book is filled with motivational stories and case studies, as well as lists of rules that Chef Irvine has followed himself, that should all mix together and help propel you towards making that step. While this book does take a look at the logistics of starting a business, it isn't a 'how to' guideline, but more of a motivational read that is trying to impart wisdom and encouragement rather than actual logistical knowledge or business acumen.
I honestly really enjoyed reading through this book. While some of these lessons and insights certainly are not anything new, there are a quite a few good takes or perspectives that are distinctly Irvine's. His personality and manner of speaking is very prevalent in this book, genuinely feeling like he was there sitting there talking to you. Because of that, it makes the insights more personal. For me, his perspective on procrastination is spot on, particularly when it comes down to the fear of not wanting to see your idea or concept experience failure and tainting the initial excitement of said idea, is definitely something that has killed my passion for things in the past. So these insights were very well shared.
This is also a great companion book for fans of Chef Irvine's Restaurant Impossible TV series (Of which I'm not a huge fan), as it contains several 'case studies' where he takes a look at restaurants featured in that show to highlight an important lesson about running a business. My exposure to Robert Irvine has been mostly as a guest judge or competitor on some of my favorite cooking shows, so I didn't know any of these restaurants, but he was still able to paint the picture clearly as to what was hindering their success and what was needed for them to improve. I have no doubt fans of the show will enjoy revisiting featured restaurants to see what Irvine and the restaurateurs learned.
In the sea of celebrity tied biographies/how-to/business books, this may not stand out for many people unless you're already a fan of Robert Irvine, as it is a quick read and perhaps doesn't offer too many startling or new insights into the world of business. But I really enjoyed reading as Irvine's more direct and down to earth voice was prevalent in the book, identifying with many of the cores concepts he explores and loved the more humble approach he took to his success as he contributed a lot of it to his peers and team. If you're a fan of the show or the chef, this is definitely worth reading, and if you're not, this is definitely worth checking out at least.
November 19, 2023
This book would have been helpful to me when I still had my restaurant- as I started reading it when I did. In the first half of the book, I thought well I am doing a lot of things right. The second half of the book he talks about how you cannot ever have a break in this industry which was all I was trying to work towards, making things easier somehow. Good to know now, would have been better to know then, that rest is just simply not going to happen in the food industry. It is relentless with or without covid mayhem. So that was interesting and I feel stupid as hell.
Find what you're best at. What's trending might seem sexier, but it'll blow up in your face if you don't love it.
Keep it to yourself. Publicly forecasting big success is a dangerous game. (especially on social media)
Ivine's secret: I didn't bother telling anyone, I kept my grandest desires and ambitions to myself. I instinctively knew that every moment I spent trying to convince others of my ultimate potential was a moment that I wasn't spending on actually getting there.
In deciding to chase a trend and toss your passion for what you're best at by the wayside, you've limited your endeavour from the get-go. You must accept it as true that if you do not love what you are doing, there is little chance that others will. We often can't explain why we love things. We just do.
Somehow, we are just hardwired to more fully appreciate the way a particular thing looks, sounds, tastes, and, especially, makes us feel.
Failing, of course, is never comfortable. All your work and research is geared toward success, and when it doesn't work out the way you intended, it's upsetting. But give yourself room to fail because there really is no better teacher. It's fine to fail, but it's also incumbent on you to learn the right lessons so you don't fail the same way twice.
There will be time to celebrate. When you work your ass off on that big thing and it finally comes together, you will get your moment to bask. But such a day will not be your crowning achievement. Because if you're doing it right, the work itself is the reward, not what everyone else is saying about it, To put it as simply as I can, when you get up in the morning and find true joy in what you do, that is the very definition of success. Once you can get to that place, you won't need to look very far for validation; you will find it in your heart.
The thing that naturally moves you is the thing that you need to build your future around because true love- not infatuation or temporary excitement- never dies. The reasons why you love it don't diminish, they grow, and you find new things to appreciate about it.
Don't push luck away. Embrace it. Tell yourself that you're lucky and expect the lucky breaks. Luck isn't some totally random phenomenon or the opposite of hard work, it's hard work's twin sibling. It's what shows up when you don't stop working.
Luck is all around you. Don't begrudge luck and feel a need to say, "No, actually, I did this all on my own."
Find what you're best at. What's trending might seem sexier, but it'll blow up in your face if you don't love it.
Keep it to yourself. Publicly forecasting big success is a dangerous game. (especially on social media)
Ivine's secret: I didn't bother telling anyone, I kept my grandest desires and ambitions to myself. I instinctively knew that every moment I spent trying to convince others of my ultimate potential was a moment that I wasn't spending on actually getting there.
In deciding to chase a trend and toss your passion for what you're best at by the wayside, you've limited your endeavour from the get-go. You must accept it as true that if you do not love what you are doing, there is little chance that others will. We often can't explain why we love things. We just do.
Somehow, we are just hardwired to more fully appreciate the way a particular thing looks, sounds, tastes, and, especially, makes us feel.
Failing, of course, is never comfortable. All your work and research is geared toward success, and when it doesn't work out the way you intended, it's upsetting. But give yourself room to fail because there really is no better teacher. It's fine to fail, but it's also incumbent on you to learn the right lessons so you don't fail the same way twice.
There will be time to celebrate. When you work your ass off on that big thing and it finally comes together, you will get your moment to bask. But such a day will not be your crowning achievement. Because if you're doing it right, the work itself is the reward, not what everyone else is saying about it, To put it as simply as I can, when you get up in the morning and find true joy in what you do, that is the very definition of success. Once you can get to that place, you won't need to look very far for validation; you will find it in your heart.
The thing that naturally moves you is the thing that you need to build your future around because true love- not infatuation or temporary excitement- never dies. The reasons why you love it don't diminish, they grow, and you find new things to appreciate about it.
Don't push luck away. Embrace it. Tell yourself that you're lucky and expect the lucky breaks. Luck isn't some totally random phenomenon or the opposite of hard work, it's hard work's twin sibling. It's what shows up when you don't stop working.
Luck is all around you. Don't begrudge luck and feel a need to say, "No, actually, I did this all on my own."
January 7, 2023
My interest in this book was fueled by a literary connection to the Co-Author, Matt Tuthill, via his brother, Chris Tuthill.
Co-Author, Matt Tuthill does a masterful job bringing the lifetime of work created, nurtured and fostered by Chef Robert Irvine. The book reads well and is quite entertaining.
For fans of the television show, Restaurant Impossible, the book provides a detailed account of the life lessons to be learned in order to find your dream of restaurant success, as well as success in life.
The audio book includes a special interview with Chef Irvine.
It’s a great addition to a well rounded library.
My thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Leadership Publishing for the early copy of the book. The digital copy was read 5-7 January 2023.
Co-Author, Matt Tuthill does a masterful job bringing the lifetime of work created, nurtured and fostered by Chef Robert Irvine. The book reads well and is quite entertaining.
For fans of the television show, Restaurant Impossible, the book provides a detailed account of the life lessons to be learned in order to find your dream of restaurant success, as well as success in life.
The audio book includes a special interview with Chef Irvine.
It’s a great addition to a well rounded library.
My thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Leadership Publishing for the early copy of the book. The digital copy was read 5-7 January 2023.
June 5, 2023
I'm a huge Robert Irvine fan, so I was excited to read his new book, Overcoming Impossible. I really enjoyed the no-nonsense approaches to business, leadership, social media, haters, and other topics related to being an entrepreneur. He makes it clear that a lot of it is just common sense, hard work, commitment, and drive that can help excel your ideas and business to the next level.
With plenty of examples from his series, Restaurant: Impossible, Irvine shows his concepts in action and how they can be used to make one's business better.
I highly recommend Overcoming Impossible.
With plenty of examples from his series, Restaurant: Impossible, Irvine shows his concepts in action and how they can be used to make one's business better.
I highly recommend Overcoming Impossible.
June 27, 2023
Overcoming Impossible, is a leadership book told in Robert Irvine's voice. I enjoyed how he told his story in such a relatable way with examples from his show. I have never seen his shows, but I'm sure this will be a bonus for fans of the show. Irvine gives his advice in bite-size pieces. All wrapped up in a book under 220 pages. There were no groundbreaking new ways uncovered to make yourself the next best leader in this book, but there were practical bits of advice that I plan to use in the future. This book kept my attention, and I found Irvine's point of view enlightening.
May 5, 2023
We LOVE Robert Irvine in our house. I mean we usually have one of his shows on every day at some point. So reading this book was a no brainer.
Written in the same, no nonsense, “Let’s get to work”, way Mr. Irvine handles every mission. I found this book very helpful when it comes to my business.
Written in the same, no nonsense, “Let’s get to work”, way Mr. Irvine handles every mission. I found this book very helpful when it comes to my business.
July 10, 2023
One of the best business books I’ve ever read. It contains so much useful information and advice along with real life relatable examples. There’s so much to take away from this book no matter what kind of business you’re in or have. Highly recommend!
July 6, 2023
wonderful book wonderful advice.
I don’t just read books. I highlight them I make notes and read the passage over and over. It’s not just a book it’s a guidebook for life.
I don’t just read books. I highlight them I make notes and read the passage over and over. It’s not just a book it’s a guidebook for life.
March 23, 2023
You're going to fail, and you've got to know how to deal with failure. - Robert Irvine
If you have cable tv, satellite, or even providers like Sling or Hulu, you’ve probably watched one or more episodes of Restaurant Impossible - a Food Network television program that combines portions of Gordon’s Ramsey’s Hell’s Kitchen with Jon Taffer’s Bar Rescue, and elements of so many cooking shows and business shows like Shark’s Tank. Robert Irvine works with a restaurant and tries to diagnose what isn't working while identifying what makes the restaurant unique and worthy of attention. Irvine challenges the owners and employees. He calls out the problems as he sees them. He also helps the owners and chefs to realize their dreams and faults and desires and even takes time to provide what amounts to marriage counseling for a few that need that consideration.
While Irvine is recognized for his cooking shows and his obvious commitment to physical fitness, he has also been very successful in business. His accomplishments include 11 businesses producing fitness foods (Fit Crunch bars), prepared meals, and spirits such as gin and vodka. He has real-world experience hiring, developing, and empowering teams that are generating more than $1 billion in revenue.
In Overcoming Impossible, Irvine shares his thoughts and lessons for business entrepreneurship and life management. Readers will explore topics across nine concepts divided into two sections: Overcoming Impossible in Your Business and Overcoming Impossible in Your Mindset. One example that is so relevant and needed in leadership today is the concept of investing in people. Irvine goes beyond the typical advice to hire well and pay well. Of course, he writes about that, but he goes further when he challenges entrepreneurs to forge real connections with their people - to care about their people. In an era when hiring and retaining good people is so challenging, Irvine offers practical advice that anyone can implement…right now.
If you make it fun for people, they will learn more and retain the information. - Robert Irvine
If you have cable tv, satellite, or even providers like Sling or Hulu, you’ve probably watched one or more episodes of Restaurant Impossible - a Food Network television program that combines portions of Gordon’s Ramsey’s Hell’s Kitchen with Jon Taffer’s Bar Rescue, and elements of so many cooking shows and business shows like Shark’s Tank. Robert Irvine works with a restaurant and tries to diagnose what isn't working while identifying what makes the restaurant unique and worthy of attention. Irvine challenges the owners and employees. He calls out the problems as he sees them. He also helps the owners and chefs to realize their dreams and faults and desires and even takes time to provide what amounts to marriage counseling for a few that need that consideration.
While Irvine is recognized for his cooking shows and his obvious commitment to physical fitness, he has also been very successful in business. His accomplishments include 11 businesses producing fitness foods (Fit Crunch bars), prepared meals, and spirits such as gin and vodka. He has real-world experience hiring, developing, and empowering teams that are generating more than $1 billion in revenue.
In Overcoming Impossible, Irvine shares his thoughts and lessons for business entrepreneurship and life management. Readers will explore topics across nine concepts divided into two sections: Overcoming Impossible in Your Business and Overcoming Impossible in Your Mindset. One example that is so relevant and needed in leadership today is the concept of investing in people. Irvine goes beyond the typical advice to hire well and pay well. Of course, he writes about that, but he goes further when he challenges entrepreneurs to forge real connections with their people - to care about their people. In an era when hiring and retaining good people is so challenging, Irvine offers practical advice that anyone can implement…right now.
If you make it fun for people, they will learn more and retain the information. - Robert Irvine
July 16, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed the writing of this book. It was written in such way that made me feel so comfortable and confident. Although I don’t own nor plan to own a restaurant, it was still very interesting to read about Robert Irvines thoughts and his experiences/life lessons.
There are a few life lessons that I was already familiar with but then there were also a few that were new to me and it was very interesting to learn and see how I can connect them to my own path.
There are a few life lessons that I was already familiar with but then there were also a few that were new to me and it was very interesting to learn and see how I can connect them to my own path.
June 16, 2023
If you've seen any episode of Restaurant Impossible, you've pretty much heard all of this advice already. Pretty short and not that well written in my opinion.
July 24, 2024
Book was slow at times. Geared toward restaurant entrepreneurs. The book challenged me to think about how I could apply scenarios of failing restaurants to my life. The last few chapters were great.
May 6, 2025
I enjoyed the book. Its pretty straightforward as Robert finds a number of different ways to press the importance of focus, goals and hard work. I would recommend this book for almost anyone.
August 28, 2025
This is a seriously solid and enjoyable book with great wisdom that is applicable to any aspects of our lives! Great read!
October 29, 2025
Great read with really good business tips and everyday perspectives
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews