Chef Nino Inspires with His Blueprint for Success in How to Start a Circus

By Robert White, Editor-In-Chief

Neil Thibodaux, better known as Chef Nino, is a man who has turned life’s most challenging setbacks into extraordinary comebacks. In his new book, How to Start a Circus: Rise Above Your Challenges and Bring Your Dreams to Reality, Nino shares his journey of resilience, creativity, and the power of enthusiasm in overcoming adversity to achieve personal and professional success.

From humble beginnings in Louisiana, Nino’s life has been a whirlwind of ambition, obstacles, and reinvention. After years of preparation as a missionary in Italy, his life took an unexpected turn when a divorce ended his career in ministry. At 40, Nino found himself starting over from scratch, faced with overwhelming debts and no clear path forward. “I woke up one day, and I had nothing. I was living with my grandmother, eating Vienna sausages, and figuring out how to avoid jail,” Nino recalls. “I had to make a choice: stay down or get up and start moving.”

Nino’s defining moment came with three large sticky notes on his wall: What can I do? What do I want to do? How do I do it? This exercise became the blueprint for his life-changing journey. Realizing he had a passion for cooking—fueled by years spent learning recipes in Italy—he decided to build a culinary business, starting with nothing more than a $1 whisk from the dollar store. “That whisk changed my life,” Nino says. “I started making tiramisu and hand-whisking over 2,000 times a batch to create samples for businesses. It was exhausting, but I refused to give up.”

Through sheer determination, Nino’s culinary creations gained traction. His name spread, allowing him to invest in better equipment, eventually opening his own cooking school and building a thriving business. Today, Chef Nino is a successful entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker with a bestselling book and a signature line of seasonings. “I started with nothing—no credit score, no investors, just grit. That’s what I want readers to take from this book. You don’t need perfect circumstances to succeed.”

How to Start a Circus is more than a memoir; it’s a practical guide for aspiring entrepreneurs and anyone seeking to overcome challenges. Drawing inspiration from P.T. Barnum’s famous quote, “No one ever made a difference by being like everyone else,” Nino likens entrepreneurship to running a circus. “You need energy, creativity, and a sense of spectacle,” he explains. “The more enthusiasm you bring, the more you’ll stand out and create opportunities.”

The book offers actionable advice on balancing debt, time, and health while building a business, along with strategies for developing a growth mindset and turning setbacks into stepping stones. “Enthusiasm isn’t just a personality trait—it’s a tool,” Nino emphasizes. “It’s about showing up, being creative, and bringing color to the world, no matter your circumstances.”

Through vivid storytelling and practical wisdom, How to Start a Circus encourages readers to rediscover their potential and pursue their dreams with courage and resilience. As Nino puts it, “Life is your circus. It’s up to you to create the show.”

For those looking to be inspired, Chef Nino’s story and his book are a testament to the power of perseverance, faith, and a little bit of creativity. Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking for the spark to take your career to the next level, Chef Nino’s journey offers the motivation to rise above any challenge.