The Playbook With David Meltzer

Welcome to The Playbook, hosted by entrepreneur, CEO, author and keynote speaker David Meltzer. On the podcast you’ll find a mix of interviews, Q&A, fireside chats, keynotes, and exclusive conversations with the most influential CEO’s, sports icons, and successful entrepreneurs who share their personal and professional play-by-play of the “what”, “why”, and “how” to achieve anything you set your mind to.

Entrepreneurship
Careers
Business
1276
Travel Tips | Road to Revenue #61
For this week’s training, I’ve compiled some of my favorite, most useful travel tips for you to apply to your own vacations, business meetings, conferences, and adventures. Prepping for the Trip If you are not properly prepared to travel, chances are that your trip may not live up to expectations. Here are some things to consider when getting ready to travel.Start somewhere easy if you haven’t traveled before. Some places are easier to travel to than others.Pack essentials in your carry-on, just in caseKnow your hotel information and it can be helpful to estimate travel times to/from the hotelGet your phone sorted out. Make sure it is charged, with data backed up, and appropriate apps downloaded for you and your family to use Make sure you have the right luggage and the right gear for the conditionsAlways pack a towel and take a jacketBuy a small backpack/suitcase for the occasion, if neededPack light but take extra socks. I also advise to carry a lock in your bag, as wellMake sure you’ve got good, comfortable shoesMake extra photocopies of your passport and important documentsTake pictures of your luggage and clothesCarry emergency cashGet vaccinatedTake earplugsAlways have an extra phone and USB charger To view the rest of the travel tips guide, just email me for it at david@dmeltzer.com and I'll send it to you. Tweet me @davidmeltzer your favorite takeaway from today's episode and come ask me questions live every Friday at 11:00 am PST / 2:00 pm EST. Text me at (949) 298-2905 or email me at david@dmeltzer.com to join! Click here to follow the Road to Revenue playlist on Spotify
58 min
1277
Allowing the Universe to Take Care of You
Faith is a true currency and an object of energy. Our faith is the aggregate of what we think, say, do, believe, and our subconscious mind. Faith is composed of our characteristics, our obsessions, our addictions, and the energy we put out. The problem I often see is that many are so unconscious about where they invest their faith, constantly create resistance by putting faith in the wrong things. We tend to think about what we don’t want, or even worse put faith in what other people want for us, and then when we get it, we end up resenting them instead. Faith Works in Two Ways: 1. Putting faith in what you want 2. Putting faith in what you don’t want The most common way that faith works is that we place our faith in what we want to manifest in our lives. Just like a credit card, the higher the limit of your faith, the more you can manifest and make into reality. Of course, simply having faith is never enough to get what you want. You need to take the right actions, with the right energy and the right mindset. The less-understood way that faith works comes when we put our faith into what others want for us or things we don’t want for ourselves. What happens when we put our faith in what others want for us is that often if we achieve it, we feel some sort of resentment. There is a massive difference between accomplishing a goal you set for yourself and a goal that others have set for you (or convinced you to set for yourself). Often times, we are limiting ourselves by putting faith in what others want for us. We are also limiting ourselves by putting faith in things that we don’t want in our life. My favorite example for this idea comes from law school. Whenever there was a topic that I didn’t want to be on the test, more often that not it was. What you resist persists, so avoid placing your faith in the negative, as this will only lead to you manifesting more negativity. Faith works both ways. If you place your faith in the idea that there is more than enough for everyone, you’re going manifest that abundance. When you put faith in what you don’t want, that is exactly what you will end up with. Tweet me @davidmeltzer your favorite takeaway from today's episode and come ask me questions live every Friday at 11:00 am PST / 2:00 pm EST. Text me at (949) 298-2905 or email me at david@dmeltzer.com to join!
9 min
1278
Show Me Your Friends and I'll Show You Your Fut...
Rob Machado, Professional Surfer, and Taylor Steele, Founder of Solento Tequila, share their thoughts on what it really means to be a “sell-out” and why it’s important to surround yourself with the type of people who elevate you. The pair and host of #ThePlaybook, David Meltzer, chat about Rob’s reaction to landing his first $500 sponsor and how athlete branding has evolved over the years, as well as how Taylor’s surf filmmaking career shifted as digital media became more prevalent, and why he’s been able to leverage his experience as a creative director for big brands as he transitioned into the alcohol industry. Tweet me @davidmeltzer your favorite takeaway from today's episode and come ask me questions live every Friday at 11:00 am PST / 2:00 pm EST. Text me at (949) 298-2905 or email me at david@dmeltzer.com to join!
21 min
1279
How to Get Your Dream Job With Kyle Brandt: Co-...
On this episode of #ThePlaybook, Kyle Brandt, Co-host of Good Morning Football on NFL Network and host of The Ringer’s “10 Questions w/ Kyle Brandt”, shares his thoughts on:[2:18] - The serendipitous way that he ended up as a cast member of MTV's The Real World: Chicago [4:56] - How he set himself apart and landed a job as a producer and writer on The Jim Rome Show[13:08] - The reason why he says that a career in sports media was really a Plan B that ended up working out[15:09] - Why having a competitive element leads to great content on his podcast 10 Questions w/ Kyle Brandt Tweet me @davidmeltzer your favorite takeaway from today's episode and come ask me questions live every Friday at 11:00 am PST / 2:00 pm EST. Text me at (949) 298-2905 or email me at david@dmeltzer.com to join!
20 min
1280
How to Succeed in Business
If you want to achieve it, prioritize it in your life. Commit to a minimum amount of time each day so that your body, mind, and soul are all working in unison. The only limits that exist in our lives are the ones we place on ourselves. If you don't invest in yourself, what are you ever going to invest in? Tweet me @davidmeltzer your favorite takeaway from today's episode and come ask me questions live every Friday at 11:00 am PST / 2:00 pm EST. Text me at (949) 298-2905 or email me at david@dmeltzer.com to join!
5 min
1281
Learn How to Win Everyday With Tim Grover: CEO,...
Tim S. Grover is the CEO of Attack Athletics, Inc., and author of the book, W1nning: The Unforgiving Race to Greatness, shares his thoughts on:[1:48] - Why there are no easy steps to achieving greatness[5:54] - The reason that “balance” isn’t a part of the equation for the world’s top performers  [10:03] - Why having faith is more beneficial than just having a chip on your shoulder[11:19] - The difference between leaders who are coolers, closers, and cleaners Tweet me @davidmeltzer your favorite takeaway from today's episode and come ask me questions live every Friday at 11:00 am PST / 2:00 pm EST. Text me at (949) 298-2905 or email me at david@dmeltzer.com to join!
21 min
1282
How to Close a Deal | Road to Revenue #60
There are three main keys to ensure you are approaching a deal in the correct manner, you must pay attention to your mindset, heartset, and the conscious continuum. 1. Mindset: The most important components for closing any deal are credibility, truth, and the energy we approach our potential business partner with. 2. Heartset: Our ability to make an emotional attachment with the other party, connecting heart-to-heart, is an essential part of any deal. People tend to buy on emotion, and then back up their decision with logical reasons to take that action. 3. Conscious Continuum: After connecting with someone emotionally, we need to be able to clearly articulate that the quantifiable value you offer exceeds what you are asking for in return. This is where logic and energy come into play. When we believe and carry the energy that we offer much more than we are asking for, what I call the 100/20 Rule, we will close more deals. Tweet me @davidmeltzer your favorite takeaway from today's episode and come ask me questions live every Friday at 11:00 am PST / 2:00 pm EST. Text me at (949) 298-2905 or email me at david@dmeltzer.com to join! Click here to follow the Road to Revenue playlist on Spotify
60 min
1283
Outgrowing Your Old Friends and Ideas
Today's episode is another coaching call with my two favorite coaching clients, Alan Lazaros and Kevin Palmieri of Next Level University. The three of us discussed the pain of outgrowing your old friends and ideas, and learning how to overcome the fear of missing out and learning how to find joy in missing out. I am also going to share some of my personal experiences of when I have outgrown my old friends and why you shouldn't try to heal relationships that don't need to be healed. Tweet me @davidmeltzer your favorite takeaway from today's episode and come ask me questions live every Friday at 11:00 am PST / 2:00 pm EST. Text me at (949) 298-2905 or email me at david@dmeltzer.com to join!
22 min
1284
Utilizing Social Media to Scale Your Business W...
Tom Keiser, CEO of Hootsuite, sits down to share his insights on why the fastest growing companies tend to place a focus on their social media platforms, as well as the challenges that “traditional businesses” have when integrating more digital media content into their marketing strategy. Keiser and host of #ThePlaybook, David Meltzer, share their thoughts on subjects including how Hootsuite improves workflow between the marketing and social media teams, understanding how to utilize new platforms as they emerge, and how to integrate core values into the culture of your company. The pair also discuss how organizations can take advantage of social media trends before it's too late.
20 min
1285
Rich vs Poor Mindset
The world of never enough: This is the most negative world; it's the realm of belief where people think there is never enough for everyone and especially not enough for them. We all know people like this. They focus on the voids, shortages and obstacles that they perceive in their own lives and others', always neglecting to think about what they do have. What you resist will persist. By focusing on what they do not have, these people are guaranteed to attract more scarcity or lack into their lives. The world of just enough: The people who live with this belief are attempting to just get by, thinking that there is barely enough out there to suit their needs. Instead of enjoying the consistent, persistent pursuit of their potential, they settle for an almost consistent, almost persistent, almost enjoyable pursuit of their potential. This group is limited by their inability to connect with what inspires them. They limit their beliefs, their actions, their thoughts and their energy. They don't understand that believing wholeheartedly in the world of "more than enough" is an exponential accelerator of growth. The world of more than enough: The people who live in this world are those who see their past, present and future as being more than enough. They are grateful, and they are forgiving. They see opportunity around every corner, allowing them to say, do, think and experience that the universe is in their favor. In this world, everything unravels in your favor. Those who believe in this principle will pursue their dreams without focusing on a self-imposed timeline to achieve them. This belief allows them to persistently and consistently enjoy the pursuit of their potential.
2 min
1286
The Meaning of Food, Money, and Life With Wolfg...
On this episode of #ThePlaybook, Wolfgang Puck, Chef, Restaurateur, and Actor, and Paul Scialla, Founder/CEO of Delos and Founder of the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), chat about:[3:12] - Why customer experience and comfortability have come to the forefront for today’s venue owners[6:10] - How the support of celebrities and stars like Wolfgang helps bring attention to health and safety standards[14:37] - Why succeeding in the restaurant business takes more than just cooking skills[18:25] - The reason why being altruistic is also one of the most selfish things that a person can do Tweet me @davidmeltzer your favorite takeaway from today's episode and come ask me questions live every Friday at 11:00 am PST / 2:00 pm EST. Text me at (949) 298-2905 or email me at david@dmeltzer.com to join!
22 min
1287
5 Daily Practices That Will Change Your Life
I have five different rules for businesses looking to live in this world of more than enough: 1 - Know your personal giving and receiving values. Evaluate those four things every day. 2 - Learn to ask a series of questions to learn how you can provide value to every person in every situation. 3 - Learn a series of questions with which you can ask for help—which is the most difficult and radically humble thing. I lost over $100 million by not asking for help, and my world changed when I learned how to ask the right questions. 4 - Study with a lens of productivity, accessibility, and gratitude what you are doing every day. Study your sleep. Study your calendar and figure out what’s urgent, and what you can delegate to someone else. 5 - Practice ending fear. When you feel like you’re on fire, stop, drop, and roll. Figure out why you feel that way. Tweet me @davidmeltzer your favorite takeaway from today's episode and come ask me questions live every Friday at 11:00 am PST / 2:00 pm EST. Text me at (949) 298-2905 or email me at david@dmeltzer.com to join!
19 min
1288
How Fear Stops Growth with Adam Contos: CEO, RE...
On this episode of #ThePlaybook, Adam Contos, CEO of RE/MAX, shares his thoughts on: [:33] -Whether there is a “right way” to drop out of school[5:10] - How to get more value out of the ways you educate and entertain yourself [7:30] - Why leaders need to understand two specific emotions[15:10] - Why he focuses on his level of attention instead of trying to achieve a work-life balance Tweet me @davidmeltzer your favorite takeaway from today's episode and come ask me questions live every Friday at 11:00 am PST / 2:00 pm EST. Text me at (949) 298-2905 or email me at david@dmeltzer.com to join!
22 min
1289
Go No-Go Plan | Road to Revenue #59
There is one important step to take before you can even consider creating a Go No-Go Plan, and that is to determine whether your potential partner has an open mind. It takes more energy to reengineer the vision of one closed-minded person than it does to close a deal with 1,000 open-minded people, so identifying an open mind should be your first priority.​When you have a shared vision with someone who has an open mind, the next step is to create a ”Go No-Go” Plan and put it into writing. ​A “Go No-Go” Plan is an outline for you to follow which highlights a clear path of actions to take for you and those you have shared a vision with.​The purpose of a Go No-Go Plan is to:​Help you to remember exactly what you and your partner agreed to in order to effectuate and manage expectations.​Walk your client, investor, or partner through a step-by-step plan to get things done.​Ensure that you know every aspect of your business and how to provide value to clients, as well as the clearest path to revenue that each new opportunity affords.​Improve your ability to “connect the dots backwards”, meaning that your eventual success will be a result of consistent and persistent actions that you take.​Your Go No-Go Plan should convey that your solution provides just as much value as your competitors (preferably more) and is aligned with the emotions of your business partners, while offering additional benefits in some important way.  ​ So, where do you start? In order to create abundance for everyone involved in a deal, begin by asking as many open- and closed-ended questions as you can. The open ended questions allow you to understand the other party’s perspective and their reasons and impacts for coming to an agreement, while the close-ended questions narrow down the other party’s initial responses. This helps to align the capabilities that you possess with the needs of others.​Go Plan​​The “Go Plan” is a statement of alignment. It clearly states the value proposition behind your shared vision, from both sides. This plan should list out what you expect from the other party in all aspects, meaning monetary expectations, supporting actions, communication plans, and all relevant expectations.​The next step is for you to share your value proposition, the considerations (or benefits) that you will make in exchange for the value you will receive from the other party. I find guaranteeing value one of the most effective closing techniques when creating these “Go Plans.” If you can guarantee someone that your product or service will make them more money than it costs, meaning you serve as a profit center and not an expense, you will see a higher closing rate.​One of my favorite ways to come to an agreement on these plans is rather simple, I let my potential business partners know that my memory is fallible and ask if we can put our shared vision down on paper, so I don’t forget anything.No-Go Plan​The “No Go Plan” is a statement that ensures we are prepared for adjustment, if we are unable to come to a concrete agreement with our potential partner, client, or vendor.​The “No-Go Plan” maps out potential actions to take if the outcome is anything other than a “Yes”, or if there are objections while managing and developing this vision.​List out your potential steps of action for if they say “no”, whether those involve a plan for re-negotiation, re-engineering the shared vision, or walking away from the agreement all together. If you walk away, one of the most effective ways to increase your chances at future success with this individual comes from sharing a plan to re-evaluate this discussion. In fact, I have what I call the “Three No Rule” that I use when having difficulty connecting with a potential client. If a person who I’ve already shared a vision with misses a scheduled call or meeting, I give them three chances, no matter the reasoning behind it. After three “misses”, I call them and explain to them that I have to dedicate my time and resources to those clients I can connect with more easily, but I’m available to work with them down the line if things change. ​Timing is one of the most common objections that you will receive, and this type of statement is a great way to deal with that objection. Using a phrase like the one below can help you not only demonstrate alignment with the other party’s needs, but it keeps the door open for a future relationship, especially if circumstances change:​“From what you’re telling me, it sounds like this might not be the right time for us to come to an agreement. Would it be alright if I reached back out next quarter to re-evaluate this partnership?”Tweet me @davidmeltzer your favorite takeaway from today's episode and come ask me questions live every Friday at 11:00 am PST / 2:00 pm EST. Text me at (949) 298-2905 or email me at david@dmeltzer.com to join!Click here to follow the Road to Revenue playlist on Spotify
59 min
1290
I Wish I Could Be Just Like My Mom | Happy Moth...
Happy Mother's Day Mom. I wish that I could be just like you. Today's episode is dedicated to my mom, here are four things that I’ve learned and I share this with my mom every day. It’s something that all parents want to hear.It’s helped my relationship with my mom. I tell my mom every day, a minimum of a minute, number one, I’m healthy. Number two, I’m happy. Three, I love her. Four, I appreciate her, meaning she adds value to my life. If you tell your parents no matter what age they are that you’re healthy, happy, appreciate them and love them, there’s nothing else they care about. They may give you a hard time about little stuff but in the end, you will solidify your connection to the most important people in your life which is your parents, and give them the gratitude and appreciation for you that you have for them.
6 min
1291
From Delivering Pizzas to Building a Billion Do...
Ben Francis, Founder and Owner of GymShark, shares his thoughts on how a single work experience with his grandfather shaped his desire to build his own business, what he’s learned about the complexities of running an international organization, as well as the one event for the fledgling brand showed Ben that he was truly onto something special. Francis and host of #ThePlaybook, David Meltzer, chat about topics including why innovation has become a main focus of GymShark, how entrepreneurs can push themselves to evolve instead of getting stuck in a rut, and the singular decision that Ben says changed the course of his life and his business. Tweet me @davidmeltzer your favorite takeaway from today's episode and come ask me questions live every Friday at 11:00 am PST / 2:00 pm EST. Text me at (949) 298-2905 or email me at david@dmeltzer.com to join!
18 min
1292
The Future of Influencer Marketing and Generat...
Simon Yu, Co-founder and COO of Clubhouse Media Group, and Christian Young, President of Clubhouse Media Group, talk about how influencers with followings big and small can be used to elevate a brand, as well as how the first publicly-traded “content house” came about after a conversation with influencer Daisy Keech. Yu, Young, and host of #ThePlaybook, David Meltzer, discuss topics including the “juggling act” that comes with running a public company, why analytics are key to measuring the success of a marketing campaign, as well as why you should focus on your product first, rather than potential influencers to work with. Tweet me @davidmeltzer your favorite takeaway from today's episode and come ask me questions live every Friday at 11:00 am PST / 2:00 pm EST. Text me at (949) 298-2905 or email me at david@dmeltzer.com to join!
21 min
1293
The Importance of Mentorship
Today's episode is from a panel I spoke on while in Cleveland last week for the 2021 NFL Draft. I was fortunate to be joined by Roman Oben, VP of Football Development, for the NFL, Shaquira Johnson, Chief Revenue Officer for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Northeast Ohio, Juan Goodwin, President of Lifeline Sports, David A. Moreno Jr., Esq., Partner at Brown Rudnick LLP and Founding Partner at Mediabundance LLC, and Josh Cribbs, Former NFL Player for the Cleveland Browns. We discussed the importance of giving back to underserved communities and why mentorship is so important at a young age. Tweet me @davidmeltzer your favorite takeaway from today's episode and come ask me questions live every Friday at 11:00 am PST / 2:00 pm EST. Text me at (949) 298-2905 or email me at david@dmeltzer.com to join!
40 min
1294
Brian Scudamore: Founder & CEO, 1-800-GOT-JUNK ...
Brian Scudamore, Founder, and CEO of O2E Brands and 1-800-GOT-JUNK, shares his thoughts on:[1:00] - How working in his grandparents’ army surplus store taught him the importance of treating people the right way[4:37] - Why you should take your business seriously, but not yourself[6:20] - Why he once fired an entire team that wasn’t aligned with his company values[17:30] - The secret to hiring engaged people as employees
19 min
1295
How to Use the Law of Attraction | A Conversati...
FC Barcelona Footballer, Martin Braithwaite and I teamed up at #CollisionConf this year to talk about how to use the law of attraction and tapping into the secrets behind elite performance. Tweet me @davidmeltzer your favorite takeaway from today's episode and come ask me questions live every Friday at 11:00 am PST / 2:00 pm EST. Text me at (949) 298-2905 or email me at david@dmeltzer.com to join!
15 min
1296
Brandon Marshall: Former NFL Star & Founder, Ho...
On this episode of #ThePlaybook, Brandon Marshall, former NFL star, Founder of the House of Athlete, and Host of I AM ATHLETE Podcast, shares his thoughts on:[1:01] - His five pillars for living a happy life[8:19] - Why top athletes like LeBron James and Russell Wilson benefit by treating themselves as a walking corporation[10:45] - How perspectives on mental health in sports have shifted in recent years[18:20] - Why it is impossible to be consistent without the right plan in place Tweet me @davidmeltzer your favorite takeaway from today's episode and come ask me questions live every Friday at 11:00 am PST / 2:00 pm EST. Text me at (949) 298-2905 or email me at david@dmeltzer.com to join!
21 min
1297
Coaching Session and Live Q&A | Road to Revenue...
We've got another episode of the Road to Revenue series! Today's episode is an hour long coaching session and live Q&A that I hosted during my Weekly Free Training. I answered as many questions as I could and even took some live questions on Clubhouse. Tweet me @davidmeltzer your favorite takeaway from today's episode and come ask me questions live every Friday at 11:00 am PST / 2:00 pm EST. Text me at (949) 298-2905 or email me at david@dmeltzer.com to join! Click here to follow the Road to Revenue playlist on Spotify
57 min
1298
Terry Thayer: Co-founder, Intellomate | #ThePla...
Terry Thayer, Co-founder of Intellomate, talks about the misnomer of being an “overnight success”, as well as why automation is key for helping entrepreneurs to free up more time and improve their revenues. Thayer and host of #ThePlaybook, David Meltzer, share their thoughts on how business leaders can apply their skills from one industry to another field, the importance of seeking out the right mentors, and why having the right systems in place are crucial in order to achieve your goals. The pair also chat about analyzing the investments you make in yourself, as well as how to promote your company’s core values amongst your team.
23 min
1299
Steve Barnard: Founder & CEO, Mission Produce |...
Steve Barnard, Founder and CEO of Mission Produce (NASDAQ: AVO), shares how he was able to work his way up through the agriculture industry, as well as some of the most valuable lessons he picked up from mentors along the way. Barnard and host of #ThePlaybook, David Meltzer, chat about a variety of topics including the origins of Mission Produce, how to convince others to share your vision, and which life mottos every entrepreneur should try to follow. The pair also discuss treating business as a game that you love to win, and analyzing your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses in order to improve your own business. Tweet me @davidmeltzer your favorite takeaway from today's episode and come ask me questions live every Friday at 11:00 am PST / 2:00 pm EST. Text me at (949) 298-2905 or email me at david@dmeltzer.com to join!
17 min
1300
How to Become a Good Leader
Today's episode is from another coaching session with my two favorite coaching clients, Alan Lazaros and Kevin Palmieri. As usual, these two came prepared with questions full of value that I needed to share with all of you. The three of us are going to discuss, what it takes to be a good leader, how I deal with people that make poor decisions and the difference between a coach and a mentor. Tweet me @davidmeltzer your favorite takeaway from today's episode and come ask me questions live every Friday at 11:00 am PST / 2:00 pm EST. Text me at (949) 298-2905 or email me at david@dmeltzer.com to join!
23 min