On this episode of #ThePlaybook, Jay Bilas, College Basketball Analyst for ESPN, discusses:[1:00] - How his best memories tend to come from the most difficult situations he experiences[6:12] - Why there isn’t a level playing field in college sports and how it can be changed[15:00] - His research process for each NBA Draft (and how he prepares to be wrong)[18:43] - Why he doesn’t let emotions affect his analysis of sports

The last year has affected all of us, including my own team. Last March, I had to stand in front of a conference room full of my employees that I consider family, and convince them that this was going to be a huge opportunity. We were about to enter a time of accelerated change, and the only thing that we had to do as a group was to understand that we had control of our mindset, our heartset, and implement and execute our skills, knowledge, and desire on what was going well and what will go well in the future. We were going to make a lot of money, help a lot of people, and have a lot of fun. We were going to spread happiness and utilize the four values of gratitude, forgiveness, accountability, and inspiration in doing so. Tweet me @davidmeltzer your biggest takeaway from today's episode and let me know if you want to hear more of these topical conversations. Come ask me questions live every Friday at 11:00 am PST / 2:00 pm EST. You can text me at (949) 298-2905 or email me at david@dmeltzer.com to join!.

On this episode of #ThePlaybook, Cliff Obrecht, Cofounder and COO of Canva, shares his thoughts on: [:51] - How his wife and cofounder was able to identify some of the shortcomings of the traditional way of doing graphic design[5:04] - Why it is important to view your free products as a marketing channel[7:28] - How not wanting to “work with d*ckheads” led to Canva being one of Australia’s top places to work[17:00] - The cofounders’ simple two-step plan for the future of Canva

“Yes” is typically easy to say and easy to hear in business. “No”... isn’t. Many of us struggle with hearing or saying “No” to other people, whether out of ego or a need to please others. But when we understand the times that “no” is most essential, we are better prepared to improve our business as well as our relationships with others. There are three ways to utilize “No”: 1. Saying “No” I used to be a person who always said yes. People took advantage of that. Now that I've realized the strain it puts on me; I take a different approach. Before I decide to say no, I try to ask, “How?" By asking this question, we make people accountable for their part in receiving assistance from us, and we can still help meet their ego's needs for love, belonging, reputation, popularity, and self-esteem. Oftentimes, we get in our own way when it comes to connecting with others. We forget about gratitude, empathy, and accountability and instead limit our own potential. The biggest catalyst causing people to get in their own way is when they automatically respond to a question by saying no without thinking. Next time you are about to say no, consider asking “how?” instead and see what type of response you get. There may be solutions to a problem that you might not have thought of, or you could be able to settle on a middle ground that still provides some sort of help to the person who came to you. When someone is not willing to take part in the "how," that is when you get to say no. I believe that you are truly made by the people you say no to. Turning down an individual who rarely hears "no" can elevate your personal brand in their mind, and not in a negative way. You set yourself apart from the people who are scared to turn that person away, which can lead to even more business in the future. 2. Hearing “No” For many of us, hearing no can be tough to handle. What I try and do is re-engineer the way that people think about getting a “No”. Think about it this way: What if I told you that you are 25 “No’s” away from getting what you want most? How excited would you be to get the first “No”? How about the 24th? Take the perspective that you are a finite amount of “No’s” away from getting to that “Yes”. We might not always know what that number is, we only know that we are one step closer. 3. No, Negotiation, and “The Press” Most of us are familiar with grape stomping, the traditional way of making wine by crushing grapes barefoot in a wooden tub. Nowadays, winemakers use presses to extract the juice from newly harvested grapes. There are a few different types of presses, but essentially they all work the same way. Grapes are placed inside the press and some pressure is then added to get the juice out. When the flow of juice from the press slows or stops, more pressure is added. And yet more pressure is added again until, finally, no juice remains and all that you have left are spent skins, seeds, and maybe some stems. In a business sense, this is just a negotiation tool. If people you are negotiating with are willing to give, it is the natural flow and you shouldn’t be afraid to receive, and you shouldn’t be afraid to keep asking. Keep “pressing the grapes”; keep asking until they say “no” three times. Make sure that you have done everything you can to create the abundance that you’re looking for 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, while the close-ended questions narrow down the other party’s initial responses. This helps to become more aligned with the capabilities you possess (if successful, this is the point where I habitually present the summary as a strategy to overly and effectively communicate). I'll send you a copy of my book and pay for shipping! Click here to follow the Road to Revenue playlist on Spotify

Today’s episode is from my appearance on The Kelly Cardenas Podcast. Kelly and I are going to discuss, the turning points that changed my life, the moments that make me pinch myself, and the best advice I would give to our children. 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! I'll send you a copy of my book and pay for shipping!

Craig Newmark, Founder of Craigslist and Craig Newmark Philanthropies, sits down to share the story of Craigslists’ origins as a mailing list amongst friends and subsequent evolution, as well as how the lessons he learned as a kid in Sunday School apply to the work that he is doing today as a philanthropist. Newmark and host of #ThePlaybook, David Meltzer, chat about a variety of subjects including the relationship between works of fiction and the development of technology, why being a “nerd” taught Craig to be adaptable and react to change, and the thought process behind choosing a cause or organization to support. I'll send you a copy of my book and pay for shipping!

Today's episode is from my new TV Show, “2 Minute Drill.” It is the first "Pitch Only" show with four contestants competing for over $50,000 of cash and prizes. Joining me today are Adam Robinson, Founder & CEO of GetEmails, and Rory Cutaia, the CEO of Verb Technologies. You’ll hear four pitches and feedback from the three of us, and in the end, Rory will determine who had the best pitch. You can watch 2 Minute Drill on Fridays at 8:30 pm PST on Bloomberg TV and you can watch at any time on Amazon Prime Video. Come ask me questions live every Friday at 11:00 am PST / 2:00 pm EST during my weekly Free Training. Text me at (949) 298-2905 or email me at david@dmeltzer.com to join! Click Here to Listen to the Previous Episodes of 2 Minute Drill Click Here to Watch 2 Minute Drill on Amazon Prime Video

On this episode of #ThePlaybook, Mark Frohnmayer, Founder and President of Arcimoto (NASDAQ: FUV), sits down to discuss:[2:00] - The biggest hurdles faced in bringing a vehicle to market[3:16] - Why it took them eight different iterations to finally land on the right product[10:06] - How they’ve been able to build a lightweight, stable, and safe three-wheeled vehicle with their FUV[15:26] - His thoughts on the future of transportation and where Arcimoto fits in

Today's episode is from a speech I gave to Erik Van Horn's Franchise Tribe last month. I'm going to go over the common denominator for all successful people, how to take control of your mindset and escape a victim's mindset, and what the most important thing I try to teach my kids is. 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! I'll send you a copy of my book and pay for shipping!

On this episode of #ThePlaybook, Martin Braithwaite, Forward for FC Barcelona and Cofounder at NYCE Companies, shares his thoughts on:[:57] - How a leg injury when he was younger led him on a path of self-exploration[7:10] - Why separating yourself from your pride helps you to learn lessons easier[10:06] - How to use affirmations to help create more positive inner conversations[13:40] - Why being obsessed with a goal correlates with achievement

Be a courageous leader who illuminates flaws instead of hiding them. The ability to be vulnerable is such an important aspect of life that I switched the two words sitting on my nightstand from "Thank You" to "Radical Humility," as a reminder to be humble and allow myself to be vulnerable. And it's not simply being vulnerable as a person at home with your family; it is essential to also be vulnerable as a leader in business. Vulnerability is simply the courage to be yourself, "warts and all," a core component of effective leadership. Leaders who try to portray themselves as invulnerable or perfect will soon find that their message does not resonate with their team. Not only that, but a façade of invulnerability is a defense which attracts attacks from others. Vulnerability means living in authenticity. Vulnerability means authenticity Authenticity is what helps you to connect emotionally with your team. As you know, the truth vibrates the fastest and the truth is a cornerstone of vulnerability. Those who are not willing to admit this are unable to grow in their humanity and will never be viewed as genuine at heart. One of my favorite quotes on the role of vulnerability in our lives comes from the poet David Whyte: "Vulnerability is not a weakness, a passing indisposition or something we can arrange to do without, vulnerability is not a choice, vulnerability is the underlying, ever present and abiding undercurrent of our natural state.” Illuminate your flaws In order to display your vulnerability, you must illuminate your mistakes when you make them. Being vulnerable means that you are honest and accountable, especially when analyzing yourself. You need to know what you are good at, in what areas you need to improve, what you are hiding, your flaws or your experiences where shame lies. You must be accountable to yourself as well as others, which starts by looking within your ego and being truthful with yourself. You need to accept that you are not perfect, and that making mistakes is a normal part of being a leader and a human. One of most helpful things that comes along with being vulnerable is that it elevates your self-awareness. 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! I'll send you a copy of my book and pay for shipping! Click here to follow the Road to Revenue playlist on Spotify

These are the 5 things that you need to teach your kids:Your kids live through you not for you Empower them to be healthyEmpower them to be happyTeach them to love themselves Inspire them to appreciate themselves 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! I'll send you a copy of my book and pay for shipping!

David Carpenter, speaker, life coach, and sales executive for American Income Life Insurance Company, sits down to discuss why patience is so essential for entrepreneurs from all walks of life, as well as his best strategies for developing a mindset that pushes you towards your goals. Carpenter and host of #ThePlaybook, David Meltzer, chat about a variety of topics including how it felt to buy their moms a house, why they define wealth differently than other entrepreneurs, and putting together the right group of mentors to empower you. The pair also discuss their thoughts on balancing your giving and receiving values in order to accrue wealth.

Today's episode is from my new TV Show, “2 Minute Drill.” It is the first "Pitch Only" show with four contestants competing for over $50,000 of cash and prizes. Joining me today are Bradley Tusk, the Founder and CEO of Tusk Ventures, and Rory Cutaia, the CEO of Verb Technologies. You’ll hear four pitches and feedback from the three of us, and in the end, Rory will determine the winner. You can watch 2 Minute Drill on Fridays at 8:30 pm PST on Bloomberg TV and you can watch at any time on Amazon Prime Video. Come ask me questions live every Friday at 11:00 am PST / 2:00 pm EST during my weekly Free Training. Text me at (949) 298-2905 or email me at david@dmeltzer.com to join! Click Here to Listen to the Previous Episodes of 2 Minute Drill Click Here to Watch 2 Minute Drill on Amazon Prime Video

On this episode of #ThePlaybook, Gabi Lewis, Co-founder of Magic Spoon, shares his thoughts on:[1:00] - Why even “obvious” ideas still offer the opportunity for entrepreneurs to excel[2:35} - What being a cofounder of a company has taught him about overcoming the objections of others[8:35] - How childhood memories and nostalgia have helped lead to Magic Spoon’s popularity[14:20] - Why being a philosophy major prepared him more to be an entrepreneur than studying economics.

Today's episode is from another value filled coaching session with two of my favorite clients, Alan Lazaros and Kevin Palmieri of Next Level University. The three of us are going to discuss the reason why people are afraid of working long, and the reason why it is okay to be a hypocrite. 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! I'll send you a copy of my book and pay for shipping!

Thomas Hoffmann, Founder and CEO of Colorado Campworks, shares his thoughts on:[:30] - His thoughts on education as a young entrepreneur whose idea originated while he was in college[2:28] - How the first camper that he built put him on the path of founding Colorado Campworks[5:41] - Why overcoming your fears is essential for anyone founding their own brand[16:48] - How the design of their Nomad NS-1 camper has evolved since the beginning of the pandemic.

Hey everyone! We’ve got another edition of our “Road to Revenue” series and today’s episode is an hour-long Q&A session. I answered as many questions as I could on clubhouse and zoom during my weekly Free Training simulcast. I will be answering even more of your questions on Clubhouse every Monday at 3:00 pm PST / 6:00 pm EST. If you are on Clubhouse make sure you're following me @davidmeltzer. 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! I'll send you a copy of my book and pay for shipping! Click here to follow the Road to Revenue playlist on Spotify

You don't build your community, your community builds you. The more content and value that you can give away, the easier it will be to grow your community. Give them what you afford to give away. Be abundant with your content, consider what content you have that will stimulate people to join your community, transitions their interest, shares a vision with them, and then figure out what content you have will guarantee them profit. Once you figure that out, you can charge start charging them for your content. Make sure you guarantee them the value that you are providing. If you are offering more value than you are receiving, why wouldn't they want to do business with you? If you want me to answer your question on the podcast, tweet me @davidmeltzer, or email me a video at david@dmeltzer.com of you asking me a question and I will answer it for a future episode!

Priscilla Tsai, CEO and Founder of cocokind, talks about how her immigrant parents were able to model hard work for their children and also shares her thoughts on how she was able to follow her mother’s lead in founding her own business. Tsai and host of #ThePlaybook, David Meltzer, share their thoughts on subjects including the appeal of social entrepreneurship and compassionate capitalism, why resilience is key for entrepreneurs today, and how using a door-to-door strategy can help to build your business. The pair also chat about how to balance launching products that consumers have been asking for with unexpected offerings.

Don't just talk the talk, guarantee the value that you are providing and walk the walk. Articulate the quantitative value, not subjective value. You would be amazed at how easy it is to do business when you can provide more value than you are asking for. Show them the reasons, impacts, and capabilities that you can guarantee them profit. If you want me to answer your question on the podcast, tweet me @davidmeltzer, or email me a video at david@dmeltzer.com of you asking me a question and I will answer it for a future episode!

Jotham Stein, attorney and author of the book Even CEOs Get Fired, sits down to discuss some of the most common reasons that executives lose their job and how someone can turn being fired into the best thing that ever happened to them. Stein and host of #ThePlaybook, David Meltzer, chat about a range of topics including the Do’s and Don’ts of an employment agreement, how to achieve a “professional reincarnation” and how Jotham’s experience building a business of his own prepared him to advise clients who are entrepreneurs. The pair also discuss why the reasons that people get fired don’t always make rational sense.

You have to build your community based on the value that you are providing. Once your community starts asking you for more access, it is time to monetize. You have to articulate the value to exceed what they are asking for. If you can guarantee more value than you are getting back, then why wouldn't they want to pay for your products or services.The more value that you can guarantee, the easier it will be to monetize your audience.If you want me to answer your question on the podcast, tweet me @davidmeltzer, or email me a video at david@dmeltzer.com of you asking me a question and I will answer it for a future episode!

Today's episode is from my new TV Show, “2 Minute Drill.” It is the first "Pitch Only" show with four contestants competing for over $50,000 of cash and prizes. Joining me today are Will Ford, the President and Co-founder of Launchboom, and Rory Cutaia, the CEO of Verb Technologies. You’ll hear four pitches and feedback from the three of us and in the end, Rory will determine the winner. You can watch 2 Minute Drill on Fridays at 8:30 pm PST on Bloomberg TV and on Amazon Prime Video. Come ask me questions live every Friday at 11:00 am PST / 2:00 pm EST during my weekly Free Training. Text me at (949) 298-2905 or email me at david@dmeltzer.com to join! Click Here to Listen to the Previous Episodes of 2 Minute Drill Click Here to Watch 2 Minute Drill on Amazon Prime Video

Your brain can only think of one thing at a time, so when you find yourself overthinking, you are creating interference between your mind and your ability to refocus. Refocusing is a practice, I spend time every day practicing the muscle of refocusing, which will create more productivity, accessibility, and gratitude in your life. If you become anxious, then you need to stop, identify that you are entering ego-based consciousness, and roll into a different trajectory. If you want me to answer your question on the podcast, tweet me @davidmeltzer, or email me a video at david@dmeltzer.com of you asking me a question and I will answer it for a future episode!