Book: Connected to Goodness
Author: David Meltzer
Author Bio:
1. What made you start your podcast? Which interviewees did you have a lot of fun talking with?
The reasons for starting the podcast were two-fold. First, thanks to the experiences I’ve had over my career, I’ve got access to the inner circle of sports (and business).
It made a lot of sense to create content with the best and brightest in sports, entertainment, and beyond, and this also served as a great branding tool for myself, as I work on building my public profile.
The second reason I started the podcast was that it gave me an opportunity to create a deeper relationship with Entrepreneur Media and Entrepreneur Magazine, as I get to work on a television show (Elevator Pitch) and other projects with the biggest name in entrepreneurship.
My favorite part of doing these interviews is getting to see these athletes and businesspeople from a different perspective.
Learning how Reggie Bush used his relationship with his father as motivation to drive him or talking with Danica Patrick about being passionate about things other than racing helped to open my eyes about some of the preconceived notions we have about successful people and athletes, in general.
2. Growing up in Akron, what sports teams did you grow up liking?
Being born in Ohio, the Ohio State University was always one of my favorite teams growing up.
After we moved to Southern California, the San Diego Clippers became another of my favorite teams.
I actually got to serve as the ball boy for the Clippers, but when the team moved to Los Angeles, they lost my loyalty.
Now, I’m a big Lakers fan and share seats with Laker legend Dyan Cannon.
3. How much does the sports team mentality play into how you manage your own businesses?
It might surprise you to know that the sports team mentality doesn’t really impact how we run Sports 1 Marketing, although there are certainly many positive aspects that athletes bring to a business environment.
Our company is based on four principles which will give you success in any industry:
Gratitude
Empathy
Accountability
Effective Communication.
4. What was your writing process like for Connected to Goodness and how did that process change when you wrote Compassionate Capitalism?
When writing Connected to Goodness, I went to the Napoleon Hill Foundation to get their input on how to write an evergreen business book like my favorite of all time, Think and Grow Rich.
From there, I developed a daily process to be efficient in my writing. Most mornings when I wake up, I am either researching for a book or writing one, and I have created a system of using transcription apps to help save time when writing copy.
The process for Compassionate Capitalism was very different, as I had a co-author (Blaine Bartlett) who had most of the structure for the book in place.
5. Who was an important mentor you had in life and what are some invaluable lessons you learned from them about success?
My grandfather was one of my biggest mentors growing up, and he told me there are three things you need to be happy:
- A partner who is a liaison between you, your friends, and your family
- One job that you love
- The best bed you can find (because you spend roughly 1/3 of your time there)
This advice eventually served as inspiration for my company’s mission statement: “Make a lot of money, help a lot of people, and have a lot of fun.”
6. What do “exponential results” look like to you? How do you quantify success?
Exponential results are what you see when you are consistent (every day) and persistent (without quit) in your enjoyment of the pursuit of your potential.
For me, success comes down to two things. The first is living with by principles of gratitude, empathy, accountability and effective communication.
The next is empowering others with those values, so they can empower others to be happy.
7. What was the major mindset adjustment that occurred for you that set you on this journey that you’re currently on?
The impetus for me changing my mindset came from my wife, who told me after I had spent a night out partying that she wasn’t happy.
She told me to take stock of what had made me successful in the first place because I had become entitled as a result of my success.
The most difficult thing was that in the middle of this mindset change, I ended up going bankrupt. But, I stayed the course and have been rewarded with more successes than I could have imagined.
8. How was your “5/20 Rule” originated?
Making the most of my time every day has always been an important aspect of my daily routine, and my goal used to be to work two times as efficient, two times as effective, and two times as long as everyone else, resulting in 64 hours of productivity each day.
Now, as a result of my busy schedule, it is even more important to make the most of my time.
Keeping phone calls to five minutes and meetings to twenty minutes makes it so the people that I interact with are ready for our interaction and focused, knowing that there isn’t a lot of time for idle chit-chat.
9. What is your favorite book that you have written? Why?
My favorite book that I’ve written so far isn’t even out yet.
Don’t Do Business with Dicks is a guide to positioning yourself for success in business and avoiding the tribulations that come with interacting with “dicks”.
It’s my favorite both for its catchy title and the takeaways the book provides for its readers, which are a massive help in avoiding the headaches that come with working with difficult people.
10. Which books have most shaped your opinion on time?
Tim Ferris’ "The Four-Hour Workweek" was one book that really got me thinking about my routine and how I used my time each day.
Stephen Hawking’s "A Brief History of Time" was another classic book that shaped my perspective of time, as well.
11. What is the best book you have read in 2018 thus far?
The Checklist Manifesto has been one of my favorite reads recently. Seeing how different industries and jobs approach the “subtleties of success” gives me ideas that I can implement into my own company and life, in order to be more effective.
12. What is your best advice for getting over writer’s block?
My best advice to get over an obstacle like writer’s block is to find a way to get back to your center.
Whether you use meditation, breathing techniques, or some other strategy, take time out to center yourself and clear your mind.
Focus on what you want to accomplish and allow it to happen, instead of trying to force it to happen.
Bonus: Off-season prediction: What two teams do you think will be in the Super Bowl this year?
One of my employees likes to joke about the Super Bowl, calling it the “Patriots Invitational”, but I’m not so sure they are going to make it to the big game again this year.
I’m hoping my Los Angeles Chargers make it, and if I had to pick an opponent, it would be the New Orleans Saints, so I could see Drew Brees face off against his old team.
Bonus #2: Do you plan to own your own sports team one day, and if so, what team would you like to run?
I’d love to be an owner of the Los Angeles Chargers, so I can move the team back to San Diego.
Places to Find More From This Author:
Instagram: @davidmeltzer
Facebook: @davidmeltzer11
Twitter: @davidmeltzer
Website: davemeltzer.com
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