David Meltzer, founder of David Meltzer Enterprises, is an example of a corporate executive who is motivated by high values such as love, compassion, gratitude, empathy, accountability, effective communication, and inspiration.
David Meltzer Enterprises is aligned with David’s mission, which is to empower at least 1 billion people around the world to be happy. He says, “The world today has a happiness problem, with more people who are stressed and suicidal than ever before, and I want to be a part of the solution to that problem. Some people may say that this is an unrealistic goal, which is why I’ve broken it down.” David’s first goal is to empower 1,000 people with the skills and strategies to be happy and successful, then to empower every member of that group to empower another 1,000 people, who will each then empower another 1,000 people to be happy.
The highlights of the interview conducted between the World’s Leaders and David Meltzer are below:
Brief our audience about your journey as a business leader? Tell us about your background and what you did before you started/joined David Meltzer Enterprises?
In my early 20s, I had risen to the top of my game in the business world, becoming a millionaire just nine months out of law school. I worked as an executive for several technology companies, including Westlaw, Thomson Reuters, Everypath, Accenture, and the PC-E Phone, lectured around the globe and saw rapid success in every business project I touched.
In my 30s as a multimillionaire, however, I went on a rapid downward spiral that ended in bankruptcy and losing a portfolio worth over $100 million. It was only then that I realized, in order to revive and thrive, he needed to codify the principles that brought me success. I served as CEO of the renowned Leigh Steinberg Sports & Entertainment agency, which was the inspiration for the movie Jerry Maguire. After losing everything and declaring bankruptcy, including the house I had bought for my mom, I had one single day where I felt like I was at rock bottom. But I was able to rebound after I took stock of my values and what mattered most to me, leaning on the things that my mother taught me (gratitude, empathy, accountability, and inspiration) in order to excel.
How do you diversify your company’s cutting-edge services/solutions for people, entrepreneurs, business leaders?
We provide access and information to people at all levels of entrepreneurship, as a part of my mission to empower over 1 billion people to be happy. I do countless free things like daily Instagram Live interviews, my livestreamed show “Office Hours”, our podcast “The Playbook”, and the Friday Training sessions I’ve been doing for more than 20 years. On top of that, I’ve got coaching and business advisory programs, for which I’ve been recognised as one of the World’s Top 100 Coaches.
As the Founder of David Meltzer Enterprises, what are your major roles and responsibilities?
Most importantly, I am a student of my calendar every single day. This means I give attention and intention to what I have planned, what I don’t have planned, and my sleep. I have two routines, a set routine for when I am at home and an adaptable routine, each with its own set of “non-negotiables”, including; setting minimum amounts of time aside for things like my health, family, and meditation.
What are the three things you would like to improve in the organization?
We teach our team what I call the Five Daily Practices, which are knowing your what (what you want), who (who you can help and who can help you), how (being a student of your calendar), now (prioritization), and applying your why (practicing ending fear and identifying the needs of the ego). I would love to see our team continue to improve in each of those areas.
What are the changes the pandemic has brought in the coach industry?
It used to be that I was known as “someone else’s guy”, and so the past few years I have put a focus on building my own personal brand as part of my life’s mission to empower others with the values that have brought me happiness and success. One of the biggest changes came when I wrote my first book, Connected To Goodness. I had wanted to write an evergreen business book, like Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich, and codifying the values and stories in it has given me a platform to connect with others and provide as much value as I can.
Have you been exposed to competition in the industry? If yes, tell us what makes the company different from its competitors?
I believe in a mindset of abundance rather than comparison, but I would say that one of the things that sets me apart from some of my competitors is my willingness to pay taxes for others. Instead of paying state or federal taxes, I’ll offer to pay what I call the dummy tax for my clients. By sharing my situational knowledge and illuminating the mistakes I’ve made throughout my career, I help them avoid making these “dumb” mistakes for themselves and save them from experiencing the same consequences that I did. I look to provide as much value for others as possible, which is why I send people my books and worksheets for free, as well as hosting free Friday Training sessions each week at 11AM Pacific Time. And for my paying clients, I guarantee my value month-to-month because I want to be a profit centre for others.
Tell us about your vision for the company. How do you ensure a culture of integrity and innovation in the company?
There are a few unique things we do at our company to reinforce our values. We have a Monday Morning Meeting, which has a few main components. First, we review the calendar, which means that our entire team is expected to be students of their calendar. Each of my employees is assigned a day of the week to study, which means that each day they are opening each item on the calendar and looking at it, in order to see if there are issues or efficiencies to be created. Each person is supposed to study “four over and one across”, meaning they are looking at the next four of the specific days they are assigned, as well as what is on tomorrow’s calendar. We also ask people to share a mistake they made last week, the “Dummy Tax” they paid, and then reward those who made the biggest mistake with a bonus.
What advice would you give to emerging entrepreneurs and enthusiasts considering a career in an industry?
The most important thing for any business leader is to ensure that your business’ doors open tomorrow. Succeeding in business is about evolution and not revolution, and it is impossible for your organisation or idea to evolve if you are not operating.
