The Playbook With David Meltzer

In today’s episode, I share the lessons that shaped my entrepreneurial journey, from chasing financial success to losing everything and rebuilding with a completely different perspective. I explain why faith matters when the evidence seems to be working against you, how being more interested than interesting creates better opportunities, and why your self image can determine what you believe is possible. I also break down the connection between thoughts, perceptions, meaning, intention, and behavior, and why consistent daily actions create extraordinary results over time. Success is not about waiting for the right circumstances. It comes from building the behaviors of the person you want to become.

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In today’s episode, Rebecca Zung interviews me about rebuilding my life after losing over $100 million and recognizing how deeply I had tied my identity to money. I share how mentorship, faith, and listening to the people who loved me helped me change my thoughts, habits, and priorities. We also discuss my book, Don’t Do Business with Dicks, and the difference between people who intend harm and those who challenge us with honesty and compassion. From trusting my own judgment to learning how to ask for help, this conversation explores building success around service, meaningful relationships, and a stronger sense of self.

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In today’s episode, I talk with entrepreneur and speaker Stephen Scoggins about building a successful business without losing yourself or neglecting the people you love. Stephen shares how his lion and lamb philosophy brings courage and compassion together, and why financial freedom alone left him feeling empty. We discuss being present with family, releasing control as a mentor, and learning from others before repeating their mistakes. Throughout the evening, the conversations return to recognizing destructive patterns, choosing opportunities that align with your values, and using business to serve others. Success becomes more meaningful when your growth supports your relationships, your purpose, and your peace.

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In today’s episode, I share how losing everything changed my understanding of success and the daily practices that helped me rebuild. Drawing on lessons from my mom, I explain why receiving help makes us better givers and how gratitude, forgiveness, accountability, and faith shape our ability to move forward. I walk through five practices for becoming unstoppable, from knowing what we want and who can help us to prioritizing what we do now and applying our why. I also share how consistent attention to sleep, health, family, and purpose helps us overcome uncertainty, reduce resistance, and make money for the sake of helping others and having fun.

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In today’s episode, I sit down with UFC Hall of Famer Forrest Griffin, a retired mixed martial artist and Vice President of Athlete Development at the UFC Performance Institute. Forrest shares how growing up with very little shaped his mindset, why struggle can build resilience, and how fighting became an unexpected path after football and college. We talk about the realities of building a career in the UFC, the role of personality and social media, knowing when to walk away, and the financial challenges athletes face after competition. Forrest also explains why working smarter, taking care of yourself, and staying grounded matter long after success arrives.

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In today’s episode, I answer questions from a live meetup about choosing the right people, asking uncomfortable questions, building shareholder value, and protecting your time and energy. I share how timing and risk tolerance can guide better decisions, why self image is shaped by the meaning we give our past, and how wisdom becomes more valuable as knowledge becomes easier to access. I also explain how to think about hiring family, developing and retaining talent, setting boundaries with partners, and identifying clients who are making you money, breaking even, or costing you money. The goal is simple: make better decisions with greater awareness and accountability.

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In today’s episode, I share how fear creates interference between us and our divine potential. I explain how to replace fear with faith, find the light, love, and lessons in every experience, and recognize that failure is simply feedback guiding us toward growth. Most importantly, I share how to remove the interference of ego, trust in the omniscient, all-powerful, and all-knowing, and take consistent, everyday action in alignment with our divine direction to create more passion, purpose, and profitability.

To join my next free Friday Training sessions, email me at [email protected]

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In today’s episode, I sit down with Justin White to talk about the habits, mindset, and discipline that create lasting success. We discuss why contractors and entrepreneurs need to understand technology, perceived value, profitability, and the importance of knowing their bottom line. I share how daily non-negotiables around sleep, health, family, faith, finance, time, and meaning have shaped my life and business. We also talk about recovering from failure, building a stronger self-image, shortening the distance between problems and solutions, and becoming comfortable asking for what your work is worth while staying aligned with the person you want to become.

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In today’s episode, I sit down with Casey Jacox to talk about fatherhood, resilience, faith, and the lessons that have shaped the way I raise my four children. We discuss why kids watch what we do more than they listen to what we say, how failure can build strength, and why vulnerability creates stronger relationships. I also share the importance of non-negotiable time, prioritizing your own health, and learning from mistakes instead of hiding them. We talk about forgiveness, self-image, and giving children the freedom to pursue their own direction while still providing the guidance, values, and example they need to grow.

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In today’s episode, I sit down with Shawn Jennings, CEO of Real House Inc., to talk about the journey from chasing financial success to building a life centered on faith, family, and purpose. Shawn shares how helping a childhood friend struggling with addiction ultimately inspired a recovery organization that has served people for more than 20 years. We discuss the uncertainty that comes with entrepreneurship, the failures and challenges that shaped his perspective, and the importance of daily non-negotiables. Shawn also reflects on navigating one of the most difficult periods of his career and how aligning his decisions with goodness changed his definition of success.

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