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.
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Why Most People Are Drifting Without Purpose
<p>In today’s episode, I sit down with Ruben Dua, CEO and founder of Dubb and host of the Connection Loop Podcast, to talk about video, fear, and purpose. We get into why most people hold back from sharing their stories, how confidence is built through repetition, and why other people’s opinions are none of your business. I share the moment that pushed me into content creation, what video has changed in my life and career, and how asking, giving real value, and prioritization drive meaningful conversion. We also talk about devotion over discipline, redefining failure, and aligning dail...
Building A Business Buyers Want
<p>In today’s episode, I sit down with business broker and entrepreneur Matt Uhler, who’s been self-employed since 17 and has been part of more than 800 business transactions. We talk about the real challenge after success: keeping your purpose once the deal is done. Matt breaks down how buyers think about a company like a recipe, why clean financials and repeatable systems raise valuation, and how real estate can add serious flexibility at exit. We also cover SBA loans as a practical tool for buying income-producing assets, plus the bottleneck problem when a business depends too much on the owne...
Ditching Toxicity and Designing Your Environment
<p>In this episode, I talk about why transforming your life starts with who and what you allow around you. Toxicity doesn’t just come from obvious negativity — it shows up when we cling to comfort, tolerate misalignment, or listen to fear-based advice. I share why surrounding yourself with values-aligned people, diverse thinkers, and strong mentors accelerates growth and protects your vision. When you set boundaries, prioritize rest, and design environments that support your purpose, you stop leaking energy and start compounding it. This isn’t a one-time decision — it’s a daily practice of choosing growth over interference and committing...
How Changing Meaning Changes Everything
<p>In today’s episode, I break down why health is the real number one asset, and why chasing goals without asking “for the sake of what?” leads people off track. I share how losing everything forced me to reframe the meaning I gave my past, and how behavior either aligns with where I want to be or interferes with it. I walk through practical daily practices like non negotiables for sleep and health, lowering the bar to stay consistent, and refusing to stack two losses in a row. I also explain why being more interested than interesting changes everything.</p>
Making Facial Recognition Affordable and Practical
<p>In today’s episode, I sit down with Michael Doherty, founder and CEO of Verifyfaces, to break down how facial recognition can be affordable, fast, and practical without relying on expensive AI. We talk about his shift to facial geometry, turning faces into mathematical data that runs on existing cameras while cutting costs by up to 90%. Michael explains how this approach improves search speed, reduces operator fatigue, and enables real-time alerts for schools, retailers, monitoring centers, and domestic violence prevention. We also cover rare use cases like biometric-triggered emergency alerts and how smarter architecture can prevent incidents before they es...
From Pain to Traction
<p>In today’s episode, I break down why so many founders stay stuck even when they have ambition, intelligence, and a work ethic. The real problem is confusing motion with momentum, creativity with execution, and effort with results. I explain how pain, setbacks, and churn are feedback, not punishment, and how reframing that feedback turns detraction into traction. From clarity before velocity to building a real feedback loop, I lay out the fundamentals of operational leadership and the non negotiable behaviors that compound over time. Sustainable success comes from fixing what breaks in the order it breaks.</p>
Building Blockchain Without Speculation
<p>In today’s episode, I sit down with Michael Bitonti, CEO of Get Liquid.io, to talk about building real world asset backed lending the disciplined way. We unpack why institutional grade compliance matters, how fractionalized debt creates stability where equity often adds volatility, and what it takes to bridge traditional finance with blockchain without sacrificing trust. Michael shares why he chose infrastructure over speculation, licenses over hype, and communication over shortcuts. We also get into faith, leadership, and accountability as operating principles, plus how a compliance first mindset opens the door to broader participation while protecting the foundation.</p>
The Real Reason High Performers Feel Stuck
<p>In today’s episode, I sit down with Josh Zolin, CEO of Windy City Equipment Service, to talk about why even high performers feel stuck despite success. We unpack how the meaning we assign to our past quietly limits potential, fuels imposter syndrome, and creates interference through fear, separation, and the need to be right. I share how presence and ambition coexist, why non negotiable daily behaviors matter more than goals, and how surrender is really about stopping what interferes. We also explore values over outcomes, asking for help as humility, and why consistent habits remove resistance faster than mo...
Your Identity Is Tied To The Wrong Thing
<p>In today’s episode, I share a hard lesson about identity, money, and the people we choose. From negotiating a billion dollar deal on day one to losing everything in 2008, I explain how tying self worth to money distorted my decisions and my circle. I talk about frequency, awareness, and why teams and positions matter more than chasing status. I break down how knowing what you want, reframing the meaning of your past, and aligning daily behaviors turns possibilities into probabilities. This episode connects faith, discipline, and attention to building a life that feels full, grounded, and honest, without sh...
The Power of Effective Communication
<p>In this episode, I share why effective communication starts with knowing your growth zone and staying in the learning space where clarity, empathy, and accountability live. I explain how content, conversations, and preparation compound over time when we lead with value and listen to understand, not to win. We talk about matching the message to the medium, being fully present, and replacing resistance with curiosity. When you communicate with alignment and intention, connection deepens, growth accelerates, and opportunities expand.</p> <p>To join my next free Friday Training sessions, email me at david@dmeltzer.com</p>
