To say human life has come a long way would be an understatement. We have achieved things that other species can’t even think of. We have made strides in industrial development, understood our chemistry, connected our planet with communication, unfolded the mysteries of outer space, and made advancements in other uncountable things. However, we also had to sacrifice many things to achieve this profound success. And one of the things that got severely affected in the process was the ‘values’ that made us humans, that made us happy.
That’s why the role of life & business coaches, therapists, motivational speakers, amongst others have become more than important today. These esteemed personalities help us to not lose our humane values and encourage forward momentum by establishing positive goals both in our personal and professional life.
David Meltzer, CEO of David Meltzer Enterprises and Co-founder of Sports 1 Marketing, stands tall among these personalities. The pioneering leader and serial entrepreneur feels that being ‘interested’ in the process is more important than being someone who is perceived as ‘interesting.’ Aware of his talents, he puts all the lessons he teaches into practice, never fails to ask for help, does not cater to the desires of his ego, and ensures that he adheres to the routine as closely as possible to his instructions.
And for the modern, fast-growing world, there is only one thing that gets David out of his bed in the morning; he wants to empower over one billion people to be happy. In an Exclusive Interview with Exeleon Magazine, David Meltzer shares his inspiring story and philosophies.
What according to you makes one an admired leader? How do you integrate the same thought into your leadership?
The world’s best leaders are intelligent followers, people who are more interested than interesting, as they work to become their highest self. I’m very aware that I’m still practicing all of the lessons that I teach, including asking for help and not feeding the needs of my ego, but I ensure that I am practicing them every day.
What prompted you the inception of David Meltzer Enterprises?
I believe that the world today has a happiness problem, with higher rates of unhappiness and suicide than ever before. That is why I’ve made it my life’s mission to empower over 1 billion people to be happy and create a collective consciousness of happiness throughout the world.
As for our company are a values-based organization that operates based on the principles of gratitude, empathy, accountability, and effective communication in order to make a lot of money, help a lot of people, and have a lot of fun.
What has the journey been like for David Meltzer over the years?
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.
Looking back, what would you have done different when starting out?
Be radically humble and not lose sight of my core values by letting my ego get in the way. There was a time when I felt like Midas and that everything I would touch turned to gold, but when you lose your connection to things like humility and gratitude, that is when you are going to have to pay a heavy price to relearn those lessons.
Being a keynote speaker, serial entrepreneur, business coach, best-selling author, and so on, how do you maintain a work life balance?
I might be a little unique due to the fact that I don’t believe in “work”, I simply believe there is activity we get paid for and activity that we don’t get paid for. When you take this perspective, you are looking to maximize the activities that you get paid for as well as placing your intention on making the most of the activities that you do not get paid for. Sleep is a great example of an important activity that we don’t get paid for, and one that can impact every other area of our life if we don’t give it enough attention.
I’m also a believer that you need to have two routines, one for when you are at home and an adaptable routine for when you are traveling, or your typical routine is disrupted by other factors.
What has been the biggest driving factor for you as a leader and entrepreneur? What would be your advice for aspiring and emerging leaders?
I want my legacy to be the collective consciousness of happiness I’ve created, impacting more than 1 Billion people and empowering them to enjoy the consistent and persistent pursuit of their potential. That mission is a part of everything I do in my business and my life, and it is why I spend so much of my time each day serving others and providing as much value as possible, unconditionally.
My best advice for aspiring leaders would be to study human nature, because that is one aspect of life and business that never changes.
What approach do you follow when offering your training and consulting services? How do you ensure optimal client satisfaction?
Anybody that I work with is on a month-to-month basis and I guarantee every month that I’m a profit center for you. That means if I don’t make you more money that I cost each money, just ask and you’ll get your money back. I also offer many things for free, including my books, training guides, and the Friday Training sessions I hold for thousands of people each week.
Talk to us about your mission of empowering OVER 1 BILLION people.
The project that I’m most excited about, and the one that drives me every day, is my mission to empower at least 1 billion people around the world to be happy. 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. My 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.
What has been the biggest roadblock during your journey? What has been your biggest learning?
After declaring bankruptcy and losing over $100 million, 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.
Where do you see yourself standing in the coming years?
It’s hard to say, especially after the sweeping changes that have happened over the last year, but there is one thing I know for certain. I want to focus on being happy where I am, angle towards where I think I want to be, and have the faith that I will end up somewhere better.
Finally, what do you think is the most important trait for an entrepreneur and why?
The top performers in all walks of life have one thing in common: they have a desire that they must be what they can be. They consistently (meaning every day) and persistently (without quitting) enjoy pursuing their potential, no matter what area that potential is in.
