The Playbook With David Meltzer

In today’s episode, I sit down with Gary Stokan, president and CEO of Peach Bowl, Inc., to talk about leadership, longevity, and building something that lasts in big time sports. We cover his 47 years across coaching, brand marketing, and bowl season growth, including the frameworks he used to scale the Chick fil A Peach Bowl into a New Year’s Six mainstay. Gary breaks down relationship capital, smart risk taking, and why he put his job on the line for people he trusted. We also talk repurposing after retirement, storytelling as a teaching tool, and how staying kind compounds over time in business and life.

In today’s episode, I sit down with Danny Cortenraede, founder and managing partner of InStudio Ventures, to talk about what actually matters when you are building a company and trying to raise capital. We get real about the myth of overnight success, the grind behind it, and why relationships, resilience, and alignment matter more than flashy ideas. Danny shares how he evaluates founders, how deal flow really works in sports and entertainment, and why most pitches fail before they ever start. We also unpack timing, access, and what to do when the answer is not at this time, while staying focused on becoming the person who earns the next yes.

In today’s episode, I sit down with Tim Storey, a globally known inspirational voice who has helped millions across 78 countries, from business leaders and entertainers to everyday families, find momentum through adversity. We talk about acting like the champion you already are, shaped by gratitude, discipline, and choosing the right people. I share how my mother’s standards formed my mindset, why success and failure both arrive slowly then all at once, and how time becomes a competitive advantage. Together we cover non negotiables, presence, mastering a skill, and building teams that elevate rather than drain, with practical stories from sports, business, and life.

In today’s episode, I talk through why comfort becomes a trap and how non negotiable behaviors create momentum when life feels heavy. I share how stacking small wins around sleep, movement, breathing, nutrition, and family clears interference and restores clarity. We get into lowering the bar during desperate seasons, creating immediate income before chasing big dreams, and why faith is a predisposition while intention drives results. I also explain accountability, the paperclip test, and why you can’t want change more than someone wants it for themselves. The through line is simple discipline, humility, and giving meaning to hardship that keeps you moving forward.

In this episode, I share the six mindset shifts I see in high achievers who create momentum without waiting to feel ready. I explain why progress beats protection, how imperfect action builds belief, and why curiosity outperforms fear every time. We’ll talk about replacing excuses with solutions, building a growth identity through daily practice, and using simple systems to turn challenges into lessons. This is about taking bold, consistent action, learning fast, and aligning your beliefs with who you’re becoming. To join my next free Friday Training sessions, email me at david@dmeltzer.com

In today’s episode, I break down why consistency alone eventually stalls progress, and how growth actually comes from evolving the behaviors underneath it. I talk through the idea of overnight success taking 17 and a half years, why progress feels painfully slow before it suddenly accelerates, and how most people quit far earlier than they realize. We get into non negotiable behaviors, intentional daily minimums, and why two focused minutes a day can outweigh two distracted hours once a week. I also share how vulnerability requires discernment, when a story is truly yours to tell, and how protecting others matters just as much as personal truth.

In today’s episode, I sit down with James Crook, founder and president of BlinC Games, a universal platform built to organize any game, anywhere, anytime. We talk about how sports, competition, and fatherhood shaped James’s resilience, leadership, and long-term vision. James shares the real story behind building BlinC from the ground up, from sleeping on floors and driving Uber to creating a system that empowers organizers, players, venues, and partners alike. We also get into building community through games, aligning incentives in a two-sided marketplace, and why patience matters when you are committed to something bigger than quick wins.

In today’s episode, I break down how to stop fighting bad habits and start understanding them. We are not broken people, we are patterned people, and habits live inside loops of triggers, behaviors, and perceived rewards. I walk through how to map that loop, master the pause when fear and uncertainty hit, and replace low yielding behaviors with ones aligned to where you want to be or better. We talk about devotion over discipline, awareness over perfection, and why small non negotiable behaviors win the present. When you shorten the distance of resistance, you free energy, restore focus, and build momentum that compounds over time.

In today’s episode, I break down how to stop fighting bad habits and start understanding them. We are not broken people, we are patterned people, and habits live inside loops of triggers, behaviors, and perceived rewards. I walk through how to map that loop, master the pause when fear and uncertainty hit, and replace low yielding behaviors with ones aligned to where you want to be or better. We talk about devotion over discipline, awareness over perfection, and why small non negotiable behaviors win the present. When you shorten the distance of resistance, you free energy, restore focus, and build momentum that compounds over time.

In today’s episode I share how early morning meetups turned boredom into service and why curiosity beats being interesting. I talk about capturing what resonates and what irritates you then building a simple system to revisit it until the lesson reveals itself. We get into faith and entrepreneurship and why progress takes a thousand steps even when evidence says quit. I explain perceived value versus bottom line how preparation builds confidence and how fear never leaves but your response can change. I also cover non negotiables like sleep and an unwinding routine that sets tomorrow up tonight with practical stories from live questions around money time and purpose.