How to Take it Personal and Win in Business with David Grutman

[00:00] How did you get your website to look like that? Mine's so basic. Thanks. I just used Wix Harmony. Sounds fancy. What's that? [00:08] It's Wix's AI website builder. You can just tell it what you want, and it builds you a whole site. So it's like vibe coding a website? [00:16] Exactly, but even better, because you can still click and edit anything by hand. You don't have to use prompts for everything. Oh, that's neat. Yeah, try it for free at Wix.com slash Harmony. Honestly, I put off building a website way longer than I should have. Then I tried Wix Harmony, and it was way easier than I expected. [00:38] I just described what I wanted, and I had an incredible-looking website. The best part? I could change anything myself or ask my AI agent for help. [00:48] I had everything my business needed right there. So if you've been procrastinating, this is your sign. Start building a website for free at Wix.com slash Harmony. You should always build a company that a public company could always buy. It's not mom and pop time anymore. A business that's not run properly or set up properly for an exit is probably not running well anyway. That's how you gain real wealth. Try to find deals where you have equity and not just a fee. [01:16] I've had many moments in my life where I could have gone left or right and I decided to just say let's just keep going forward. We try to create ecosystems where they all feed each other. By having that in one property, it lets us hyper focus on the guests. They don't see me as just a restaurateur or just a nightclub owner. They see me as an entrepreneur that's going to help them with their lives. I'm very protective over people and I send them my deal flow. You're adding value to people's lives. That's a coupon that's going to come back. The one thing they don't

[01:46] about with you in college, how important it is, and what it means to own an IP. I also won't do a deal with somebody if I don't own the IP. [01:55] as part of it. You're listening to Mick Unplugged, hosted by the one and only Mick Hunt. This is where purpose meets power and stories spark transformation. Mick takes you beyond the motivation and into meaning, helping you discover your because and becoming unstoppable. I'm Rudy Rush, and trust me, you're in the right place. Let's get unplugged. Ladies and gentlemen, today's guest, [02:23] is an expert of experts. [02:25] He has a new book out. [02:27] Take it personal. [02:29] that not only is a blueprint for mentality, it's a blueprint for strategy. It's a blueprint of life when you read it from beginning to end. He's going to talk to us about this book, the reason behind the book. He's the founder of Groot Hospitality. [02:45] He is a trailblazer. He's visionary. [02:48] He's an influential entrepreneur. [02:50] Ladies and gentlemen. [02:51] I welcome. [02:53] Mr. David Grubman. David, how you doing today, brother? [02:56] I'm doing great. Thanks for having me, by the way. Thank you, Mick. [03:01] Nah, thank you, brother. Before we get into the book, because... [03:05] I'm going to tell you the reason I initially connected with the book. [03:09] But before we get there, I love opening the show asking my guest, [03:14] about what I call their because.

[03:19] - That thing that's deeper than your why. Like if I were to ask you about your why, you might say your kids. And then when I say, but why are they your why? [03:27] That sentence usually starts off with, well, because dot, dot, dot. And I care about that. So if I were to say David, man, like. [03:35] all of the amazing things that you're doing, all the things that you've done for people, [03:40] What's your because? Why do you keep doing the things that you do? You know, as soon as I accomplish something, I want to try to take something else on. Again, I have very high ADD. So for me, it's, you know, what's next? What can I do differently? [03:55] than my predecessors or my competitors. And I think for this one, in particular, the book, [04:04] I'm really on this mission to try to build legacy as I'm getting older now and I think [04:10] If I didn't do the book now and I did it after I retired, it wouldn't be relevant to people as much. [04:16] as I'm in it today. [04:19] Yeah, I love it, man. And you're so right. And, [04:22] And I see your because in everything that you do, right? You know, with Groot Hospitality, expanding from Miami into Vegas and just kind of taking over and like, [04:34] the things that you do there with your business, man. Like talk to us about, [04:38] you know, a little bit about what your hospitality company does and like that big expansion that you've added to take over the world. [04:46] So we were able to do Poppy Steak, Komodo, Live and Live Beach all under one roof, which is the Fountain Blue Las Vegas.

[04:54] And, you know, [04:55] We try to build an ecosystem for ourselves here in Miami. [04:59] So to be able to do it in one property in Las Vegas where we capture you for dinner, you'll have a drink afterwards at another one of our restaurants and then go right up to live. [05:09] Or you can start your day at live beach, take a nap, then go eat a poppy steak, go to Komodo, and then go to live afterwards. We try to create ecosystems where they all feed each other. [05:19] And I think [05:20] by having that in one property, it lets us hyper focus on the guest. [05:26] Yeah. [05:27] It does. [05:28] And I will tell you, there's no property [05:31] like yours you know i was just talking to some of my friends and they were talking about it and all the things that you do [05:38] you know, talking to a Chris Voss, a Robert Irvine, a Damon John, and like your name comes up. [05:43] And it's the experience, right? And I think that's what you know more than anyone because... [05:50] I'll just say it. This will be a Mick Hunt Unplugged Truth right here. [05:57] I think there are a lot of property owners. There are a lot of folks that don't look at the actual experience of the individual. They say they do, but they don't really put themselves in those shoes. And I think you nailed that. [06:08] Because every aspect of all the things that you do, [06:11] It's like you're looking at it from the true experience standpoint. [06:15] And I think that's what makes you one of the most successful people in the world, bro. [06:18] I think that comes with by being in our venue, you know, by having dinner with friends in my venues. Right. So I catch a lot of things. I'm just like.

[06:26] This music is too loud to even enjoy this experience or [06:29] I'm just hearing everyone's conversation. It's just not enough. It just depends on like how the food comes, what's the sequence of service? [06:36] How's the team interacting with each other? [06:40] Is the lighting going down at the right moment? Is it going up to it? The whole thing, right? So you want to know all these touching points. And I think about the details more than anything. [06:48] So it's all about the details. [06:51] Yes, sir. Yes, sir. [06:53] Now we're going to go to the book. [06:55] And I'm going to give you another unplugged truth, and I'm going to ask you for one. So when I first saw the book, I was grabbed by the title. [07:02] Take it personal. And here's why. [07:05] I'm a UNC Tar Heel. [07:06] right? [07:07] Which means I love Michael Jordan. [07:09] Which means we all watched The Last Dance and we saw all the memes of Jordan saying, and I took that personally. Well... [07:16] When you are wired the way that I'm going to say I'm wired, that Michael Jordan's wired, the way that David's wired, you do take things personal. And that's kind of like the chip on our shoulder to... [07:26] to provide the best experience, to be the best business leaders that we can be, to be the best people in life that we could be. [07:34] So now I want to get it from you. [07:36] Talk to me about when you decided that this was going to be the title of the book and why you chose that title. [07:43] Well, it's really something that I focus in with my team so much. Like if I see [07:47] a guest that I know that we take care of all the time doing their birthday party at another venue and not ours. And I'm like, [07:55] or somebody I might like,

[07:57] Even like a team member, by the way, let alone, I've seen team members do a birthday somewhere else. And I'm like, are you crazy right now? Like, are you insane? Right. [08:08] uh, [08:10] Max, you got to get the cat. And listen, I think... [08:14] it [08:15] It's to my core. I look at the window at the restaurant next to Poppy Steak and see if my friends are in there. [08:21] It's not my rest. You know, I talk about that in the book. [08:24] And I'm... [08:25] I'll go like this in the window to the person. I'm like, if you could be next door, then you could be in my spot. [08:31] And I think as your relationships build with people, they know how much you take it personal. I want them to have that second thought before they go somewhere else. [08:40] At least... [08:42] be troubled with it. At least not enjoy their meal completely because they know I'm, I'm upset. Right. Right. You know, one of my favorite chapters in the book is chapter two and it's building an ecosystem. And, and you know, [08:56] I had this conversation with, [08:58] with all of my people about, you know, your circle and that ecosystem that you call it. And we had a team meeting on Monday. [09:07] where we dissected chapter two. [09:10] And, you know, [09:11] I could talk about it all day long, but we have the author here. So I'd love for you to talk to us about the importance of building an ecosystem and the foundational structure of building that ecosystem. [09:23] So, I mean, it's... [09:25] A great thing. I think it stems from relationships. I think it stems for how do you curate that experience for people when they come to your city, when they come to your home, when they come to whatever.

[09:36] Let me ask you a question. What did your team get out of it? [09:40] What they got... [09:42] was everyone that we interact with, [09:46] We control an experience. [09:48] Because... [09:51] they're going to have one either way it goes. [09:53] So are you going to be the one that controls it? [09:55] Or are you going to let someone else decide the experience that they're going to have? [09:59] And so for us in our ecosystem and understanding, it was, [10:05] What do we all do that's uniquely the thing that no one else can do? Like, what is it that we do individually? [10:12] Right. [10:13] that no one else can do. [10:15] And then when we put that together as a team, [10:18] What makes us the most un-effable team that exists in what we do? [10:24] And that's what everyone got. So what everyone started understanding was [10:29] to create this ecosystem, it starts with you when understanding that unique talent or gift that you have. [10:35] that no one else can do. Because at the end of the day, [10:39] Everyone's going to have an experience. [10:41] It's just more of, did you control that experience? [10:44] Or did you leave it up for someone else to have without your influence? [10:48] I mean, for us, we also think it kind of takes the thought process out of the guest. [10:53] to have to be concerned about it as well, right? Because [10:57] you know, if we're programming your night for you, and we say this is what we think the best night of your life could be, [11:04] and you have trust with us, that earns trust too. And it comes over time, right? So-

[11:09] And that's why it's good. And also, even if it's not one of my places, but it's something that I think they should go see or do or something like that, you also want to plant this, [11:18] Because if you're just... [11:19] If it's just all your, like I might send them to an experience at Super Blue, which is this museum that has installation. [11:25] Not mine, but you want them to go experience other things. [11:28] You don't want it to just be a sales job of just your spots, too. You want to say, hey, listen, I really want to curate the best day and night for you ever. [11:36] In a world where business owners everywhere are burning out. I just can't do it anymore. And are losing their identities to AI. Who even am I? Only one website builder can save humanity from generic websites. It's here. It's really here. Wix Harmony, where AI meets hands-on control so you can build the website you want exactly the way you want. Try it for free at Wix.com slash Harmony. [12:06] Thank you. [12:07] Hey, he's back. Who, hon? Sammy, the puppy I had when I was a kid. He's right there by the couch. Could this be related to his Parkinson's? What's Sammy doing? Wagging his tail. He wants to play. [12:25] Stay calm. I... I... I don't see him. You really don't? [12:31] No. [12:33] But I know you do. This is the second time this has happened. Or is it the third? He came back to see me. That's the part that really breaks me. About 50% of people with Parkinson's may experience hallucinations and or delusions over the course of the disease.

[12:52] That can mean seeing things that aren't real and believing things that aren't true. Symptoms can worsen over time, but are treatable. Learn more at mortoparkinsons.com and take the screener to see if it's time to start a conversation with your doctor. [13:07] I love that, brother. [13:08] I love that. [13:09] And I know you don't say this, and I'm going to step away from the book for a moment just because you're someone who I've followed forever. [13:18] And it kind of does coincide with the book a little bit, but [13:21] I like hot takes, right? [13:25] I'm just gonna say this. [13:28] There's not a lot of people that can do what [13:30] You do. [13:32] Right. When I think of DG and I talk about, again, Damon John talks about you. Chris Voss talks about you. Robert Irvine talks about you. [13:39] We go to the book. You've got Tom Brady, Serena Williams. Oh, by the way, Kim Kardashian does the forwarded intro. [13:46] What makes DG? [13:49] uniquely different from [13:52] People in your category [13:53] I think because they don't see me as just a restaurateur or just a nightclub owner. They see me as an entrepreneur that's going to help them with their lives. [14:03] I think they all know over time I'm very protective over people. That's one. [14:09] I send them my deal flow. I go, Hey, I look at this new brand. Uh, [14:13] I think I negotiated a great deal. Why don't you come in with me on the same... [14:18] thing that I've negotiated, I'm pretty good at it now, and I think it comes over time.

[14:22] I also think I try to add value for those. Anybody that you talk to, they'll say, I just try to add value. [14:29] And, you know, I talk about a lot in the book is just being a great connector and don't being a gatekeeper. I hate these gatekeeper people. [14:35] Same, man. [14:36] Right. So, oh, someone's like, oh, do you know that person? And if they think there's any kind of monetary value, [14:42] situation that they that you're going to benefit from their connection they want a piece of it [14:47] Yeah, that's just such the wrong way to look at things. And it pays off 10 times more than whatever that little thing is that you're trying to make that 10 percent of. [15:12] There might be some monetary exchange between two people creating a... [15:18] Who wants to live like that? [15:19] Dude. [15:20] I love that. And when I read the book, [15:23] Another gatekeeper type that came to mind [15:27] is the friend that doesn't want you to become closer to that celebrity or influencer than they are. Right. It's like, I'm tight with DG, but I don't want you to be tight though. And it's like, [15:39] bro, like chill out, man. Like, what is this about? But that person, I think, [15:45] is worse than the financial gain gatekeeper. By the way, not wrong. [15:51] Listen, I'm friends with some very, let's say,

[15:56] wealthy people that have a lot of amazing toys. [15:59] Yeah. Yeah, it's this, that, the other. [16:02] I've definitely introduced [16:03] some big celebrities to [16:06] some great [16:07] billionaires that say, and they've gone and gone on their boat separately than me. [16:11] And I'm like... [16:13] People are like, wow, so-and-so's on that yacht, and you're not there. I go, great. Right. [16:20] I mean, like, okay. Like, I'm not the celebrity handler. Like, okay. [16:27] Like I'm so happy they're friends if they meet great. And by the way, the person that they're on the boat with is an amazing person. They should be hanging out with them. It's great. [16:34] Right. [16:35] Right. Yeah. To me, that is the worst person that exists. Weird how people's perspective is so focused on that. [16:44] And like, oh, you're not part of that. I'm like, I'm part of it just fine. Like, it's okay. [16:52] Yeah. [16:52] I might miss a boat trip. I might miss a vacation. It's okay. Yeah. And oh, by the way, I like to have dinner too. Like, okay, there might be a dinner and I'm not, okay. [17:02] So some people want to have their own relationships, and that's even more powerful. [17:07] No, absolutely. And I would say, [17:10] I respect you in this way because you and I are a lot alike. Like, I don't need to take a picture with someone to show that I'm cool or tight. Like, I actually never do. Like, you've never seen me take a selfie with, like, my true inner circle of, like, [17:23] high net worth friends. Oh, no, no. I love, I love, I love, I love, I'm joking. I love content. Don't fool yourself, my man. No, you love content, but you're doing it in a different way though. Like you're, you're not proving you don't do content to say, Oh, look, I'm hanging out with Warren Buffett. Everyone knows everything. Everyone talks like I let them do the engagement.

[17:47] There's many times with some of the biggest and, [17:50] There's no film. Okay. [17:51] Okay. [17:53] Like everyone's so thirsty to get that one picture, that one thing. Like there's going to be another time, my man. Like it's okay. Like, no, I would rather, are you not asking? And like, I have, I have, [18:03] Friends of mine that, you know, they're... [18:05] Dave, you went to dinner with so-and-so and nobody knows. Okay, but you know what? There'll be 50 other times that I'm going to have dinner with this person. And, you know, okay, maybe one time. Who cares? Yeah. But people know. No. [18:18] And then, by the way, [18:20] You sit so much more powerful with that celebrity or that person by not doing that than doing it. It elevates you on a different level than just, hey, do you mind? No. [18:34] But then when it comes time that you need some help, hey, Kim, can you do a forward for me after 20 something years? [18:41] Do you mind? No, no problem. [18:43] That's it, man. And I would say I would rather pick David's mind. [18:49] pick his brain, ask him a really good question, [18:52] than to take a selfie to prove that I was hanging out with him, right? Like, for me, that's life. [18:57] Now, do I have pictures with celebrities and influencers? Yes. But usually someone else took them. But you don't see me grabbing my phone, say, hanging out with David today. Like, I don't need that. I'd rather take those two seconds and ask you a question. [19:11] And listen, everyone's different. Some people want to do content with you. They're like, Dave, please, let's do something fun. Let's do something great. Let's show. Great. Happy to.

[19:20] By the way, awesome. [19:22] And some people just don't. And it's okay. [19:25] Yep. [19:25] Yep. [19:26] So I want to go to a different part now. I call it the room. [19:31] you [19:33] And I'm actually... [19:34] in a conversation right now. [19:36] On this podcast, looking him in the eye. [19:39] of the guy that creates the best experiences ever, that creates the rooms, [19:45] Because to me, and in the book, David, you talk about relationships, and [19:49] all through it and how important they are, how to build them, how to maintain them, how to invest in them. [19:54] And the best relationships I've ever had, the best advice I've ever gotten, [19:59] was because I was in a room. [20:01] Right. I was in a moment. I was in a place. We were having a conversation that experience. The ambiance was right. [20:08] And I can remember those moments like they were yesterday. [20:11] I'd love for you to talk about [20:14] Was there a room for you? Was there a moment for you when you realized that? [20:18] relationships matter the most? Or was there a specific conversation that you can remember because you were in the right room at the right time? [20:25] I think I've had the right mentors around me as well that talk about [20:30] that so much. [20:32] And I think [20:34] Because I was an only, I really take relationships so, I'm so delicate with it. [20:41] And I knew by seeing people that ruined relationships or played the short game and didn't go [20:47] and just like wanted to capitalize on the press for that one second where they

[20:52] they put people in bad situations or, and I'm just looking at people like, why would you do that? Why do you like, [20:58] It's to me. [20:59] I've had many moments in my life where I could have gone left or right. And I decided to just say, let's just keep going forward. And there you go. [21:07] And it's it's something that a lot of people only see tomorrow. They only see today. They don't see tomorrow. [21:14] And it bothers me because... [21:17] Like, just to give you a thing, I'm talking to... [21:21] a DJ about re upping his contract at, at live. And, you know, in Vegas, they sign you to two, three year deals. [21:28] And another casino is offering... [21:32] more money than I am because it's just a bigger casino. It's a bigger this, it's a bigger this. [21:37] And the manager is saying to me, [21:39] hey i know everything you've done with this dj with this relationship you've done stuff that we could never imagine [21:45] But this is generational wealth for this DJ. [21:49] if he takes this deal, Dave, and I'm like, [21:53] Are you fucking insane to say to me, generational wealth, that that's what you think of your client, that this much money, which is... [22:01] It's a good amount of money, but it's not generational wealth. Like what you think generational wealth is and what I think generational wealth is might be two different things. Right. I think this. I think if your guy is with me, he's going to have real generational wealth and not what the short little game is. [22:20] And...

[22:22] Stop talking about your guy like that. Like just say this might be a bigger amount and it means this amount is enough money for us to think about doing something else. [22:30] But don't bring up the terminology generational wealth because I think it downplays your guy and it makes me think – [22:36] You don't really know your guy well enough or don't have enough. [22:41] or don't think he has the ability that I think he has. [22:44] And that bothered me a lot. [22:46] And when I talked to the DJ, I said, your team just told me about generational wealth. [22:50] And I'm like... [22:51] I'm sorry, my man. I think if I hear that term again discussing you, I'm going to lose my mind. And he was like, same thing, David. They keep saying this to me. And I'm like, I'm just getting stuck. Like, we're just getting started. Like, there's not a... Listen, I understand that [23:07] entertainment, stuff like that might be considered like, [23:11] a quarterback or a sports athlete where you only have this certain amount of time. I get it. Because at the end of the day, youth really, you know, controls, [23:19] What's hot next and blah, blah, blah. [23:22] Yeah, I love it, dude. [23:24] Can you believe it? The business I'd been about to start lived in my head for two years. But last night, I finally bought the domain on Wix. Took me 90 seconds and suddenly it was real. I even used Wix Harmony, Wix's AI website builder, to create a full website in minutes. Didn't even have to stress about security, privacy, or any of that technical stuff. It all came included. [23:47] That's two years of stalling, one night of progress. Don't wait like I did. Go to Wix.com slash domains. Why pay more in property taxes when you don't have to? I'm Sam Sosa, your local tax expert with OwnWell. In my 15 years of experience, I've won over 70,000 property tax appeals, and I want to help you put money back in your pocket this year. Whether you own a single property or multiple,

[24:17] thousands with OwnWell. We combine the best technology with local experts to make reducing property taxes simple for you. We'll file your appeal, negotiate with the assessor, and attend any hearings so you don't have to. Plus, you only pay if you save. I'm proud to say that 86% of our customers receive a reduction, and hundreds of thousands of customers trust us every year. Put [24:47] You could save in less than three minutes at ownwell.com. That's O-W-N-W-E-L-L.com. It's just like, to me, it's like, stop using, I hate when people position themselves like that. [25:00] Yeah. [25:01] That's, yeah. [25:02] And that kind of goes into... [25:05] something in one of the chapters and i have a highlight here chapter eight [25:09] which is something... [25:10] that again my team and i also discuss which is your name is everything and you break down [25:16] the importance of intellectual property and how to do that. And I actually just yesterday, [25:21] I had a conversation with my IP attorney. [25:24] on just some things because most people don't understand one. Yes. Your name, [25:28] But there's a lot of things that you do. There's a lot of frameworks that you have that you should protect and that you need to think about building it. So I'd love for you to talk about the importance of, [25:39] building creating ip and breaking down yeah what we're talking about is intellectual property and and just to clear so your audience knows when we say name we don't mean just david grutman we were talking about let's say live gecko come on all

[25:51] names, right? Right. [25:53] Or it could be David Grutman too, right? That being said, [25:57] uh, [25:58] It's the one thing they don't really talk about with you in college, how important it is and what it means to own an IP. [26:05] And as I built a restaurant for the first time, uh, [26:10] as I thought a single unit, which I've been able to grow to three and hopefully more venues that [26:16] The IP is what the most important thing is. I also... [26:20] won't do a deal with somebody if I don't own the IP as part of it because [26:26] You know, I talk about their Louis Vuitton. You know, they wanted me to do an LV lover's bar, but I don't have any equity in LV. Would they give me... [26:36] Equity and LV lovers bar? No. [26:39] And they're like, you're crazy. It's going to make your life so cool. I'm like, I'm as cool as I'm going to be. [26:44] Let me own my brand and if I'm going to be cool, if I'm going to be the one that's going to make it cool. [26:51] that I need to share in that IP. And you have to be very careful who you let into your IP. Certain times it should just be your IP and certain times if you have a partner that's going to bring [27:00] as much value as you are helping build it from the ground up, then, [27:05] Should they share in the IP or not? And I think, [27:07] Some people don't care about IP. Developers, I think, that are building high-rises, [27:12] If they can put a brand on their building and they can charge a little bit more per square foot, [27:17] They don't care what that IP is. [27:19] But I think they're helping you build your IP, which is how you look at deals and saying, how do I keep building that IP through other people's marketing assets?

[27:28] Amen. Which leads to the natural follow up of that, which is the exit. [27:33] right and having an exit strategy i learned from damon john personally [27:38] Mick. [27:39] Don't build a business [27:41] without thinking about it and building it as if you were going to sell it or exit from it. Even if you never plan to, that needs to be the mindset of building it because it's going to help you actually make better decisions. [27:54] And then I go read, take it personal. And what is David Grutman saying? [27:58] Pretty much the same damn thing, right? Like, you've got to prepare, even if you're not going to exit, [28:05] You've got to build as if you are because it does help you make better decisions. And then you actually give some really cool advice just on exit strategies in general. [28:14] Talk to us a little bit about that, brother. You should always build a company that that's why IP is very important, that you're not going to have a mess if you do exit. You're trying to tie up all these people that are part of your IP. You want to try to get it clean. [28:26] I think as you do these deals with partners that they know that, you know, they have a drag along with you or a tag along where they could come along for the ride as well. [28:34] But I also think, listen, you should build a business that... [28:38] that feels like a public company could always buy or when you go to sell it, [28:43] If you're not buttoned up, which [28:45] That's how business should be buttoned up enough to be in a public company. Right. That it's not mom and pop time anymore. Like these are your businesses, right? You have to build it that if somebody is going to exit now, [28:56] Let's say you said you're never going to exit that business and maybe you don't, but maybe you pass it on to the next generation and that next generation have the ability to be able to just step in there.

[29:06] and run your business. [29:07] I don't think a business... [29:08] that's not run properly or set up properly for an exit or that, it's probably not running well anyway. I think it's all like, listen, you need to... [29:18] You need everything firing. And I think that's what's desirable to people that even want to [29:23] look at your business is is it set up pop is it a mom and pop shop and if if it's a mom and pop shop is at least [29:30] set up accordingly. [29:31] But. [29:32] It's not about, for me, the money on that one particular venue. It's about the eight times, 10 times, 12 times multiple venues. [29:39] on those businesses as you build. [29:42] Absolutely. That's how you gain real wealth. That's why I always tell people, [29:46] Try to find deals where you have equity and not just a fee. [29:50] That's it. [29:51] That's it. [29:52] Dave, man, I know how busy you are, and I'm honored that you would spend a few minutes with me. No, it's an important thing. Thank you for having me. [29:59] No, man, like you mean the world to me. So I got to get you out of here with my unplugged five. So my rapid fire five. But before I do that. [30:08] I'm going to say this again. [30:09] This is the book. Zoom in. [30:12] Take it personally. Yes. Go get this book. I don't care who you are. I don't care what you do. I was selling Dave offline. Like my oldest son, [30:20] who's a football coach, loves this book and has given this book to his players because he's, [30:26] There's a lot of life in here. The relationship building. Doesn't matter what you do, right? Like the coaching, the, even though you can't exit a coaching business, it's, [30:36] Right. But you can build a team as if those players are moving on. Right. Like, because that's the truth of what happens. So are you building a culture? Are you putting in principles and values in what you do?

[30:46] So this book, [30:47] Is that important, bro? [30:48] And adding value to those athletes, right? Giving, like, that's it, right? You're adding value to people's lives. That's a coupon that's going to come back. Exactly, exactly. [30:58] So this unplug five. [31:00] Ready? [31:00] you [31:03] First question. [31:05] How does a normal guy like me throw a party at Liv? Who do I need to know? [31:11] Who do I need to know to make that happen? [31:13] Well, it just depends on how big of a party we're throwing here. Are we talking about a couple of tables? Are we talking about renting the whole venue? [31:19] Let's just say a few tables and then we have great VIP hosts at the front. We have a great program for that. We're happy to, [31:29] help you and you can also even go online and pick your particular tables. [31:33] now and by your particular tables. [31:35] That's what I wanted to hear. Go online. That link will actually be in the description. Oh, I like that. [31:40] Question number two. [31:42] How are you using AI in your businesses today? [31:45] So now we have AI talking. When you go to ticketing or you DM our Instagram, it's AI talking to you. And we're not, you know, so it's telling you, [31:55] you know tables prices minimums and it's also saying can i please book that dinner reservation for you before live at poppy state costa donna komodo gecko any of that stuff [32:06] And it's really helping people curate their own night via AI. [32:11] Yeah. [32:12] within my ecosystem. [32:15] Yes, sir.

[32:16] Yes, sir. Very cool. Question three. [32:20] The coolest party that you've thrown. [32:23] what would that cool party be? I know you got some stories, so... [32:27] It's going to be hard to pick out one, but give me one that's coming to mind now. [32:31] I think when the Miami Heat won the championship, [32:34] I think that was probably the coolest thing. They brought the trophy to live. [32:37] There it is. And then the next year again. [32:40] There it is. What's the one thing you're most proud of to date? [32:45] You know, my kids and my loving relationship with my wife, my family's really special. And I love that the world sees how special my family is. [32:53] Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Last question. [32:56] When the book of David Grutman is being read. [32:59] What's one or two words that you want to define you in that book? [33:03] Well, first it needs to say that I'm a New York Times bestseller. Let's just start there. No. [33:08] But I added value. [33:11] Added Value. [33:12] That is better. [33:14] Yes, sir. [33:15] Ladies and gentlemen, this is David Grutman. [33:18] I would say it's as simple as this. Just go Google them. [33:22] Right. Follow them. [33:24] Google, get the book, buy the book, get the book. And here's, [33:28] Here's how cool this book is for me. [33:31] David, I'm going to do this. I'm going to buy 20 copies of the book. [33:34] And the first 20 people on Instagram that message me take it personal. [33:41] I'm going to give you a copy of the book. [33:44] Because it's going to change your life. [33:46] And then let me know how you like the book. That's what I care about.

[33:49] There it is. And that was going to be the follow-up. So if you're one of the 20 that get the book, here's what I need you to do. [33:54] Take a picture of yourself with the book. [33:56] and highlight something that was really cool, a lesson that you learned or something you're going to implement or change. [34:01] And then tag me and David in a social post. So we know you like it. [34:05] There it is. [34:06] David. [34:07] I appreciate you, brother. [34:08] Thank you so much. I appreciate you. Take care, guys. You got it. [34:12] Bye. [34:14] That's another powerful conversation on Mick Unplugged. If this episode moved you, and I'm sure it did, follow the show wherever you listen. Share it with someone who needs that spark and leave a review so more people can find their because. I'm Rudy Rush. And until next time, stay driven, stay focused and stay unplugged. [34:37] Thank you. [34:41] Okay, don't laugh. I'm gonna laugh. I bought a domain at 2 a.m. last night. [34:46] I love that for you. It was just there, calling to me. Where? On Wix. I even built a whole website last night with its AI website builder, Wix Harmony. But I was still in bed by 2.30, so you should be proud of me. [35:02] That was very responsible of you. You should try it too. Maybe I will. Just go to wix.com slash domains. [35:10] You can't control inflation, but you can challenge your property taxes. I'm Sam Sosa, your local tax expert with OwnWell. In my 15 years of experience, I've won over 70,000 property tax appeals, and I want to help you put money back in your pocket this year.

[35:28] Whether you own a single property or multiple, [35:31] you could be saving hundreds, even thousands with OwnWell. [35:35] We combine the best technology with local experts to make reducing property taxes simple for you. We'll file your appeal, negotiate with the assessor, and attend any hearings so you don't have to. Plus, you only pay if you save. I'm proud to say that 86% of our customers receive a reduction, and hundreds of thousands of customers trust us every year. Put money back in your pocket with OwnWell. [36:05] Well.com. That's O-W-N-W-E-L-L.com.