Recently, I had a deeply human and enlightening conversation with David Meltzer, the Co-founder of Sports 1 Marketing and former CEO of the Leigh Steinberg Sports & Entertainment agency, the inspiration behind the movie ‘Jerry Maguire.’
Note: For the full interview, listen to our ‘Evolving with Gratitude’ podcast episode, embedded in this article (above) and also available on your favorite podcast platform.
Meltzer’s story is as intriguing as it is empowering: from being a powerful CEO to filing bankruptcy, losing over a hundred million dollars, and his remarkable comeback, it is a powerful testament to the role of gratitude in transforming lives.
A Life-Changing Perspective
“Gratitude is perspective,” says Meltzer. The powerhouse behind the philosophy that has shaped the lives of many successful individuals, from entrepreneurs to athletes, shares the simplicity and complexity of gratitude. It’s about finding “the light, the love, and the lessons in everything,” a perspective that aligns with where we want to be, or better. It’s a simple and significant practice, taking just 0.1 seconds and costing nothing, yet, as Meltzer puts it, “the simple things to do are unfortunately simple not to do.”
The Challenge and Impact
Meltzer’s journey to gratitude started at an early age, instilled by his family’s values. However, he admits that understanding and consistently practicing gratitude proved challenging. He emphasizes the significance of raising awareness about simple actions that can positively impact our lives. “Still to this day,” Meltzer shares, “every single one” of the remarkable individuals he’s met, from Deepak Chopra to Cameron Diaz to Leigh Steinberg to Warren Moon, agrees that “gratitude is the most powerful thing in the world.”
Gratitude in Action
Delving deeper into the mechanics of gratitude, Meltzer presents it as not just an emotion but a strategic approach to life. “Be kind to your future self and do good deeds,” he advises, and he assures that starting and ending the day with a simple ‘thank you’ can “aggregate, accelerate, and compound its outcomes exponentially better than you even can imagine.”
A Personal Testimony
Meltzer doesn’t just preach; he’s a testament to the power of gratitude. Having lost over a hundred million dollars, he experienced firsthand how gratitude shifted his perspective. It was gratitude that allowed him to transform his life after such a colossal setback. “It’s the speed with which I was able to transform that punishment to protection and promotion,” Meltzer reflects, demonstrating that gratitude can indeed accelerate one’s return to their higher self.
Utilizing Time to Measure Progress
The concept of time plays a crucial role in Meltzer’s appreciation of gratitude. It becomes the measure of progress and personal growth. Good behaviors like gratitude result in instant positive progress, while negative behaviors have the opposite effect. However, these are not immediately apparent due to human nature. Meltzer has learned to measure his time spent in negative states versus gratitude, using it as a tool to quickly realign with his higher potential.
Meditation and Daily Life
Meltzer, who once resisted meditation, now finds it indispensable, with gratitude being an integral part. He uses three lenses during meditation: productivity, accessibility, and gratitude. Through gratitude, he assesses whether he’s at ease or experiencing dis-ease, allowing him to be more effective throughout the day. He also shares his ambition to be in the “Sleep Hall of Fame,” underscoring the significance of rest in his life and the role gratitude plays in it.
Inspiring Others
So, what drives Meltzer to advocate for gratitude relentlessly? It’s his mission “to empower over a billion people to be happy,” he reveals. To that end, he’s devised pragmatic tools centered around gratitude, forgiveness, accountability, and effective communication. His focus is not only on personal betterment but on a larger scale—shaping societies where energy is not wasted on what we want others to think of us but rather spent embracing and being our true selves.
Embracing the ‘I Am’
Ultimately, Meltzer’s teachings on gratitude advocate for a shift from yearning to being. “When you’re gracious,” Meltzer states, “instead of trying to get more happy, more healthy, more wealthy, and more worthy, we live in a place of ‘I am’. I am happy. I am healthy. I am wealthy. I am worthy.” Gratitude, then, is not just about feeling thankful; it’s a daily practice that orients one’s entire being towards an existence of abundance, alignment, and authentic self-realization.
A Grateful Call to Action
Meltzer’s insights form a clarion call to integrate gratitude into the very fabric of our daily lives. The simplicity of saying ‘thank you’ embodies a power that transcends the ordinary, catapulting individuals into a state of progress, peace, and ultimate potential. It’s a call to embrace the light, love, and lessons available to us all, a call to gratefully and unabashedly declare, ‘I am.’
Be more interested than interesting.
—David Meltzer
Be kind to your future self and do good deeds.
With gratitude,
Lainie
Connect with and learn from David:
Complimentary Signed Book:
David invites us to connect with him via email at [email protected] and you can even request a copy of his book, which he generously offers to send for free, covering the cost of the book and shipping.
Free Weekly Training:
Discover David’s 24-year tradition of impactful Friday trainings by contacting him for virtual attendance information.
Explore More Resources:
Visit David’s website at dmeltzer.com to delve into more of his wisdom and offerings.
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