David Meltzer - Game-Time Decision Making: High-Scoring Business Strategies from the Biggest Names in Sports

To my beautiful wife, Julie, and my M&MsMarissa, Mia, Marlena, and Milesas well as anyone else who should be acknowledged... especially my mom!

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by Tilman Fertitta

W hen I first met David Meltzer, I was simply excited to discuss my new book Shut Up and Listen! about the hard truths that drive success; and yet I actually learned that David and I had a lot in common. David had excelled in the technology space early in his career and found equally as much success (or more) as a sports executive. He came to my office to record an episode of his popular podcast, The Playbook, where I shared some of my philosophies and strategies that helped me build my multibillion-dollar hospitality empire: Fertitta Entertainment, Landrys Inc., Golden Nugget Casinos and Hotels, and the NBAs Houston Rockets. I learned that David had also built an empire, lost it, but eventually built another. What struck me upon my initial meeting with David was a simple phrase that we both believe in, a phrase that I would say is the key to Game-Time Decision Making: Get out of your own way.

The countless successes Ive had over my career, which have also afforded me the dream opportunity to buy my hometown Houston Rockets franchise, all boil down to the ability to make consistent and efficient decisions. So many of us get in our own way and prevent ourselves from reaching our potential that we tend to be our own worst enemies, especially those of us who resist change. Having the awareness and mindset to make the right decision is what separates the biggest names in sports and business from the rest. Its the difference between great athletes such as James Harden and the twelfth man on an NBA roster, or between Warren Buffett and pretty much everyone else. Those who can make tough calls (and be right), no matter how critical the situation, are those who will win. When you can make intentional decisions with consistency, you will succeed more often than not, and that approach pays off in the long run with big wins!

No matter what game youre playing, teaching others to make the right decisions is even more important for leaders. If you can equip others with the ability to make informed and well-reasoned calls, your impact is scalable. This is the core of Davids approach to Game-Time Decision Making: to empower you and those around you with the awareness and ability to make the right call when the game is on the line and the pressure is high.

Ive always said that in order to thrive as a business leader you need four core fundamentals: a great product, an understanding of your financials, a good grasp on operations, and the ability to sell and market your business. The ability to choose the right path, take the right risks, and implement the new skills or knowledge you gain along the way is solely dependent on your decision making. This begs the question: How can we set ourselves up for successful decision making? Realize your talents, gifts, and competencies, and determine how those show a clear path to making money or not.

Letting your talents guide your path is a strategy that paid off for me personally. As a young child, I didnt watch cartoons, instead preferring to play business by carrying a briefcase (and a dealmaking attitude) with me. I carried that knack with me as I grew, eventually building a multibillion-dollar organization from an initial $6,000 loan when I was in my early twenties. I have seen the business world evolve since building my first hotel in Galveston in 1986, and I know that those who embrace change and display a willingness to grow will always be the individuals who achieve the greatest heights. The phrase, weve always done it that way, is never a good explanation or justification. Even if 95 percent of your business is perfect, working on that remaining 5 percent is essential. You need to place greater importance on embracing change in order to stay in the game and win in the long term. Of course, there is always a need to make big decisions when there is change occurring.

The strategies that David outlines in his book will empower you to make the right calls in