261. David Grutman: On Relationships, Miami Restaurants & Why Success Is the Hardest Part

Summary

The Ultimate Human with Gary Brecka

Episode 261: David Grutman: On Relationships, Miami Restaurants & Why Success Is the Hardest Part
Release Date: April 14, 2026
Guest: David Grutman (Hospitality mogul, entrepreneur, author)

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Episode Overview

This episode features Gary Brecka in conversation with David Grutman, the powerhouse behind Miami’s most iconic restaurants and nightclubs (Groot Hospitality, LIV, Papi Steak, etc.), celebrated for his relationships-driven approach to business. The discussion explores why sustaining success is harder than overcoming failure, the foundational role of relationships in entrepreneurship, the journey from “back of house” to industry leader, and insights from Grutman’s new book "Take It Personal". The tone is candid, friendly, and full of practical wisdom for entrepreneurs and anyone interested in personal and professional growth.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Challenge of Success Over Failure

• "I've had more issues with success than I have with failure. People don't talk about enough is once you're on top of the world, how does that affect you? Because that's where, for me, it was the most challenging."
  — David Grutman ([00:00])
• Dave opens the episode by challenging the romanticized notion that overcoming failure is the hardest part, arguing that managing success, ego, and expectations is an even bigger test for entrepreneurs.

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2. Relationships as the Foundation of Business

• The core of Grutman’s business philosophy is investing in relationships—not just customers, but staff, partners, and even the entourage of celebrities.

  • "Relationships meant so much to me that it's the greatest way to push a brand."
    — David Grutman ([00:29])

• Dave recounts how he leveraged partnerships and other brands’ marketing equity in his early years:

  • “I used other brands' marketing equity to kind of build my brand because I didn’t really have budgets.”
    — David Grutman ([06:04])

• Gary emphasizes that the book "Take It Personal" is relevant for all entrepreneurs, not just in hospitality:

  • "This is for any entrepreneur that is not yet aware of the foundational importance of relationships."
    — Gary Brecka ([04:20])

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3. Personal Brand and Intellectual Property

• Dave urges entrepreneurs to recognize and own their intellectual property (IP), including name, image, and likeness (NIL):

  • “Whatever business you start… you have to have ownership of the name.”
    — David Grutman ([06:58])

• Gary reveals he didn’t realize the importance of copyrighting or trademarking until launching his podcast:

  • "I didn't even know that I could copyright my podcast and stop people from republishing it."
    — Gary Brecka ([07:05])

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4. Building and Leading at Scale

• Dave attributes his ability to scale to team-building—and letting people around him grow, even if they eventually leave to become entrepreneurs themselves:

  • “If I didn’t have the team around me, then I would be a zero… I love to see when people leave and then go be entrepreneurs as well.”
    — David Grutman ([08:12])

• On creating ownership mentality in staff:

  • "If a server, busser, bartender—all think that they're all part of this... they should take as much ownership as I am. They're my partners."
    — David Grutman ([11:32])

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5. Candid Truths About Entrepreneurship

• Dave mercilessly debunks myths about being your own boss:

  • “If you want to own your own business because you want to set your own hours, entrepreneurship should be for you. It's from nine to nine. That's your hours in entrepreneurship.”
    — David Grutman ([10:05])

• Gary echoes:

  • “I've never owned a business. All my businesses have owned me.” — Quoting a previous entrepreneur guest ([11:10])

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6. Spotting and Scaling Successful Concepts

• Dave’s approach to trend-spotting, creating viral concepts (like Papi Steak), and building an “ecosystem”:

  • “What a great story that's been to see [Papi Steak’s David Einhorn] grow and skyrocket and just be there as his partner..."
    — David Grutman ([12:16])

• On hospitality at scale:

  • “At some point you've got to create a culture that's actually taking your heart, your desire, your compulsion for relationships, and you’ve got to somehow weave it into that culture…”
    — Gary Brecka ([15:37])
  • Dave responds by highlighting the importance of "career-pathing" loyal team members and fostering proactive, not just reactive, staffers ([16:30]).

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7. Tipping Points and Strategic Partnerships

• Turning points: Selling his company to SFX, regaining it, and then Live Nation’s Michael Rapino buying 51% of Groot Hospitality:

  • “The tipping point, not just with my company, but to have someone by your side—just to guide you and to know that you got someone that's probably the most powerful person in the entertainment business on your side—it’s been amazing.”
    — David Grutman ([17:47])

• The value of credibility through partnerships (Live Nation, Jony Ive designing his book cover, Kim Kardashian writing his foreword) ([18:36],[36:58],[38:45]).

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8. Keeping Family Close While Building an Empire

• Grutman credits his wife Isabella as an anchor and role model for their daughters:

  • “She could have just gone out to lunches and done nothing. Instead she said, ‘I’m going to go do my own business. I’m going to make my own way.’”
    — David Grutman ([19:47])
  • Gary on Dave’s family:
    “On this climb to the top, you drew your family closer and closer and closer...”
    ([21:13])

• Dave:

  • “Nothing’s cooler than being dad.”
    ([21:29])

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9. Authentic Relationships Over Transactional Connections

• Dave warns against superficial network-building:

  • “You have to focus on people. You can't just focus on the celebrity and not the other people at the table... I write those people off right away.”
    ([22:35])

• Building brand partnerships:

  • "I tell all my friends… that have some kind of influence, stop taking fees and sponsorships. … If you turn the needle for that brand, why not be part of that upside, taking the equity?"
    ([27:01])

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10. Navigating Success: Ego, Feedback, and Resilience

• On ego after breakthrough success:

  • “When you’re on top of the world, how do you… how does that affect you? ...That’s where, for me, was the most challenging.”
    ([29:19])
  • Story of a friend’s grounding advice:
    "Hey, my man… you're not saving lives. It's not heart surgery you're doing here. It's a nightclub."
    ([30:33])

• Encourages inviting critical feedback and surrounding yourself with youth and people with new perspectives:

  • “…when I take that second and I go, you know what, I'm not going to just respond back like, I know it all. Let me hear their vision.”
    ([31:31])

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11. Brand Building, Investment, and Trend-Spotting

• Building brands is his North Star:

  • “Everything I do is just about building a brand."
    ([33:41])

• On investing outside hospitality (Skinny Dipped, Symbiotica, Colossal), he looks for engagement and authentic founder passion, not just growth potential ([35:07],[35:44]).

• Dave’s superpower:

  • "It's not even about music or this. It's about energy, and I'm great at sensing energy.”
    ([35:45])

• Gary labels Dave "the best trend spotter" he's ever known ([36:16]).

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12. Giving Back: The Book, FIU Course, and Legacy

• The book as blueprint:

  • "If I can help share some of the issues I've had or challenges I've had... so many people are coming out of school… I really love entrepreneurship. To be able to say—hey guys, these are the challenges I faced…”
    ([22:35])

• Course at FIU (Florida International University):

  • Designed to teach students lasting lessons on building relationships and avoiding pitfalls of superficial networking ([22:35]).

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13. Culture, Details, and Letting Go

• Obsession with details in hospitality:
  • “If a light bulb is out… that means they really don't care.”
    ([40:58])
• On evolving company culture, even as people leave:
  • "Don't be afraid of people leaving. … And at the end of the day, once they leave, your life is so much better.”
    ([41:58])

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14. Looking Ahead: Wellness, New Ventures, and Ultimate Human

• Increasing focus on wellness, longevity, and investing in brands like NeuroGum and gut health probiotics:

  • "It's such a big part of my lifestyle... I magnify that message out there non stop."
    ([44:12])

• Teases upcoming luxury members club in Miami, emphasizing extreme hospitality ([45:12]).

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15. The Ultimate Human Question

• Gary: “What does it mean to you to be an ultimate human?”

• Dave: "That everything's firing from your personal to your business to your emotions...”
  ([45:51])

• Gary’s closing tribute:

  • "This is one of the most authentic human beings I've ever met. What you see is what you get... You're a great father, great husband. You're an amazing entrepreneur. You've been an incredible friend of my family."
    ([46:24])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I've had more issues with success than I have with failure.”
  — David Grutman ([00:00])
• “If you want to own your own business because you want to set your own hours… it’s from nine to nine. That’s your hours in entrepreneurship.”
  — David Grutman ([10:05])
• “Relationships meant so much to me that it’s the greatest way to push a brand.”
  — David Grutman ([00:29])
• “You just need to be what most people aren’t: consistent, dependable, and willing to work for it.” (From Tom Brady’s blurb in the book)
  — Read by Gary Brecka ([21:39])
• “When you’re on top of the world, how does that affect you? ...That’s where, for me, was the most challenging.”
  — David Grutman ([29:19])
• "If a server, busser, bartender… think that they’re all part of this, the service charges, gratuity, that is really a percentage of the gross sales. This is their place. They should take as much ownership in it as I am. They're my partners."
  — David Grutman ([11:32])
• "If a light bulb is out… that means they really don't care."
  — David Grutman ([40:58])
• "I tell all my… friends… stop taking fees and sponsorships… once you can take the ride, I think owning equity is way better…"
  — David Grutman ([27:01])
• "That everything's firing from your personal to your business to your emotions… that’s what an ultimate human is."
  — David Grutman ([45:51])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Success vs. Failure, Opening Theme — [00:00]
• Importance of Relationships — [00:29], [06:04], [14:06]
• Building & Owning Your IP — [06:55] – [07:05]
• Scaling and Team Building — [08:12], [15:37], [16:30]
• Brand Partnerships and Investments — [27:01] – [28:39]
• Ego and Handling Success — [29:19] – [31:31]
• Family and Legacy — [19:47], [21:13], [21:29]
• The Book & Course at FIU — [21:39], [22:35]
• Obsessive Attention to Detail in Leadership — [40:28], [40:58]
• Culture Change & Embracing Turnover — [41:16], [41:58]
• Wellness & Upcoming Projects — [44:12], [45:12]
• Definition of Ultimate Human — [45:51]
• Closing Praise and Takeaways — [46:24]

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Final Thoughts

This episode distills the lived wisdom of David Grutman, a man who transformed hospitality in Miami by relentlessly focusing on people—staff, partners, guests—and by placing relationships above all else. Grutman’s transparency about ego, burnout, and the real hardships of “success” offers a rare, honest look into entrepreneurship at the highest level, while Gary Brecka’s guiding questions keep the energy supportive, practical, and inspiring.

Recommendation:
"Take it Personal" is both a philosophy and a practical guide, applicable beyond hospitality to anyone building a career, a business, or a legacy. This conversation is a must-listen (or read) for aspiring entrepreneurs, leaders, and anyone seeking to be an “ultimate human” in business and life.

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Transcript

[Dave Grutman]

I've had more issues with success than I have with failure. People don't talk about enough is once you're on top of the world, how does that affect you? Because that's where, for me, was the most challenging.

[Gary Brecka]

You go from the back of the house where you're in the service business, to now where you're running multiple service businesses to manage it at scale. That's what fascinates me.

[Dave Grutman]

Listen, it's a grind and there's ups and downs. I think at the end of the day, everything I do is just about building a brand.

[Gary Brecka]

I don't think that most people realize the intellectual property they have in themselves.

[Dave Grutman]

I love that I've built relationships where people feel like there's a long game with me. Instead, I want to invest in your brand. I want to grow your brand. Relationships meant so much to me that it's the greatest way to push a brand.

[Gary Brecka]

Where do you think a lot of entrepreneurs that have their head down are going wrong in building the foundation of their business?

[Dave Grutman]

I think the most important thing for people out there is. Ultimate human.

[Gary Brecka]

Hey, guys, welcome back to the Ultimate Human Podcast. Every once in a while, somebody sits down in this chair and reminds me that optimizing your life isn't just about what's happening inside your cells. It's about what you're building with the time you've been given. Dave Grutman was my very first podcast guest. He was one of the first people to believe in me when nobody knew who Gary Brca was. Today he runs one of the highest grossing restaurant empires in America. Groot Hospitality, Live nightclub, Poppy Steak, one of the highest grossing restaurants per square foot in the entire country. Live Nation is his partner. Kim Kardashian wrote his foreword. Jony, I've designed his book cover. But here's what sets Dave apart from every other name in the hospitality space. It all comes back to relationships. His new book, take It Personal, is the blueprint for any entrepreneur who wants to build something that lasts. This conversation is going to change the way you think about business, legacy, and loyalty. Hey, guys, welcome back to the Ultimate Human Podcast. I'm your host, human biologist Gary Breco, where we go down the road of everything. Anti aging, biohacking, and everything in between longevity and today's guest. We're taking you back. We're hearkening you back to my very, very, very first podcast episode. He was my very first guest. He was one of the early believers in Gary Brca. He was one of my earliest celebrity clients. And before we even Start the podcast and introduce this guest. I'm going to give him an enormous thank you. Because this man helped to put Gary Brca on the map when nobody knew who Gary Brca was. The level of trust and confidence he's had in me, my family, my daughter Madison, has been second to none. He's become a very good friend, and I'm honored to have him back on the podcast. Welcome back, Dave Grutman.

[Dave Grutman]

This makes me happy.

[Gary Brecka]

Yeah.

[Dave Grutman]

Yes.

[Gary Brecka]

And I really do mean that. You know, it's. And. And I got to tell the readers something. I mean, listeners something, too. I just got goosebumps thinking about this. In 2021. 2021, I was. I was living in the Porch Design tower in. In.

[Dave Grutman]

Yes.

[Gary Brecka]

In Sunny Isles, and I got into a skirmish, for lack of better words, with a very major celebrity. I won't. I won't say it. Who it is. It was a few at one time. Because they were all in the same family.

[Dave Grutman]

Correct.

[Gary Brecka]

And it was devastating. And someone had taken pictures of them in my unit. I didn't police it. Ended up getting put out on social media. The family rightfully flipped out. They called you said, this guy is a scam. He's using our name. And he flipped out. I will never forget that. You called me and you said, the best advice that I can give you is to play the long game. And now here it is manifested in this book. So this is not something that you just threw into words or had some ghostwriter put into print. This is something you've been living your. Your whole career.

[Dave Grutman]

Correct.

[Gary Brecka]

And that was five years ago.

[Dave Grutman]

Right.

[Gary Brecka]

And. And what you told me was, and I'll never forget it, some of the best advice I've ever gotten. You said, when you're working with these people, Gary, focus on the relationship. Get into their flow, don't ask them for everything. Respond to anything, and it'll all work out.

[Dave Grutman]

And be honest.

[Gary Brecka]

Yeah. And I've followed that advice, and it's been some of the best advice I've ever gotten. And that's why I'm a big proponent of your book. And that's why I would really recommend. This is not just for people that are in the hospitality space or want to start a restaurant or a nightclub or be in the entertainment business. This is for any entrepreneur that is not yet aware of the foundational importance of relationships.

[Dave Grutman]

It's. It's the. It's the. It's the start of everything that I do.

[Gary Brecka]

Yeah. And we've had a. We've had a health journey, too.

[Dave Grutman]

Yeah, of course.

[Gary Brecka]

I, I used to know, I used to know Big Dave, I knew Fat Dave, that he was a friend of mine.

[Dave Grutman]

I, I look at those, those, those, those Fat Dave pictures and it still makes me like, ah, like that, but it's, it makes this part so much more rewarding.

[Gary Brecka]

Yeah. And I know that, I mean that's, that's where we started. And you know, our journey began there. And, and, and you know, I had a very, very, very short stint in, in the nightclub business.

[Dave Grutman]

Former. We don't want to talk about those college days.

[Gary Brecka]

No, we don't want to do that. But you were, you were actually working at Tantra.

[Dave Grutman]

Yes.

[Gary Brecka]

I mean, I'm going back now.

[Dave Grutman]

You did a little mint thing for a second. And Tantra was my first place. I worked at, on south beach where they had the grass on the floor. The Monday. It was insane. It was probably the greatest hammocks in the ceiling. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Gary Brecka]

They brought it to another level to, you know, when I, when I close my eyes and think of that snapshot to where you are now, maybe the most influential name in the entire hospitality space. It's, it's, don't, don't be humble. Right now. You're on the Ultimate Human podcast. The name of the podcast is Ultimate Human.

[Dave Grutman]

Okay, okay, okay.

[Gary Brecka]

I only put Ultimate Humans on here.

[Dave Grutman]

That's it.

[Gary Brecka]

So, you know, I, I, I, I want to, I want to back up for my, for my listeners and I want to talk a little bit about that journey. Obviously I want to get into the book too, but I want to talk a little bit about that journey.

[Dave Grutman]

Yeah, I mean, listen, Journey was being a back of the house guy, just making sure that you. I used other brands marketing equity to kind of build my brand because I didn't really have budgets in those kind of restaurants and nightclubs. And by doing partnerships with other brands and using their equity to push, push my brand, I saw the value in that and I kind of like scaled my whole life to that, that relationships, relationships, relationships meant so much to me that, yeah, it's, it's, it's the greatest way to push a brand. And I think at the end of the day, we're all just building brands.

[Gary Brecka]

Do you, you talk a lot in the book about your own personal brand? You actually talk about your IP being everything. Right. Chapter seven or chapter eight. And you talk about your IP being everything. And I don't think that most people realize the intellectual property they have in themselves.

[Dave Grutman]

Right, of course.

[Gary Brecka]

Their name, image and likeness. Their nil.

[Dave Grutman]

Yeah. And and whatever business they start either, they need to make sure whatever you're doing, it's about ip, you have to have ownership of the name.

[Gary Brecka]

And, and I, I think a lot of entrepreneurs are even unaware that you can trademark your name, you can copyright your content. You know, until I got into this business, media, you know, producing media, I didn't even know that I copyright my podcast and I could stop people from republishing it, you know, publishing it. I didn't realize the value in owning my own nil, my own name, image and likeness. But you talk a lot about that. And I want to, I, I want to understand like, you know, you go from the back of the house where you're in the service business to now where you're running multiple service businesses. And, and that is like, that's a long trajectory because I think you did it in the most competitive market and maybe the industry with the most amount of sharks and landmines because you've got employees. And in, in that space, the nightclub space, the restaurant space, I had a short stint in the restaurant space too. Everybody was sleeping with everybody and everybody was stealing from everybody.

[Dave Grutman]

There's a lot of, there's a lot of stuff that goes on.

[Gary Brecka]

There's a lot of nonsense to manage it at scale, that's what fascinates me. I think everybody get to get one place right, but to do it at

[Dave Grutman]

scale, Yeah, I think, listen, it's just about building the team and I would love to say, hey, look at me, look at me, look what I did. But if I didn't have the team around me, then I would be a zero. And you know, as you keep growing and growing, people also, they want to do their own thing too. So you want to also try to career path people to a be in your company for a long time. But also I love to see when people leave and they, then they go be entrepreneurs as well.

[Gary Brecka]

Do you ever. Have you, have you had people that have work with you, been a part of this journey, left and have now come back into your life as partners or joint ventures.

[Dave Grutman]

So I've had people that were partners that left to go do their own thing. And no, they, they haven't come back, but they, they do their own thing and you know, I don't, I don't know.

[Gary Brecka]

You can say it, Dave.

[Dave Grutman]

I don't know.

[Gary Brecka]

We could throw them under the bus. We need names.

[Dave Grutman]

No, I don't know how that works out for, you know, listen, stalk them on social media. You know, everybody thinks grass is greener on the other side. And sometimes I'm sure it is. And, and maybe people have to figure out their own. Their own journey, their own path too. And I can't. Like, I don't, you know, of course I hate it in the beginning. I'm like, oh, this person's leaving. But you know what?

[Gary Brecka]

Stabbed in the back again.

[Dave Grutman]

No, it's okay. But I gotta tell you, I've had some people that work, have worked for me for over 20 years, and I love to see that they've come along with me for the whole journey. And I've. I've made some people millionaires, so I think that's, That's a good thing as well. So.

[Gary Brecka]

But on this, on this rise, because when you were back at the house, were you that guy that actually did. You always think, I'm destined for more. Was it, was it because I wanted to make more money? I saw myself as an owner. Like, what was. What was the vision like? Because, you know, so many entrepreneurs have to. I think they get into this for the wrong reason. They're like, I want to set my own hours. I want to be my own boss.

[Dave Grutman]

Right? Right. Set your own hours. That's the greatest thing I ever heard. The best thing about being an entrepreneur is setting your own hours. Guys running. If you want to own your own business because you want to set your own hours, entrepreneurship should be for you. Because you're right. It's from nine to nine. That's your hours in entrepreneurship. I love that people are like, oh, if I, if I, if I own my own company, I could just, you know, take off whenever I want. I could take as long as vacations. I could work remote. No one's going to tell me what to do. Yeah, I love the reality check in something like that. I mean, my phone is, is. I'm answering texts from the second I wake up to the second I go to sleep. And then I wake up in the middle of the night and I go, I have to go to the bathroom. And I check my phone then, too. The, The. The concern and worry you have is, is not like anything else. Of course, everyone gets paid before you, and everyone gets their bonuses before you get. And, you know, hopefully at the end, there's a little bit left over for you as well. That being said, I couldn't be any happier doing it my way.

[Gary Brecka]

You know, I, I was interviewing a. A very wealthy entrepreneur one time, and he said, I've never owned a business. All my businesses have owned me. I was like, it's actually kind of an Interesting.

[Dave Grutman]

Yeah. And also people are like, you know, like servers. They get 18 to 20% gratuity added to every check. So that means they're my 20 partner on the gross.

[Gary Brecka]

Yeah.

[Dave Grutman]

I wish I got. I wish I made my money just on the gross and not on EBITDA or anything like that. But, you know, that's how I kind of look at things too. And that's kind of how I. I try to create hospitality within the place and ownership. I want everyone to take ownership of their place. And if a server, busser, bar, bartender, bar, they all think that they're. They're all part of this. This, the service charges gratuity. That is really a percentage of the gross sales. This is their place. They should take as much ownership in it as I am. They're my partners.

[Gary Brecka]

Yeah. You know, you know, one of the things I've noticed and. And I've been fascinated by is, you know, you, You, You. You've grown some of these concepts. Poppy steak, one of the. And if I misquoted. Tell me that. That I misquoted it. But one of the highest grossing, if not the highest grossing restaurant per square foot.

[Dave Grutman]

I think it's by far one of the highest grossing restaurants per square foot with my partner, Poppy. David Einhorn. The greatest. Yeah. And what a great story that's been to. To see him grow and skyrocket and just be there to be his partner and to help put him on the. On the platform that he's just accelerated beyond anything I could have ever expected.

[Gary Brecka]

I've never seen somebody wear a diamond t. T Bone steak, by the way. That. It's a tomahawk.

[Dave Grutman]

It's a tomahawk diamond. And he's given some out to some very famous people that take such pride in it.

[Gary Brecka]

Yeah, that's cool. But, you know, I'm always looking for not. Not the basic advice. Build a good team, you know, work hard, you know, be honest. There's. There had to be. In fact, I know there was because I. I remember you had a stint with the opium group. Sure. While you were Mansion, either Preve or Sky Bar.

[Dave Grutman]

Preve. Opium Garden Mansion and Roman Jones, who now. Who owned that, you know, now owns Kiki on the river and Habibi. And it's doing great.

[Gary Brecka]

If your energy is low during the day, the problem usually started the night before. Sleep affects focus, mood, metabolism, literally everything. And most people never learn how to push, properly support it. Our free sleep challenge is April 29th and 30th, and it's designed to teach the basics of better sleep in a way that's realistic and easy to apply. If learning how to sleep better feels like the right place to start, we'd love to have you join our challenge on April 29th. Now, let's get back to the ultimate human podcast. Yeah, no, I mean, they're all great guys, but I think there. There are people that were in that sphere that were, I would say, maybe equally as talented, maybe equally as connected, but this meteoric rise that you had, there's. There. What was the it factor? I think you take it mostly back to relationships.

[Dave Grutman]

Always. It always stems back to relationships and building those relationships for those years. At that time, it was just. Miami was one of these places where people would come to one or two times a year. And I wanted to make sure that experience when they came to Miami was the greatest from the second they got there, Even if it wasn't at one of the places I was with. I would take them to Wynwood at the time, and Wynwood was just a bustle. It was just starting out then, but it was very underground. And I would take them there. I would take them to a meal and order stuff off the menu to just blow them away. All these little things that make people feel like that you care is the. The reason why is how you start to build relationships.

[Gary Brecka]

Yeah. You've done this for me a number of times, too.

[Dave Grutman]

For my.

[Gary Brecka]

For my son's birthday. You know, just the way. The way that your staff handled things. Cutouts of his head, you. They went and they, they, they. They pulled images of him off of

[Dave Grutman]

social media, which he doesn't have much on social media.

[Gary Brecka]

He doesn't.

[Dave Grutman]

He was very anti social media. We had. I think Madison had us, like, supplies with some pictures.

[Gary Brecka]

Yeah, this is Cole's, which, by the way, was the last time. Oh, no, I actually did not drink that night. I was the sober skipper that night.

[Dave Grutman]

Is that true?

[Gary Brecka]

That is true. I had actually gotten a stem cell IV that morning, so I couldn't drink that night. So I was actually the designated driver.

[Dave Grutman]

Okay.

[Gary Brecka]

Yeah.

[Dave Grutman]

Well, listen, anything you can make someone feel special, any little thing that you could think of, either a name on a menu, calling them by the name, remembering their favorite drink, remember their favorite favorite food. Now, we have a lot of technology now in the restaurants that help us with that too. Like, we are able to now see all your track records, see everything you're doing, see what's your favorite cocktail, and make sure we could have those waiting for you when you arrive.

[Gary Brecka]

Yeah, but I think what Happens to most businesses when they start to scale is you lose the founders compulsion for these relationships. And you know, like when I have people on the podcast, I'm always impressed by like great athletics, athleticism. I'm even more impressed by someone who can dominate their sport for a long period of time. The, the, the Tom Brady's, the Lance Armstrongs. Anyone can be great one. So you know, you, you, you ha. You spur up a nightclub. But the, but the hospitality group creates these relationships and these environments at scale. So at some point you've got to create a culture that's actually taking, you know, your heart, your desire, your compulsion for relationships and you got to somehow weave it into that culture because you're not everywhere all the time.

[Dave Grutman]

Well, Gary, that's why it's so great to career path people within your own company because they know your DNA, they know how you think, they know what you're doing. And the longer people have been with me, you know, it's been great. I've had the same chief of staff next to me for nine years, Max. And people go to Max instead of me now because Max is great. People love Max. Palette is one of the greatest human beings in the world. And anyone that works with me, whether it's on the hospitality group, on the investment side, they'll tell you right away, Max Palette keeps everything together. And what's great is you have these people that learn how you think and you want to keep those people around you because that's how your life is easier. Because if someone's being proactive and not just reactive with everything that, that that's associated with you, it gets so much more done.

[Gary Brecka]

Were there any big tipping points on the journey? Can you point to any? And, and said, you know, that was the milestone, that was a tipping point.

[Dave Grutman]

So the first time I, I sold my company to sfx, which eventually they went bank, they bought all these music festivals and all that. They went bankrupt. I got my, my company back and then I, and then I was able to add Komodo and all my restaurants together and start a new hospitality group called Groot Hospitality.

[Gary Brecka]

Also by the way, one of the highest grossing restaurants in America.

[Dave Grutman]

Yes, that out there. And, and then Michael Rapino from Live Nation said, why don't we do a deal? And he bought 51% of my company. And the tipping point, not just with my company, but to have someone by your side just to guide you and to know that you got someone that's probably the most powerful person in the hospital, in the, in the entertainment business. On your side, it's been amazing and I. And it's been great to use it as, as leverage to help other artists and stuff like that, that want to do stuff or want to play it live or you know, be part of my ecosystem. They know I have this amazing relationship with Michael Rapinoe and if, if it's kind of like him signing on, that you're, you're a great person and I'm so glad to be able to have that flag of Live Nation to be able to carry it through my ecosystem as well.

[Gary Brecka]

Yeah. What, what sparked that deal? I mean, what, what, what made Live Nation come to. Because was it GR Hospitality at the time?

[Dave Grutman]

It was, it was, it had just been groot hospitality for almost about a year. And, and Forel's like, you have to meet this man, Michael Rapino. He's. He's going to help you get to the next level. Between Michael Rapino and Jeff Soer at the Fountain Blue opening of the Fountain Blue Las Vegas. And being able to grow my company on such a major scale that way has been the two biggest tipping points for me.

[Gary Brecka]

There you go.

[Dave Grutman]

And then of course, marrying my wife, Isabella Grutman, who has been an amazing partner next to my side. And again, as, as much as those two people are influential in my life, she's just as much.

[Gary Brecka]

Yeah, I mean, it's funny. I was actually watching a podcast that you were on with Isabella and it was, it was actually almost like a comedy show. Like she's like, sometimes I have to be really mean, but I'm only mean in short sentences. And then he stops whatever he's doing.

[Dave Grutman]

Yeah, she's very scary.

[Gary Brecka]

That tiny, beautiful Brazilian model.

[Dave Grutman]

They can, I know right away the

[Gary Brecka]

Latina that's like, buddy, that you don't mess with them, man. They'll straighten you out. And it runs through the thread into your girls and you know, but she's on.

[Dave Grutman]

She's obviously, she has is a Grutman jewelry now and she's just so entrepreneurial. And also her non profit style saves I think has been really great to see my girls. But this is a girl that could have done sat on the kitchen I think about all the time. She could have just gone out to lunches and done nothing. And instead she said, that's it. I'm going to go do my own business. I'm going to make my own way. And it's great for my girls, my two daughters to see because it not only does it inspire me, but I know it's inspiring them.

[Gary Brecka]

She's also got a design eye, though. She's been involved in a lot of the interior design of a lot of

[Dave Grutman]

your uniforms, all this stuff. There's no one's taste level I trust more than her.

[Gary Brecka]

Yeah, I would totally agree with that. She's. And her jewelry is amazing. You know, Christmas every year, I go. And.

[Dave Grutman]

I mean, it should be more than Christmas, just to be honest.

[Gary Brecka]

Okay, so I'll start. I'll start throwing. Sorry. Isabella. My. My daughter is decked out head to toe in it, so I'm. I'm invested.

[Dave Grutman]

You're.

[Gary Brecka]

And she's. For those of you that don't know his wife, she is. I don't want to say the polar opposite of Dave, but she is like a very grounded, very calm, incredible mother. And, you know, when I. I've had. I've had the luxury of seeing behind the curtain. Dave and I lived four or five floors apart in the 1000 museum for a few years, and so I was in and out of his place. They were in and out of my place. My daughter's very good friends with them, and. And I just see the intentionality that they have with their family behind the scenes. That's probably what I respect most about you, is that on this climb to the top, you drew your family closer and closer and closer. And I see how you and Isabella are behind the scenes, the way you are with their daughters, and you're a good dude, man.

[Dave Grutman]

Thank you. I mean, to me, it's the most. I've done a lot of cool stuff, as I'm sure you know, and I've seen a lot of cool things, but nothing's cooler than being dad.

[Gary Brecka]

Yeah.

[Dave Grutman]

So let's.

[Gary Brecka]

Let's go to the book.

[Dave Grutman]

Let's go to the book.

[Gary Brecka]

Let's go to the book. So I actually want to read something for the audience here.

[Dave Grutman]

Okay. Please.

[Gary Brecka]

And, And. And. And I think it's. It's very telling. In order to be successful in life, you don't need to be special. You just need to know what most people. You just need to be what most people aren't. Consistent, dependable, and willing to work for it. If I know anything about Dave, it's that he works his ass off. He loves people. He loves his family. I'm getting goosebumps. I'm so happy he opens up and shares with others what he's learned on this incredible personal and professional journey. That was Tom Brady. So clearly it's. It's. It's a book worth reading. I've read it, but I want to talk about the, the impetus for the book because you have a course at fiu. I've been to the, some of your year end wrap ups where they bring the celebrities in and your, your, your hospitality course. Son and I, my daughter have been to that several times. You've gone from, you know, building this hospitality group now to wanting to give away some of the secrets.

[Dave Grutman]

Yeah, I wanted a blueprint. I think the most important thing for people out there is there was nothing like this for, for myself when I was coming into the business. And I think it's so important to do it retired and stuff like that. But if I can help share some of the issues I've had or challenges I've had and give it, be able to share it today. Because so many people are coming out of school and because of all the different platforms and ways for them to be entrepreneurial. I really love entrepreneurship. To me that's, it's inspiring to me and that's to be able to say, hey guys, these are the challenges I faced through, through starting my own business and growing my own business. Here they are. You know, you want to, you want to build relationships, get the book, follow the, follow the steps that I put into place. And some of them you could agree with and some of them you don't have to agree with. But I'm giving you all the steps that I go through because I've broken it down for my college class, you know, when I said I want to teach about, teach people how to, how to have relationships. To break it down in these kind of steps, I feel is so important to life because it's not something that just comes natural. You have to focus on people. You can't just focus on the celebrity and not the other people at the table. You can't just be in a room and say, oh, I'm networking, I'm networking. No, you're not. Now you're looking for authentic relationships out there. And when you're talking to somebody, don't be looking at the other people. Oh, who's bigger, better in the room? I hate that. And you could feel when someone's doing that to you and being done to me, it's just, I write those people off right away. But listen, it takes work to sit there and have to ask. But for me, I want to know everyone's story. So when I would go out to dinners with like a celebrity or a DJ or an artist, they always have some kind of entourage. But the entourage I actually love to find out the stories of the author. I Like to find out the stories of the manager, the publicist, the agents. I want to know what drives them to be able to work with this person. How did they find the talent in this person to be able to grow their lives with that person?

[Gary Brecka]

Hey, guys, let me tell you about one of my favorite new hydration drinks. Now, this is for distance athletes, hits, cardio exercisers, people that sweat a lot or exercise intensely. An AAME is a hydration drink. It has eight essential vitamins. It has all of the electrolytes, the entire suite of B vitamins. Before you freak out and read that, it has 21 grams of sugar, which it does. The sugar is coming from natural cane sugar and honey, my preferred mechanisms for getting glucose into the blood during intense exercise. It also has natural flavors, but these natural flavors don't come from bacterial fermentation. They actually come from real citrus fruits. And the color is from vegetable juice, not artificial dyes. So next time you're looking for a great hydration drink and you're exercising intensely, a game is your choice. Now let's get back to the ultimate human podcast. I think. I think that can reframe the way a lot of entrepreneurs think about their employees.

[Dave Grutman]

Yeah.

[Gary Brecka]

And think about their customers.

[Dave Grutman]

Well, they're my guests.

[Gary Brecka]

Yeah, they're your guests. So, yeah, I like that. Not customers.

[Dave Grutman]

But if you take it as if. Listen, by taking it personal, that's another thing. Like, you come to my home, I'm going to treat you. It's like, you're coming to my home, you're my guest. That's how I try to treat people.

[Gary Brecka]

Yeah.

[Dave Grutman]

And that's where people. That's why I think people resonate or why people want to do things with me. Because they think it's not just transactional. I think if people think it's just transactional, then it's. Then it's. You've really done nothing for your life.

[Gary Brecka]

Right.

[Dave Grutman]

I love that I've built relationships where people feel like there's a long game with me, that it's not just a one show, a one DJ gig, a one. A one deal for.

[Gary Brecka]

For.

[Dave Grutman]

For marketing or whatever it is. Instead, I want to invest in your brand. I want to grow your brand.

[Gary Brecka]

Mm. You've also morphed into a bit of a business tycoon. I mean, you've actually taken brands, some of which you. You brought to my table. We've go invested in course before one of them just recently 5x. So thank you very much for that. And. But you have a penchant for spotting Trends as well. So you, you, you talk about, and you, you've already done it twice on this podcast. You talk about the ecosystem, of course, and how you want to control the entire chain in the ecosystem. And now it seems like you're also layering in this almost like a investment banking, you know, fund manager, portfolio manager kind of, kind of role.

[Dave Grutman]

Yeah, it's been, it's been a great part of this is I love consumer brand goods and that's like, you know, I love finding these young founders that are, that are starting these new brands that you and I could add a lot of magic to or bring people in to also add magic. And we all kind of take the ride together. And I tell all my celebrity, I tell all my friends period, that have some kind of influence, stop taking fees and sponsorships. Of course you have to live. And I get all that, of course. But once you get to that point, I think if you could, if you could stomach, if you could take the, the ride, I think own having equity in the brand is way better than just getting a sponsorship or a transactional fee. And if you're going to be the one that's turning the needle for that brand, why not, why not be part

[Gary Brecka]

of that upside, taking the equity. What are some brands you're comfortable talking about? You've put into your, oh, so many,

[Dave Grutman]

you know, skinny dipped, as you know, that's the one you went into. And of course you and I both just did Symbiotica, which I think is going to be a two billion dollar brand, the Liposimo, you know, supplement, Liposomal, Liposomal, whatever. But, but again, it goes to, it also goes down to not only the product, but the founders. And we think the founders of Symbiotica are great people. Yeah, they're amazing. And just the fact that when I went to, to ask people to come in on the deal, everyone's like, I already use it. It's one of my favorite brands. It's like the gold standard of supplements.

[Gary Brecka]

Yeah.

[Dave Grutman]

People like the Weeknd has it on his writer. Like it was easy, hey, you want to come in on this deal with me? And now that you have all these amazing people as part of this brand, it just grows a brand that much faster, that much quicker. Right?

[Gary Brecka]

Yeah.

[Dave Grutman]

And I think that's a, a cool thing. And when the exits happen and you could say, hey, I put you in that deal. Yeah, it's a great thing to.

[Gary Brecka]

I've got art on my wall that you put me into investments.

[Dave Grutman]

You know, it is when I find something special Whether it's a person, a product, anything. I always want to share that with the world.

[Gary Brecka]

Yeah. And having this ecosystem provides additional value in addition to capital.

[Dave Grutman]

Of course. Of course.

[Gary Brecka]

So, you know, getting back to the book for a minute, where do you think a lot of entrepreneurs that have their head down sort of shoulder the grindstone are going wrong in. In building the foundation of their business?

[Dave Grutman]

Where do they go wrong? I think, you know, one thing I. I really like to talk about, Gary, with this whole thing is I've had more issues with success than I have with failure. I think that's one thing in the book that they don't tell you in school and in life. Everyone's like, oh, you know, everyone gets up and they talk about their failures, their failures, their failures. And of course, I've had many failures. I have great success, but I have many failures. And what people always want to harp on is, you know, oh, I, you know, I failed, but I got back up and I did it. And yeah, of course, that's. That's how we are as humans. I don't know many people that. That did it once failed and didn't try to get back on the horse. Okay, that's fine. But what they don't. People don't talk about enough is once you're on top of the world, how do you. How does that affect you? Because that's where, for me, was the most challenging, right? I opened live. I was on fire. That's when your ego comes out. That's when you think you're unstoppable. That's when you don't ask for help because, oh, you know it all. Look at you. You're on top of the world. Why would you need help? And that's also when you get very cocky and you forget about where you came from.

[Gary Brecka]

Did you recognize that?

[Dave Grutman]

Oh, I took a really good friend of ours, Wayne Boyce from Reserve, to say to me one time, hey, my man in the middle of, you know, live was just kicking off. He's like, you're not. You're not saving lives. It's not heart surgery you're doing here. It's a nightclub. And I'm like, okay, you're right. And then as you're so cocky and your ego so driven. But, you know, the ego is a funny thing, Gary, because the ego drives you to do things that you. That normal people wouldn't do and things that, if you wrote it down on a piece of paper, probably didn't make sense, but you did it anyway because that was your Ego. And that's what changes the world. Right? That's. Those are the things that were the miracles come out. It also is the thing where again, you don't ask for help and you don't look at things in a business sense. You just do it for ego. And that later on hurts you later on. So it's having the people around you that keep you focus, but also in line.

[Gary Brecka]

So not just having a bunch of yes men around you. People that tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear.

[Dave Grutman]

I listen nobody when they're at the top of the, at the top of the pyramid, do they want to hear a no from somebody or this. I've learned to take that breath and try to hear someone's other opinion. And that's a lot of magic's come out of that as well, is when I take that second and I go, you know what? I'm not going to just respond back like, I know it all. Let me hear their vision. And I've learned is the youth do bring new ideas. Ideas to the table. And that's why I try to surround myself with so many youth because their ideas look at the world differently than you. And I look at it and I have to like, take a breath back and I. And I actually put a lot of, a lot of interest in their ideas.

[Gary Brecka]

Yeah, I find that with my kids too. You know, my kids are in, in, in, in in the business. You know, Maddie's got her skin care.

[Dave Grutman]

Me, Matt. Like, listen, guys, let's be honest. Gary. Yes. Got me to where I was, but he's so famous now and he's so big, he doesn't have time for me. I use Madison Brecker. She's the most important person in my life is Madison Brecker.

[Gary Brecka]

Dude, we are going to clip that from the podcast. Good thing this is the not life. No, I agree, man.

[Dave Grutman]

I love your daughter so much. She's the smartest girl I know. But she does not give me food dosage shots that I, I'm like, madison, I need a higher dosage. And she's like, no, she's a nurse.

[Gary Brecka]

She stays within the guidelines.

[Dave Grutman]

Dude, I want her to go outside the guidelines.

[Gary Brecka]

I know you do. It's a constant struggle with you. Yes, constant struggle. But I mean, that is the greatest gift that God has ever given me is to have my adult children want to hang out with me and, and to have your adult children in the business and on the journey. And I know your daughters are kind of migrating because mom's an entrepreneur. Dad's an entrepreneur. You also make entrepreneurialism fun.

[Dave Grutman]

Yeah, listen, it's a grind and there's ups and downs and there's of course like how are you going to make this payroll meet and do all this kind of. And is this distributor, is this, is this big box going to take the product or not take this product or is this colossal, them bringing back the direwolf? Is that going to really work? I don't know, but yes, I think it does.

[Gary Brecka]

Yeah.

[Dave Grutman]

And I think it's the coolest thing when you're, when, when you, when you build a brand. I think at the end of the day everything I do is just about building a brand.

[Gary Brecka]

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[Dave Grutman]

Well listen, I definitely invest in stuff that's not hospitality as well that I think is just cool as or is super cool and you know like we just talked about colossal. I think that invested.

[Gary Brecka]

You got me into that too. Yeah.

[Dave Grutman]

Another great company. Yeah, they, I think it's just cool and people are, you know, they're, they're doing things that I, I think will, will people will have in crazy engagement for. That's what I really look for the most is it's not just about food, beverage, this or that. It's about what's the engagement with it. Like if, if my wife is eating skinny dipped nuts at nighttime and my, my wife doesn't eat anything that's not healthy, then there has to be something to this skinny dipped chocolate peanut butter nut or whatever this brand is. And when I did a deep dive and met the founders and I, I understood why.

[Gary Brecka]

Yeah.

[Dave Grutman]

And so I look for little things like that same thing with DJs. Who are the next up and coming DJ? Who are the, the kids today really engaging with? Not so much if they have a billion followers or anything like that, but where's the engagement? Like, are they obsessed? Are they talking about it? Are they, are they talking on their, on their social medias? Are they reposting all their stuff? I think that's my, it's, it's not even about music or this. It's about energy and I'm great at sensing energy.

[Gary Brecka]

That's great. You know, I, I call it trend spotting.

[Dave Grutman]

Wow.

[Gary Brecka]

You know, and, but you are the best trend spotter I have ever known. I mean, really, you, you're so far ahead of your time on so many things, including, you know, hospitality. I, I, I want to draw back into the book for a second because I think it's applicable to any entrepreneur that's starting a business.

[Dave Grutman]

I mean, I think whether you're doing a car wash, you're starting a paper route, whatever it is. This book gives you a blueprint, Gary, of everything that I look for, everything I do, my failures, my wins, my everything. I put it here. And you know what's so cool about the COVID is Johnny, I've did this cover. A lot of people don't know that. Johnny, I've designed the iPhone.

[Gary Brecka]

Wow. Did he really?

[Dave Grutman]

Yeah, he, he designed everything.

[Gary Brecka]

He did a great job.

[Dave Grutman]

He designed the most, the most sold watch in the world, which is the Apple watch. And then he left to go work with Sam at Chat GPT. And he just did a big 6 billion dollar deal to design the devices for Chat GPT. It's funny, when the publisher was sending me all these book covers and I was like, I, I can't do these book covers. I can't, these are, this is not

[Gary Brecka]

me face on it or.

[Dave Grutman]

No, no, it had like a martini. It looked like it was Sex in the City. It was like, it was crazy. And I'm like, what do I do? Who's, who could do this? This is, this is my life work I'm putting into a book. I need the right book. And I go, I used a coupon with Johnny, I've. And I said, Johnny, please, I need you to do the COVID And I had just done his kids 21st birthdays. I just hosted them, did plenty. And anytime he goes to a city, I'm the first guy to say, let me help with whatever I can do. I said, please man, I can't have my life's work be the Sex in the City. Cover of a book. And then one day he came back with this. The whole thing. It's the most perfect thing I've ever seen. And just to know that, Johnny, I've did my book cover. I remember talking to the publisher. She's like, johnny, I've did your book. And I go, yeah. She goes, how much are you paying him? Like, well, he just did a $6 billion deal, so it's either 6 billion or free. So I'm going to go with the free.

[Gary Brecka]

6.1 billion or free.

[Dave Grutman]

Yeah. Yeah. She's like, okay, okay, let's go with the free. Okay. I love that. And just same thing with, like, Kim, when I said, listen, who am I going to have. Who am I going to have do my forward that. That's known me that actually has taken the ride. And I've seen take her ride from the beginning to where they are now was Kim.

[Gary Brecka]

Yeah.

[Dave Grutman]

And I think Kim's gone from being, you know, a reality star to an entrepreneur and a boss, and she runs a fund, and she runs a family, and she's a great mom, and she builds business. And what she's done with skims. I don't care what anybody says. It's the most impressive thing I've seen.

[Gary Brecka]

Yeah. It is astounding. And you have. And you have a genuine relationship with that family. I'll never forget. I was sitting on your couch one day, and Kendall Jenner walked in, and she had a. She had a mask on. During COVID She walked in with a mask on, and you go, kendall, take that off. You look ridiculous. I just know, Dave, I'm not thinking about it.

[Dave Grutman]

You're right. In Miami, like, you know, because we were open first across Covet, Mass. Really bothered me for a while. Yeah.

[Gary Brecka]

I think it bothered a lot of people. I think we realized the pendulum swung a little far on that one. Yeah. Yeah. We. We're never doing that again.

[Dave Grutman]

No.

[Gary Brecka]

When the next pandemic comes.

[Dave Grutman]

But we did really well in Miami, so, like, not that I wish we were blessed. It was pretty good in Miami.

[Gary Brecka]

We had a good governor. Yeah. And a good mayor is also a good friend of yours.

[Dave Grutman]

Yeah.

[Gary Brecka]

So I. I think that, you know, entrepreneurs maybe knowing what not to do is as important as knowing what to do.

[Dave Grutman]

Yeah.

[Gary Brecka]

And I. I love the title, you know, take it personal. What's behind that tagline?

[Dave Grutman]

Because I care so deeply, and I think if you care so deeply, you're gonna succeed. I care about the details. I care about everything. If something's gonna bother me. So in my bones, that's when I'm gonna win. And that's when change really happens, right?

[Gary Brecka]

Yeah.

[Dave Grutman]

If nothing really bothers you and you're not taking it personal, do you really change?

[Gary Brecka]

Yeah. I've seen you when you're in your restaurants. You're incessant.

[Dave Grutman]

It's either. Either you love doing it or you hate doing it. It's one of the two.

[Gary Brecka]

It's like OCD on top. OC I've seen you go over and straighten napkins. Fix, fix silverware, trash, make sure that water. Water glasses are full again. Like, it's like a 3D scanner that's going like this around and. And you can, like, spot something, you know, across the room, and you just go over and fix it or have somebody fix it. And I've always admired that about you. I mean, you've been. Been doing entire decade that I've known you, like, never taking your eyes off the details.

[Dave Grutman]

I think the details is what makes it. I think when people take their eyes off the details, it's when people don't care. It's a. It's the. It's the number one sign for. For me, when I go into one of my spots and I see a light bulb out or something like that, that's when I lose my mind. That means they really don't care.

[Gary Brecka]

And does that permeate then the culture of your organization?

[Dave Grutman]

Of course. And listen, every. Every organization has to keep retweaking. Retweaking, retweaking, retweaking, retweaking. And people that you think hold up your entire company that you need, and when they leave and your company thrives even more is even better. Because, Gary, I've been through this where my number one guy leaves, and I think, oh, my God, the whole company's going to die. And what happens is all your people step up and it opens it up for people to feel like now they have a say and they can add value. And I think, you know, retweaking your. Your company over and over again. Don't be afraid of people leaving. And if someone's not wanting to be on the right, don't try to convince them to stay with you. I've made that mistake too.

[Gary Brecka]

I have to, like.

[Dave Grutman]

No, you have to stay with me. We have to do this. No, no, no. And in six months, they're gone anyway, no matter what. And you just buy yourself some time. And at the end of the day, once they leave, your life is so much better. And that's where people should not be afraid Of. And it's. It's happened to me a few times now, and I'm just like, oh, my God, no. The company actually rises and everyone steps up so much more.

[Gary Brecka]

It's almost like when you, when you have.

[Dave Grutman]

And you're like, should I have had this layer even there?

[Gary Brecka]

Yeah, yeah. Elon Musk talks about that, about, like skimming the layers. Like, if you weren't starting meeting with reducing your department by like 10%, he. He wouldn't even continue the meeting. You know, it's. You know, it's. It's the simplicity. Like, the complexity is in the simplicity. You have all these amazing people and maybe you haven't pulled all the talent out of them and you pull somebody out of the top and they just rise.

[Dave Grutman]

Are saying to them what your message is instead of. You send your message and no one could ever get your message correct like you do. And having. By taking certain layers out of my business, it's built a relationship with the executive chefs, with my general managers, my director. All those people now feel like they have a say in my company and have. Instead of have people, you know, layers in between that could be saying to them different than what you really want them to be hearing.

[Gary Brecka]

So you got the nightclubs, you got the restaurants.

[Dave Grutman]

Yeah. You got the book, you got the investment.

[Gary Brecka]

Investment funds. You're actually getting into resorts.

[Dave Grutman]

Actually. They're not funds. They're not funds.

[Gary Brecka]

Okay.

[Dave Grutman]

They're. I'm just. I just invest in brands and I love to share them with my friends.

[Gary Brecka]

Yeah. And you brought me into some of those. What's next?

[Dave Grutman]

Great questions. I'm working on a members club. We're trying to grow poppy steak. Not trying. We are growing poppy steak out of the country. I'll talk about that at a later date. But we have two locations out there, and I'm just really trying to focus in on my brands here and trying to scale my brands that I have now.

[Gary Brecka]

Yeah. You know, I noticed that you use the word wellness more often too, because

[Dave Grutman]

the, of course, the, The.

[Gary Brecka]

The biggest attention trend in the world right now is anti aging. Longevity. Wellness.

[Dave Grutman]

So you were there a long time ago. That's when you brought it to my attention. Longevity. Longevity. I'm like, there's something so cool about

[Gary Brecka]

this, the new luxury. So how. How is your brand going to. Since this is the ultimate human podcast, how is your brand going to incorporate wellness, Longevity, anti aging. That sort of. I think it's.

[Dave Grutman]

I think the fact that so much. It's such a big part of my lifestyle. Right. And I magnify that message out there non stop. And also I invest in those kind of brands from Neuro gum to Symbiotica Skinny Coconut Coat. The probiotic yogurt to me is, is just. They're going to win the battle of gut health.

[Gary Brecka]

Yeah, yeah. And that's a huge issue. Monster issue.

[Dave Grutman]

As a Jewish boy, it's like the issue. What do you mean?

[Gary Brecka]

All the Jewish boys have bad guts.

[Dave Grutman]

We always have the worst gut.

[Gary Brecka]

So, you know your next foray is going to be this members members club. Can you say about where it's going to be or what?

[Dave Grutman]

No, but it's. It's going to be in Miami. I feel like I need to.

[Gary Brecka]

What's going to make it special?

[Dave Grutman]

So for me, you know, I have a lot of great entertainment venues. For me, I just really want super luxury brand and I think that's the next thing for me. And the one thing, you know, as my, as my audience keeps growing older and different and they're kind of changing too and they're taste levels change as well. People want luxury and they just want insane hospitality.

[Gary Brecka]

So this is going to be luxury and insane hospitality.

[Dave Grutman]

Yes.

[Gary Brecka]

That's amazing. Dave. I am. Whenever I have a guest on the Ultimate Human podcast, I always ask them one question and there's no right or wrong answer.

[Dave Grutman]

This question.

[Gary Brecka]

I know you know it's coming. What does it mean to you to be an ultimate human?

[Dave Grutman]

That everything's firing from your. From your personal to your business to your emotions, but everything is firing on all cylinders. And to me, that's what an ultimate human is.

[Gary Brecka]

Yeah.

[Dave Grutman]

And that's a great. Strive to be every day is to get everything firing.

[Gary Brecka]

Yeah. I think you're an ultimate human man. I've been a part of, not responsible for, but a part of this journey.

[Dave Grutman]

Part of my journey. What do you mean?

[Gary Brecka]

And well, I've been a part of your health journey.

[Dave Grutman]

I could have been not, I don't know if dead, but I could have been.

[Gary Brecka]

Yeah.

[Dave Grutman]

Definitely wouldn't have had the energy to keep up with what's going on in my life.

[Gary Brecka]

Thank you, I appreciate that. But I just want to say with every fabric of my being, to my audience, this is one of the most authentic human beings I've ever met. What you see is what you get. What he says is going on behind the scenes is actually going on behind the scenes. You're a great father, great husband. You're an amazing entrepreneur. You've been an incredible friend of my family. I hope everybody goes out and gets this book I'm going to put a link to it on the site. I'm actually going to do a giveaway on my. My Instagram. I'm going to buy a couple hundred of these books. I'm gonna give them out to my audience because I think it's so impactful. I think it's not just applicable to the hospitality space. I think it's applicable to life and. And especially if you are an entrepreneur. But it is a great lesson in life. I learned this lesson from Dave five years ago. I've applied it every year since. I want to thank you. Thank you for coming on the Ultimate Human podcast.

[Dave Grutman]

I hope congratulations on all your success, Gary. It's for me. It's been so nice to see the ride.

[Gary Brecka]

Thank you, brother. And until next time, guys, that's just science.