1 00:00:01,760 --> 00:00:04,440 Speaker 1: You're listening to Math and Magic, a production of I 2 00:00:04,640 --> 00:00:12,879 Speaker 1: Heart Radio. With everything I do, the product is always 3 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:15,640 Speaker 1: the best it can be and if it's not, I 4 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 1: won't do it or put my name on it. And 5 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:23,600 Speaker 1: no matter where we are, whether Whai, Bahamas Barbuddha, Portugal 6 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:28,120 Speaker 1: or Nashville, we've strived to be the best community in 7 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:33,840 Speaker 1: that area. Hi. I'm Bob Pittman, and welcome to Math 8 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:37,560 Speaker 1: and Magic Stories from the Frontiers and Marketing. On this episode, 9 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:41,600 Speaker 1: we have someone who practices magic. He creates whole communities 10 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:44,880 Speaker 1: and populates them with exactly the right people for each location. 11 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 1: He's also used that magic to create one of the 12 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 1: most successful tequila's ever. He's Mike Melban, the chairman, founder 13 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:56,320 Speaker 1: of Discovery Land Company and co founder of Casa Amigos Tequila. 14 00:00:56,840 --> 00:00:59,440 Speaker 1: Mike was born in Milwaukee, moved to Arizona in the 15 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 1: seventh aid, and set the world on fire as a kid. 16 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:06,119 Speaker 1: Straight a student who was active and successful in the 17 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:10,039 Speaker 1: top extra curriculars. He went on to Stanford and after college, 18 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:13,400 Speaker 1: started as a blackjack dealer in Lake Tahoe and then 19 00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:16,880 Speaker 1: began a forty year career in real estate and development. 20 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:20,280 Speaker 1: He has created over thirty Discovery Land communities, and they 21 00:01:20,319 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 1: have all been creative breakthroughs and set a new gold standard. 22 00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:28,160 Speaker 1: His tequila, which he launched the George Clooney and Randy Gerber, 23 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:33,120 Speaker 1: was an instant success and continues its meteoric growth. He's 24 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:35,480 Speaker 1: made a few movie and TV cameos and even has 25 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:37,959 Speaker 1: a dish named after him at the Weymous Craig's in 26 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 1: l A. But most important, he's a good guy who 27 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:46,360 Speaker 1: everyone loves and respects. Mike. Welcome, Thanks, Bob. I appreciate that, Mike. 28 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 1: We've got lots to dig into today, but I want 29 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 1: to start with a warm up. You in sixty seconds already. 30 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:56,120 Speaker 1: Do you prefer golf or football? Playing golf and watching football, 31 00:01:56,280 --> 00:02:00,560 Speaker 1: comedy or drama? Comedy on the rocks or straight up 32 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:05,640 Speaker 1: on the rocks? Early riser or night owl? Both introvert 33 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:10,040 Speaker 1: or extrovert. A lot of people think introvert, but mostly extrovert. 34 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:16,400 Speaker 1: Arizona or California, California, Crypto or dollars dollars Tequila or 35 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 1: Mescal tequila. Casa Amigoes or Casa Dragon. I love them both, 36 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:25,640 Speaker 1: but I have to say Casa Honey, truffle or barbecue 37 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 1: honey truffle with real truffle text or call Okay, it's 38 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:32,960 Speaker 1: gonna get a little harder here. Childhood hero, my grandfather. 39 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 1: Smartest person you know, Bill Campbell. Favorite Discovery Land Community, 40 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:44,959 Speaker 1: El Dorado. First job courtesy clerk at Lucky Stores. Secret talent, 41 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:49,760 Speaker 1: it's a secret. That's good enough. Favorite movie, pulp fiction. 42 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 1: If you could have just one superpower, what would it be? Teleporting? 43 00:02:57,520 --> 00:03:00,400 Speaker 1: Let's get started. You found the Discovery Land Company in 44 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 1: n and your website defines the company as a US 45 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:09,359 Speaker 1: based real estate developer and operator of private residential communities 46 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 1: and resorts with a world renowned portfolio of domestic and 47 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:17,560 Speaker 1: international properties. Your communities include Baker's Bay and the Bahamas, 48 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:20,760 Speaker 1: The Summit in Las Vegas, Iron Horse and Yellowstone Club 49 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 1: in Montana, Eldorado and Las Cabos, Mexico, North Shore Preserve 50 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:28,160 Speaker 1: in Hawaii, and obviously lots of others. These are all 51 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:32,600 Speaker 1: characterized by the A crowd residents and those are creatives, 52 00:03:32,639 --> 00:03:37,360 Speaker 1: business types, tech, remarkable, blend the people in a sort 53 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 1: of remarkably casual yet well designed surroundings. And you have 54 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:46,760 Speaker 1: service that puts most upscale hotels and resorts to shame. 55 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 1: How do you describe that vision that brought you here 56 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 1: and how did you develop that idea? The vision came 57 00:03:56,760 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 1: and I bought my first project in Arizona, and I 58 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 1: wasn't a golfer. I never played golf, and I was 59 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:07,000 Speaker 1: never a member of a country club. So my first 60 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:11,520 Speaker 1: project I did was Astonsia in Scottsdale, and the whole 61 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:15,560 Speaker 1: project time, it just came about a little more organically 62 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 1: because I did it on the way I wanted to live, 63 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:21,640 Speaker 1: and at the time I was really young, maybe thirty 64 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 1: four thirty five years old. The communities are very casual 65 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:30,560 Speaker 1: because when I started them, I didn't grow up with 66 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:33,400 Speaker 1: a golf background in a country club background, so I 67 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:37,279 Speaker 1: didn't understand the formalities of it, like how to dress 68 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 1: and how to act, and so I would bring my 69 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:43,840 Speaker 1: kids their thirty four and thirty two now, but when 70 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:46,279 Speaker 1: they were five and seven, I wanted them to learn 71 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 1: how to golf, so they would golf as an adult 72 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:50,799 Speaker 1: because I didn't know how to golf. And I remember 73 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:54,599 Speaker 1: taking them to Astancia and said, hey, you guys got 74 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:57,240 Speaker 1: to put on a colored shirt, and they said, I 75 00:04:57,240 --> 00:04:58,719 Speaker 1: don't want to put on a colored shirt. And I 76 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:01,120 Speaker 1: said we'll put it on, and they said no, and 77 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:04,719 Speaker 1: so my attitude does well, I'm here to have fun 78 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:07,800 Speaker 1: with them, not to fight with them. So I said, okay, 79 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 1: don't wear one. What do I care? And so we 80 00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 1: went out in shorts and a T shirt. So that's 81 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:16,280 Speaker 1: kind of how the casualness of our places came about. 82 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:20,719 Speaker 1: And then it turned to kind of be disruptive to 83 00:05:20,839 --> 00:05:24,599 Speaker 1: the to the golf industry because I also would blast 84 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:27,320 Speaker 1: rock and roll on the driving range, because again i'd 85 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:29,200 Speaker 1: be on the drive range. I don't really like golf 86 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:32,680 Speaker 1: that I like rock and roll, so I'd listened to that. 87 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 1: We have comfort stations on the golf course, which are 88 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 1: little many restaurants and bars. So when you go into those, 89 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:48,400 Speaker 1: you get a margarita and ice cream, pizza, burgers, basically 90 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:52,680 Speaker 1: whatever you want. And those started when my kids were young. Again, 91 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:54,839 Speaker 1: they didn't want to golf, and I was trying to 92 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:57,559 Speaker 1: make them golf and learn how to golf. And so 93 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:01,320 Speaker 1: it virtually started by me pretty a cooler on a 94 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:05,720 Speaker 1: tea box of cokes and candy bars, and my kids 95 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 1: would just run to the tea box, drink a coke, 96 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 1: eat a candy bar, try to hit a ball and 97 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 1: run down the fairway to the next tea box to 98 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:18,039 Speaker 1: get another coke and candy bar. Now trying not the 99 00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 1: best paranting idea, but it was a good golf idea. 100 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 1: And those coolers have turned into those comfort stations, and 101 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:32,600 Speaker 1: so the whole relaxed atmosphere on the golf course I 102 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:36,680 Speaker 1: think has been revolutionary for golf. And I think it 103 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:39,719 Speaker 1: actually is important to help grow the game of golf, 104 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:44,200 Speaker 1: because golf courses can be intimidating if you don't know 105 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 1: the rules. So I tried to take that out of it. 106 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:54,080 Speaker 1: And then I think our service level is so much 107 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:58,400 Speaker 1: better than most places. Everybody knows each other, the level 108 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:03,159 Speaker 1: of service becomes more intimate, so I think the members 109 00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:06,480 Speaker 1: and the community feel more vested in it. People are 110 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:09,560 Speaker 1: very happy to be there, appreciative to be there, and 111 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:13,360 Speaker 1: respectful not only one another but the staff. So when 112 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:16,000 Speaker 1: you first started this, did you get pushed back from 113 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:18,920 Speaker 1: people though of going to that limit or did everybody 114 00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:23,080 Speaker 1: sort of embrace it and get it? Intuitively? I think 115 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:27,520 Speaker 1: everyone got it. But as the company grew and we grew, 116 00:07:28,480 --> 00:07:31,560 Speaker 1: kind of the legend of the conversation grew, and so 117 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:35,160 Speaker 1: every new project and everyone who works for me and 118 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:38,000 Speaker 1: is on the project. They want to make the next 119 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:41,000 Speaker 1: one better, better and better, and so fortunately I've been 120 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:45,200 Speaker 1: doing this along that we keep improving on the product. 121 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:50,040 Speaker 1: So it's almost become competitive amongst the general managers of 122 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:54,080 Speaker 1: different projects to make sure they have the best food, 123 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:57,119 Speaker 1: the best ideas, and they push it to the best 124 00:07:57,160 --> 00:08:01,000 Speaker 1: and so's it's rather competitive and things get better for 125 00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:03,880 Speaker 1: the members. Let's talk about food for a minute, because 126 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 1: we're talking about comfort food, and yet at every one 127 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:11,760 Speaker 1: of your communities you've also got some spectacular, high end food. 128 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:14,640 Speaker 1: How do you think about food and what world it plays? 129 00:08:14,680 --> 00:08:17,119 Speaker 1: And then also talk a little bit about design, because 130 00:08:17,160 --> 00:08:21,560 Speaker 1: you also have a remarkably cohesive design for communities where 131 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:24,480 Speaker 1: people build their own homes. One of the reasons why 132 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:28,760 Speaker 1: I've been so successful is that the whole community is 133 00:08:28,920 --> 00:08:33,000 Speaker 1: integrated together with every aspect of it. We're very active, 134 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:36,880 Speaker 1: obviously on the design side, because one of our main 135 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:42,920 Speaker 1: killers is to embrace the local culture and environment. Everything 136 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:46,880 Speaker 1: we do, we're trying to be authentic to the place 137 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:49,920 Speaker 1: we're at, and so sometimes it might be my version 138 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:53,280 Speaker 1: of authenticity for the place, like at Tokio in Hawaii, 139 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:57,839 Speaker 1: I wanted romantic Hawaii. So I remember the architects bringing 140 00:08:57,880 --> 00:09:00,559 Speaker 1: me all this stuff. Well, this is romantic and it 141 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:04,880 Speaker 1: was all like temptation style type of housing because that's 142 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:07,600 Speaker 1: what the king lived in and you know, so that 143 00:09:07,679 --> 00:09:11,680 Speaker 1: was their interpretation of luxury and romance. And I said, well, 144 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:15,800 Speaker 1: my romantic vision of Hawaii is kinda village, because kind 145 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:19,280 Speaker 1: of village was like huts with that roots. It came 146 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:23,520 Speaker 1: out beautifully authentic and where one of one. There are 147 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:26,559 Speaker 1: a lot of let's say, hotel companies where you can 148 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:29,120 Speaker 1: build a hotel in Maui and it's basically the same 149 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:32,280 Speaker 1: hotel they build in Cleveland, and that seems just too easy. 150 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:37,600 Speaker 1: So we literally customized every building, every project, you know, 151 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 1: for the environment and culture that it's in. On the 152 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:46,280 Speaker 1: food front, food has become a huge part of our communities. 153 00:09:46,520 --> 00:09:51,360 Speaker 1: We have gardens and farms and even zoos at all 154 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:55,760 Speaker 1: our projects in order to get fresh vegetables and organic 155 00:09:56,160 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 1: produce because like Bahamas, you know, you buy your food 156 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:03,000 Speaker 1: Francisco or one of the food purveyors and we we go, okay, 157 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:07,000 Speaker 1: let's get organic lettuce. Well, by the time it shows 158 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:11,880 Speaker 1: up at Baker's Bay, it's soggy, and bron So we 159 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:15,600 Speaker 1: had to grow all our own food in order to 160 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:19,800 Speaker 1: provide the quality that we want and that the members want. 161 00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:23,680 Speaker 1: So all that stuff evolves as we go. Today's foods 162 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:27,200 Speaker 1: a big deal, organics a big deal. People want to 163 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:32,760 Speaker 1: live a healthier lifestyle, so it's really become a focus 164 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:37,120 Speaker 1: for all discovery. You don't sell land and build infrastructure, 165 00:10:37,240 --> 00:10:40,839 Speaker 1: You curate and build communities. What is the key to 166 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:43,560 Speaker 1: building a community? That's not an easy task? How do 167 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:47,240 Speaker 1: you make that happen? I always tell my sales guys 168 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:49,880 Speaker 1: and all our people, you gotta get the first buyer. 169 00:10:50,120 --> 00:10:54,240 Speaker 1: So it's really important to establish that first person with 170 00:10:54,679 --> 00:10:58,840 Speaker 1: our vision of how we see the community building out 171 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:02,840 Speaker 1: and becoming, and and as people come in, it obviously 172 00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 1: changes a little bit of personality because in these communities 173 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:09,760 Speaker 1: they come from all lots of life. And so when 174 00:11:09,760 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 1: you're at Yellowstone or McKenna or Baker's Bay, wherever you are, 175 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:19,480 Speaker 1: there's always interesting conversations. It's always easy to make and 176 00:11:19,520 --> 00:11:22,319 Speaker 1: new friends. If you buy in one of our communities, 177 00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:26,360 Speaker 1: you make new friends. So your communities basically allow people 178 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 1: to disconnect from the world. How do you think about 179 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:32,520 Speaker 1: online offline and the role of your community plays and 180 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:36,160 Speaker 1: people disconnecting, and also how does it relate to the 181 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:40,319 Speaker 1: electronic world. I think you know since COVID and with COVID, 182 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:44,600 Speaker 1: it gave people a comfort level being out of the 183 00:11:44,720 --> 00:11:48,000 Speaker 1: city that they live. They want to be in a 184 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:52,199 Speaker 1: secure community where they know their neighbors. And you could 185 00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:56,400 Speaker 1: really work from anywhere now, and the technology is amazing, 186 00:11:56,559 --> 00:12:00,960 Speaker 1: Like Zoom has been an amazing feature for me because 187 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:04,839 Speaker 1: I'm in these great resource communities all the time around 188 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:07,320 Speaker 1: the world. But as long as you have that, I 189 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:11,560 Speaker 1: could have real time conversations and do productive business with 190 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:15,440 Speaker 1: people all over the world. So I think the change 191 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:18,360 Speaker 1: with COVID of not necessarily being in an office but 192 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:22,320 Speaker 1: still being able to be productive and communicating has been 193 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:26,679 Speaker 1: beneficial to all our places because once people started moving 194 00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:30,400 Speaker 1: around the COVID, almost every available house we had in 195 00:12:30,760 --> 00:12:35,720 Speaker 1: any community sold. So you make it sound so logical 196 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:40,040 Speaker 1: and so simple, yet you really do stand alone. Why 197 00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:42,400 Speaker 1: haven't others been able to replicate what you do? What 198 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:45,400 Speaker 1: are they missing? It's just hard. It takes a lot 199 00:12:45,440 --> 00:12:48,160 Speaker 1: of money to do these deals. We have the rolodecks 200 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:51,240 Speaker 1: and membership roster, so if we start a deal, we 201 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:55,360 Speaker 1: could have twenty two thirty people in it before we 202 00:12:55,800 --> 00:13:00,240 Speaker 1: even start, and that really de risks a project. So 203 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:03,120 Speaker 1: if you don't have the rolodex and you don't have 204 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:07,840 Speaker 1: to know how in the brand to have people have 205 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:11,840 Speaker 1: confidence in you to buy before there's anything there, it's impossible, 206 00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:15,679 Speaker 1: you know. I looked back at how I started and like, 207 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:19,559 Speaker 1: Tokio to Kio is my number one project because it 208 00:13:19,679 --> 00:13:24,520 Speaker 1: helped make me become the person I am professionally, and 209 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:27,960 Speaker 1: we have some of the toughest buyers ever. And you know, 210 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:31,520 Speaker 1: these guys would come and basically interviewed me, and I 211 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:34,880 Speaker 1: explained the vision and they go, okay, great, And I 212 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:38,280 Speaker 1: look back, I go, okay great. I obviously believe that 213 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:40,760 Speaker 1: I was going to do it and accomplish it, but 214 00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:44,160 Speaker 1: for them too, was a pretty big leap of faith. 215 00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:47,520 Speaker 1: And now fortunately all those people who did all these 216 00:13:47,559 --> 00:13:52,480 Speaker 1: projects are happy because they've all exceeded everyone's expectations on 217 00:13:52,679 --> 00:13:55,080 Speaker 1: what they thought it was going to be, and prices 218 00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:59,120 Speaker 1: have gone up so much that everyone is obviously so happy, 219 00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 1: not only for um, the money side of it, but 220 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:06,120 Speaker 1: also the social side of it. So it's really helped 221 00:14:06,120 --> 00:14:10,800 Speaker 1: people's lights and people who have everything kind of the 222 00:14:10,920 --> 00:14:14,559 Speaker 1: only thing that can't really give to themselves is the 223 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:18,240 Speaker 1: community we provide. And so I get a lot of 224 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:22,320 Speaker 1: thank you Mr Melville's for helping me and helping my family, 225 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:25,160 Speaker 1: bringing us together and giving us a place where we're 226 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:29,000 Speaker 1: comfortable and relax and can hang out. And so you know, 227 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:31,720 Speaker 1: that's been a really fun and rewarding part of the 228 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 1: business moral Math and Magic. Right after this quick break, 229 00:14:41,440 --> 00:14:43,920 Speaker 1: welcome back to Math and Magic. Let's hear more from 230 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:50,240 Speaker 1: my conversation with Mike Meldman. Let's go back in time. 231 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:52,680 Speaker 1: You were born in the late fifties, grew up in 232 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:56,120 Speaker 1: the sixties and seventies in Milwaukee and Arizona. Can you 233 00:14:56,200 --> 00:14:59,680 Speaker 1: paint the picture of your family those places and that 234 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:04,760 Speaker 1: line what shaped you? Growing up Milwaukee. I had close 235 00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:09,720 Speaker 1: friends who are still literally my friends today. I had 236 00:15:09,960 --> 00:15:13,440 Speaker 1: a great family life, and my dad was basically there 237 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:15,800 Speaker 1: when I went to school, when I got back from school, 238 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:19,240 Speaker 1: he coached me in Little league and football, if we 239 00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:23,320 Speaker 1: watched packer games together. My mom was always there. She 240 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:28,160 Speaker 1: was a housewife and mother. And my sisters are all 241 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:30,080 Speaker 1: about the year and a half from each other, so 242 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:33,400 Speaker 1: we're all close and all our cousins were all the 243 00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:36,120 Speaker 1: same age and every Sunday would go to Grandma and 244 00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:40,520 Speaker 1: Grandpa's house. We're very middle class, happy, had a great 245 00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 1: life and childhood. And I moved to Arizona when I 246 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:48,560 Speaker 1: was in seventh grade. And when my dad said were moving, 247 00:15:48,560 --> 00:15:50,680 Speaker 1: I didn't really think twice about I go great warm 248 00:15:50,720 --> 00:15:53,920 Speaker 1: weather as a huge sports fan, so you know, sted 249 00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:57,440 Speaker 1: becoming a son's fan and a su fan. And I 250 00:15:57,520 --> 00:16:00,280 Speaker 1: had a lot of friends and had a great time 251 00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:03,720 Speaker 1: in Arizona. And part of what inspired me to do 252 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:07,320 Speaker 1: the different things in our projects, like when my early 253 00:16:07,400 --> 00:16:11,040 Speaker 1: projects was in Whitefish, Montana called Iron Horse, and so 254 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:15,560 Speaker 1: up in Whitefish there's a lake, so you could water 255 00:16:15,640 --> 00:16:20,000 Speaker 1: ski and wakeboard and go whitewater rafting, you know, fly fishing. 256 00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:24,480 Speaker 1: My kids, again, we're young, so I wanted them to 257 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 1: be able to do all these things because as a kid, 258 00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:29,480 Speaker 1: I never did any of those cool things. So they 259 00:16:29,480 --> 00:16:33,480 Speaker 1: were searching and paddle boarding and outward your canoeing and 260 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:36,880 Speaker 1: free diving and scuba diving and snorkeling and doing all 261 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:41,080 Speaker 1: this stuff. And so it inspired me to do things 262 00:16:41,080 --> 00:16:42,880 Speaker 1: that I didn't do as a kid, and I wanted 263 00:16:42,920 --> 00:16:46,080 Speaker 1: to provide it for my kids, and then it became 264 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:49,640 Speaker 1: a big part of all these clubs, and so I 265 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:52,480 Speaker 1: think that's another thing that we stand out. You know, 266 00:16:52,560 --> 00:16:57,120 Speaker 1: we really have activities and activations for the families. You 267 00:16:57,160 --> 00:16:59,440 Speaker 1: were a straight a student, a jock, you worked in 268 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:02,600 Speaker 1: a supermar market, you ran the school's Key Club, and 269 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:05,840 Speaker 1: we're elected governor the Key Club for a three state region. 270 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:09,199 Speaker 1: You were selected to attend Boise State, which back in 271 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:12,840 Speaker 1: those days was a really big deal, hugely prestigious educational 272 00:17:12,880 --> 00:17:16,119 Speaker 1: program of government instruction for high school students, and you 273 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:18,920 Speaker 1: were elected governor there too, and then you even got 274 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:22,760 Speaker 1: invited to Boys Nation Washington, d C. What does all 275 00:17:22,840 --> 00:17:27,640 Speaker 1: this tell us about you? Well, yeah, Boys State, they're 276 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:32,120 Speaker 1: both very prestigious. But once I got elected Key Club 277 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:34,320 Speaker 1: governor is a pretty big deal because Key Club is 278 00:17:34,359 --> 00:17:37,680 Speaker 1: a service organization. There was a good cause. We did 279 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:41,440 Speaker 1: a lot of cool things, like they remember coaching special Olympics, 280 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:43,920 Speaker 1: So you did cool stuff like that meant a lot 281 00:17:43,960 --> 00:17:46,720 Speaker 1: of people. So when I got to Boys State, and 282 00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:49,720 Speaker 1: Boys State is kind of meant to be the best 283 00:17:49,720 --> 00:17:53,680 Speaker 1: of the best. You create these mock governments and I 284 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:57,240 Speaker 1: was one party in the other candidate who is running 285 00:17:57,240 --> 00:17:59,600 Speaker 1: for governor. Was my roommate and my best friend from 286 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:02,800 Speaker 1: my high school. And usually you win by four or 287 00:18:02,800 --> 00:18:07,000 Speaker 1: five votes, but I won by like eighty votes. But 288 00:18:07,119 --> 00:18:09,760 Speaker 1: the good news is he was able as losing Canada 289 00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:13,680 Speaker 1: for governor. He went to Boys Nation with me. So 290 00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:18,199 Speaker 1: we had a blast. Is the bi centennial year, and 291 00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:21,320 Speaker 1: so instead of a week in Washington, d C. It 292 00:18:21,480 --> 00:18:25,240 Speaker 1: was three weeks and did a mock government. We turned 293 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:27,920 Speaker 1: all through d C. Met our congressman, met the president 294 00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:31,639 Speaker 1: was President Ford at the time, met senators. It was 295 00:18:32,040 --> 00:18:35,680 Speaker 1: a pretty cool experience the lasted three weeks. What lessons 296 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:38,640 Speaker 1: did you learn from your childhood that you still used 297 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:42,000 Speaker 1: today and anything in this that you pass along to 298 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:45,600 Speaker 1: your kids as these discovered truths. I had a very 299 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:51,000 Speaker 1: loving family. My dad and my grandfather are probably the 300 00:18:51,040 --> 00:18:54,439 Speaker 1: biggest inspiration in my life, just how much time they 301 00:18:54,560 --> 00:18:58,320 Speaker 1: spent with us, how loving they were. I grew up 302 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:02,480 Speaker 1: being nice to keepo because I was taught that integrity 303 00:19:02,520 --> 00:19:06,200 Speaker 1: and character was always instilled to me by my dad 304 00:19:06,240 --> 00:19:09,960 Speaker 1: and my grandfather. They're great examples because everyone liked them. 305 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:12,440 Speaker 1: The kids that want to come hang at our house 306 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:16,359 Speaker 1: because my parents were nice, and you know, my dad was, 307 00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:20,080 Speaker 1: like I said, our litterally coach, and every person on 308 00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:23,240 Speaker 1: our team, you know, loved and respected him because he 309 00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:26,960 Speaker 1: was just such a good guy and actually coached us 310 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:29,919 Speaker 1: and like the kids who weren't very good, he would 311 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:32,320 Speaker 1: prop them up and make him feel good. And it 312 00:19:32,440 --> 00:19:36,840 Speaker 1: taught me to protect someone who didn't have the strengths 313 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:40,200 Speaker 1: you have. And so my kids, you know, they grew 314 00:19:40,280 --> 00:19:44,280 Speaker 1: up in a different environment with different resources that I 315 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:48,320 Speaker 1: grew up, and they are literally the most unentitled, humble 316 00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:53,720 Speaker 1: people you know you'll ever meet. And I give obviously 317 00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:57,280 Speaker 1: credit to me and their mother, but I really give 318 00:19:57,400 --> 00:19:59,639 Speaker 1: the credit to my dad and my grandfather because they 319 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:05,560 Speaker 1: really and still this genuine quality two people. And maybe 320 00:20:05,560 --> 00:20:09,040 Speaker 1: it's a Midwest thing, but it worked. I think it's 321 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:12,399 Speaker 1: made me the man I am today. After college, you 322 00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:15,199 Speaker 1: think about law school, but you don't go. Instead, this 323 00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:19,080 Speaker 1: recent Stanford grad becomes a blackjack dealer. Then you get 324 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:23,080 Speaker 1: into commercial real estate Fremont, California. You realize maybe you 325 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:27,560 Speaker 1: found your calling and you decide to go be your 326 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:31,119 Speaker 1: own developer. And your first project, I understand, was a 327 00:20:31,119 --> 00:20:34,480 Speaker 1: three acre site in Portola Valley, California. And I've seen 328 00:20:34,520 --> 00:20:37,439 Speaker 1: you quoted as talking about what you learned from that 329 00:20:37,520 --> 00:20:40,320 Speaker 1: first one. Can you give us some of those stories? Yeah, 330 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:43,280 Speaker 1: I want to tell how up black Jack? And the 331 00:20:43,320 --> 00:20:45,480 Speaker 1: reason I think the law school is because I bombed 332 00:20:45,480 --> 00:20:48,320 Speaker 1: the l SAX might have got my name right, I 333 00:20:48,320 --> 00:20:51,480 Speaker 1: don't think I got any other question right. So I 334 00:20:51,520 --> 00:20:55,040 Speaker 1: went with a couple of buddies to Tahoe help black Jacket. 335 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:59,879 Speaker 1: Harris got into real estate as a broker, did really well. 336 00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:03,720 Speaker 1: Decided to start buying land and entitling it on my 337 00:21:03,760 --> 00:21:06,200 Speaker 1: own because what I didn't like about being a broker 338 00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:10,280 Speaker 1: you didn't really have control over anything. So I went 339 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:15,400 Speaker 1: out and me and a buddy, but the three under 340 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:18,400 Speaker 1: acres in Patrol Valley. I didn't obviously have the money 341 00:21:18,440 --> 00:21:22,000 Speaker 1: to buy it, but I raised it through friends. It 342 00:21:22,080 --> 00:21:25,040 Speaker 1: was through undered acres, It was zoned for thirty two homes, 343 00:21:25,920 --> 00:21:27,600 Speaker 1: and so I go, okay, this is easy. Was just 344 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:31,560 Speaker 1: submit a you know, a map and sell them and 345 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:34,480 Speaker 1: make a bunch of money and I'll be rich. So 346 00:21:34,840 --> 00:21:40,200 Speaker 1: what happened is the land was located in Patrol Valley, 347 00:21:40,280 --> 00:21:44,879 Speaker 1: which is a basically suburb of Palo Alto right outside 348 00:21:44,920 --> 00:21:50,320 Speaker 1: of Stanford, and so every environmental constraint. You could think 349 00:21:50,359 --> 00:21:55,359 Speaker 1: of this property had Sandre's fault ran right through it. 350 00:21:55,760 --> 00:21:59,399 Speaker 1: They had kind of a big hillside which had all 351 00:21:59,440 --> 00:22:03,679 Speaker 1: these land slides. There is a wildlife quarter, there is 352 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:08,000 Speaker 1: biological issues. And so I had to learn how to 353 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:12,880 Speaker 1: develop through the environment, which today is the way to go. 354 00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:15,840 Speaker 1: But back then it was hard, it was difficult, It 355 00:22:15,920 --> 00:22:19,640 Speaker 1: was it was frustrating. It taught me how to develop 356 00:22:19,760 --> 00:22:24,200 Speaker 1: properly because most developers by land mass, grade and throw 357 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:28,960 Speaker 1: up as many houses as they can. But this experience 358 00:22:29,040 --> 00:22:32,280 Speaker 1: taught me was that, okay, well you build the roads 359 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:35,440 Speaker 1: along the natural contours of the land. You keep as 360 00:22:35,520 --> 00:22:39,600 Speaker 1: much vegetation as you can. You don't clear cut, you 361 00:22:39,640 --> 00:22:43,119 Speaker 1: don't cut down trees. You put houses, you know, on 362 00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:47,520 Speaker 1: the geologic solid part of it, where landslides aren't gonna 363 00:22:48,119 --> 00:22:50,600 Speaker 1: slide down and hit, because they could actually map the 364 00:22:50,680 --> 00:22:52,720 Speaker 1: landslides and how far they're going to move in things 365 00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:56,520 Speaker 1: like that. So I learned how to develop through the environment. 366 00:22:57,119 --> 00:23:00,760 Speaker 1: And intellectually it made sense to me too, because as 367 00:23:00,880 --> 00:23:03,840 Speaker 1: you develop, if you build the roads on the contour 368 00:23:03,880 --> 00:23:06,320 Speaker 1: and if you don't cut down trees, you say so 369 00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:10,119 Speaker 1: much money because in residential development, all the money is 370 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:15,760 Speaker 1: really spent in mass grading and read vegging and buying landscaping. 371 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:19,760 Speaker 1: So if you don't mass grade, you don't grade anything, 372 00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:22,520 Speaker 1: and you don't really cut down trees except for what 373 00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:27,240 Speaker 1: maybe in the roadways, and you move them, you save money. 374 00:23:27,359 --> 00:23:29,800 Speaker 1: So it made in leftial sense to me that this 375 00:23:29,880 --> 00:23:32,480 Speaker 1: is the right way to develop. Anyway, let's jump over 376 00:23:32,880 --> 00:23:36,600 Speaker 1: to one of your other huge successes, Casa Amigos tequila. 377 00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:39,399 Speaker 1: As a co founder of Cassa Dragons, I do have 378 00:23:39,440 --> 00:23:42,520 Speaker 1: a special appreciation of what you, George and Randy built. 379 00:23:42,640 --> 00:23:46,240 Speaker 1: It was an instant success. You had a meteoric growth 380 00:23:46,440 --> 00:23:50,480 Speaker 1: still continues, and certainly the billion dollar price tag proved 381 00:23:50,520 --> 00:23:52,800 Speaker 1: how successful it was or opened a lot of people's 382 00:23:52,800 --> 00:23:55,960 Speaker 1: eyes about tequila. Where did the idea come from and 383 00:23:56,000 --> 00:24:00,280 Speaker 1: what was the biggest surprise in building that company. So George, 384 00:24:00,359 --> 00:24:02,800 Speaker 1: rand and I are all obviously friends that have been 385 00:24:02,840 --> 00:24:06,040 Speaker 1: friends for a long time. We drank a lot of tequila. 386 00:24:06,320 --> 00:24:10,399 Speaker 1: We didn't necessarily like any tequila the best, so we 387 00:24:10,440 --> 00:24:12,960 Speaker 1: came up with the idea to do our own. We 388 00:24:13,040 --> 00:24:16,400 Speaker 1: probably did eight hundred samples. I think we got it 389 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:20,720 Speaker 1: to where we all thought it was perfect. So initially 390 00:24:20,760 --> 00:24:23,040 Speaker 1: We did it just for ourselves. And I always said, 391 00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:27,840 Speaker 1: you know, between all my clubs and between Randy's bars 392 00:24:27,880 --> 00:24:30,000 Speaker 1: he had bars at the time, which you obviously had 393 00:24:30,040 --> 00:24:33,320 Speaker 1: the self for the tequila and everything George would drink, 394 00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:38,320 Speaker 1: we could become a successful company. And so we went 395 00:24:38,359 --> 00:24:43,240 Speaker 1: to Southern Mining Spirits. They tested it and they liked it, 396 00:24:43,800 --> 00:24:47,200 Speaker 1: and so I remember them telling us, well, do you 397 00:24:47,240 --> 00:24:49,359 Speaker 1: guys have a blanco? And I remember saying, no, we 398 00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:52,600 Speaker 1: don't have blanco. We drank reposado. May know we should 399 00:24:52,600 --> 00:24:56,359 Speaker 1: have a blanco. I know why, and they, well, eighty 400 00:24:56,600 --> 00:24:59,320 Speaker 1: five percent of the tequila marguts blanco. I know, well, 401 00:24:59,520 --> 00:25:03,480 Speaker 1: let's still blanco. And so we did a blanco. We 402 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:08,200 Speaker 1: launched and they said, if you could sell ten thousand 403 00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:11,639 Speaker 1: cases your first year, it will be a huge success. 404 00:25:11,680 --> 00:25:14,920 Speaker 1: And so George, Randy and I we produced a ten 405 00:25:14,960 --> 00:25:19,200 Speaker 1: thousand cases. We went on a road show to Vegas, Miami, 406 00:25:19,280 --> 00:25:23,440 Speaker 1: and Dallas and we sold about ten thousand cases and 407 00:25:23,440 --> 00:25:27,080 Speaker 1: it just literally took off from there. We knew we 408 00:25:27,160 --> 00:25:30,120 Speaker 1: had something because we're serving it to all our friends. 409 00:25:30,240 --> 00:25:32,840 Speaker 1: Everyone loved it. So when we sold the company to 410 00:25:32,960 --> 00:25:38,160 Speaker 1: di Agio, we're doing a hundred sixty seven thousand cases 411 00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:42,520 Speaker 1: a year. We are now doing over three hundred thousand 412 00:25:42,560 --> 00:25:47,360 Speaker 1: cases a month and we just finished our last Cisco 413 00:25:47,480 --> 00:25:51,119 Speaker 1: year and we're at two point seven million cases and 414 00:25:51,160 --> 00:25:53,720 Speaker 1: I think next year will be closer to four money. 415 00:25:53,960 --> 00:25:58,679 Speaker 1: So we still run it. We're a Holy owned subsidiative Gaga, 416 00:25:59,119 --> 00:26:02,879 Speaker 1: and I think we're the third largest spare brand in 417 00:26:02,920 --> 00:26:06,960 Speaker 1: the world right now. It is such an amazing success story, 418 00:26:07,040 --> 00:26:10,119 Speaker 1: and I think for you, especially, having this sort of 419 00:26:10,280 --> 00:26:14,480 Speaker 1: second entrepreneurial success must tell you something about yourself and 420 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:18,200 Speaker 1: certainly put you in a category of very few. With 421 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:22,080 Speaker 1: Discovery Land Company and Cossa Amigos, you have proven your 422 00:26:22,240 --> 00:26:26,960 Speaker 1: master with the high end consumer. Auto company, software, travel, telecommunications, 423 00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:31,320 Speaker 1: retail all want that customer, but few have succeeded like 424 00:26:31,440 --> 00:26:34,879 Speaker 1: you have. What are they missing? I think it's really 425 00:26:35,359 --> 00:26:37,639 Speaker 1: the brand, right, the power of the brand that I 426 00:26:37,760 --> 00:26:42,399 Speaker 1: created because people trust me. People made money in almost 427 00:26:42,480 --> 00:26:47,080 Speaker 1: every lot we ever sold. We execute were firstly integrated, 428 00:26:47,119 --> 00:26:51,400 Speaker 1: so we design everything, we operate everything, we build everything, 429 00:26:52,040 --> 00:26:56,840 Speaker 1: so we actually really know what's going on. And I 430 00:26:56,880 --> 00:27:01,000 Speaker 1: think with Cosmigos, the products was just good. Right If 431 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:03,840 Speaker 1: the product was bad, no matter who is behind it, 432 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:07,679 Speaker 1: it wouldn't work. And so I think with everything I do, 433 00:27:08,400 --> 00:27:12,080 Speaker 1: the product is always the best it can be, and 434 00:27:12,119 --> 00:27:14,440 Speaker 1: if it's not, I won't do it or put my 435 00:27:14,560 --> 00:27:17,200 Speaker 1: name on it. And no matter where we are, whether 436 00:27:17,240 --> 00:27:22,600 Speaker 1: we're why Bahamas, bar Buddha, Portugal, or Nashville, wherever we are, 437 00:27:23,080 --> 00:27:27,040 Speaker 1: we strive to be the best community in that area. 438 00:27:27,200 --> 00:27:29,800 Speaker 1: You have to have a good product. If you could 439 00:27:29,880 --> 00:27:32,399 Speaker 1: go back in time and give your twenty one year 440 00:27:32,440 --> 00:27:35,439 Speaker 1: old self some advice, what would that advice be. The 441 00:27:35,480 --> 00:27:38,800 Speaker 1: only advice I'd probably give myself is just be patient 442 00:27:39,600 --> 00:27:42,280 Speaker 1: because people always ask me like, hey, did you know 443 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:44,720 Speaker 1: this is going to be so good? I'm like, yeah, 444 00:27:44,840 --> 00:27:48,600 Speaker 1: I mean somebody had to write. There's always someone driving 445 00:27:48,640 --> 00:27:52,879 Speaker 1: and striving to make these places great, and Discovery just 446 00:27:52,920 --> 00:27:55,040 Speaker 1: happens to be me because it was my brain child. 447 00:27:55,160 --> 00:27:59,680 Speaker 1: And so the nice thing is even forty thirty years later, 448 00:28:00,320 --> 00:28:03,200 Speaker 1: you know I still have that same drive. I've learned 449 00:28:03,240 --> 00:28:06,560 Speaker 1: a lot, so I think every project we get better, 450 00:28:06,720 --> 00:28:09,760 Speaker 1: better and better, and I still strive to create the 451 00:28:09,800 --> 00:28:12,280 Speaker 1: best product, to be the best at what we do. 452 00:28:12,480 --> 00:28:18,639 Speaker 1: And I've really never lost that. But I didn't know that, 453 00:28:19,560 --> 00:28:23,040 Speaker 1: so I always knew I would be successful, but I 454 00:28:23,119 --> 00:28:27,000 Speaker 1: just didn't know what scale, or what magnitude or what 455 00:28:27,080 --> 00:28:30,840 Speaker 1: impact it would make two people. And so in twenty one, 456 00:28:30,880 --> 00:28:34,720 Speaker 1: you know, I probably just tell myself be patient. We 457 00:28:34,840 --> 00:28:38,400 Speaker 1: end each episode of Math and Magic by saluting the 458 00:28:38,440 --> 00:28:40,760 Speaker 1: best of those folks who have that special skill in 459 00:28:40,840 --> 00:28:43,680 Speaker 1: business for the analytics and for those who have the 460 00:28:43,720 --> 00:28:47,719 Speaker 1: special skill for the innovation, creative, the promotional, the magic 461 00:28:47,760 --> 00:28:51,520 Speaker 1: of business. Who would you put on the pedestal best 462 00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:55,920 Speaker 1: in math and the best in magic in the business 463 00:28:56,000 --> 00:29:01,520 Speaker 1: or marketing world. I'd say math would be Steve Jobs 464 00:29:02,320 --> 00:29:05,800 Speaker 1: and magic would be Phil Knight. Been fortunate to meet 465 00:29:05,840 --> 00:29:10,480 Speaker 1: them both, and I think they both inspire many people 466 00:29:10,800 --> 00:29:13,960 Speaker 1: the whole country, in the world. Well, Mike, you have 467 00:29:14,040 --> 00:29:16,400 Speaker 1: inspired a lot of people. You build communities that bring 468 00:29:16,480 --> 00:29:19,760 Speaker 1: people together, and in the process those communities have really 469 00:29:20,280 --> 00:29:23,040 Speaker 1: defined you. You've really had a unique life, definitely one 470 00:29:23,080 --> 00:29:26,760 Speaker 1: of a kind. Thanks for sharing your insights and experiences today. 471 00:29:27,080 --> 00:29:33,280 Speaker 1: I appreciate, Bob, thanks for having me. Here are a 472 00:29:33,280 --> 00:29:35,520 Speaker 1: few things I've picked up in my conversation with Mike. 473 00:29:35,920 --> 00:29:40,560 Speaker 1: One changed the rules at Discovery Land. Mike has prioritized 474 00:29:40,600 --> 00:29:44,280 Speaker 1: inclusivity with laid back luxury and no fuss golf courses. 475 00:29:44,840 --> 00:29:48,240 Speaker 1: The ways he's broken tradition is the reason his properties 476 00:29:48,440 --> 00:29:52,640 Speaker 1: stand out. To work with your environment. While developing his 477 00:29:52,760 --> 00:29:56,520 Speaker 1: first Discovery Land property, Mike realized he needed to work with, 478 00:29:56,880 --> 00:29:59,920 Speaker 1: not around, the key features of the environment, which should 479 00:30:00,040 --> 00:30:02,560 Speaker 1: lie this lesson when making changes to the landscape of 480 00:30:02,640 --> 00:30:07,840 Speaker 1: our industries, it's important to preserve what works. Three offer 481 00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:11,160 Speaker 1: more than products and Discovery Land, Mike, it's not just 482 00:30:11,240 --> 00:30:15,400 Speaker 1: providing four walls and a roof. He's providing community. That's 483 00:30:15,440 --> 00:30:21,840 Speaker 1: something that can't be easily recreated by competitors. I'm Bob Pittman. 484 00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:29,640 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening. That's it for today's episode. Thanks so 485 00:30:29,720 --> 00:30:32,040 Speaker 1: much for listening to Math and Magic, a production of 486 00:30:32,040 --> 00:30:35,640 Speaker 1: I Heart Radio Show is hosted by Bob Pittman. Special 487 00:30:35,640 --> 00:30:39,200 Speaker 1: thanks to Susan Ward for booking and wrangling our wonderful talent, 488 00:30:39,280 --> 00:30:43,200 Speaker 1: which is no small feel. Our editors are Derek Clements 489 00:30:43,240 --> 00:30:48,760 Speaker 1: and Emily Marinot, our producer Morgan Levoy, our executive producer 490 00:30:48,840 --> 00:30:53,560 Speaker 1: Nicky Eator, and of course Gayle Raoul, Eric Angel Noel 491 00:30:53,880 --> 00:30:56,400 Speaker 1: and everyone who helped bring this show to your ears. 492 00:30:57,400 --> 00:31:01,600 Speaker 1: Until next time, One