Take It Personal: How to Succeed by Building Relationships and Playing the Long Game

"In order to be successful in life, you don't need to be special. You just need to be what most people aren't. Consistent, dependable, and willing to work for it!" -- Tom Brady

"A reminder that hard work, discipline, and heart always win." --Mark Wahlberg

In his leadership manifesto, hospitality icon David Grutman shares the importance of building relationships to drive success, with practical tips to level up your business--and your life.

David Grutman knows everyone, and everyone--or rather, anyone who's anyone--knows him. From a humble start as a 21-year-old bartender at a restaurant in the Aventura Mall to today, partnering with the owner of that same restaurant almost two decades later on a globally recognized nightlife brand, LIV, Grutman is credited with single-handedly transforming the global nightlife and hospitality scene. His collective business properties across Miami, Dallas, and Las Vegas include a Japanese-inspired steakhouse in partnership with Bad Bunny, Gekkō, Komodo, and some of the highest-grossing-per-square-foot restaurants in the country. Groot Hospitality is a household name and David prides himself on not only creating incredible venues, but once in a lifetime experiences that people are willing to travel from all over the world to enjoy.

David has taken hospitality to a whole new level, and now, he is breaking down exactly how he got to where he is today. The key to his success has not changed from his first opening to his most recent multimillion-dollar venture: It's his relationships. In Take It Personal, David shares his core values and guiding principles on building relationships, and businesses, that last, including:

- Create an ecosystem.
- The details are everything in every business.
- Play the long game.
- Connecting people is real wealth.

Entertaining, practical, and chock-full of behind-the-scenes stories from David's career, Take It Personal is the perfect guide to accelerating your career and unlocking your full
potential.

Author: David Grutman
Publisher: Zando
Published: 04/14/2026
Pages: 208
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.85lbs
Size: 9.10h x 6.30w x 1.00d
ISBN: 9781638933496


Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 02/01/2026 pg. 63

About the Author
David Grutman is a globally renowned innovator and entrepreneur in the hospitality field. A native Floridian, he founded Groot Hospitality and has developed a sizable and impressive portfolio, with a focus in the Miami market and a recent expansion across the US and internationally. David lives in Miami with his wife and two daughters.
@davidgrutman