Take It Personal

David Grutman began as a 21-year-old bartender at a restaurant in the Aventura Mall in Miami. Nearly twenty years later he partnered with the owner of that same restaurant to build LIV, a nightlife brand known around the world. Through his company, Groot Hospitality, he now runs venues in Miami, Dallas, and Las Vegas, including Gekkō, a Japanese-inspired steakhouse opened with Bad Bunny, and Komodo, along with some of the highest-grossing restaurants per square foot in the country.

In this book, Grutman explains how he got there, and his answer is the same for his first opening as for his latest multimillion-dollar project: relationships. He treats the people around him as the real foundation of a business, and he argues that a venue only matters if it gives guests an experience worth traveling for.

He lays out the principles that guide him. Build an ecosystem rather than a single business. Treat the details as everything. Play the long game. Understand that connecting people is a form of real wealth. Each idea is tied to stories from behind the scenes of his career.

Part leadership manifesto and part practical guide, Take It Personal is aimed at readers who want to grow a business, advance a career, or build lasting relationships that help with both.