I've Always Been a Misfit.
In high school, I was a star athlete — but I hung out with the musicians, the outcasts, those that were "a little crazy." I got into some trouble, just enough to teach me lessons and help me find myself along the way. I went to college, played football, got a couple of degrees. But from the time I was a kid, I always had the entrepreneurial itch — I started my first enterprise at age 5.
When I graduated, much to everyone's surprise (except my parents), I didn't get a job. I packed everything up and moved to Columbus, OH to start a health and wellness business. I failed miserably. I knew how to sell, but I wasn't prepared to run a business, lead people, or build a team.
Building Companies. Finding the Pattern.
After rebuilding through a Fortune 500 role — sharpening every skill I lacked — I started investing in real estate, backed other businesses, and eventually went all-in on Grasp Technologies, a data and intelligence company in the travel industry. Grasp landed on the Inc 5000 and grew 50%+ year over year.
Today Dave is co-owner of TaxPlanIQ (fast-growing tax savings software), founder of 12 Minute Trading (trading education, programs & community for entrepreneurs who want systematic market income), GainStacker (automated SPY options directives with a 98.9% live win rate — execute in 10 minutes a day), and the WealthStacker System (probability-based wealth building designed to beat the S&P).
The Ironman in the Room.
Away from business, Dave is a multi-time Ironman World Championship qualifier — 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, 26.2-mile run. Qualifying for Kona is a systems and execution problem as much as an athletic one.
Multi-Time Ironman World Championship Qualifier
The same principles that built multi-million dollar companies apply to an Ironman: discipline over motivation, systems over willpower, and standards that don't bend.
Why the Podcast.
After building multiple companies and qualifying for Kona multiple times, I've come to find there is something else beyond hard work, sacrifice, and timing. It's what I call the Inner Misfit: the unique genius that sets every high performer apart. Every week I sit down with elite performers and at the end, they give you their Misfit 3™: three things you can act on right now.