This podcast episode features an insightful conversation with Jesse Itzler, a serial entrepreneur, co-owner of the NBA's Atlanta Hawks, best-selling author, keynote speaker, and former rapper. The host, Robert Leonard, delves into Itzler's unconventional journey and unique life philosophies, offering valuable lessons for listeners, particularly millennials.
Itzler's entrepreneurial path is diverse, starting as a signed rapper in the 90s, then selling his jingle company to SFX. He co-founded Marquee Jets, which he sold to Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, and was a partner in Zico Coconut Water, later sold to Coca-Cola. Through these experiences, he emphasizes several key lessons:
1. **Things take time:** Contrary to popular belief, success rarely happens overnight. He recalls the president of Coca-Cola predicting it would take eight years to build the Zico brand, a prediction that proved accurate.
2. **Passion for the journey:** Itzler stresses that true passion isn't just for the product or service, but for the entire entrepreneurial journey—the good, the bad, the struggles, and the late nights.
3. **Create your own luck:** While luck plays a role, actively putting yourself in positions where luck can find you is crucial.
4. **Great idea and storytelling:** Having a compelling idea and being able to effectively tell its story are essential for success.
He also draws inspiration from his wife, Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx, who built a billion-dollar company. Itzler notes her "tremendous passion," obsession with providing value to customers, and authentic storytelling. He highlights her preparedness for success, underscoring the importance of being "pitch ready 24/7" when opportunity strikes.
A significant theme in Itzler's life is "building your life resume, not your traditional resume." He believes in investing in experiences that make him feel alive and contribute to his growth as a father, businessman, and individual. This philosophy led him to live with a Navy SEAL and later with monks, experiences he documented in best-selling books. He describes his daily life as often feeling like "50 days in one," packed with activities and purpose. His company, 29029 Everesting, exemplifies this, where participants climb the equivalent height of Mount Everest, forging unbreakable bonds and leaving with a sense of conquering the world.
Itzler's most profound and impactful philosophy revolves around his "relationship with time." He maintains a keen awareness of his mortality (the average American lives to 78), which instills a sense of urgency. This urgency shifts his focus from minutes, hours, or days to *moments*. He constantly encourages marking moments, whether it's a unique trip, a challenging race, or a brainstorming session, as "moments that we remember." He illustrates this with a poignant example: if his nearly 90-year-old parents live five more years and he sees them twice a year, he doesn't have five years, but "10 visits." He challenges the host, Robert, to recall significant moments from the past five years, pointing out how easily time slips by without conscious effort to record these "moments."
To manage his packed schedule and ensure a balanced life, Itzler emphasizes meticulous planning. His day starts the night before, with every minute scheduled, including work, family time, and crucially, "three hours for myself." These personal hours, whether for hobbies, exercise, or quiet reflection, are non-negotiable. He explains that taking this time for himself prevents resentment and allows him to be fully present and engaged when he is with his family or at work. This discipline, he notes, has been unwavering since he was 21.
When asked for one piece of advice for millennials, Itzler unequivocally states: "Don't waste it." He warns against living an "80% version" of oneself, stressing that there are no "do-overs" in life. He encourages maximizing the "window of opportunity" in youth, whether it's for financial goals or accumulating rich experiences and memories. He concludes by referencing a poll of ultra-successful individuals whose biggest regret was the sacrifice they made to their family and themselves, reinforcing the importance of balancing ambition with a life well-lived and fully experienced. Jesse Itzler's message is a powerful call to live with intention, cherish moments, and actively build a rich "life resume."