The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk

258: Jesse Itzler - Creating Your LIFE Resume (Living With The Monks)

Jesse Itzler is the author of the New York Times bestseller, Living with a Seal, cofounded Marquis Jet, the world's largest private jet card company which he and his partner sold to Berkshire Hathaway/NetJets. Jesse then partnered with Zico coconut water, which he and his partner sold to The Coca-Cola Company. His latest book is titled, Living With The Monks. He's a former rapper on MTV and wrote and performed the NBA's Emmy Award-winning "I Love This Game" music campaign and the popular New York Knicks anthem "Go NY Go." When he's not running ultra-marathons, eating vegan food or being a dad to his four kids, Jesse can be found at the NBA's Atlanta Hawks games, where he's an owner of the team. He is married to Spanx founder Sara Blakely.

The Learning Leader Show

"I invest in people... You must look into their eyes before making a decision."

Show Notes:

Sustaining excellence:
- Spending time around the 4,000 people who used Marquis Jet, "I always asked them about their habits."
- You have to create the system that works best for YOU:
  - Attack fear, take risks
  - Get up early in the morning
  - Create daily wins, momentum
  - Be a great connector, build relationships
  - Run -- Create great exercise habits
  - Winning habits, routines, mindset. A system for self
For 27 years, Jesse has only eaten fruit before noon
Relying on gut instinct... How to build this, make better? Must spend time alone, to think. Running is where this happens for Jesse (in the car for Sara)
Why?
- Awareness with time... Understand your own mortality
- A constant drive to build a "life resume"
- You only get 1 shot to do this thing
Hiking Mount Washington -- Helps you feel "super alive... It's addicting."
Have you always been this way? "I get bored easily. This has nothing to do with money."
Always being urgent to accomplish something
Always carving out time for yourself. Carve at least 1 hour per day.
Put parameters around your time
YOU are the business plan. "I invest in people... Have you ever looked into his eyes?"
"At the end of the day, people drive companies."
Why live with the monks?
- "I did the physical part while living with a SEAL. I needed to focus on the spiritual part."
  - Lived in a monastery with 8 monks... 4 had been there for 50 years
How living with the monks helped him handle "decision fatigue"
- How it free'd up so much energy
"The power of cumulative work"
"Always do something hard"
- It sets the tone for yourself
Don't back away from challenges -- Build the grit muscle
- Do small things every day (clean, make the bed, finish tasks, do the dishes now)
"I'm turning 50. I only have 28 summers left if I'm lucky."
The perfect day =
- Family time
- Wellness time (running)
- Business time
"Get your heart rate up!"

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More Learning:

Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon

Episode 216: Jim Collins -- How To Go From Good To Great

Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions

Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why