How to Build an Epic Life Resume with Jesse Itzler

The "Life Resume" vs. The Work Resume [00:00:00]

• We often dedicate significant effort to our work resumes but neglect planning the "other side"—our life resumes.
• Having a "big flag in the ground" each year acts as a North Star for a life well-lived.
• A key trait of "alive people" is their focus on and prioritization of time.

  "We spend so much effort and energy on our work resume. Do we really spend a lot of time planning, like, the other side of it, our life resume?"

Playing Life on Offense [00:01:00]

• Many people play life on defense, allowing their calendars to be filled by others' requests.
• Itzler advocates for playing life on offense through aggressive planning, outlining future events and trips years in advance.
• This proactive approach ensures work fills in around the planned life experiences, not the other way around.

  "I flip that upside down and I literally play life on offense. I'm an aggressive planner. I've already built out half my 2027."

Compressing and Condensing Time [00:02:00]

• Entrepreneurs often feel they don't have enough time, but Itzler measures and manipulates time differently.
• By structuring his days into three distinct blocks (6 a.m. to midnight), he effectively gains "21 days a week."
• This compression of time over months and years leads to a vastly different life trajectory.

  "I've compressed and condensed time. I've bent it."

Jesse Itzler's Background and Impact [00:03:00]

• Jesse Itzler is known for founding Marquee Jet (sold to NetJets) and Zico Coconut Water (sold to Coca-Cola).
• Beyond business success, he is valued as a friend and a good person, married to Sarah Blakely.
• His previous appearance on the show deeply impacted the host, changing his perspective on interacting with his father.

  "And to be honest with you, really none of that is what I think of when his name comes up. I think of, like, one of my favorite people, a dude who's living a good life."

The Value of Present Moments [00:05:00]

• Reflecting on elderly parents, the host realized the limited number of visits equates to a finite number of moments.
• This perspective shift made each interaction with his father incredibly valuable, leading him to be more present.
• Itzler's words profoundly impacted the host, influencing his interactions with his own father before his passing.

  "Once you start to look at time that way, those visits become insanely valuable."

Reflections on Loss and Time [00:07:00]

• Itzler shares that his "math was wrong" regarding time with his parents, having lost both since their last conversation.
• He emphasizes the mistake of assuming we have more time than we do, as life can change unexpectedly.
• The realization that time is not guaranteed underscores the importance of cherishing present moments.

  "I think one of the biggest mistakes people make is they assume that what they can do today, they can do in 10 years from now."

"Last Visit Energy" [00:09:00]

• As his parents aged and health declined, Itzler would constantly wonder if each visit was the last.
• This led him to adopt "last visit energy," showing up more fully present and engaged.
• This approach made his final years with his parents more meaningful and impactful.

  "I would take a snapshot of me saying goodbye to them and being like, is this the last?"

Lessons from the Last Five Years [00:11:00]

• Itzler highlights the importance of recognizing who shows up for you during difficult times, like grief.
• He recalls a surprising act of kindness from the host offering to do speeches pro bono during his father's passing.
• This experience taught him the lasting impact of support during loss.

  "So you kind of take inventory during those times of like who you, who showed up for you and who didn't."

Life Through Decades [00:13:00]

• Itzler describes his life in distinct decades: 20s (finding his way, freedom), 30s (building, career focus, less time), 40s (peak responsibility), 50s (rethinking time with aging parents and kids).
• He notes that in his 50s and looking towards his 60s, he has more resources but less physical capability than in his youth.
• Each decade brings different perspectives and challenges, particularly concerning time and priorities.

  "In my 40s, I had my peak responsibility. I had a mortgage, I had a kid, I had a business, you know, and time, everything was competing for my time in my 40s."

The Misogi Ritual [00:15:00]

• A Misogi is an old Japanese ritual encouraging one "big year-defining thing" each year.
• The goal is to have something tangible to show for the year, creating a "life resume" beyond work.
• This intentionality contrasts with most people's inability to recall significant events from past years.

  "You should plan and have something on your calendar that at the end of 365 days in 2026, you have something to show for it."

Addressing the "Two Rich Guys" Objection [00:17:00]

• Itzler acknowledges the perception that such planning is only for the wealthy.
• He argues that even amidst daily struggles, finding one day a year, or even one day every two months, for a significant event is possible and crucial.
• These intentional events can actually free up time by forcing one to say "no" to less important commitments.

  "If you can't find one day, one day every other month, one day, or one day a year or something, what are you, like, what are you really doing at the end of the day?"

The Power of "Yes, And" [00:19:00]

• Itzler prefers friends who are "yes, and" people, embracing new ideas and possibilities.
• He contrasts this with those who might question or dismiss ambitious plans.
• This mindset fosters momentum and encourages growth, both personally and professionally.

  "I want to be a yes end person. Oh, you want to buy a, you want to buy your own island?"

Time as the Ultimate Priority [00:21:00]

• A common thread among successful people, regardless of their field, is their focus on time and its priority.
• Time is a finite resource that must be actively managed and directed.
• Itzler's "Big Ass Calendar" and planner are tools to visualize and control how time is spent.

  "One through line of a live people is what I would call them. Is there focus on time and its priority."

Designing Your Year [00:23:00]

• An extraordinary life requires intentional planning, not just stumbling into it.
• Most people play defense with their calendars, but Itzler plays offense by scheduling desired experiences first.
• He has already planned significant portions of 2027, including races and family trips.

  "I'm an aggressive planner. I put down all the things that I want to do on my calendar first, even like 2027."

The "Big Ass Planner" and Calendar [00:25:00]

• Itzler created the "Big Ass Planner" and "Big Ass Calendar" for visual planning and goal tracking.
• These tools help visualize where time is spent and identify gaps or areas for improvement.
• He emphasizes that a calendar is a powerful autobiography of one's life.

  "I created it because I'm visual. I want to see where I'm, where I spend my time. I want to track towards my goals."

The Role of Grit and Suffering [00:28:00]

• Itzler embraces challenges and "suffering" (like in endurance races) as learning opportunities.
• He believes these experiences build grit, which is a key indicator of future success.
• Overcoming obstacles in races translates to better coping mechanisms for life's challenges, like dealing with a toddler's tantrum.

  "You don't really learn just coasting through life like this. And by the way, I want ups and downs and I want a life that's like, I want the scars. I want, I want it all."

Experiences Over Possessions [00:32:00]

• Itzler prioritizes experiences that make him feel "most alive" and gravitates towards people who do the same.
• He made a birthday promise to himself at 50 to put more of what he loves, with people he loves, onto his plate.
• Memories are built from experiences, not the day-to-day grind, making them a crucial focus.

  "So those things, if those are the things that light me up and I remember the most, why wouldn't I want to double down on those?"

The "80 is Still 80" Realization [00:35:00]

• A profound conversation on a plane revealed that while one can maintain health and vitality, age eventually catches up.
• The saying "80 is still 80" highlights that at a certain point, physical capabilities diminish, underscoring the urgency to "do it now."
• This reinforces the idea of not postponing experiences, as future capability is uncertain.

  "He goes, but you know what? 80 is still 80."

Regrets and Family Time [00:37:00]

• Many people, especially empty nesters, regret not traveling more with their children or being more present during family dinners.
• Itzler actively tries to incorporate these lessons to avoid similar regrets.
• He emphasizes the fleeting nature of childhood and the importance of soaking in those moments.

  "I wish I would have soaked it in more when those moments, because as an empty nester, as you know, I keep telling people this and they think it's just the most obvious thing, but they are gone when they're gone."

Building a Life of Impact [00:40:00]

• Itzler learned invaluable habits, routines, and mindsets by asking questions of successful people he met through his businesses.
• He believes this access to wisdom is now democratized through platforms like podcasts.
• His goal is to live a life that his children will remember and tell stories about, emphasizing presence and shared experiences.

  "I became a compilation of that in my thirties. I got the best habits, the best routines. And the best mindsets from the best people."

Maximizing Time with Children [00:43:00]

• Itzler thinks about his children's limited time with him and actively plans to maximize it.
• His system includes shutting down work at 4 p.m. when his kids return and taking individual trips with each child.
• His one rule: "I'm never too tired for my kids," ensuring he prioritizes their needs and desires.

  "I think about it a lot. I think about it a lot. Um, the only way, and, and it's, I think it's important to think about it cause it helps you have a strategy and a plan of how you want to maximize that time."