#ImpactTom 2: How to Stop Being Realistic and Shoot for the Moon - with Jesse Itzler…

adambarratt (62)in #steempress • 6 years ago (edited)

I had never actually heard of Jesse Itzler before this cool interview (my bad ;))… but perhaps one of the best I've seen and a super interesting guy. Not brash, or in your face… more like a hippy going about his day, doing cool shit, and earning a pretty penny in the process!

Here's some of the blurb from Tom Bilyeu's YouTube channel - "Jesse Itzler is a self-proclaimed adrenaline-junkie taking on and pulling off unlikely challenges such as founding a private jet company, with no experience, after being told he couldn’t and running 100 miles in 24 hours. His fearlessness and boundless curiosity have not only made him a successful entrepreneur but a man likely to die with no regrets. The best-selling author of Living With A SEAL talks about maximizing life’s potential on this episode of Impact Theory"

That's quite a backstory already. Something you'll discover from these interviews is that Tom gives a killer intro, researches his subjects thoroughly, retains relevant information and uses that knowledge at appropriate times (he always does a good wrap-up at the end too).

Over to you boys!

Great stuff! Some notes from me…

The life resume

This is something that Jesse centres on in his life and work. We all know well and good about the general work resume/CV but using that concept and delving far deeper. Check out his website for more!

He got people to do all sorts without experience / managed to to do all sorts.

Just read the intro above, see the interview and take a gander at his website… it's amazing what's possible.

Marquis jet. Guest on private jet. Decided to start private jet company when landed. Had no airplanes. Pitched idea to a Warren Buffet company.

This is one such exploit. It seems crazy to come up with such an idea, let alone pull it off. It's a bit like the story of Richard Branson starting Virgin Airlines.

He has side stories that would be bigger than most people's main stories.

There are some asides he makes, almost by the by… which are actually pretty big deals. Just shows the magnitude and way he lives his life.

Bought all the muffins.

Classic. He wanted to get in amongst some movers and shakers at a conference. Couldn't do it by conventional means but discovered that everyone was buying muffins at a nearby cafe. He bought them all, and when people couldn't get what they wanted to order, he would say 'hey, I have a muffin' got talking and big things happened.

Start from the end. Have the end of the movie in your head, then write the script. The script might change.

Starting with the end in mind and working backwards. Have the goal/vision then figure out the steps to get there. Keep that objective in mind whilst concentrating on each step. And be prepared for some tweaks along the way.

Get comfortable being embarrassed.

In any situation it's often not going to go your way. You may look a little foolish. People may laugh or think 'less' of you. Accept it, deal with it, and move on. Why would (or should) you be embarrassed anyway? What have they done?

I like to get my foot in the door, then I'll figure out the rest later. Impatient but not petulant.

Acting before you are ready. Getting started and working things out on the fly. Being impatient in a good way, as in getting things moving. The steps will become clearer once in amongst it anyway. Now how to get that foot in the door… Jesse was inventive here.

No experience but can get to people who can help him figure it out.

He might not have the experience or credentials, but he can always reach someone who does. It's about getting in with those people and figuring out the rest.

Momentum. Ride the momentum!

It's always about getting started and foots in doors. Momentum is a force that keeps things moving and building.

Living with a SEAL / Living with the Monks (books)

These are his 2 books worth checking out. The SEAL in question was David Goggins - a story for another day (that guy has the most views of these videos on his interview). He also spent time with monks and draws from those 2 interesting and diverse experiences!

Used to write thank you notes - personal / handwritten. 3000 letters in one year. Could be to anyone that impacted him. That's his form of networking. Hot 50 list - people he stays in contact with, mutually beneficial relationship.

He's a great networker, and a genuine one at that. No spammy business cards at seedy brown-nose events. Going that extra step of handwriting a thank you note is very rare. Many people don't even say thank you digitally… and this extra step (especially in today's world) sets him apart. And it's not for payback, it's a heart-felt gesture to someone who has touched his life.

And that hot list is a great idea!

People in their 20s, you've no idea what will happen later.

There's no telling where people will end up. That dweeb in their 20s could be the top CEO of a powerhouse company in their 40s. Don't judge a book's ending by the opening paragraphs (just paraphrased a popular quote there ;)).

Make use of your time left.

Speaks for itself. Make the most of your time here.

Wrote the number of days left in his life on his wrist. Stopped, as it freaked his wife out (and he's also so aware of it). Not depressing for him, it's the opposite.

Wacky little thing he had going. I know you can get apps for this too (with seconds or hours etc). Not sure if this is a bit morbid or keeps you on task.

'28 summers'

It's not so much, X number of years left. When you put it as 'summers' or 'Sundays' etc, it takes on a different meaning and urgency,

None of us are going to be here in 100 years. who cares, take the chance.

Goes back to being embarrassed or looking foolish. Who gives a flying f**ck? We'll all be dead soon…

Ease is boring.

Easy is comfortable, but not exciting. You need to choose your trade-off.

Monks = simplicity. Monastery = decisions are taken away.

Keeping things simple and minimising decisions are keys to maintaining energy, time and focusing on the important.

Release worries as it takes up a lot of energy and mental space. Release that and get bounds of creativity.

Exacto. When you release these superficial worries, it opens up a whole world of possibility and energy!

Sharing each other's successes

Talking about his wife and applies to all. This makes for a good, happy and fun relationship.

Meditation

Something he did a fair bit of with the monks. He tells a story how on the first night he thought he'd gone way past 20 minutes… he had set a timer, checked it to see it it was working, and… only 3 minutes gone! It takes a bit of getting used to but has huge benefits.

There is no cliff note version. Have to stick it out.

No shortcuts or easy route. Rugged persistence.

Make commitment - here for duration

Making a solid, cleat commitment and keeping on.

The last 5% is where it happens

It's where the difference is made. Where the gains happen. It's about pushing past that 95% and reaping those rewards.

You're going to get distracted. Stay focused like the dog.

With the monks, one of his jobs was to help train the dogs and he was a 'distractor'. And despite his jumping around, silly faces and lumps of meat, the dog just meandered across the room without a flinch. There will always be these kind of shenanigans but we need to keep our eyes on the prize.

Always have something big on your calendar that you can look forward to. Every other month or so (a weekend). 1 really big challenge a year.

Something to look forward to. Jesse has one main challenge a year that keeps him focused, then there should be smaller events every couple of months. Probably best to get little things in week to week too.

Master journal. Gets out of head.

His master journal is where he jots all of his ideas. They need to get out. From that point he can sort, put them elsewhere or ignore. There does need to be some sort of 'brain dump' system.

It goes so fast. Finite time.

It ain't hangin' about. There's only so much time!

It's not that he's seeing his parents once to three times a year, but rather 16 times total (if they die average life expectancy, in 8 years). Different perspective. Not 8 years with them - 16 times.

Again, the aspect of time. This is from a question Jesse asks Tom who responds that be sees his parents a couple of times a year and they are 70.

Urgency, don't put stuff off.

Continuing the theme. Do it NOW!

Attach yourself to what you love to do. Success takes time.

You need to love what you do. Or at least the outcome. The issue here is that any big success is going to take a large number of years, it really does have to be something you enjoy in order to stick it out.

Risk taker, not thrill seeker.

A distinction about Jesse. Yes, he takes risks and is an adrenaline junkie, but he doesn't even ride a rollercoaster!

Thanks Jess!

I see this guy as someone who's having fun. Working hard, sure. Being a bit cheeky and just going for things, absolutely.

First time I saw this I didn't write any notes, perhaps because the thought didn't cross my mind (I sometimes do and sometimes don't) or it could be because I was enthralled.

Either way, I had to re-watch it so I could put something else in the post and could barely stop writing second time round… so defo worth a look!

Next up: Ed Mylett…

~ Adam