Jesse Itzler

Jesse Itzler – Life, Career & Memorable Insights

Jesse Itzler (born August 22, 1968) is an American entrepreneur, author, speaker, and former rapper. From co­founding Marquis Jet to writing Living With a SEAL, his journey combines hustle, endurance, and reinvention.

Introduction

Jesse Itzler is a modern polymath: an entrepreneur who’s launched successful businesses, an author whose books challenge comfort zones, and a speaker who encourages audacious living. His credo centers around building a life résumé — not just accumulating titles or wealth, but experiences, growth, and stories.

In what follows, we trace his evolution—from music to business to motivational influence—and highlight his philosophy via memorable quotes.

Early Life and Education

Jesse Eric Itzler was born August 22, 1968, in Roslyn, New York, on Long Island.

He was raised in a Jewish family. His father, Daniel Itzler, was an inventor, and his mother, Elese (or Elise) Itzler, served as president of the Roslyn Board of Education.

Itzler earned his bachelor’s degree in 1990 from American University, majoring in “justice, law, and society.”

Early Career: Music & Branding

After college, Itzler embarked on a musical path. He signed with Delicious Vinyl under the stage name Jesse Jaymes.

• In 1991 he released his debut album Thirty Footer in Your Face.

• He co-wrote songs for other artists, including co-writing for Tone Lōc.

• His single Shake It Like a White Girl charted (peaking at number 74 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1992).

• He also wrote and performed the New York Knicks theme “Go New York Go” and did campaign/anthem work for sports teams.

These early ventures not only built creative confidence, but also experience in branding, audience, and platform-building.

Entrepreneurial Journey & Business Ventures

Itzler’s pivot from music to business was marked by bold risk-taking and the leveraging of networks.

Marquis Jet & Private Aviation

In 2001, he co-founded Marquis Jet, a company offering a private jet “card” model.

Marquis Jet was later acquired by NetJets, a Berkshire Hathaway company.

The 100 Mile Group & Brand Incubation

Itzler founded The 100 Mile Group, a brand incubator and accelerator, which partnered with ZICO Coconut Water.

ZICO was eventually acquired by The Coca-Cola Company.

Other Initiatives & Ownerships

• He is one of the co-owners of the Atlanta Hawks NBA team (via a group purchase in 2015).

• Itzler has pursued endurance challenges (e.g. completing Ultraman at age 53) and runs fitness/wellness–oriented entrepreneurial projects.

• He also built The Big Ass Calendar Company, producing large-format planners rooted in his philosophy of designing one’s time and life.

Authorship & Public Voice

Itzler’s public platform expanded via books, talks, and framing the concept of a life résumé.

Major Books

• Living With a SEAL: 31 Days Training with the Toughest Man on the Planet (2015) – This bestseller recounts a month he lived and trained with a Navy SEAL, pushing physical and mental boundaries.

• Living With the Monks: What Turning Off My Phone Taught Me about Happiness, Gratitude, and Focus (2018) – A reflective work exploring spiritual practices, gratitude, digital detox, and meaning.

Beyond books, Itzler regularly publishes content (e.g. via his newsletter Free Swim) and speaks on topics of mindset, resilience, lifestyle, and leadership.

Philosophy & Key Concepts

• Life Résumé vs. Work Résumé
  Itzler urges people to build a life résumé—to collect experiences, challenges, stories—so that work becomes enriched by meaning, not merely tasks to check off.

• Embrace Discomfort for Growth
  A recurring motif in his writing is: What doesn’t challenge you won’t change you. He often speaks about getting comfortable with being uncomfortable.

• Misogi & Personal Challenges
  Inspired by Japanese ritual, Itzler describes misogi as deliberately undertaking a difficult, growth-forcing challenge (e.g. ultramarathon, skydiving, deep fast) to expand one’s limits.

• Designing Time & Habits
  Through tools like his large calendars, he encourages structuring life so that important (not just urgent) tasks and experiences are scheduled.

• Mindset Over Circumstance
  Itzler often emphasizes that many barriers are self-imposed and that internal attitude (discipline, curiosity, grit) is more determinant than external conditions.

Memorable Quotes

Here are selected quotes that capture Jesse Itzler’s voice and perspective:

• “Most of my successes in life have come from learning how to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.”

• “If you want the most reward, you have to take the most risk.”

• “The best gift you can give yourself is getting over the fear of embarrassment because then you're completely free to try anything.”

• “I used to delay doing stuff … Now I have this little voice in my head that says, ‘I know you don’t want to do this, but just do it anyway.’”

• “I don’t stop when I’m tired. I stop when I’m done.” (often attributed as a SEAL’s maxim in Living With a SEAL)

Lessons from Jesse Itzler’s Journey

1. Diversify your identity. Itzler didn’t confine himself to one role (rapper, entrepreneur, author)—he evolved with curiosity.

2. Growth lives at the edge. His philosophy pushes us to take intentional discomfort and challenges to break new ground.

3. Structure your life, don’t just survive it. Using planning tools and rituals, he shows that designing time matters.

4. Your story is your currency. A compelling life résumé can open doors more than a CV alone.

5. Be comfortable with reinvention. From music to business to motivational work, Itzler demonstrates that pivoting is not failure—it’s adaptation.

Conclusion

Jesse Itzler’s path is neither linear nor conventional. It melds creativity, audacity, discipline, and reflection. His emphasis on life résumé, discomfort as catalyst, and intentional design of one’s time and purpose offers a distinctive blueprint for those who seek more than success—they desire a story worth telling.