In this episode of the Positive University Podcast, Jon Gordon talks with Jesse Itzler. You'll learn: Why Jesse has only eaten fruit until noon for the past 27 years. What Jesse's journey was like going from distributing demo tapes to being broke and sleeping on 18 couches and eventually founding a private jet company, selling a product to Coca-Cola, and owning the Atlanta Hawks.  Jesse's mindset of personal responsibility and success. Why Jesse believes you need to create your own luck. Why lasting change takes time.  And so much more! You can find Jesse at www.jesseitzler.com  *This episode is marked explicit due to simply a couple instances of profanity used.  About Jesse Itzler: Jesse Itzler eats only fruit 'til noon, loves Run-D.M.C., and enjoys living life "out of the box." He cofounded Marquis Jet, the worlds largest prepaid private jet prepaid flight card company which he and his partner sold to Berkshire Harhaway/NetJets. Jesse then helped pioneer the coconut water craze with Zico coconut water, which was acquired by The Coca-Cola Company. He is a former rapper on MTV and he produced both the NBA's Emmy Award-winning "I Love This Game" music campaign and the popular New York Knicks anthem "Go NY Go." When he is not running ultra marathons, eating vegan food or being a dad to his three kids, Jesse can be found at the NBA's Atlanta Hawks games, where he is an owner of the team. He is married to Spanx founder Sara Blakely. 

His story is one of the most inspiring that you will hear.  The true story of a well-raised kid, a three-year starting quarterback, a young person filled with potential…until a shocking addiction took hold. Sentenced to sixty-five years in a Texas prison, Damon West once had it all. He came from a great family, in a home full of God, love, support, and opportunities to reach any goal. A natural born leader, an athlete with good looks and charm, he appeared to be the all-American kid pursuing his dreams. Underneath this facade, however, was an addict in the early stages of disease. After suffering childhood sexual abuse by a babysitter at the age of nine, Damon began putting chemicals into his body to alter the way he felt. Once he was introduced to methamphetamines, however, he became instantly hooked—and the lives of so many innocent people would forever be changed by the choices he made in order to feed his insatiable meth habit. After a fateful discussion during his incarceration with a seasoned convict, Damon had a spiritual awakening. He learned that, like a coffee bean changing with the application of heat and pressure, he was capable of changing the environment around him. Armed with a program of recovery, a renewed faith, and a miraculous second chance at life, Damon emerged from over seven years of prison a changed man. His story of redemption continues to inspire audiences today. DAMON WEST is a motivational speaker and author of The Change Agent: How a Former College QB Sentenced to Life in Prison Transformed His World. Over the past few years, he has been sharing the Coffee Bean lesson with college football teams such as Clemson, Alabama, Georgia, and Texas, and countless schools and businesses. Damon is passionate about the Coffee Bean message and loves sharing how it changed his life and how it can change yours, too. https://damonwest.org/ JON GORDON has inspired millions of readers around the world. He is the author of 18 books, including six bestsellers: The Energy Bus, The Carpenter, Training Camp, You Win in the Locker Room First, The Power of Positive Leadership, and The Power of a Positive Team. He is passionate about developing positive leaders, organizations, and teams. http://www.jongordon.com