Keys to Business Success with my Wife Sara Blakely

Sara recently sold the majority of her company Spanx to Blackstone. Throughout this conversation she shares her keys to success along with more background on her journey.
Some key highlights to this chat:
- How Sara manifested getting onto Oprah
- How to push past ANYTHING in business
- Some key ways to avoid burnout
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More From Jesse:
jesseitzler.com/
Socials:
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Jesse's Books:
Living With A Seal: amzn.to/3i1P4Sm
Living With The Monks: amzn.to/3oZSEgW
JESSE ITZLER only eats fruit 'til noon, loves Run-D.M.C., and enjoys living life "out of the box." In fact, he doesn't even have a box. 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.
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.

[@johnnyroycerichardsoniii3273]

15 year entrepreneur here, broke AF, fighting for my dreams against the odds. I found this very inspiring you two! Thanks for sharing!

[@DJjussi1]

Stay with it brother. Being broke makes you realize the essence of what priorities are needed as an entrepreneur to make things work.

[@siobhanhumstonart]

I hear you! Interdisciplinary artist here-loads of amazing life experience and professional growth but still trying to figure out a financially viable formula. I’d say don’t ’fight’ it…be open and listen for ideas and solutions…the energy of fighting is so different than curiosity or allowing. Wishing you all the best!

[@johnnyroycerichardsoniii3273]

@@siobhanhumstonart wise words! Thanks for sharing! Took me about 10 years to learn that! :) You’re a very talented artist! Looking good! Thanks for sharing the wisdom! Wishing you much success!

[@siobhanhumstonart]

thanks so much!! Cheers!

[@ED-007]

The casualness of this video for such a valuable interview is so cool. Really comfortable to watch and learn from

[@annwalker8907]

She really is very special. As a mom of 3, it says so much what her husband said in the beginning, and volumes about their relationship, that he leads with that. I’ve followed her story for years, and just have tremendous respect.❤

[@andreachavez2358]

That was so enjoyable! I love how proud Jesse is of his wife 🥹💕

[@JennHoskins]

As a mom and a businesswoman, I am so encouraged by Sara! ❤ Career/life balance, always dreaming, pushing yourself while also ensuring you remain whole and full- truly leaving it all on the table. I was also raised with the perspective of failure not being fatal and I love that my dad built that mindset for me and I try to pass that along to my kids, seeing the fruit of that in my adult kids and hoping the rest still at home catch it too. Thanks for sharing all of your wisdom. ❤

[@jesseitzler4]

Love this. Appreciate you sharing

[@georgelee9278]

I love this, Jesse the way you look at Sarah with such admiration is lovely and Sarah’s insights and journey are unmatched with what she has achieved.

[@fit6673]

The raw footage of this content and other content that you have shared is refreshing. No professional camera action or editing and yet you are two of the most successful business people of our generation. Your authenticity is fuel to us entrepreneurs, thank you Sara and Jesse 💝

[@Floruisse]

Sara your story inspires me as ‘new entrepreneur’ especially during the hard days… thank you for sharing your stories and experiences!

[@therescueheart892]

The article in success magazine where you discuss how your father would ask everybody at the dinner table "what did you fail out today?" has stayed with me. Your sharing about Wayne Dyer via your father, has also been so important.

[@sarahgeraghty7570]

Could listen to Sara and you all day! Love all the nuggets ...im starting out on my Solopreneur journey so this is so timely. Thank you for sharing. Love & Light to you all ❤

[@jesseitzler4]

Glad you found this to be so helpful. And thanks so much Sarah

[@michellevincil4535]

Good luck to you, Sarah!! I've had my product out about 8 months now. The WBENC is a great community and resource for woman-owned businesses.

[@sarahgeraghty7570]

@michellevincil4535 thank you!! I'm based in Ireland 🇮🇪 I'm not sure it covers here, I'll take a look

[@marianavaldezcoach]

Sara, you're truly one of the most incredible women in the whole world. Thank you for being an amazing role model and showing us what's possible. Could you please please write a book? 🙏

[@grownandflownkitchen]

I love that Sara said "allowing your mind having the luxury to wonder!! " I have condemned that part of me as "not being focused" for all of my life totally reinforced by hustle/productivity culture! Now I have a new mindset on that -- thanks Sara!! Today is the first day of a whole new mindset for me.

[@KBRockstarRealtor]

you and Sara are my hero. my wife and I are both entrepreneurs and look up to you both!

[@jesseitzler4]

We appreciate that a lot. Thanks for watching KB

[@KBRockstarRealtor]

@@jesseitzler4 I would love to have you both on my podcast!!! You both play a huge role in my story. I went from a coma fighting for my life in a stroke to now an entrepreneur. How do we connect?

[@Yanayofficial]

This is pure GOLD ! Thank you so much for sharing all these beyond valuable insights 🙌🙌🙌 will definitely watch a few more times.

[@angeltravelstheworld]

So humble and always keeping it real. Money and success has only brought out the best in you both. it's only amplified who you already were/ are. inspiring guys!

[@Manyhailmarysatatime]

Power couple leading the way to authenticity and living from the heart!!!

[@CandyPlant-j9z]

Fantastic! Came for a glance / quick listen. Stayed for the entire 37 minutes. Time well spent. Thanks for sharing!

[@jesseitzler4]

My favorite thing to hear. Thank you. What resonated?

[@gracekalima1542]

Same

[@gracekalima1542]

​@@jesseitzler4 I felt this was going to talk to me like a lecture, prayer and/or a prophecy ... So many points where synchronicities and answers ✨✨✨ I'm in awe! Thank you so very much, You two are such an inspiration ... Genuinely authentic ✨✨✨❤️

[@user-oe6de8qm4e]

Thanks for sharing…so cool. Love the Atlanta backdrop. Excited for your presentation Monday

[@jjselleck]

MORE OF THIS TYPE OF CONTENT 🙏

[@jesseitzler4]

Will do. Stay tuned

[@sims4u422]

Thank you both very much.

[@siobhanhumstonart]

I try not to look back in time too much but girl do I wish I had access to these thoughts and a woman and couple like this in my youth…and even in my middle age as I am now, this is so very valuable! Thank you so much…super happy I stumbled into this.

[@avariceinvestments]

I'm at work, so I'll have to come back to finish the video. But you two are the coolest most down to earth people that I follow. Been following Sara's journey a bit over the years. Can't wait to hear more. Jesse, I have your Living with a Seal book. And been following your endurance races. You are both an inspiration. I just turned sixty and I am nowhere near where I want to be. Guess I have to fill more of those buckets. I graduated high school on my 18th birthday, June 15, 1982. If you would have told me then that I would be where I am today, I would have laughed and not believed you. But here I am. It would be so cool to meet you two someday or just be a fly at your gathering there. Probably will add some to this after I watch the whole video, but I got to go to work now.

[@jesseitzler4]

Love this. Thanks so much for sharing. We really appreciate it. Keep cruising!

[@HannahVanOverbeek]

I listened to her interview on masters of scale in 2019, and it inspired me so much because I was in a similar position that she was. Working a sales job I didn’t love, and working on an idea that I thought could help a lot of people. After listening to that podcast I decided to really fully commit to my business. 5 years later, I’m full time with the business and it’s thriving! On a not so great note, a lot of what she talks about in this video I’m going through as well. She is such an inspiration and it helps to hear her perspective and journey!! Thank you for making this video!!

[@Rosecransadventures]

This is an amazing interview with amazing knowledge and wisdom! Super glad you did this interview! More please!

[@autordijanaferkovic]

So inspiring. Thank you for this. Plus, we all got the impression we are hanging out with you guys in person. Also, at my age of 48, I figured I just want a simple, comfortable life with great connections.

[@weaver888]

This hits on soooo many levels!! I couldn't decide if this was for me, or more for my 20 yo daughter. As a single father (business owner), I would encourage Sara to also get her message out to young women as well! Powerful to watch you both! Thank you for sharing and the genuineness!

[@michellevincil4535]

It is awesome to see him tell her story in the beginning. So happy to see this this morning as I am a mom, caretaker and in the beginning stages of getting a product off the ground and Sara's story is a huge inspiration! Trying to formulate a plan today on how to sell with a zero marketing budget. I'm on 4 retailer sites, but now I need to sell. Looks like it's like Walt Disney said, "KEEP MOVING FORWARD!". THANK YOU for following your heart and showing us how it's done!

[@melaniegriesemer]

Love that idea of setting aside time in your calendar for daydreaming. Just letting your mind wander & visualizing! So important 💭✨🙌

[@jesseitzler4]

So overlooked.

[@maitai7375]

Sara has always been inspirational to me. And this solidified it. I am a huge daydreamer, I come up with tons of ideas. I once wanted to work for spanx, I sold it at a boutique in Atlanta. I now am more focused on motherhood and woman’s health. And have a great idea. I needed to see this for inspiration, motivation and confirmation. Thank you for this interview! God Bless!

[@andrewh2u]

Love this format and authenticity! Straight up gems of enterpreneurial experience and success.

[@views40]

This video is so incredible. It has the certain energy to it, and my guess it was the group and the setting of the people present that created/allowed it. Thank you for sharing. Please do more like this... would love to hear more about her story, and how she thinks. Oh, and it was super cool that her father was there too and he got to share!! Thank you Jesse and Sara :-)

[@jesseitzler4]

Thanks so much. Appreciate you watching

[@csloane4129]

Wow. I absolutely loved this entire interview. Didn't want it to end! Thank you both (and the dad, too!) for sharing so much wisdom and great advice. And great personal stories! As a woman, a parent, a budding solo-preneuer, (who needs to take more risks, get over fears of failure and also learn to delegate what I'm not good at) I got SO much out of this! Thank you! Thank you!

[@lindabuyshouses]

I love Sara this is so me, wow so glad to have heard this interview.

[@Meesha821]

Yesss!! Pumped to listen to all of this!! Def do more 🫶🏻✨

[@lunalynnrising]

This is exceptional…appreciate you sharing!!

[@audreychou5498]

Absolutely loved this interview! I’ve listened to many of Sara’s interviews and still learned new things! Thank you so much for this!

[@luciepaimblanc]

This is such an important interview, I am grateful to you all 🙏

[@FlutterPythoncombo]

First time I got Inspired by Sara's story in How I built this podcast . Now I saw this powerhouse couple. I hope I find mine too. A great vibe in this video❤

[@svbuchanan]

Incredible. Sharing with everyone I know. Manifesting is real.

[@jesseitzler4]

Glad you enjoyed. More to come

[@radicalradzik]

So wonderful! Thank you for sharing your journey and story. So agree that we need day dream idea time. Working my dreams on airplanes and in the shower. I guess air and water can be helpful. 😊

[@observer698]

I really liked Sara's dad being disappointed that his kids didn't fail when they came from school :D 28:09 It is like collecting 0s hoping one day there would be 1 in front of them.

[@lauri4062]

Thank you for this valuable video.Both of you are amazing human beings down to earth....

[@jesseitzler4]

Thank you so much

[@jamesfrancis5987]

Please do more of this... Absolutely fantastic well done!! 🎉

[@NK22288]

I hope you can have more videos like this with you and Sara together. Loved Q & A.

[@immamegia2003]

Sara, eres unna referente femenina de cómo hacer las cosas de otra forma, sin perder el foco de los valores y tu sentido del humor. Gracias por compartir tu visión 🙏

[@joshualinden9426]

What an amazing story! Legend and an inspiration to all!

[@jesseitzler4]

appreciate it

[@breadistaworld]

'Make it bigger than yourself! 🙌 and the magic of Daydreaming. 100%. I ever dreamed of being & living in America, now, here I am bc of a lottery win - moved from Europe and started all over again. Now the next vision, mission and daydream is on....working on being the next Sara. Love to hear those stories and your conversation. It makes me feel I am on the right way. Thank you both!

[@Yellowshelf22]

Loved hearing from Sara. Following your career & journey is inspiring!💛

[@reflectionpond]

Loved this video. Sara Blakely is my all-time heroine that inspires me over and over and over again!!

[@tomosvarijudit2291]

That was amazing! Thank you!❤

[@izzygrandic]

this is a beautiful interview. You two have such a special partnership and I feel very grateful to have that as an example of love, respect and alignment.

[@izzygrandic]

Wrote down having guests over and having all kids ask a question in my journal for a few years down the line

[@WomenTalkConstruction]

We love Sara's story! Like Sara; Christi and Angela are both moms and started WTC with a 'purpose' much bigger than themselves. So many nuggets to take from this AUTHENTIC discussion: have FUN, elevating others is vital, be aware of your stretches (create buckets of time), you can have a life and be a female business owner, failure + lessons learned = growth, and set an intention! Christi and Angela actually set an intention last year when interviewing Kamber Parker owner of The Yo Pro Know, 🎉 they will both be on The Today Show. We will see if that happens. #bettertogether

[@NBTJacklyn]

Ten minutes in and amazing so far

[@_Brodyobrien]

Let’s go!!! Pumped to hear you in Milwaukee in 2 weeks! Bringing my beat up “Living with a seal” copy!

[@jesseitzler4]

See you there.

[@_Brodyobrien]

@@jesseitzler4are you by chance still in Milwaukee? Would love to get my copy of your book signed. I’m still at the venue

[@Empowered_University]

sara is so likeable

[@shineyourlightlove]

Wow!! Thank you Jesse & Sarah! I’m so inspired by you both as a couple & as entrepreneurs. This is so beautifully raw and genuine. Please share more! Would love it if you created a podcast like this with you both sharing your powerful wisdom! ❤And I would love to have you on my Shine Your Light, Love podcast as guests too!! Found this through Sarah’s LinkedIn post. So grateful! I’m a homeschool Single Momma Founderx8…mostly passive businesses. 18 years in business.☺️ I learn SO much from you both. You inspire me to dream bigger and that anything is possible. We are kindred souls and being multipassionate & entrepreneurial, I really crave belonging to a community of others who get the same amount of wildly creative ideas all of the time! Wish y’all were in Texas!!

[@EmerInspires]

Thanks so much for this! Loved it. I completely feel the monkey brain and getting pulled all over the place. I've tried to bucket things but I like the idea of creating a 'theme' day and feel like at least one thing was done well. Thank you 🙏🏻 ❤️ I've a few questions which I will post separately.

[@jesseitzler4]

Glad you enjoyed. Appreciate it

[@VoyagesJapan]

Remarkable message. Thank you so much for sharing this.

[@canadianbrehve5418]

I remember seeing you on Oprah!!!! I was so inspired, I have always been a big inventor although nothing has come to fruition lol I completely understand your mind lol You are one women who had stayed in my mind and I will always remember your exuberance! Thank you. I simply ran across this video today after a wonderful meditation and it is giving me the inspiration to keep going. Now I’m a grandma and still going strong but Martha Stewart didn’t start her big business until her fifties so there is always hope. You never know when you dream will come about, but we all need to remember sometimes we need to appreciate our first set of dreams to get to the next lol wine🍷🍷🍷🍷🙏

[@markrussellfilaroski5035]

she's so cool! (you both are) My 19 year old daughter thinks she's such a great role model and I agree. (awesome seeing the outcomes but way better seeing someone grind it out and enjoy the processes of building something which is far more valuable than getting a paycheck) Best of luck in all your new endeavors (or naps) haha

[@ramonapuckett3059]

Thank you both for a great interview 🩷🩷

[@Velo_Tee]

Appreciate yall sharing 💯 super inspiring and great nuggets to take hold of. Thank you!

[@jesseitzler4]

More to come

[@SirNonkin]

You are Sara's husband.😮 What a great chemistry!!

[@theamberturner]

She is my hero ❤️ Thank you for sharing this!

[@TheEtrepreneur]

Jesse! what?! didn't knew Sara Blakely is your wife. Super cool! Jordan/Pippen move right there.

[@fragileplane8062]

love your KZbin Jesse

[@jesseitzler4]

Appreciate it

[@fionnualawall4063]

Such a wonderful video with so much insights 🙏

[@skorrdesign]

I’m so glad to know I’m not the only one wondering if squirrels and the color blue are related 😅 xox thank you both for the authentic inspiration 🙏

[@andycarlson]

@Taylor Prokes - I love to hear your giggle behind the camera ;-)

[@jimmatlosz]

Thank you for sharing. Sara is quite inspiring. As a note. Get a tripod and head for that camera please.

[@FreeMindNate]

Thank you for this.

[@BigBoyGames-ke1hq]

Great insights - Thanks guys

[@glenrobinson6846]

Incredible ❤

[@kathymarquardt215]

God gave her a vision of her future.

[@TechieTurnedInvestor]

Awesome thank you for sharing

[@MarjoleinvanRuiten]

Love this! So inspiring!

[@rjgaldo1247]

Amazing Story More Amazing Humans ✌️❤️💪

[@gas4193]

Would love to hear about your daily routine while you were exploring new opportunities and starting your business.

[@johnpinheiro6211]

Jerry, i m watching you from portugal 🇵🇹🇵🇹🇵🇹👍. This is a great video, i can see why you married her, she provide great value, bring her more often. I watched your episode with shaan and the other guy😅, Great insights on your thought process, how do you develop ideas, etc.. Keep them comming, Love from portugal 🇵🇹🇵🇹🇵🇹👍🙏

[@bernadetteoverby5291]

♓️ e adores her. So great to see married couple that still loves & supports each other ٥ ٩ ✨ ✨ ✨ 😁🦌

[@JVSFitnessPros]

What a great video!

[@mattbvip]

So good!!

[@EmerInspires]

Q: I've hit a massive.... I want to say crossroads but feels like a dead end. I have worked my ass off. Tried several businesses that were small and I now know that's because it was aligning with the level of belief in myself. Plus grew up listening to my mother constantly say we wouldn't manage to sell anything and always sold for way less than the original asking price of anything. I get it now but part of me is wondering is it just too late? At 52 last week, I'm like should I even bother with this or just give up? I really can't handle more burn out and while I get they why now, I've just done it too many times and never really saw a balance of what I put in vs rewards..... Again I understand it now and wished I would have sooner but I also am cool with this is my path and there's a reason for taking those roads. Do I look for another road or settle for something that just pays the bills?

[@EmerInspires]

Q: Investing. I love that Sara built Spanax without investment. Here in Ireland, that's all people look for and almost gives a 'status' getting funded. Here in Ireland there's loads of funding for businesses but for me, it completely misses the mark on building a strong foundation. Yet I'm constantly told I'm wrong or overlooked because I believe in bootstrapping a business. I'd love to hear more thoughts on this (investment) and would you do it the same way now.

[@tylerthefailure]

Alright Jesse, if it's one thing I've learned from you it is that you have to shoot your shot. So, here goes. I'm an entrepreneur, I'm from Atlanta, and I'd love to meet you guys. How might one go about getting invited to one these gatherings?

[@ryantoddrose]

love you two but wow.... selling to blackstone? just wow.

[@bikesbeersbeats]

Kinda crazy that today if this took off it would be ripped off by Alibaba/Amazon sellers within the week.

[@foodhead4677]

How's the pickle company coming along

[@edkalski2312]

What is in Sara's future now that she has sold most of the company? Or is most of her time still with Spanx?

[@chayasarahgarcia]

Can I be one of your guests for dinner? We live right next to you. Of course by me, I mean with my hubby and kids :)

[@catherinek3409]

She never had a husband to stress her out. That’s her key to success. Her family was stable financially

[@taramorrison4934]

They met when she was in her mid thirties already 10 years into Spanx, she got married at 37. She came from very humble beginnings selling fax machines with 5k savings. She has been the key to her success 😊

[@SummerBaby728]

She’s amazing and inspiring BUT she did NOT invent something that didn’t exist, so idk why she’s always saying that. Shapewear existed for many many decades before Spanx. Sara simply improved it. Truth and facts matter.