The $12B CEO: “How I Ran 7-11 & Blockbuster, Make $100M Decisions & Almost Bought Netflix for $50M”
Release Date: 02/01/2026
The $12B CEO: “How I Ran 7-11 & Blockbuster, Make $100M Decisions & Almost Bought Netflix for $50M”
The Passionate Few
✅ Checkout SNHU Today: (explore over 200 degree programs and find your path forward. Accepts U.S. students only. SNHU is a sponsor of todays video) ✅ Business Owners – Wanna Grow Your Business w/ AI? Try 30-Days of GoHighLevel Free NOW: In this episode, we sit down with James Keyes — the former CEO of 7-Eleven and Blockbuster — to unpack how a poor kid from rural Massachusetts became the leader of two Fortune 500 giants. From working at McDonald’s at age 15 to managing global brands and now advocating for education reform through his book Education is Freedom, James shares the...
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info_outline✅ Checkout SNHU Today: https://snhu.edu/omarelattar (explore over 200 degree programs and find your path forward. Accepts U.S. students only. SNHU is a sponsor of todays video)
✅ Business Owners – Wanna Grow Your Business w/ AI? Try 30-Days of GoHighLevel Free NOW: https://www.gohighlevel.com/passionate/?fp_ref=omar-elattar-productions39
In this episode, we sit down with James Keyes — the former CEO of 7-Eleven and Blockbuster — to unpack how a poor kid from rural Massachusetts became the leader of two Fortune 500 giants. From working at McDonald’s at age 15 to managing global brands and now advocating for education reform through his book Education is Freedom, James shares the gritty, real-life journey behind his success. If you’ve ever felt stuck, unheard, or underestimated — this story will show you what’s possible when you outlearn, outwork, and outlast the odds.
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⏱ Timestamps:
00:00:00 – Introduction to James Keyes
00:02:10 – Global Speaking Tour & Education Is Freedom
00:05:20 – Humble Beginnings in Rural Massachusetts
00:09:45 – Growing Up Without a Safety Net
00:14:30 – Choosing Integrity Over Trouble
00:18:50 – Apollo Era Inspiration
00:23:40 – Education as the Path to Freedom
00:27:30 – First Job at McDonald’s
00:32:10 – Becoming a Shift Manager at 16
00:36:50 – McDonald’s as a Business Classroom
00:41:30 – Why Systems Beat Talent
00:46:10 – Truck Driving & Factory Work
00:51:40 – Confronting Mediocrity Culture
00:57:30 – The Cost of Conformity
01:02:50 – Outworking the Competition
01:08:20 – No Master Plan, Just Momentum
01:13:40 – Graduating With Honors
01:18:55 – The Power of Great Teachers
01:24:10 – Leadership Equals Learning
01:29:40 – From McDonald’s to 7-Eleven
01:35:11 – Running Fortune 500 Companies
01:41:20 – Blockbuster & Innovation Lessons
01:47:10 – Education vs Entitlement
01:53:20 – Curiosity as a Superpower
01:59:10 – Advice for People Who Feel Stuck
02:04:40 – Education Creates Optionality
02:10:30 – Writing Education Is Freedom
02:16:08 – Social Media & Impact at Scale
02:21:11 – Final Advice for the Next Generation
02:26:30 – Where to Find James Keyes
02:28:40 – Closing Thoughts: Legacy & Learning
📚 Want to Read His Book? → https://educationisfreedom.com
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