Entrepreneur and Parent: 4 Kids, No Coffee, Fruit Before Noon, Chocolate at Night

A Day in the Life of Jesse Itzler

Jesse Itzler, a 56-year-old entrepreneur based in Atlanta, has built a career that spans multiple industries. From his early days in the music business as a recording artist and manager to co-founding a private jet card company that was later sold to Warren Buffett’s NetJets, Itzler has always been driven by a unique approach to life and work.

He also owned a stake in Zico coconut water, which was sold to Coca-Cola in 2012. In addition to his entrepreneurial ventures, he has written two books: “Living with a SEAL” and “Living with the Monks.” He is also the co-founder of 29029, a fitness company with Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx. Other ventures include a calendar company and a running festival called Runningman.

Despite his busy schedule, Itzler has developed a routine that allows him to balance his personal and professional life effectively.

Morning Routine

6:30 a.m. — I don’t use an alarm to wake up

Itzler doesn’t rely on an alarm clock to start his day. Instead, he wakes up naturally, often prompted by his daughter. He emphasizes the importance of planning his day the night before, ensuring that he isn’t winging it when he starts the day.

8 to 10 a.m. — My workouts start early

From 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., Itzler focuses on his workouts. Whether it’s running, biking, or swimming, he makes sure to get his exercise in early. He believes that if everything else fails, accomplishing something for the day is essential.

He also incorporates both sauna and cold plunge sessions into his daily routine, citing their recovery benefits.

Morning to 12 p.m. — I don’t drink caffeine in the morning, and before noon, I only eat fruit

Itzler has never been a coffee drinker. He avoids caffeine in the morning and sticks to eating only fruit before noon. This practice stems from a book he read in his early 20s, “Fit for Life,” which encouraged him to try fruit-only meals until noon for 10 days. The experience left him feeling better, and he never went back to other foods before noon.

Workday Structure

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — I work six hours a day, and what I do changes every week

Itzler plans his work schedule every Sunday night, mapping out tasks by importance for the week. His workday is six hours long, and the tasks vary depending on his priorities. Currently, he’s focusing on the upcoming Runningman wellness festival in Georgia, where he plans to run 30 miles over three days.

He also mentions that he doesn’t usually take a lunch break during his workday, preferring to stay focused on his tasks.

4 p.m. — When my kids come home from school, my worktime stops

At 4 p.m., Itzler’s workday officially ends. He prioritizes spending time with his children, emphasizing that this is his favorite part of the day. Although he can’t take entire weeks off, he has managed to set a hard stop at 4 or 4:30 p.m. every day.

Evening and Nighttime

The evening is always different, but if I’m not traveling, we have family dinner

After work, Itzler spends time with his children, whether it’s taking them to practices or just hanging out. Family dinners are a priority, even if they’re not all eating the same thing. He is a vegetarian and often orders from separate places when dining out.

After dinner — There’s no routine; everybody goes their own way

Once dinner is over, the family members go their own ways. Itzler admits that they’re just trying to survive, making sure everyone has clothes for school the next day. They occasionally watch shows like “60 Minutes” but are trying to cut down on TV and spend more time reading.

Right now, Itzler is reading “The First 20 Hours: How to learn anything…Fast!” by Josh Kaufman. He enjoys the idea of mastering new skills quickly.

I eat healthy during the day, but I eat all my calories back in chocolate at night

Although he maintains a healthy diet during the day, Itzler indulges in chocolate at night. He particularly likes Hu chocolate bars, though he’s not picky about the type.

10 p.m. — I try to get into bed

Itzler aims to fall asleep by 11 p.m., but this doesn’t always happen. He is working on improving his sleep habits by turning off the TV earlier and avoiding late-night snacks. Unlike his wife, who follows a wind-down routine, Itzler tends to end his day in a more chaotic manner, often still sweaty from his workout and with chocolate on his face.