The $12B CEO: "How I Ran 7-11 & Blockbuster, Make $100M Decisions & Almost Bought Netflix for $50M"

The $12B CEO: "How I Ran 7-11 & Blockbuster, Make $100M Decisions & Almost Bought Netflix for $50M"

January 31, 2026 · 2h 14m

About this episode

James Keyes shares his journey from humble beginnings to leading 7-Eleven and Blockbuster, emphasizing the importance of education and resilience.

✅ 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. Follow Us: 📲 OMAR's IG: https://www.instagram.com/omar_therockstar / 📲 JAMES' IG: https://www.instagram.com/jkeyesauthor ✅ Start Your Own E-Commerce Store Today: https://storebuild.ai/passionatefew/ (*BONUS – Get A FREE 7-Day Trial + 50% Off w/ This Link Only) *StoreBuild.ai is a proud sponsor of this episode. ⏱…

People in this episode

Host: Omar Elattar

Guest: James Keyes

Topics covered

Keywords

Sponsors

SNHU, GoHighLevel, StoreBuild.ai

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: 7-Eleven, Blockbuster

Books & works: Education is Freedom

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