Big Hitters with Larry Weidel
From Poverty to Fortune 500: Jim Keyes on Transforming 7-Eleven & Blockbuster
July 22, 2025
Education is the ultimate path to freedom, enabling individuals to expand their capabilities, options, and impact across multiple domains of life. In this enlightening conversation, host Larry speaks with Jim Keyes, former CEO of both 7-Eleven and Blockbuster, about his journey from humble beginnings to becoming a modern Renaissance man and his passionate advocacy for education as outlined in his book "Education is Freedom."
In this captivating episode, Larry sits down with Jim Keyes, former CEO of Fortune 500 companies Seven-Eleven and Blockbuster, to explore how education and continuous learning create true freedom in life. Jim shares his journey from humble beginnings to corporate success, revealing how curiosity and a passion for learning opened doors across business, art, music, and philanthropy. Whether you're questioning traditional career paths or seeking personal growth, this conversation offers powerful insights about embracing broad education over narrow specialization, the value of stepping outside your comfort zone, and why creativity is "intelligence having fun." Don't miss Jim's inspiring vision for transforming global education and his compelling argument for why continuous learning is more crucial than ever in the age of AI.

What You'll Learn:
- How growing up with limited means can become a powerful advantage for developing a lifelong learning mindset
- Why broad-based education creates more career options than early specialization
- The power of combining different disciplines, from political science to business leadership
- How to leverage corporate experience by moving laterally across departments instead of staying in one lane
- Why creativity is "intelligence having fun" and how artistic skills enhance business problem-solving
- The vital importance of perspective over perception in addressing global educational challenges
- How technological scale can democratize access to quality education worldwide
- Why focusing on learning instead of earning leads to greater personal and professional freedom
- The transformative potential of setting ambitious national education goals, including 100% literacy by third grade
- How combining knowledge with faith can overcome fear and create positive change in education systems globally

Jim Keyes is a distinguished business leader and modern Renaissance man, having served as CEO of two Fortune 500 companies - Seven-Eleven and Blockbuster. With a background in political science and a career spanning multiple industries, Jim has demonstrated exceptional versatility in both business and creative pursuits. Beyond his corporate success, he is an accomplished artist, musician, composer, and sculptor, embodying the principle that education and continuous learning are pathways to freedom. He is the author of "Education is Freedom" and collaborates with influential figures like MrBeast on educational initiatives. His journey from humble beginnings to becoming a transformative business leader and advocate for comprehensive education reform showcases his belief that learning opens doors to unlimited possibilities. Jim's current mission focuses on revolutionizing education through technological innovation and promoting 100% literacy across America, making him a powerful voice for educational transformation and personal development.


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