Today we talk to Jim Estill, a serial entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist with an incredible track record of building and scaling companies. He grew his first business to over $2 billion, sat on the founding board of BlackBerry during its meteoric rise, and after a career in tech and having earned the right to do anything he wanted - he decided to be the CEO of an appliance company. But what drew me to Jim wasn’t his business success—it was a video he posted about something he called Monk Mode. Trust me, you’re going to love it.

Jim provides a master class in leadership and entrepreneurship, and shares practical advice on time management, staying focused, building strong teams and the importance of using your wisdom over your work ethic as you get older. Jim has been a vocal critic of the business community for not giving enough back. And, he talks about how this leads to so many successful people struggling to find purpose even after they achieved everything they set out to do.

I can’t tell you how many moments during this conversation I thought, holy shit I have to talk to Jill about that, I have to take that idea back to my clients, that’s a new habit I need to build, that’s a new question I can ask. This was one of those rare conversations that bobs and weaves, goes in unexpected directions and somehow gives me exactly what I needed to hear at this point in my life.

Please enjoy, Jim Estill.

Key Takeaways

• Monk Mode & Digital Detox
• The 20-Second Rule
• The Power of Purpose
• Philanthropy as a Business Advantage
• Lessons from BlackBerry
• Applying Tech Speed to Traditional Industries
• The Journey vs. The Destination
• Wisdom Over Work Ethic

Resources and Links

• Danby Appliances
• Website
• LinkedIn
• X
• Medium

Books by Jim Estill
Zero to $2 Billion: The Marketing and Branding Story Behind the Growth

Time Leadership: Using the Secrets of Leadership for Time Management

Topics & Concepts Mentioned
The 20-Second Rule – Concept from Shawn Achor’s The Happiness Advantage

BlackBerry (2023) Movie

Communitech – Tech innovation hub co-founded by Jim Estill

Jim’s Refugee Sponsorship Initiative

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