Hi {{ subscriber.first_name }}, When James Keyes took over as CEO of 7‑Eleven—and later Blockbuster—he wasn’t stepping into stable, thriving companies. He walked into situations that required profound transformation under immense pressure. What struck me during our conversation on The World Class Leaders Show is how much of Jim’s leadership philosophy comes from his humble beginnings. He grew up in rural New England in a house with no running water and an outhouse. “I didn’t realize as a child that I was poor,” he said. “It was only later that I understood how challenging our conditions really were. Education became the transformational tool that gave me the ability to control my own destiny.” That perspective shaped how he leads in complexity—and it’s the heart of his advice for today’s CEOs and senior leaders. ✅ Lesson 1: Change is constant—and it creates opportunity.Both 7‑Eleven and Blockbuster were in financial crisis when Jim stepped in. 7-11 was restructuring after Chapter 11 in the early 90s; Blockbuster was burdened with a billion dollars of debt during the 2008 financial crisis. And yet, he doesn’t describe these moments with fear—he describes them with clarity. “Leadership is dynamic. The only consistency in business is change. And change creates opportunities if you’re willing to embrace it.” ✅ Lesson 2: Short-term thinking can destroy transformation.Today’s market pressures boards and investors to demand immediate results. But transformational change takes time. Jim warns leaders that if you cave to short-term pressures, you risk losing the long-term vision. To fight that, he teaches the 3Cs:
“If you’re not clear with your investors, employees, and partners, they won’t give you the time you need to compete.” ✅ Lesson 3: Inspire—don’t lead through fear.Jim has seen a rise in fear-based leadership: pushing people into survival mode rather than showing them what’s possible. “You can scare people into action or you can inspire them. Fear might work in the short term, but it won’t build anything sustainable.” True inspiration, he says, is rooted in reality. It’s not about painting an impossible dream—it’s about a bold vision that people can actually see themselves achieving. ✅ Lesson 4: Build a learning culture, not just training programs.Jim’s passion for education extends to the organizations he leads. He believes most companies still treat education as a one-off event—send people to training, tick the box, move on. “If change is constant, then learning has to be constant. It’s not about a class; it’s about creating a culture where people are encouraged to keep growing.” Final ThoughtJim’s career is proof that where you start doesn’t define how far you can go. But it also shows that leading through transformation is a discipline:
👉 Watch the full episode here Andrea Petrone CEO Whisperer | Top 1% Executive Coach and Speaker in the UK | Founder of WCL. You need more? Here are other ways to get value from what I do: 1) Are you tired of leading alone and want to surround yourself with people who truly get it? WCL21 might be exactly what you need. WCL21 is our new hub for CEOs. Get inspired and build your powerful allies. Join the waiting list here 2) Want to establish authority and lead with confidence from Day One as a CEO? 3) Watch and listen to the "The World Class Leaders Show" podcast and leave a review: 4) Do you want me to speak at your next event, coach you or your team? Book a call with me here |