ChairLife Podcast

Tom Cuthbert discusses transitioning from chaos to ChairLife magic with two key roles that changed everything, and advises CEOs to stop filling gaps to build team independence. Show Notes Announcement: Chair World Sessions: Two sessions in February 2026 on purpose-practice intersection and optimizing time/income. Introduction: Welcome back for 2026; focus on time management and getting time back. Quote on Time Management: Peter Drucker on time as scarcest resource. Splitting Roles for Support: Difficult to find one person with all skills; decide on EA/admin/tech needs. Key Questions for Hiring Support: What can others do? What's ROI? Tom's High-Payoff Activities: 10% planning (160...

Join Vistage Master Chair Tom Cuthbert in this episode of the ChairLife podcast. Tom concludes the high-performing behaviors series with number twelve on members making the group better, and discusses the power of saying things out loud. Show Notes Announcement: Chair World Sessions: Details two sessions in February 2026 on purpose-practice intersection and optimizing time/income. High-Performing Behavior Number 12: High-performing members make the group better; Aristotle quote on the whole being greater than parts. Role of the Chair in Groups: Facilitate invisibly, coach individuals, challenge participation. Episode Title Explanation: Stop carrying the piano; members make the music. Personal Lesson from Early...

Join Vistage Master Chair Tom Cuthbert in this episode of the ChairLife podcast. Tom explores high-performing behavior number eleven on never missing 1:1 or mentor meetings, and discusses the number one skill CEOs must master—effective 1:1s—and how to coach it. Show Notes Announcement: Chair World Sessions: Details two sessions Tom is teaching in February 2026 on purpose-practice intersection and optimizing time/income. High-Performing Behavior Number 11: High-performing members never miss 1:1 or mentor meetings to model leadership. Recent Inspiration: Reflections from Arena Baranof's coaching sessions on deep personal connections. Importance of One-to-Ones: Build trust, enable transformation, improve retention. Modeling One-to-Ones as a Chai...

Tom Cuthbert explores high-performing behavior number nine on setting and achieving goals, sharing personal strategies and accountability team best practices for Vistage Chairs. Show Notes Introduction: Announces Chair World sessions and quotes James Clear on systems over goals. High-Performing Behavior Number 9: High-performing members set and achieve goals through community accountability. Why Set Personal Goals: Models accountability, transparency; focuses on work-life balance, utilization, retention. Achieving Goals Through Community: Set realistic goals in groups for support; weave into one-to-ones and teams. Tom’s Tips & Tricks: Accountability Team Best Practices: Meet to review progress, provide support. Conclusion: Set 2026 goals; reflect on last year. To...

Join Vistage Master Chair Tom Cuthbert in this episode of the ChairLife podcast. Tom explores high-performing behavior number eight on investing in yourself and others, sharing his 10 personal investments, and discusses why every company needs two CEOs with Vistage Key Groups as the CEO factory. Show Notes Introduction: Tom announces Chair World sessions and quotes Buffett on self-investment. High-Performing Behavior Number 8: High-performing members invest in themselves to become better leaders and in others through training, feedback, coaching. Tom's 10 Personal Investments in Himself: Lists sabbaticals, reduced hours, time blocking, gym routine, longevity coaching, morning routine, sleep optimization, reading, productivity hacks, gratitude...

Join Vistage Master Chair Tom Cuthbert in this episode of the ChairLife podcast. Tom explores high-performing behavior number eight on investing in yourself and others, sharing his 10 personal investments, and discusses why every company needs two CEOs with Vistage Key Groups as the CEO factory. Show Notes Introduction: Tom announces Chair World sessions and quotes Buffett on self-investment. High-Performing Behavior Number 8: High-performing members invest in themselves to become better leaders and in others through training, feedback, coaching. Tom's 10 Personal Investments in Himself: Lists sabbaticals, reduced hours, time blocking, gym routine, longevity coaching, morning routine, sleep optimization, reading, productivity hacks, gratitude...

Welcome to the ChairLife podcast with Tom Cuthbert. As a CEO, coach, and Vistage Master Chair, Tom shares insights, strategies, and tools to help you build a successful Chair practice where mission and purpose intersect with a balanced work life. This is your guide to leading with impact while living with intention. In this episode, Tom explores high-performing behavior number seven on embracing and providing feedback, and discusses why the value of an issue is worth far more. Let’s dive in. High-Performing Behavior: Embrace and Provide Feedback Tom quotes Eric Sevareid: "Better to trust the man who is frequently in...

Join Vistage Master Chair Tom Cuthbert in this episode of the ChairLife podcast. Tom explores high-performing behavior number six on guarding time and using it wisely, and shares productivity hacks from Atomic Habits. Show Notes Introduction: Tom quotes Covey on investing time; emphasizes modeling time management in meetings. The Power of Guarding Time: Time is finite; poor management costs 20% productivity (Forbes 2023). Elements of This Behavior: Attend on time, be present (no phones), punctuality with grace period, stay full day. Modeling Time Management: Change voicemail daily, share calendar with team, prioritize Vistage time. Tom’s Tips & Tricks: Productivity Hacks From Atomic Ha...

Join Vistage Master Chair Tom Cuthbert in this episode of the ChairLife podcast. Tom explores high-performing behavior number four on presence and focus, and shares AI tools for prospecting in Vistage Chair practice. Show Notes Introduction: Tom discusses behavior four: High-performing members are present, focused, and intentional. The Importance of Presence: Quotes Covey on listening; Vistage as practice space for focus. Why Presence Matters for Relationships: Builds trust, engagement, connections; applies to CEOs, members, family. Book Recommendation and Example: Recommends "The Notice" by Andy Andrews; character Jones exemplifies full presence. The Cost of Distraction: Squirrel analogy; erodes trust, makes others...

Welcome to the ChairLife podcast with Tom Cuthbert. As a CEO, coach, and Vistage Master Chair, Tom shares insights, strategies, and tools to help you build a successful Chair practice where mission and purpose intersect with a balanced work life. This is your guide to leading with impact while living with intention. In this episode, Tom discusses high-performing behavior number four on being present, focused, and intentional, and explores Vistage Chair's AI edge for prospecting. Let’s dive in. High-Performing Behavior Number 4 Tom discusses high-performing behavior number four: High-performing members are present, focused, and intentional. Stephen Covey says most people do...

Join Vistage Master Chair Tom Cuthbert in this episode of the ChairLife podcast. Tom introduces the “mediocrity shield” to protect Vistage groups from complacency, offering strategies to maintain excellence while honoring his father's legacy. He also shares how a binder organizes member data to enhance meetings and one-to-ones. This episode equips Vistage Chairs with tools to foster high-performing groups and streamline coaching. Show Notes Introduction: Tom outlines the episode, focusing on combating mediocrity and using binders for efficiency. Guarding Against Mediocrity: Tom presents the “mediocrity shield” to prevent complacency, inspired by his father. Strategies to Shield Mediocrity: Four strategies—high-performing behaviors...

Welcome to the ChairLife podcast with Tom Cuthbert. As a CEO, coach, and Vistage Master Chair, Tom shares insights, strategies, and tools to help you build a successful Chair practice where mission and purpose intersect with a balanced work life. This is your guide to leading with impact while living with intention. In this episode, Tom continues the series on high-performing behaviors, focusing on rejecting mediocrity, and offers tips on delegation for Chairs. Let’s dive in. The Power of High-Performing Behaviors Tom quotes NBA coach Phil Jackson: “The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each...

Welcome to the ChairLife podcast with Tom Cuthbert. As a CEO, coach, and Vistage Master Chair, Tom shares insights, strategies, and tools to help you build a successful Chair practice where mission and purpose intersect with a balanced work life. This is your guide to leading with impact while living with intention. In this episode, Tom kicks off a 12-week series on high-performing behaviors, focusing on the power of elite members, and addresses challenges companies face in mid-level management. Let’s dive in. The Power of High-Performing Behaviors Tom quotes NBA coach Phil Jackson: “The strength of the team is each...

Welcome to the ChairLife podcast with Tom Cuthbert. As a CEO, coach, and Vistage Master Chair, Tom shares insights, strategies, and tools to help you build a successful Chair practice where mission and purpose intersect with a balanced work life. This is your guide to leading with impact while living with intention. In this episode, Tom discusses bullet journal power for demanding chaos and shares ten life hacks to enhance energy, focus, and efficiency. Let’s dive in. The Power of Bullet Journaling Tom quotes Carol: "The shortest pencil is longer than the longest memory," noting thoughts last 2–3 seconds before vani...

Join Vistage Master Chair Tom Cuthbert in this episode of the ChairLife podcast. Tom narrates unique brand stories for Chairs in Part 3 of the branding series, focusing on articulating attributes and leveraging touchpoints. He also shares longevity insights from Jessica Pierce to sustain practice vitality. Show Notes Introduction: Tom welcomes listeners and outlines Part 3 on branding narration and longevity insights. Narrating Your Unique Brand Story: Tom discusses articulating brand attributes and leveraging touchpoints like websites and introductions. Personal Brand Examples: Examines Beyonce's empowered, creative, authentic brand extended beyond music. Tom’s Tips & Tricks: Longevity Insights from Jessica Pierce: Tom shares Je...

Tom Cuthbert aligns brand attributes with actions in Part 2 of branding series, using StoryBrand framework, and introduces Wispr Flow for efficient communication. Show Notes Introduction: Tom emphasizes aligning brand story for trust and referrals. Aligning Actions with Your Brand Story: Systematize attributes via touchpoints like website and introductions. Core Elements of Brand Story: Hero (CEO), problem, guide (Chair), plan, call to action. Success and Failure in Branding: Success builds growth; failure leads to stagnation. Tom’s Tips & Tricks: Wispr Flow for Vistage Chairs: Voice-to-text tool saves time on emails and notes. Tom’s Tips & Tricks: Wispr Flow for Vistage Chairs Tom...

Tom Cuthbert explores authentic branding for Vistage Chairs in Episode 1 of 3, and addresses mid-level manager disengagement with Vistage solutions. Show Notes Introduction: Tom discusses branding as authentic identity for attracting members. Unveiling Your Authentic Brand: Branding attracts ideal members; examples include Reynolds, Winfrey, Musk. Building ChairLife Brand Attributes: Define brand via questions and attributes like curious, humble, adaptable; use StoryBrand framework. Brand Impact and Stats: Branding builds trust; 87% of members achieved record years. Tom’s Tips & Tricks: Turning Manager Misery into Mastery: Advocates Key and Advancing Leader groups for manager engagement. Conclusion: Define your brand and invest in mid-level leaders. To...

Join Vistage Master Chair Tom Cuthbert in this episode of the ChairLife podcast. Tom explores the transformative power of sabbaticals for rest, recovery, and longevity, sharing his decade-long practice of taking July off. He also introduces a framework for focusing on three core activities to drive productivity and impact. With insights from his 13-year tenure, this episode equips Vistage Chairs with strategies to enhance their practice and inspire members to achieve extraordinary results. A Word from Our Sponsor: Chair Success Services Brie, Tom Cuthbert’s chief of staff, introduces Chair Success Services, designed to help Vistage Chairs focus on high-payoff ac...

Join Vistage Master Chair Tom Cuthbert in this episode of the ChairLife podcast. Tom shares his color-coding system for calendar management, transforming chaos into a streamlined tool that boosts productivity and balance. He also emphasizes the importance of rest and recovery to stay focused during intensive one-to-one sessions. Drawing on 13 years of experience, this episode equips Vistage Chairs with practical strategies to optimize their practice and enhance member impact. Show Notes Introduction: Tom introduces the episode, focusing on color-coding calendars for efficiency and rest for sustained focus. Color-Coding Your Calendar: Tom explains how his system reduced work hours while increasing...

Join Vistage Master Chair Tom Cuthbert in this episode of the ChairLife podcast. Tom introduces the “mediocrity shield” to protect Vistage groups from complacency, sharing strategies to maintain high performance while honoring his father’s legacy. He also reveals how a binder organizes critical member information to enhance meetings and one-to-ones. With insights from his 13-year tenure, this episode equips Vistage Chairs with tools to elevate their practice and drive member success. Show Notes Introduction: Tom outlines the episode, focusing on combating mediocrity and using a binder to streamline member coaching. Guarding Against Mediocrity: Tom presents the “mediocrity shield” to prevent co...

Join Vistage Master Chair Tom Cuthbert in this episode of the ChairLife podcast. Tom explores the strategic value of launching an Emerging Leader Group to develop talent and enhance your Vistage practice, drawing on his experience as an early adopter of the program. He also shares how appointing ambassadors strengthens group culture and engagement. In the "Tom’s Tips & Tricks" segment, Tom details the ambassador program’s impact on retention and community success. This episode equips Vistage Chairs with actionable strategies to grow their practice and empower members to achieve extraordinary results. A Word from Our Sponsor: Chair Success Services Brie...

Join Vistage Master Chair Tom Cuthbert in this episode of the ChairLife podcast. Tom shares how partnering with the Business Journal amplifies a Chair’s brand and drives referrals, drawing on his eight-year relationship with the San Antonio Business Journal. He also offers strategies for staying fully present, inspired by Nir Eyal’s Indistractable, to deepen member engagement. With practical insights from his 13-year tenure, this episode equips Vistage Chairs with tools to grow their practice and support members in achieving extraordinary outcomes. Show Notes Introduction: Tom introduces the episode, focusing on Business Journal partnerships for referrals and the importance of p...

Join Vistage Master Chair Tom Cuthbert in this episode of the ChairLife podcast. Tom emphasizes the critical role of Vistage Chairs in enhancing the enterprise value of member companies, sharing tools and success stories to drive financial success. He also details the benefits of a dedicated office space designed to foster deeper CEO engagement. With insights from his 13-year tenure, this episode equips Chairs with strategies to strengthen their practice and help members achieve significant business and personal outcomes. Show Notes Introduction: Tom introduces the episode, focusing on enterprise value as a Chair’s primary responsibility and the value of an...

Join Vistage Master Chair Tom Cuthbert in this episode of the ChairLife podcast. Tom tackles the challenging but essential task of removing underperforming members to maintain high-performing Vistage groups, offering a respectful process to protect group integrity. He also shares a practical tool for celebrating member wins to foster stronger relationships. With 13 years of experience, Tom equips Vistage Chairs with strategies to elevate their practice and ensure members thrive in a trust-filled, impactful environment. Show Notes Introduction: Tom introduces the episode, focusing on the tough decision to remove members and the value of celebrating wins. The Need to Remove Members...

Join Vistage Master Chair Tom Cuthbert in this episode of the ChairLife podcast. Tom reveals how ideal member traits drive high-performing Vistage groups, sharing his five-trait framework to guide member selection. He also explains the value of mid- and end-of-year updates in fostering alignment and engagement. With insights from 13 years as a Master Chair, this episode equips Vistage Chairs with strategies to build thriving groups and maintain focus, ensuring members achieve more than they imagined possible. Show Notes Introduction: Tom introduces the episode, focusing on ideal members as the key to high-performing groups and the role of updates in group...

Join Vistage Master Chair Tom Cuthbert in this episode of the ChairLife podcast. Tom addresses overconfidence as a silent threat in the C-suite, offering strategies to identify and challenge it in yourself and your CEOs. Drawing on examples like Kodak’s downfall, he emphasizes the role of Vistage peer groups in fostering humility and better decisions. In the "Tom’s Tips & Tricks" segment, Tom highlights sleep as an underrated superpower, sharing practical habits to optimize rest for leadership effectiveness. This episode equips Vistage Chairs with tools to strengthen their practice and guide members toward sustainable success. Show Notes Introduction: Tom intr...

Join Vistage Master Chair Tom Cuthbert in this episode of the ChairLife podcast. Tom introduces lenses as guiding principles to keep leaders focused on their goals, offering a practical framework to make better decisions and stay on track. He also shares a system for managing daily inputs to reduce mental clutter and enhance productivity. Drawing on real-world examples and personal strategies, this episode equips Vistage Chairs with tools to strengthen their practice and guide members toward achieving more than they imagined possible. Show Notes Introduction: Tom outlines the episode’s focus on lenses as guiding principles and a system for or...

Join Vistage Master Chair Tom Cuthbert in this episode of the ChairLife podcast. Tom shares strategies for building a thriving referral culture within Vistage groups, drawing inspiration from Adam Grant’s Give and Take to emphasize helping others succeed. He outlines ten high-performing behaviors to foster referrals, strengthening group dynamics and member growth. In the "Tom’s Tips & Tricks" segment, Tom reflects from the Cuthbert Bridge in Arkansas, underscoring the necessity of rest for sustained leadership effectiveness. This episode equips Vistage Chairs with practical tools to enhance their practice through referrals and personal recharge, ensuring they lead with impact and inte...

Join Vistage Master Chair Tom Cuthbert in this episode of the ChairLife podcast. Tom explores how to build a successful Vistage Chair practice by treating it like a baseball farm system, developing raw talent into top-tier CEOs. Using the inspiring story of Mike Piazza, he outlines a structured approach with emerging leader, advancing leader, key, and CEO groups, sharing practical benefits for Chairs and member companies. In the "Tom’s Tips & Tricks" segment, Tom reveals why reading the Wall Street Journal daily for 40 years has been his secret weapon for staying sharp and relevant as a coach. This episode equips Vi...

Join Vistage Master Chair Tom Cuthbert in this episode of the ChairLife podcast. Tom offers actionable strategies for building a successful Vistage Chair practice by mastering time management. He shares his proven approach to structuring daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly schedules, emphasizing the importance of guarding time to balance mission-driven work with personal well-being. From setting boundaries to prioritizing high-impact tasks, he provides a blueprint for Chairs to lead with intention and impact. In the "Tom’s Tips & Tricks" segment, Tom challenges the value of lunch meetings, advocating for more focused alternatives to optimize productivity. Whether you’re a Vistage Chai...

In Episode 9 of the ChairLife Podcast, Vistage Master Chair Tom Cuthbert explores two transformative strategies for building a successful Vistage Chair practice: implementing high-performing behaviors and leveraging the power of routine to boost productivity. Drawing from his 13 years of experience as a CEO, coach, and Vistage Chair, Tom shares how a set of 12 High-Performing Behaviors, inspired by David Friedman’s Culture by Design, elevated his groups’ performance and outcomes. He explains why these behaviors set the tone for excellence, align members with clear expectations, and foster accountability—turning mediocre groups into high-performing teams. Tom also dives into the practical steps he too...

Hosted by Vistage Master Chair Tom Cuthbert, this episode of the ChairLife Podcast delves into strategies for building a successful Vistage Chair practice. Tom introduces the "From Here to There" coaching framework, using a vivid analogy of driving through the Colorado Rockies to illustrate the journey from past experiences ("From"), to the present moment ("Here"), to a future vision ("There"). The episode emphasizes the critical word "To"—the actionable steps that connect where you are to where you want to be. Tom outlines ten practical steps to guide both Chairs and their members along this path, drawing from his extensive ex...

In Episode 7 of ChairLife, Vistage Master Chair Tom Cuthbert shares actionable strategies for building a thriving Vistage Chair practice by selecting the right members and overcoming common recruitment challenges. Inspired by Coach John Wooden’s advice to surround yourself with smart, argumentative people, Tom explores the art of curating a high-performing Vistage group. The episode is divided into two key segments: a playbook for identifying ideal members and a guide to tackling ghosting in the recruitment process. Tom begins by outlining the seven costly consequences of having non-ideal members—erosion of trust, wasted time, missed growth opportunities, cultural misalignment, lost oppo...

In Episode 6 of ChairLife, Vistage Master Chair Tom Cuthbert explores the "Here" element of his "From Here to There" coaching framework, focusing on the present—the daily roles, responsibilities, and actions that drive a Vistage Chair practice. Drawing from Mahatma Gandhi’s insight, "The future depends on what you do today," Tom emphasizes the importance of the current moment while arguing it’s the least critical of the framework’s four elements ("From," "Here," "There," and the upcoming "To"). He provides practical strategies for assessing and optimizing "Here" through time management, focus, and key performance indicators like capacity, utilization rate, and memb...

In this episode of The Chair Life Podcast, Tom Cuthbert delves into the concept of building a personal and professional flywheel, inspired by Jim Collins’ book Turning the Flywheel. Tom shares his own journey in developing a system for consistent, meaningful progress and leadership growth, helping CEOs and leaders achieve more than they imagined possible. You’ll learn why momentum isn’t about one big break but rather a continuous, disciplined effort that compounds over time. Plus, Tom shares a surprising productivity hack: why taking a daily nap has become an essential part of his success strategy. Show Notes Introduction to the...

In this episode of ChairLife, Vistage Master Chair Tom Cuthbert explores the concept of "there"—where we want to be in the future—and how understanding it can enhance leadership and coaching. Tom shares insights on defining your there, helping others find theirs, and applying this framework in a successful Chair practice. He also introduces the "Three Things" concept, a powerful productivity strategy that helps leaders focus on what truly matters. Tune in for valuable tips on gaining clarity in your leadership, delegating effectively, and helping others achieve their goals. Show Notes Key Topics Discussed Understanding "There" and "Their There" The...

In this episode of ChairLife, Vistage Master Chair Tom Cuthbert explores the concept of "there"—where we want to be in the future—and how understanding it can enhance leadership and coaching. Tom shares insights on defining your there, helping others find theirs, and applying this framework in a successful Chair practice. He also introduces the "Three Things" concept, a powerful productivity strategy that helps leaders focus on what truly matters. Tune in for valuable tips on gaining clarity in your leadership, delegating effectively, and helping others achieve their goals. Show Notes Key Topics Discussed Understanding "There" and "Their There" The...

In the inaugural episode of the ChairLife Podcast, host Tom Cuthbert, CEO and master chair, introduces the ChairLife philosophy. This episode lays the foundation for what’s to come, explaining the podcast’s mission to empower chairs in the Vistage community with actionable insights and practical tools to navigate their leadership roles with balance and purpose. Tom dives into the show's structure, offering valuable content at three levels . These levels will explore topics such as defining one's vision and purpose, mastering strategic capacity, establishing personal and professional boundaries, and maximizing productivity. He also outlines how the podcast will provide evergreen reso...

In this episode of ChairLife, host Tom Cuthbert dives into the concept of becoming a Full Practice Chair—someone who sets clear goals, builds a thriving coaching practice and creates a lasting impact. He discusses the importance of defining what "full" means for your practice and how setting clear targets helps drive success. Tom shares the four key benefits of a full practice: fostering high-performing groups, strengthening member retention, expanding your impact, and maximizing income opportunities. Beyond building a successful practice, Tom highlights the need to balance professional growth and personal well-being. To help optimize productivity, he introduces three powerful to...

In this episode of ChairLife, host Tom Cuthbert explores the first step in his coaching framework, "From Here to There." He discusses how understanding your past—your "From"—shapes your leadership and coaching style. Tom shares personal stories, including how historical events like the Apollo 11 Moon Landing influenced his journey. Listeners will gain insights into how personal reflection can enhance their leadership approach and learn actionable strategies to apply this mindset to coaching, branding, and decision-making. Tom also shares a business tip on the power of updating your voicemail daily to improve communication, build credibility, and reinforce work-life balance. Show Note...