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 Jessica Pierce's insights on longevity for Chairs.

Conclusion: Reflect on brand narration and apply longevity strategies to enhance practice.

Tom’s Tips & Tricks: Longevity Insights from Jessica Pierce

Tom highlights Jessica Pierce's longevity advice for sustained Chair success.

Focus on Wellness: Prioritize rest and recovery to maintain energy.

Build Resilience: Develop mental and physical habits for long-term impact.

Model Self-Care: Demonstrate balance to inspire members.

Action: Schedule intentional breaks and adopt daily wellness routines.

Resources

www.tomcuthbert.com

www.chairlifepodcast.com

https://www.amazon.com/Building-StoryBrand-Clarify-Message-Customers/dp/0718033329

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJFZDLG9

www.tomcuthbert.com/branding

ScaleUp: Unforgettable Brand = Unbelievable Referrals

https://www.longevityarchitects.com/

www.tomcuthbert.com/sleep

www.tomcuthbert.com/longevity

https://instituteforfunctionalhealth.com/

https://docs.google.com/document/d/15yCD9Kp2ezIE6dRik5EnW0XOua7iavfSj0WJwFFF8Nw/edit?usp=sharing

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 recommends Wispr Flow for dictating.

Setup: Clip-on device integrates with email apps.

Features: 100 languages, shortcuts; 5–10x faster than typing.

Use Cases: Post-one-to-one summaries, group notes.

Benefits: Saves 3 hours weekly; $12/month.

Action: Try for quick responses; demo on Tom's site.

Resources

www.tomcuthbert.com

www.chairlifepodcast.com

https://www.amazon.com/Building-StoryBrand-Clarify-Message-Customers/dp/0718033329

https://www.amazon.com/Indistractable-Nir-Eyal-Julie-Li-audiobook/dp/B07SV4V6ZK/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJFZDLG9

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gkXkXxc_iYn2m_VH0rQW2WtRv18BATo-YkdxyZ4ixe0/edit?usp=sharing

https://wisprflow.ai/

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.

Tom’s Tips & Tricks: Turning Manager Misery into Mastery

Tom references Wall Street Journal on manager disengagement, recommending Vistage groups.

Stats: 27% engaged; overload and turnover prevalent.

Challenges: Lack of growth, high misery.

Solution: Key Groups for seniors, Advancing for mid-levels to build skills and retention.

Benefits: Reduces turnover, prepares for growth.

Action: Encourage CEOs to enroll team members.

Resources

www.tomcuthbert.com

www.chairlifepodcast.com

https://www.amazon.com/Building-StoryBrand-Clarify-Message-Customers/dp/0718033329

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/fg7spemvk41x0difub26p/2025-08-05-08-02.pdf?rlkey=i1w4kpckgn8y9xqls0ronn0ie&st=dd6hqnr0&dl=0

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lxes02Lh_Y1i2kLaGhg9XB3fQGfY8cvJ65qDw-deANg/edit?usp=sharing

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/oc7i6nblj0c2uudi0bm81/Brand-Attribute-Worksheet.png?rlkey=0kxbjlezinutoqy24830wrhhn&st=97tdqrma&dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/3kixx7ll93msg419p6a6l/Brand-Script-Worksheet-2024-06-17-09-30.pdf?rlkey=c0x4n7kptsbrk4rkcfs18x0he&st=sw60xt54&dl=0

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 activities and group growth. The service provides structure and support, enabling Chairs to deepen relationships, drive growth, and build a balanced Chair life. Interested Chairs can visit chairsuccessservices.com to learn more and connect.

Show Notes

Introduction: Tom introduces the episode, focusing on sabbaticals and prioritizing three core tasks for a successful Chair practice.

The Power of Sabbaticals: Tom explains why sabbaticals are essential for health, creativity, and longevity.

Sabbatical Activities and Benefits: Details four activity categories and research supporting sabbaticals’ impact on burnout and productivity.

Planning a Sabbatical: Shares three steps to plan an effective sabbatical for Chairs.

Tom’s Tips & Tricks: Finding Your Three “Not 30!” Things: Tom outlines a framework to focus on three high-impact activities.

Conclusion: A call to plan a sabbatical and identify three core tasks to elevate your practice.

Tom’s Tips & Tricks: Finding Your Three “Not 30!” Things

Tom shares his three-thing framework, inspired by Jack Dailey and Tim Ferriss’s “Focus on being productive instead of busy,” to prioritize high-impact tasks.

Concept: Identify three core activities only you can do to drive your practice forward, avoiding multitasking.

Tom’s Three Things: Planning (10% of time), coaching (1,000 hours/year), facilitating group meetings.

Implementation: Journal tasks for two weeks, then eliminate or delegate non-core tasks; Tom’s team supports his focus.

Impact: Mono-tasking reduces stress, boosts effectiveness, and aligns team efforts.

Action: Journal tasks to find your three things and delegate the rest.

Resources

www.tomcuthbert.com/lenses

www.tomcuthbert.com/sabbatical

www.chairlifepodcast.com

https://www.amazon.com/Hyper-Sales-Growth-Street-Proven-Profitably/dp/1599324385

https://hbr.org/2023/02/research-the-transformative-power-of-sabbaticals

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidburkus/2016/06/29/the-surprising-benefit-of-work-sabbaticals/

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XwK6JdvHkHD5Y004cujmA9majszbr3B4wlgtolhUW2k/edit?usp=sharing

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 impact.

How to Color-Code Your Calendar: Details Google Calendar labels for health, Vistage, candidates, and more.

Benefits of Color-Coding: Outlines six benefits—clarity, balance, productivity, reduced stress, goal achievement, and focus.

Implementing Color-Coding: Steps to adopt and refine a color-coding system for your calendar.

Tom’s Tips & Tricks: Mind the Gap—Rest and Recovery: Tom shares techniques to stay fresh between one-to-ones.

Tom discusses rest strategies to maintain focus during 40 monthly 90-minute one-to-ones, inspired by “Mind the gap.”

Why Rest Matters: Presence builds trust; Eckhart Tolle emphasizes the present moment’s importance.

Managing a Busy Schedule: Breaks, three-to-ones (March, December), and a July sabbatical recharge Tom.

Rest Strategies: Walk outside, use a treadmill desk, take 15-minute rest breaks, hydrate, and snack lightly.

Intentional Techniques: Practice 4-7-8 breathing, meditate, stretch, use a balance board, and keep a distraction-free environment.

Action: Schedule 20-minute gaps, avoid email, and use tools like Headspace for recovery.

Resources

Explore these resources to support your Vistage Chair practice:

https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Things-Done-Stress-Free-Productivity/dp/0143126563

https://www.amazon.com/Tomorrow-Other-Secrets-Time-Management/dp/0340909129

https://www.amazon.com/The-New-One-Minute-Manager/dp/8195246893/

https://www.amazon.com/Habits-Highly-Effective-People-Powerful/dp/1982137274

https://www.amazon.com/Now-Habit-Overcoming-Procrastination-Guilt-Free-ebook/dp/B001QNVP7M

https://www.headspace.com

https://www.tomcuthbert.com/productivity

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CrRqp1IqHsAyyVRB7VmpFuxCYH2R9ic5dfNQz-4PERU/edit?usp=sharing

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 complacency, inspired by his father.

Strategies to Shield Mediocrity: Four strategies—high-performing behaviors, accountability, innovation, and celebrating success—keep groups thriving.

Implementing the Mediocrity Shield: Practical tools and Tom’s commitment to challenge non-performing behaviors to resolve $5 million in issues.

Tom’s Tips & Tricks: The Binder, A Chair’s Secret Weapon: Tom details how a binder centralizes member data for efficiency.

Conclusion: A call to shield groups from mediocrity and use binders to enhance performance, with a Father’s Day tribute.

Tom’s Tips & Tricks: The Binder, A Chair’s Secret Weapon

Tom explains how a binder organizes key member information to improve meetings and one-to-ones, securely stored for confidentiality.

Purpose: Centralizes data for 37 CEOs and three coaching clients, saving time versus digital searches.

Six Documents: BizEquity Report (enterprise value), Culture Index surveys (senior leaders), Founders Advisors Exit Readiness Assessment, member goals, Strategic Compass (one-page plan), and Vistage Leadership Assessment (top five leaders).

Implementation: Used in one-to-ones and group meetings to surface issues; photos and details on Tom’s website.

Impact: Enhances focus on member performance and business optimization.

Action: Build a binder starting with one document to boost efficiency.

Resources

Find more tools and insights to enhance your Vistage Chair practice:

www.tomcuthbert.com

https://www.tomcuthbert.com/binder

www.chairlifepodcast.com

https://www.amazon.com/Leadership-Art-Max-Depree/dp/B0077EEPTO

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, Tom Cuthbert’s chief of staff, introduces Chair Success Services, designed to help Vistage Chairs focus on high-payoff activities and group growth. The service provides structure and support, enabling Chairs to deepen relationships, drive growth, and build a balanced Chair life. Interested Chairs can visit chairsuccessservices.com to learn more and connect.

Show Notes

Introduction: Tom introduces the episode, emphasizing Emerging Leader Groups and the role of ambassadors in Vistage success.

Why Launch an Emerging Leader Group: Tom highlights the program’s role in addressing leadership shortages and investing in mid-level talent.

Benefits for Chairs: Explains how Emerging Leader Groups improve coaching, CEO retention, and practice efficiency.

How to Launch an Emerging Leader Group: Details steps to recruit, plan, and execute a successful program.

Post-Launch Strategies and Challenges: Offers tips to sustain engagement and overcome recruitment and retention hurdles.

Tom’s Tips & Tricks: The Ambassador Advantage: Tom shares how ambassadors elevate group culture and engagement.

Conclusion: A call to launch Emerging Leader Groups and appoint ambassadors to grow your practice.

Tom’s Tips & Tricks: The Ambassador Advantage

Tom outlines his ambassador program, where selected members serve as group advocates for a year to enhance engagement and culture.

Role of Ambassadors: Facilitate participation, provide feedback, manage WhatsApp groups, onboard new members, and assist with meeting logistics.

Selection and Process: Annually select members, define roles, and hold a June Zoom meeting to review successes, improvements, and new ideas.

Impact: Boosts retention, attendance, and community profile through accountability teams and speaker feedback.

Examples: Implemented WhatsApp groups, pre-meeting issue processing, and clarified accountability team roles from ambassador input.

Action: Start an ambassador program, using Tom’s website for details.

Resources

Find more tools and insights to enhance your Vistage Chair practice:

https://www.tomcuthbert.com

https://www.tomcuthbert.com/emerging

www.chairlifepodcast.com

www.chairsuccessservices.com

https://www.amazon.com/Leadership-Art-Max-Depree/dp/B0077EEPTO

https://www.amazon.com/Leadership-Self-Deception-Fourth-Transforming-Relationships/dp/1523006560/

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/1b307vfk4fpna63maxvsa/Accountability-Teams-Best-Practices.pdf?rlkey=ud87sxoh43v6ndjyulm6r9ujt&st=682rk6p3&dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/tis58rbcvmb3zyifoc5i1/Group-Champion-and-Ambassador-Roles-and-Responsibilities.pdf?rlkey=x5ys04nquanrexec1keo4j43u&st=m0z4luzo&dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/fzyc4nutb5lvkks0ooder/Mentor-Overview.pdf?rlkey=0xu69byd5jk5eqi45sh56jgbd&st=fad1q8hv&dl=0

https://www.tomcuthbert.com/mentor

https://docs.google.com/document/d/17AwcOEudM-0VPrZAB-IQAiggkq1f3uBR6vYxMutoTfM/edit?usp=sharing

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 presence.

The Power of Business Journal Partnerships: Tom details his relationship with the San Antonio Business Journal as a catalyst for brand and referral growth.

Leveraging Business Journal Events: Outlines key events like Fast Track and Best Places to Work, with examples of member awards.

Building Brand and Referrals: Explains how awards and events enhance credibility and spark referrals, aligning with StoryBrand principles.

Tom’s Tips & Tricks: Becoming Indistractable: Tom shares techniques from Indistractable to maintain focus in one-to-ones and group meetings.

Conclusion: A call to engage with Business Journals and adopt indistractable habits to elevate Vistage groups.

Tom’s Tips & Tricks: Becoming Indistractable

Tom emphasizes presence as a Chair’s superpower, citing Nir Eyal: “Being present isn’t just about showing up. It’s about showing someone they matter by focusing entirely on them.”

Why Presence Matters: Focus builds trust and deepens conversations, essential for guiding members.

Start at Home: Practice phone-free dinners, charge devices out of sight, and engage intentionally to build habits.

One-to-One Strategies: Use a distraction-free office, set phones to Do Not Disturb, outline agendas, and check time discreetly.

Group Meeting Tactics: Enforce phone-free rules, allow step-outs, schedule breaks, and address distractions respectfully.

Personal Journey: Tom’s 2020 coaching with Nir Eyal refined his focus, using timeboxing and office design to enhance his practice.

Resources

Find more tools and insights to enhance your Vistage Chair practice:

https://www.tomcuthbert.com

www.chairlifepodcast.com

https://vistage-worldwide.wistia.com/medias/hichxzun9z

ScaleUp: Referrals that Rock! Building a Strong Candidate Pipeline

https://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio

https://www.amazon.com/Building-StoryBrand-2-0-Clarify-Customers/dp/1400248876

https://www.amazon.com/Indistractable-Control-Your-Attention-Choose/dp/194883653X

https://docs.google.com/document/d/18vHyiEvuOVxkf_a94tfWFcRj79BMUxdFntb1ygJ4rmE/edit?usp=sharing

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 office space.

The Role of Vistage Chairs in Enterprise Value: Tom defines enterprise value and its importance as the core focus for member success.

Why Enterprise Value Matters: Highlights BizEquity stats showing widespread gaps in business valuation knowledge and planning.

How Vistage Drives Enterprise Value: Shares a $1.9 billion exit story and strategies using BizEquity and peer groups.

Impact and Action for Chairs: Outlines benefits of enterprise value focus and urges Chairs to push members to assess their worth.

Tom’s Tips & Tricks: The Art of the Office: Tom explains how a well-designed office enhances one-to-one engagement.

Conclusion: A call to prioritize enterprise value and consider an office to elevate Vistage groups.

Tom’s Tips & Tricks: The Art of the Office

Tom describes his office, established five years into his practice, and its role in deepening CEO connections.

Why an Office: Offers distraction-free privacy, builds relationships, ensures consistency, and triples engagement per Baylor University.

Design Elements: Includes natural light, a stand-up desk with treadmill, three comfortable chairs, a conference table with Vibe board, and calming decor.

Comfort and Privacy: Features water bottles, snacks, tissue boxes, white noise, and hidden clocks for focus.

Branding and Connection: Displays family photos, books, Vistage awards, and values banner for credibility and relatability.

Action: Assess if an office aligns with your practice; view Tom’s office photos online.

Resources

Find more tools and insights to enhance your Vistage Chair practice:

https://www.tomcuthbert.com/office

https://www.tomcuthbert.com/adometry

https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-269B-479

https://sanantonioreport.org/pathwire-acquisition-sinch/

www.chairlifepodcast.com

https://www.amazon.com/Leadership-Art-Max-Depree/dp/B0077EEPTO

https://www.amazon.com/Never-Split-Difference-Negotiating-Depended/dp/0062407805

https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Ocean-Strategy-Expanded-Uncontested/dp/1625274491

https://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0066620996

https://www.bizequity.com/

https://foundersib.com/

https://myvistage.com/transaction/

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vPkaD65cN_gbDehB6qO6CxAs9F4RWh5VDroWzzaM-Wo/edit?usp=sharing

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: Tom explains how one underperforming member can erode trust and morale, necessitating action.

Identifying Problematic Behaviors: Outlines behaviors like low accountability, disengagement, stagnation, and negativity that signal a poor fit.

How to Remove Members Respectfully: Provides a step-by-step process for removing members with candor and dignity, including a personal example.

Benefits and Prevention: Highlights benefits of removal and prevention through rigorous member selection.

Tom’s Tips & Tricks: Celebrating Wins with Postable: Tom shares how Postable postcards reinforce gratitude and engagement.

Conclusion: A call to remove misaligned members and celebrate wins to build thriving groups.

Tom’s Tips & Tricks: Celebrating Wins with Postable

Tom discusses using Postable, a postcard tool, to recognize member contributions and strengthen Vistage relationships.

Why Recognition Matters: 69% of employees stay longer when recognized, boosting loyalty in Vistage groups.

Using Postable: Send postcards for hosting, awards, tenure (1, 5, 10 years), or company milestones with notes like “You made this meeting unforgettable.”

Examples: Photos of members at events or hosting, paired with personalized messages.

Impact: A member framed a Postable card, showing how small gestures build gratitude and culture.

Action: Adopt Postable or similar tools to celebrate wins and enhance engagement.

Resources

Find more tools and insights to enhance your Vistage Chair practice:

www.tomcuthbert.com/highperforming

www.chairlifepodcast.com

www.postable.com

https://www.amazon.com/Leadership-Art-Max-Depree/dp/B0077EEPTO

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IM8CxG5SwGXzD2BPY24D1NWe52eLQXa_I_p4jctvJXo/edit?usp=sharing