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 Flywheel Concept

The Five Key Steps to Building Your Flywheel

Identify your flywheel components

Find your core strengths (Hedgehog Principle)

Simplify and codify your flywheel

Test and refine your flywheel

Accelerate with consistency and discipline

How to Apply the Flywheel to Personal Growth

Tom’s Personal Flywheel Breakdown

Leading High-Performing Groups with Intention

Tom’s Tips & Tricks: The Power of Napping

Tom shares his top strategies for maximizing productivity through rest and recovery:

Cognitive Benefits: Boost memory, creativity, and problem-solving

Mood Enhancement: Stay fresh and present during one-on-one sessions

Physical Health: Lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease

Practical Tips:

Block time for naps on your calendar

Create a distraction-free nap routine

Communicate with your team to respect rest periods

Offer the same recovery time for team members

Resources

For additional insights and tools, explore the following resources:

www.tomcuthbert.com/flywheel

www.chairlifepodcast.com

www.longevityarchitects.com

Good to Great - Jim Collins

Turning the Flywheel - Jim Collins

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SZ9FsJkGWi4H7-GyZ-FmWBgzZoAg4HFGmnI40iUv2oE/edit?usp=sharing

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 Role of "There" in Coaching

Identifying Your Three Things

Delegation and Focus

Tom’s Tips and Tricks

Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Tom’s Tips and Tricks

Be intentional about defining your there – Know where you want to go, both personally and professionally.

Focus on your three things – Identify what only you can do and delegate the rest.

Ask powerful questions – Help others discover their aspirations by being a great listener.

Leverage others’ strengths – Surround yourself with people who complement your skills.

Simplify and prioritize – Eliminate tasks that don’t contribute to your bigger goals.

Resources

For additional insights and tools, explore the following resources:

www.tomcuthbert.com

www.chairlifepodcast.com

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho 

Jack Daly

Vistage Chair Network

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tAzSs1nOGNYWIKB04-oi0OcM1Y6dHXaaarAlUpc5yFE/edit?usp=sharing

Thank you for tuning into ChairLife! If you enjoyed this episode, share it with others and join us next time for more insights on building a successful Vistage Chair practice.

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 resources aimed at supporting chairs today and serving as a valuable reference as they grow in their leadership journey.

Suppose you're a Vistage chair looking to elevate your leadership, strengthen relationships, and create a thriving chair community. In that case, this episode is your starting point to learn, grow, and lead with intention. Tune in for the first step in building a fulfilling, balanced work life.

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 tools—Voxer, Followupthen, and Brain Toss—that can improve communication, streamline workflow, and increase efficiency. Whether you're a seasoned chair or just starting, this episode provides valuable insights to help you lead with excellence while living with intention.

Show Notes

Key Topics Discussed

What is a Full Practice Chair? – Setting clear goals & achieving them

The four key reasons to build a full practice

How to balance growth, impact, and personal life

Strategies to retain high-performing members

The importance of setting targets and measuring progress

Top 3 productivity tools to streamline your workflow

Tom’s Productivity Tools & Business Hacks

Voxer – A voice-based communication tool for quick and efficient messaging

FollowUpThen – An email-based reminder system for better time management

Brain Toss – A note-capturing tool to quickly save ideas and tasks

Resources Mentioned

www.tomcuthbert.com/highperforming

www.charlifepodcast.com

www.jamesclear.com/atomic-habits

www.voxer.com

www.followupthen.com

www.braintoss.com

https://docs.google.com/document/d/17c0aQLyZWn5bHKj-HEVJPw2lP4Cn4bH03psULs0DRoM/edit?usp=sharing

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 Notes

Key Topics

Discussed The “From Here to There” Coaching Framework Why reflecting on your past is essential for leadership Tom’s personal story: Growing up in Texas & major historical influences How to use "From" to enhance coaching & team building 8 practical ways to apply "From" in leadership. Tom’s business tip:

The benefits of updating your voicemail daily Voicemail Strategy:

Why It Works Sets clear expectations for callers

Acts as a subtle marketing tool

Encourages work-life balance & time management

Resources Mentioned

www.chairlifepodcast.com

www.tomcuthbert.com/fromheretothere

jamesclear.com/atomic-habits

jackdalysales.com/product/hyper-sales-growth/

www.cultureindex.com

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E7Lmx-Y1yNgisvTbgbyNb57yDlb7gHWkHqNFe5x0RSA/edit?usp=sharing