Matt sits down with Gray MacKenzie, co-founder of ZenPilot, to discuss his journey from high school baseball dreams to entrepreneurial success. Gray shares how he has personally and professionally evolved, detailing his identity shift from a high school athlete to a resilient business leader. Through discussions on overcoming identity crisis, leveraging faith, and learning from past challenges, Gray provides valuable insights into maintaining clarity, setting realistic expectations, and building a culture of accountability. Tune in to hear how adversity can shape and strengthen your path to success!

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Welcome to the Eternal Optimist Podcast with Gray MacKenzie
• 00:00:57 - Meet Gray MacKenzie: Philosophy, Career, and Family Insights
• 00:02:11 - Identity vs. Performance: Gray’s High School Baseball Struggles
• 00:04:00 - Emotional Impact of Injury: Gray’s Senior Year Challenges
• 00:09:47 - Finding Identity Beyond Sports: A New Path
• 00:12:00 - Faith and Freedom: Letting Go of Performance Pressure
• 00:16:47 - ZenPilot’s Evolution: Shifts and Client Success Stories
• 00:18:30 - Business Identity Crisis: Shifting from Software to Consulting
• 00:22:28 - Athlete Toughness Showdown: Baseball vs. Lacrosse
• 00:23:04 - Mental Fortitude in Sports: Key Comparisons
• 00:25:23 - Learning to Say No: Building Effective Teams
• 00:27:00 - Mastering Project Management: The Power of Clarity
• 00:29:15 - Measuring Success: Client Health and NPS Scores
• 00:33:06 - Trust and Expectations: Keys to Client Relationships
• 00:38:54 - Final Thoughts: Leadership, Music, and Eternal Optimism

Links And Resources:

• Gray on LinkedIn
• ZenPilot

Recommended Books:

• How to Be a Great Boss by Gino Wickman and René Boer

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Eternal Optimist? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on iTunes and leave us a review!