ChairLife Podcast
The ChairLife Podcast, hosted by CEO coach and Master Chair Tom Cuthbert, is your go-to, rapid fire resource for blending purpose and success in both your professional and personal life. Tom shares expert insights, proven strategies, and practical tools to help you build your ideal “ChairLife” — a life where mission and purpose seamlessly intersect with a balanced, fulfilling work-life. Whether you're a CEO coach, chair, consultant, entrepreneur or someone looking to find greater meaning in your daily routine, this podcast offers valuable lessons to help you thrive in all aspects of life. Tune in and start aligning your work with what truly matters!
Episodes
Episode 1: Introduction to ChairLife
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
Episode 2 (101) Using "From" to Build Relationships / The Value of Voicemail 15:11
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 enha
Episode 3 (201) What is a Full Practice Chair? / Voxer, Followupthen, Brain Toss 11:10
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-perf
Episode 4 (101) Finding Your There and "Their" There / Your 3 Things (10:17)
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 strat
Episode 5 (201) Building your Flywheel / Why (and How) I Take a Nap Everyday (12:10)
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
Episode 6 (101) What's Happening Here?/ Strengthening Speaker Relationships (11:09)
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 th
Episode 7 (101) Dodging the Duds A Playbook for Selecting High-Performing Members / How to Slay the Ghosting Game (13:11)
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 int
Episode 8 (201) Charting the Path From Here to There / A Decade of Learning: Best Books from The Last 10 Years (11:37)
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"). Th
Episode 9 (201) The Power of High Performing Behaviors / Reducing Decision Fatigue Through Routines (10:22)
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 b
Episode 10 (101) Scheduling Success: From Day to Week to Month to Year / Lunch Meetings: Where Your Agenda Drowns in Soup (9:04)
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 bo
Episode 11 (201) The “Farm Team” Approach to your Chair Practice / Why the Wall Street Journal is a “Must Read” (13:53)
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 Cha
Episode 12 (201) From Good to Great: 10 Referral Ideas Every Chair Needs / Recharge to Lead-A Sunrise Reflection from the Cuthbert Bridge (10:42)
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" segm
Episode 13 (101) Lenses as Guiding Principles for Leaders/ Putting Things Where and When They Go (12:14)
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, thi
Episode 14 (101) Overconfidence, the Silent Killer in the C-Suite / (12:08) Sleep, the Underrated Superpower
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 high
Episode 15 (201) Unlock High Performing Groups With Ideal Member Traits / (13:30) How Mid and End-of-Year Updates Elevate Communication and Engagement
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
Episode 16 (201) The Chair's Tough Call: Removing Members to Elevate Your Group /(12:25) Celebrating Wins with Postable to Build Strong Vistage Relationships
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
Episode 17 (201) Unlocking Business Potential: The Role of Vistage Chairs and Enhancing Enterprise Value / (13:26) The Art of the Office: Crafting a Space for CEOs' Success
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
Episode 18 (101) Stand Out, Get Referred: The Business Journal's Role in Vistage Chair Success (12:44) The Indistractable Chair: Mastering Focus in Chaos
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 insig
Episode 19 (201) Launching Legends: Why and How to Launch an Emerging Leader Group (15:29) The Ambassador Advantage: Elevating Vistage Success
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
Episode 20 (101) Raising your Mediocrity Defense Shield (12:52) The Binder: A Chair's Secret Weapon to Elevate Meetings and 121s
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 epis
Episode 21 (201): Behind the Calendar: The Time Management Secret Every Leader Needs (12:32) Mind the Gap: Rest and Recovery to Stay Fresh and Fully Focused
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
Episode 22 (101) The Power of Sabbaticals: Rest, Recovery, and Longevity (13:46) Finding Your Three "Not 30!" Things
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 w
Episode 23 (101) ChairLife Branding: Unveiling Your Authentic Identity (Episode 1 of 3) (14:23) Turning Manager Misery into Mastery
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
Episode 24 (101) Aligning Actions With Your Brand's Story (13:40) Wispr Flow for Vistage Chairs
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
Episode 25 (101Episode 25 (101) Branding for Chairs: Narrating Your Unique Brand Story / Longevity Insights from Jessica Pierce
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 a
Episode 26 (101): Bullet Journal Power: Demanding Chaos (15:21) These Are a Few of My Favorite Routines: Ten Life Hacks to Enhance Energy, Focus, and Efficiency
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
Episode 27 (101) High-Performing Behaviors: The Power of Elite Members (11:34) Companies Are Stretched in the Middle
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, focu
Episode 28 (101): High-Performing Behaviors: From Meh to Mastery in Leadership (11:47) Delegate Like a Boss: Why Chairs Can't Be Their Own Admin
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 o
Episode 29 (101) High-Performing Behaviors: Building a Culture of Accountability (10:47) The First Time CEO Survival Guide: 6 Must Know Principles
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-performin
Episode 30 (101) High Performing Behaviors: No Chairs Squirrels with Focus (11:38) Vistage Chair's AI Edge: Prospect to Peer Power
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 prese
Episode 31 (101) High Performing Behaviors: Respect Each Other (09:23) Saying No Productively
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
Episode 32 (101) High Performing Behaviors: Guard Your Time and Use It Wisely (09:38) Productivity Hacks From Atomic Habits
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% p
Episode 33 (101) High Performing Behaviors: Feedback Fire Ignite Growth Through Carefrontation (11:59) Why the Value of an Issue Is Worth Far More
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 a
Episode 34 (101): High Performing Behaviors: Invest in Yourself and Others: Don't Be Your Own Worst Boss (14:52) Two CEOs, One Company: Why Key Groups Are Your CEO Factory
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
Episode 35 (101) High Performing Behaviors: Achieving Goals for Chairs and Members (14:50) Accountability Team Best Practices
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
Episode 36 (101) High Performing Behaviors: Preparing Issues for Extraordinary Meetings (12:12) Let's Build Something Extraordinary
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
Episode 37 (101) High Performing Behaviors: Never Miss a 121 or Mentor Meeting (10:25) The Number One Skill Your CEOs Must Master and How You Coach It
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
Episode 38 (101) High Performing Behavior: Stop Trying to Carry the Piano: The Music Is Theirs to Make (11:09) The Moment of Truth: Saying It Out Loud Changes Everything
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-Performin
Episode 39 (101) From Chaos to ChairLife: Member Magic "The Two Roles That Changed Everything" (16:28) CEOs Stop Filling Gaps: Start Building Independence
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.
Episode 40 (201) January Retention Red Alert: 12 Signs & 5 Steps to Keep Your Members Locked In (16:35) The One Question That Sparks Genius – "What Do You Do?"
Tom Cuthbert explores high-performing behaviors from chaos to ChairLife magic with two roles that changed everything, and advises CEOs to stop filling gaps to build 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.
Quote on Time: Peter
Episode 41 (101) Welcome to ChairWorld 2026 (15:15) Ain't Talkin' About Brown M&Ms: Hidden Risks in Plain Sight
Description for ChairLife Podcast: Episode 37 (101)
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 i
Episode 42 (101) Exposing the Top Ten Business Killers: WSJ Insights for CEO Survival (12:41) It Only Takes One! Sparking Empires with a Single Great Idea from Jack in the Box
Tom Cuthbert 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: Two sessions in February 2026 on purpose-practice intersection and optimizing time/income.
High-Performing Behavior Number 11: High-performing members never miss 1
Episode 43 (101) Punching CEOs In The Face The Dunning-Kruger Wake-up Call (11:56) The 93% Communication Secret Ditch Zoom for Real CEO Breakthroughs
Tom Cuthbert discusses the Dunning-Kruger wake-up call for overconfident CEOs and explores ditching Zoom for the 93% communication secret in real breakthroughs.
Show Notes
Quote on Overconfidence: Don Moore on delusional CEOs.
The Dunning-Kruger Effect: Bias of overestimating abilities; Chairs provide feedback.
Stats on Overconfidence: 18% more R&D with higher failures; 3-4% profitable AI use.
Hi
Episode 44 (101) Business Failure Red Flags: How Chairs Can See It And Stop It (13:47) My Top Ten Gym Habits to Stay Sharp and Ready as a Vistage Chair
In this episode, Vistage Master Chair Tom Cuthbert breaks down why businesses fail and what Vistage Chairs can do to help their members avoid it. Tom walks through the brutal statistics behind business survival rates, the five major reasons companies fail, and seven specific areas Chairs should focus on in their one-to-ones to help members build stronger, more resilient businesses. The conversatio
Episode 45 (101) Master the Art of No: Why Vistage Chairs Must Say it Clearly and Often (13:11) Don't Be the Chauffeur: Move From Memorizing to Mastery
ChairLife Podcast: Episode 45 (101)
Master the Art of No: Why Vistage Chairs Must Say It Clearly and Often
In this episode, Vistage Master Chair Tom Cuthbert makes the case for why no is one of the most powerful words in a Chair's vocabulary. Drawing from William Ury's book The Power of a Positive No, Tom walks through a practical framework for saying no in a way that protects your priorities, gua
Episode 46 (101) The One Metric That Changed Everything (14:10) Beyond Belief by Nir Eyal and Book Review
In this episode, Vistage Master Chair Tom Cuthbert introduces the one productivity metric he believes every Chair should be tracking: income per hour. Tom walks through how to calculate it, why it matters more than total income or member count, and the five specific levers he has pulled over the past ten years to more than quadruple his number while working fewer hours. This is not a conversation
Episode 47 (101) Purpose, Commitments, and The Eric Coryell Edge (16:41) The Time Audit: 3 Buckets to Get Your Calendar Back
In this episode, Vistage Master Chair Tom Cuthbert shares how a single definition from Vistage speaker Eric Coryell reignited his focus on group purpose. A real issue is any issue that affects the team's ability to achieve purpose. Using that as his foundation, Tom walks through how he recently rebuilt his group's purpose statement, ideal member profile, shared fate framework, and his personal com
Episode 48 (101) The Five “Make Its” of Member Selection (12:53) Significant Work With People I Love
Vistage Master Chair Tom Cuthbert breaks down a simple, repeatable framework for one of the most consequential things a chair does: selecting members. Get selection right and the group gets stronger and everything gets easier; get it wrong and you can spend years managing the consequences. Tom walks through his five "Make Its" and the deliberate, candidate-friendly process behind them. In the sec
