ChairLife Podcast

Tom Cuthbert
  • 4.0 (4)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP

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!

  1. 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

    5D AGO

    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 1:1 or mentor meetings to model leadership. Recent Inspiration: Reflections from Arena Baranof's coaching sessions on deep connections. Importance of One-to-Ones: Build trust, enable transformation, improve retention. Modeling One-to-Ones as a Chair: Recurring scheduling, 90-minute in-person format. Handling Rescheduling: Prioritize monthly cadence, even shortened. Impact on Retention: Missing 1:1s quadruples leave risk (Vistage data). Tom’s Tips & Tricks: The Number One Skill Your CEOs Must Master and How You Coach It: Coach CEOs on mastering 1:1s. Conclusion: Never miss 1:1s; schedule one and discuss with a member. Tom’s Tips & Tricks: The Number One Skill Your CEOs Must Master and How You Coach It Tom highlights mastering 1:1s as CEOs' top skill. Why Master 1:1s: Builds trust, drives performance, reduces turnover. Coaching Methods: Agendas, preparation questions, follow-up. Benefits: Enhances leadership, retention (Vistage data). Action: Role-play 1:1s; encourage prioritization. Resources Explore these resources to support your Vistage Chair practice: www.tomcuthbert.com www.chairlifepodcast.com https://www.wsj.com/business/entrepreneurship/business-failure-reasons-top-10-0762e18b?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqdNgLUXwzM62ewCJj5X1MTBgNOJbBvK1Fd4roM5IhDzHUBwKSxuETSBvY4IxcE%3D&gaa_ts=698e2d16&gaa_sig=eD0eJMN-Msuj7MKRDZ4QLrHy0I6sAK7k9znDnTw3q3p-fxZONxxMboG4fKLWmnguZhmm66XuWDkxGDbaN421Pw%3D%3D www.tomcuthbert.com/jackinthebox https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WyOTvZU9dt7yyWlLf0xPan9xufZVhUsQL8bTzt1TTW8/edit?usp=sharing

    20 min
  2. 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?"

    FEB 12

    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 Drucker on managing time. Splitting Roles: Difficult to find one person with all skills; decide on EA/admin/tech needs. Key Questions: What can others do? What's ROI? Tom's High-Payoff Activities: 10% planning (160 hours/year); EOS quarterly, weekly meetings. Tom’s Tips & Tricks: CEOs Stop Filling Gaps: Start Building Independence: Delegate to empower teams. Conclusion: Resources at tomcuthbert.com; share at chairlifepodcast.com. Tom’s Tips & Tricks: CEOs Stop Filling Gaps: Start Building Independence Tom advises CEOs to delegate gaps for independence. Why Delegate: Focus high-impact; reduces overload. Challenges: Filling gaps hinders growth. How to Delegate: Use Vistage tools; coach empowerment. Benefits: Boosts skills, succession. Action: Delegate one gap this week. Resources Explore these resources to support your Vistage Chair practice: www.tomcuthbert.com www.chairlifepodcast.com Conversational Capacity - https://amzn.to/4besamb https://docs.google.com/document/d/1frpU4zL7ThAHL5QN8aXe2EN9b-QeW1zWau-U0fMgol4/edit?usp=sharing

    23 min
  3. Episode 41 (101) Welcome to ChairWorld 2026 (15:15) Ain't Talkin' About Brown M&Ms: Hidden Risks in Plain Sight

    JAN 30

    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 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 Chair: Use recurring scheduling, 90-minute in-person format. Handling Rescheduling: Prioritize to maintain monthly cadence, even if shortened. Impact on Retention: Missing 1:1s increases leave risk fourfold per Vistage data. Tom’s Tips & Tricks: The Number One Skill Your CEOs Must Master and How You Coach It: Coach CEOs on mastering 1:1s for team leadership. Conclusion: Never miss 1:1s; schedule one and discuss with a member. Tom’s Tips & Tricks: The Number One Skill Your CEOs Must Master and How You Coach It Tom highlights mastering effective 1:1s as CEOs' top skill and how Chairs coach it. Why Master 1:1s: Builds trust, drives performance, reduces turnover. Coaching Methods: Use agendas, preparation questions, follow-up actions. Benefits: Enhances leadership, retention; Vistage data shows impact. Action: Role-play 1:1s in sessions; encourage CEOs to prioritize. Resources Explore these resources to support your Vistage Chair practice: www.tomcuthbert.com www.chairlifepodcast.com https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/he7l08qy0pl4ni5o18o4o/The-Brown-M-M-Protocol.pdf?rlkey=lugflq9d1xw7k93ndlaohsaiw&st=gu8yikm2&dl=0 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jiS-dJM58OSJRutMFc2ae7nFJFPCjSSo7-iYa_RsXeM/edit?usp=sharing

    23 min

  4. JAN 10

    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. 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 hours/year); quarterly EOS sessions, weekly meetings. Tom’s Tips & Tricks: CEOs Stop Filling Gaps: Start Building Independence: Delegate to empower teams. Conclusion: Find resources at tomcuthbert.com; share podcast at chairlifepodcast.com. Tom’s Tips & Tricks: CEOs Stop Filling Gaps: Start Building Independence Tom advises CEOs to delegate gaps to build independence. Why Delegate: Focus on high-impact; reduces overload. Challenges: CEOs hinder growth by filling gaps. How to Delegate: Use Vistage tools; coach on empowerment. Benefits: Boosts skills, succession; improves retention. Action: Identify one gap to delegate this week. Resources Explore these resources to support your Vistage Chair practice: www.tomcuthbert.com www.chairlifepodcast.com www.tomcuthbert.com/flywheel Turning the Flywheel: A Monograph to Accompany Good to Great - https://amzn.to/4pwkteI https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Rr92JAVb7mlqNlIuvrj5MXT8awOStla0139ABeYtd3g/edit?usp=sharing

    23 min

  5. 11/28/2025

    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-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 Practice: Shifted from doing everything to member ownership. Ways to Make the Group Better: Facilitate, coach, remind of contributions. Tom’s Tips & Tricks: The Moment of Truth: Saying It Out Loud Changes Everything: Verbalizing clarifies and commits. Conclusion: Let members own the group; assess and facilitate member-led discussions. Tom’s Tips & Tricks: The Moment of Truth: Saying It Out Loud Changes Everything Tom discusses verbalizing thoughts in groups. Power of Speaking: Clarifies issues, builds accountability, gains peer insights. Benefits: Commits to action, changes perspective. Action: Encourage voicing one goal or challenge this week. Resources Explore these resources to support your Vistage Chair practice: www.tomcuthbert.com www.chairlifepodcast.com www.tomcuthbert.com/memberselectionplaybook The Coaching Habit - https://amzn.to/48CCMcH https://docs.google.com/document/d/1txBqZ_sBLA_2uZCUwSBLyk7pkSrPSiqqIQnI8XXsP4E/edit?usp=sharing

    19 min

  6. 11/25/2025

    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 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 Chair: Use recurring scheduling, 90-minute in-person format. Handling Rescheduling: Prioritize to maintain monthly cadence, even if shortened. Impact on Retention: Missing 1:1s increases leave risk fourfold per Vistage data. Tom’s Tips & Tricks: The Number One Skill Your CEOs Must Master and How You Coach It: Coach CEOs on mastering 1:1s for team leadership. Conclusion: Never miss 1:1s; schedule one and discuss with a member. Tom’s Tips & Tricks: The Number One Skill Your CEOs Must Master and How You Coach It Tom highlights mastering effective 1:1s as CEOs' top skill and how Chairs coach it. Why Master 1:1s: Builds trust, drives performance, reduces turnover. Coaching Methods: Use agendas, preparation questions, follow-up actions. Benefits: Enhances leadership, retention; Vistage data shows impact. Action: Role-play 1:1s in sessions; encourage CEOs to prioritize. Resources Explore these resources to support your Vistage Chair practice: www.tomcuthbert.com www.chairlifepodcast.com https://www.wsj.com/business/c-suite/manager-strengths-rellocating-talent-f0add2da?st=8mQCxM&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimristuccia?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kkmEHuZuVw_w5B2g3kHWIxsgBaFx0CWTjX-AHLNBYzg/edit?usp=sharing

    19 min

  7. 11/17/2025

    Episode 36 (101) HighPerforming 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 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. Tom’s Tips & Tricks: Accountability Team Best Practices Tom shares practices for accountability teams to drive goal achievement. Meet Regularly: 90 minutes monthly to discuss learnings, applications, mutual help. Review Tools: Personal Action Summaries, goals, KPIs, scores. Encourage Feedback: Mutual adjustments for commitment. Benefits: Builds environment for success and retention. Action: Form team to track one goal this week. Resources Explore these resources to support your Vistage Chair practice: www.tomcuthbert.com www.chairlifepodcast.com www.tomcuthbert.com/extraordinary https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TG3xkKXzxHVloFWrE9lSGeGrrObXl8PYAeQu-DY6IXM/edit?usp=sharing

    21 min

  8. 11/07/2025

    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-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 journaling. Tom’s Tips & Tricks: Two CEOs, One Company: Why Key Groups Are Your CEO Factory: Explains need for a right-hand second CEO developed via Key Groups. Conclusion: Invest in self and others; adopt one investment and discuss Key Groups with a member. Tom’s Tips & Tricks: Two CEOs, One Company: Why Key Groups Are Your CEO Factory Tom explains why companies need two CEOs—one actual, one right-hand second CEO who sees more, listens, represents, backs up, and succeeds via Vistage Key Groups. Why Two CEOs: Boosts efficiency (20-30% revenue gains, e27.co); mitigates risk (40% global leaders have COOs, McKinsey 2022). Benefits: Reduces turnover (34% lower with development, Gallup); builds succession (avoids 20-50% productivity loss, SHRM). Vistage Key Groups: Develops right-hands as CEO makers; complements emerging/advancing; over 80% of Tom's CEOs place teams here. Action: Assess right-hand readiness; enroll in Key Groups for ROI. Resources Explore these resources to support your Vistage Chair practice: www.tomcuthbert.com www.chairlifepodcast.com www.tomcuthbert.com/goals https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EPqs7K-Cx4PxnQ-4xkUxIbsvDB9EEpE6YBZ0h5cB5VQ/edit?usp=sharing https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/1b307vfk4fpna63maxvsa/Accountability-Teams-Best-Practices.pdf?rlkey=ud87sxoh43v6ndjyulm6r9ujt&st=uj3mv3ua&dl=0

    21 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

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!

Information

  • Creator
    Tom Cuthbert
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    ChairLife Podcast