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 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