From Academic VP to Global Venture Founder with Chris Gray

Are you a senior executive or high-performing corporate director who cracks your quarterly metrics, but wants to create more personal autonomy over your schedule?   In this transparent guest conversation, host Billy Keels sits down with Chris Gray—a former campus academic vice president who successfully translated his corporate leadership capital into multiple thriving independent ventures, including Red Palm Solutions, Bald Buck, and the Earn Core community of over 4,000 global business owners. Chris pulls back the curtain on his professional evolution, sharing how an honest look out his office window on a random Tuesday afternoon catalyzed his journey toward true lifestyle sovereignty. Discover how to lean into challenging personal seasons, stop letting distractions delay your execution, and use external advisors to unlock the radical self-awareness required to run your career completely by choice, not obligation.   🚀 Want to make your corporate role optional? Grab your FREE copy of Billy's 3-Step Process eBook here: https://www.makeitoptional.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p2olm 📌 Questions Answered in This Episode: What does it look like to maintain executive excellence while actively developing independent professional options? How can a senior leader audit their weekly 168 hours to prioritize high-impact execution over standard entertainment? Why is aligning with a mentor who is further along the path essential for an enterprise professional? How do you successfully transition corporate team-building and accountability reps into your own ventures? Why is letting go of the illusion of absolute personal control the ultimate key to expanding your financial choices? ⏱️ Episode Chapters: 00:00 - Maximizing Executive Performance: Moving From VP to Serial Venture Owner 01:37 - Shifting the Focus: Understanding Career Alignment in Higher Education Leadership 03:40 - The Tuesday Window: Analyzing Strategic Timelines and Lifestyle Design 05:20 - Reclaiming Your 168: Making Deliberate Short-Term Sacrifices for Long-Term Autonomy 06:32 - Navigating Tough Personal Seasons: Finding Grit in Jiu-Jitsu and Fatherhood   10:26 - Shifting Mindsets: Moving Past External Validation Toward Self-Approval 14:58 - Upgrading Your Network: Partnering with Advisors Who Are Steps Ahead 20:32 - Defeating Imposter Syndrome: Building a High Tolerance for Higher-Level Rooms   23:15 - Transferable Assets: Shifting Corporate Accountability Reps Outside the Walls 26:42 - Platinum Advice: Why You Cannot React Poorly If You Want the True Data 28:14 - Red Palm Solutions: Maximizing Local Business Models Using Smart AI   31:52 - Earn Core Community: Creating the Private No-Hide Mastermind Engine   36:22 - Letting Go of the Illusion of Absolute Personal Control to Accelerate Growth 40:19 - Reclaiming Your Freedom and Connecting with Chris Gray How best to find and connect with Chris: Website: https://www.yochrisgray.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yochrisgray  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yochrisgray/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YoChrisGray/    📘 About Billy Keels & Corporate Optionality If you're a corporate executive who wants to make your role optional, learn how to achieve true control over your career and turn your corporate skills into personal assets.   With 26 years of experience in corporate sales leadership, Billy Keels achieved true optionality through multiple income streams. Today, he has helped dozens of executives build a predictable path to take control of their time and start living their ideal day.   This free ebook gives you everything you need to identify, plan, and take control of your career while building financial optionality, leveraging your skills, and starting to live your IDEAL day - today!   Get the Free eBook: https://www.makeitoptional.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p2olm How to Leave a Review for The Going Long Podcast: https://youtu.be/qfRqLVcf8UI Be sure to connect with Billy: Website: https://www.billykeels.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@billykeels LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billykeels Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billykeels Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BillyKeelsFanPage Twitter/X: https://www.twitter.com/billykeels