âThe only hell Iâm afraid of is that when I die, the person I ended up as meets the person I could have been.â
Author Unknown
Have you ever felt like youâre stuck in a rut, either in your career, at home, or in your personal life? Recently, I had the opportunity to interview Greg Layton aka The Chief Maker who specializes in getting people out of a rut and into a life they enjoy. He mostly does this through his work in the corporate world, but as youâll see, there is an enormous but misunderstood connection between your career and your personal life.
Greg is a 1:1 coach to some of the top CEOs in the worldâthose at the helm of billion-dollar companies. He also sits on the board of several associations that help make the world a better place, and specializes in turning middle level managers into C-level executives.
I donât know a single person better to speak on this topic.
Here are nine lessons for career, family, and business from Greg Layton. And if youâve ever wondered how to get a promotion, youâre in the right place.
Some of the most impactful moments in Gregâs life came after he did something beyond what he thought was possible. In addition to living with Shaolin Monks, Greg has run ultramarathons on two continents, including the Gobi Desert in Asia and the Atacama Desert in South America. If youâre not sure what an ultramarathon is, theyâre a 160-mile (260km) running race that lasts five days.
Before registering for his first ultramarathon, Greg had never run more than six miles (10km). But setting a goal so far beyond what he thought was possible helped him put his own potential into perspective. âYou find out youâre capable of a hell of a lot more than you give yourself credit for,â Greg said.
Most of us follow the same routine and as a result stay in an ever-shrinking comfort zone. To give yourself bulletproof confidence, Greg suggests doing something beyond what you think is possible.
There are very few true short-term endeavors that have a significant impact on our life. Most big-ticket items, such as family, career, and health, are long-term pursuits meaning weâre susceptible to the ebbs and flows when life inevitably gets in the way.
To greatly simplify this complexity, Greg mentioned the quote from The Shawshank Redemption: âGeology is the study of pressure and time. Thatâs all it takes reallyâpressure and time.â If you want to be successful, irrespective of what area, focus on consistent action in a clear direction, and excellence is assured.
If you feel like youâre in a rut, many people get burnt out because their process for getting out of the rut is trying to do everything. Instead, Greg recommends simplifying your focus to one thing. That single focus will give you momentum, which resets the bar and will give you a corresponding lift in other areas of your life.
Youâve probably heard the Albert Einstein quote: âThe definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.â Greg suggests disrupting familiar behavior patterns to change the outcome. To do this, change your language (i.e. the words you use) and your body language.
Often, when we have parts of our lives that make us unhappy, we can only get a drastically different result if we change our approachâand itâs US who has to change. This is a simple but proven technique to use when we're feeling powerless or frustrated, or simply waiting for a promised outcome that is long overdue.
You might reach a point in your career where you feel resentful of people running your company because you feel that they have it easy. However, Greg believes that the people in C-level roles have earned it through following the GREAT Method:
The GREAT Method:
If you want to be a C-level executive, thereâs only one way forwardâwork on leveling up in those attributes yourself.
We all want to know how to get a promotion, but Greg suggests that focusing on climbing the ladder isnât always the best approach. Instead, before seeking a promotion, he recommends asking yourself two questions:
a) Do you like your job?
If not, go horizontal (i.e. to a different department or company) rather than vertical. Otherwise, if you spend your whole life doing work you donât enjoy, itâs always going to be a grind.
b) Are you good at your job? (i.e. are you technically and tactically good at what you do.)
If youâre not sure, observe how often people come to you for advice, while also looking at your performance to date.
Greg also shared his formula to how to get promoted faster:
Promotion Speed = Your Track Record ^ Your Network
If you have a strong track record but a weak network, you need to work on building relationships. If you have a strong network but not the track record, you need to work on your skills and actively seeking out more responsibility.
One thing most people ignore is that your boss is your number one customer. Always go the extra mile to make them your biggest ambassador. Serve your boss and their peers, which will build a folklore about how good you are. Then, when an opportunity arises, your name will be put forward. Importantly, when you get that first taste of larger responsibility, knock it out of the park to prove youâre worthy of the role.
If you find yourself getting overlooked for promotions, you need to ask yourself why. In most cases, thereâs a good chance itâs because your reputation with management isnât where it needs to be. âPeople get promoted when everyoneâs raving about you,â Greg said. âIf theyâre not raving about you, you canât expect a promotion.â
Donât just blindly seek promotion. Ask the right questions first.
You mightâve been in a job before that contributed huge amounts of stress to your life, so much so that your personal relationships suffered. Iâve certainly been in in that position before. Or perhaps youâre in a job like that right now.
Greg mentioned that those who report feeling stressed or unhappy at work generally have strained relationships at home. In contrast, those who thrive at work generally thrive in their home life too.
That reason, alone, might make it worthwhile to take steps to improve your job satisfaction.
If youâre going to make a significant decision about your life, donât do it out of fear or anger. Instead, make sure youâre in flow (your absolute best and most resourceful state) before you make the decision; as a result, the outcome will be significantly better. While we all feel the same urges, acting on the impulse has been the undoing of many promising careers.
Do what you can to get into flowâgetting outdoors can be an essential first step in that process. Next, think about the bigger pictureâwhat you want from your lifeâwhile seeking the counsel of trusted friends. Only then will you be in a state to make a decision that aligns with who you are and where you want to be long-term.
A lot of stress and frustration can arise from making it about ourselves, but what we should be thinking about is leaving family, friends, colleagues, and the world better off as a result of our presence, kindness, and contributions. This is a simple focus that all of us can manage each and every day.
I hope those nine lessons were as impactful for you as they were for me. The full interview is available in the Win the Day Facebook group.
Want a special bonus? Grab a free copy of Gregâs bestselling book Chief Maker.
Onwards and upwards always,
James Whittaker
âMiss a meal, but donât miss a book.â
Jim Rohn
This holiday season, rather than squandering money on gifts with little long-term value, consider giving something practical that gets the recipient excited about taking ownership of his/her future.
Aside from allowing us to delve into the minds of the most inspiring and innovative people on the planet, books are a great gift because they sit there staring back at us: providing gentle prompts, imaginative thought and unprecedented motivationwhen we need it most. In fact, many of the people I interviewed for Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy noted that, in times of distress, just staring at the cover of Hillâs original classic made them feel better about themselves.
For the time-poor, or those with reading difficulties, audiobooks are the perfect way to consume massive knowledge in a short timeframe. For portability, and to easily retain a summary of your highlighted passages, ebooks canât be beat. For a well-rated classic, or something you want to revisit time and time again, thereâs no substitute for a hardcover, which is also far more personal than gifting a digital product.
Welcome to my first annual recommended reading list of gifts for yourself or a loved one.
Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy by James Whittaker
Writing this book is the greatest honor of my life and itâs truly humbling to see it continue to resonate with so many people around the world. The theme of the book is that how you respond to adversity when it inevitably strikes is far more important than the adversity itself, and this is demonstrated through a combination of moving stories and practical tips. My hope is that it continues to inspire people of all backgrounds to extraordinary achievement.
Want a signed copy? Signed copies with free worldwide shipping are available for USD $25 or AUD $30 per copy. Remember to email us with at least two weeksâ notice to ensure your order arrives in time. Discounts are available for bulk orders â email for more info. (Unsigned copies are also available on Amazon.)
Defiant by Janine Shepherd
If youâve read or watched Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy, youâll undoubtedly be familiar with Janine Shepherd. Her remarkable story is the best personification of resilience and tenacity that Iâve ever seen.
Defiant is a comprehensive account of a champion athlete having her entire life ripped away by a freak accident, before summoning the courage to continue and pursue a gold medal in the sport of life. I finished this book in two sittings, then called Janine to tell her how amazing it was! Highly recommended.
Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
Iâve always been a fan of Nike, and Shoe Dog is a warts-and-all account of founding one of the worldâs most recognized companies and navigating all the perils along the way. Often, with global brands, we forget that the business all started as a simple thought impulse. Knight traveled around the world looking for inspiration, battling the market leaders (and even the US Government) and setting up distribution channels.
His philanthropic values, entrepreneurial spirit and uncanny resourcefulness make this an excellent gift for aspiring entrepreneurs with lofty goals.
The 5 Minute Journal by Intelligent Change
If you follow me on Instagram, youâve probably seen how frequently I post these as Daily Stories. A huge percentage of CEOs have spoken about the importance of journaling for mental well-being; yet staring at a blank page each day can be daunting. The 5 Minute Journal provides a useful structure to start and finish the day in the right mindset. To me, itâs been truly lifechanging and is the book I gift the most.
(If youâre on Instagram, I want to follow you too! Just send me a message or email with your username so I can keep track.)
Chief Maker by Greg Layton
This book is written for middle level managers looking to equip themselves with the skills and mindset to not only secure a C-level role but thrive.
In addition to a unique backgroundâthink living with Shaolin Monks in China, running ultra-marathons, and coaching world champion athletesâGreg has become a close personal friend. He compiled his firsthand research with true changemakers into his 5-step âGREAT Methodâ asthe ultimate career progression handbook. Better yet, Chief Maker is FREE as part of a Christmas promotion.
Crushing It by Gary Vaynerchuk
We all know the importance of having mentors regardless of what life stage weâre in, but too many people are focused on trying to find one in real life. The most influential people of all timeâfrom Marcus Aurelius to Jeff Bezosâturned to the written word for inspiration, and you can do the same. In 2012, when I lived in Boston and was at a career crossroads, Gary Veeâs books were enormously influential.
Crushing It is his latest book and will help entrepreneurs and professionals, as well as those looking for a profitable side hustle, monetize their passion and package their talents for success in the digital age.
The following three books are timeless classics and will be on my bookshelf forever:
A handwritten card or letter to acknowledge the recipient for all the loving and selfless actions they have taken to brighten the world and illuminate your spirit.
I proudly recommend all these books and know they would be a welcome gift in any stocking. This holiday season give your friends and loved ones the inspiration and ability to help themselves.
Onwards and upwards always,
James W.
In case you missed it: âThe Path to Greatnessâ