Today we’d like to introduce you to Pete Hayes.
Pete, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
God has led me through a winding, twisting road. From UC Berkeley and working for IBM out of school in San Francisco. To Austin for more than 33 years. Mostly technology marketing roles. Then more recently, Chief Outsiders – fractional growth executives for mid-sized companies. Where I’m co-principal with my partner Art Saxby. He and I wrote “The Growth Gears” back in 2016. It’s been used as a textbook at universities, including. McCombs at UT. Isn’t that cool? It’s a framework for growth. And it works. We now have an AI software platform that puts all that on steroids. It’s so much fun bringing this to market now.
One reason I attended UCB was to stay close to home. I was in a rock band, Rock Island, and we were on fire. It was paying great. Even if it put a strain on my schooling. Which is why I had to give it up. I knew I wasn’t set to be a full-time, professional musician for life. Yet, I still get to keep my chops up. Once I became a Christian, writing worship songs (and winning a national Christian Music Talent Search song writing contest in 2003), I began leading worship teams at various churches. Nothing has been more meaningful and fulfilling. My daughter, Addison (then 15, now 40) recorded a CD of my songs that charted internationally. Yet, she wasn’t interested in the professional path either. But I’m grateful she serves her local church as well.
I met Cindy not long after my first marriage fell apart. She was a true Texan, from La Grange. That was 30 years ago. And I’m still smitten with her. We developed a love for sailing. Starting on Lake Travis (did you know that’s what Christopher Cross was writing about when he wrote “Sailing”?). Then after being invited to join a flotilla in the Caribbean – sailing from Antigua to Guadalupe to Domanica and back – we fell in love with sailing blue water. Four boats and many adventures later (from Tahiti to Sardinia, mostly however in the Caribbean) we are starting to wind down. But still loving the ocean. So…we just built a second home on St Thomas where we look out at where the Caribbean kisses the Atlantic. It’s incredible. It’s our “Sanctuary” – and that’s what we call it.
Now, with two grown daughters (Lindsay 44, Addison 40) and 5 grandkids (Westlea 15, William 12, Briggs 9 and Ford 12, Jack 8) we split time in Austin and St Thomas, still managing a full work schedule. But you can’t beat morning walks on the beach, and weekends on St John. Still, we love our neighbors in Austin and our Sundays at church when we are there!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Looking back, it has all been purposeful, but that’s because I believe God is good and he uses all things for good for those who love him. But if I were to summarize the challenges:
– A key promotion was taken back by a new executive, resulting is a disasterous set-back of career
– My first marriage struggled, but I was OK with that. Until it blew up. Divorce is awful. I loved my wife and my family, but has contributed to its undoing. But curled up on the couch in a fetal position is where I was after the moment of disintegration. Hardest thing ever to get through
– Family members had challenges with life-threatening conditions and unhealthy relationships
– One job role completely blew up as we were acquired and outgoing CEO telling acquiring CEO I was no good
– Left one high paying job at the height of a recession to a multi-year period of low income
Nope. Not a smooth road. But I wouldn’t change a thing. Because of the learnings and opportunities to love others better.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I joined Chief Outsiders soon after it was formed in 2009. For mid-sized businesses that don’t have marketing or sales executive at the C-Suite table, we provide one. They work part-time (fractionally). And in fact, we were the first Fractional CMO firm in the country. And have grown to over 100 fractional executives, have served 2,500 clients across 70 plus different industries.
I help run the business as co-principal, and specially oversee our two new business units – GrowthGears OS and Team Outsiders. GrowthGears OS is an AI-powered software platform that helps us accelerate results, while Team Outsiders are activation resources (marketing directors, sales managers, web developers, AI specialists) who work with our fractional executives, embedded into our client environments, to get things done. It’s a powerful combination, that works together as a growth system. People, process, technology. But our culture is what makes our company special (have you ever heard that before?). It’s a culture of learning from each other. Our virtual meetings (we are 100% virtual, have been since 2009 – no offices, etc.), and our twice a year face to face gatherings, not to mention ad-hoc support and discussions and peer groups, are all about how to make each other better. And as a result, how to deliver more value – faster – to our clients. It’s amazing. And it’s why our people (our Tribe – aren’t we clever – a Tribe in Chief Outsiders?) stay with us for years or a decade.
How do you define success?
Is my life full of joy or strife? Two of our grandkids visited us in St Thomas this week with their folks (daugher Addison, her husband Elijah). I asked them what they enjoyed most about their visit – the beach? kayaking? snorkeling? seeing turtles, sharks, stingrays? ferry trip to St John and its beaches? time watching World Cup? Or Mandalorian? Nope. Playing cards together. And you know what? That was the most fun I had too. Spending time across a table, playing games, teaching them new games. Laughing and cutting up.
I work hard. Cindy says too hard. But I make time for what’s important. People. Maybe not as much as I should or could. And there is a balance. But really, there’s a priority. My family is the priority. Right behind my faith. My quiet time each morning makes each day 100% better than it would be otherwise.
My joy comes from loving God, my family and the people I work with. And that’s success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chiefoutsiders.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petehayescmo/
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/j0Eiv52_-Bo
- Other: https://www.dspres.org/
