Executive Excellence | Data Analysis & Management | Problem Solving Expert | Project Leadership| Business Chameleon | Champion of Continuous Learning
A first generation American, Stephen has been a consistent performer and driven to provide
leadership and strong business outcomes at every level. While journeying through his career at
AT&T, he provided excellence and accepted all challenges with initiative and resolve.
He was most notable for adapting to business needs as his career progressed. “Even when I first started at Pacific Bell as a clerk, I was eager to take on responsibility when I saw that it would potentially open doors to promotional opportunities.”
It was when he was faced with unemployment due to an unexpected lay off at AT&T in 2023, that he
realized something was missing. While he would be considered successful by many outside
observers, he never was comfortable with self-promotion. “I was always willing to accept
opportunities when they came my way, but I never actively went looking for them.”
As the job seeking began, a task that Stephen had not faced for many years, he realized that while
he has many soft-skills to bring to the table, his technical and hard-skills were outdated and were
not resonating with hiring managers and his search was going nowhere.
“When I started to reflect on my skills and talents, I quickly realized I had areas that I was missing.”
That is when Stephen began his journey of self-improvement to find his inner strength.
Discovering Your Inner Strength
Stephen’s story of explosive self-growth started with a crazy idea. “We are big-time Disney fans. My
wife started it – Disneyland is her ‘happy place’.” Stephen and his daughter would often talk about
Disney and the state of its business at the coffee table, sharing ideas and areas of improvement.
Stephen relates that “one day she told me she thought I should run the company! I said that they
have a CEO and he was doing an excellent job, but that if the opportunity ever arose, I would be
happy to pitch myself to the board.”
That crazy notion made Stephen think about what it takes to be a CEO. He began to examine the
careers of executives he admired. “I never want to re-create the wheel; I always look for insight and
knowledge when it is available.” This research led him to realize that he shared many of the traits
necessary to be a successful executive. “What I lacked was courage and initiative.”
Key Takeaways
- Dream Big: Stephen successfully began his “self-reclamation” project by launching into action
to re-train his mind and become master of his mental and emotional states. - Forge a Positive Mindset: The biggest part of his quickly redirecting and focusing his mental
space towards positivity happened quickly. One key was to focus on being mindful. - Live in the present: He considers the days of his life to be like pages in a reference book. The
past pages have been written and cannot be changed. The future pages are blank and yet to be
written. But today is being written, and his focus is on making it his best day ever. - Embrace adversity: Stephen admits that this was the hardest skill to master. He encountered
stressful situations and knew they provided growth potential. Making fear your friend is a key to
staying positive. - Consistency of Action: He targets his goal as a primary motivation to stay focused on his
personal mission and drive his non-stop efforts to achieve his objectives.
A Journey of Self-awareness and Growth
The path to a more aware and positive mind was not easy for Stephen. Being risk averse and never
having the drive or focus to actively pursue goals for many years led to a devoted introvert who was
unconsciously intentionally fostering an underachieving mindset.
Now the path to his goals is clear. It takes continuous effort to stay mindful and alert to your mental
and emotional states. Stephen has found tremendous power in liberating his mind, controlling his
emotional states, and striving to make each day his best day ever and live a joyful and successful
life.
Living a Successful Life and Its Fundamentals
The greatest realization that he found was that to be successful you need to live a successful life
first. Living a successful life means recognizing that success is a journey and not a destination.
Having a lofty goal is the starting point for this journey. Then Stephen recognized that he had to
think about what it takes to be an extraordinary executive and set up a plan of action to become the
leader he knew he had inside. Believing in himself, his plan, and knowing that the dream he had in
mind was achievable, has had a profound impact on his life.
The Evolution of a Future Executive
This journey of self-growth has given him many dividends, including providing him with insight into
what makes an exceptional leader and executive. While researching, he recognized similarities in
the approach to business and life that these businesspeople took as part of their success.
Stephen learned something else about these successful individuals; they were not very different
from himself. Many had no college degree, or perhaps only one. Most had humble beginnings. What
set them apart from him is that they had faced failure and adversity and learned to overcome them.
They had clear goals which, combined with focus, determination, continuous effort, and a positive
mindset, led them on their journey to a successful life.
The understanding that the experiences that shaped these leaders are accessible and can be replicated by anyone is a driving force for Stephen as he pursues his ambitions and strives for a successful life.
Key Executive Skills
- Positivity/Be Decisive: Positivity in the workplace coming from the actions and words of your
executives does spread. You also must be decisive in corporate decision making and strategy. - Delegate: As a leader, you must trust that your managers and their teams can handle the
decisions and directions that have been made. Don’t tell them how to do their jobs. Tell them
what to do and they will surprise you with their determination and creativity. - Be Humble: When teams provide extraordinary results, make sure you heap praise upon them
and do not take their credit. Humbly accept that their talents and skills have produced
outcomes that were beyond expectations. - Ownership: Conversely, when outcomes fall short of targets, do not publicly criticize or lay
blame. Take ownership, step up and take responsibility. You may have corrective discussions
privately as needed, but never point fingers. - Communication: You need to be a great communicator to be able to express the company’s
vision and mission so that the leadership and employees can successfully achieve the steps
required to complete the corporate objectives. - Dream Big: This is extremely important at the organizational level as well as the personal level
to keep the company and its employees focused on the future and provide extraordinary
results.
Stephen is quick to point out that this is not meant to be an exhaustive study of leadership and
personal improvement. “People have written countless volumes on these subjects. I wanted to
share my journey and observations ‘in brief’ as an introduction to my inspiration and process.”
This story is mainly his recollection of his path forward which led him to find the leader and
executive that he has within himself. The highlights are the most meaningful topics that he felt
connected to. His self-confidence and inner strength, he feels, have been ‘uncovered’ and
incredibly expanded upon.
Lifelong Learning & Happiness
His dreams are certainly lofty. Stephen realizes that his ability to grow and become stronger were
greatly influenced by his love for lifelong learning. His future may include returning to college to
complete a Masters in Information Science, or completing an MS in Physics with a focus on
Astrophysics. His layoff also inspired him to make time to start his first novel and to study the violin.
A successful life would not be complete without self-care as well. Stephen is quick to point out,
“you must take care of your body in order to have the energy and stamina to pursue big dreams.” For
him, this includes frequent walks with his dogs, riding a bicycle and hiking, along with a healthy
vegan diet. He also suggests that quality rest (he is fond of a quote from Ovid: “Take rest; a field that
has rested gives a bountiful crop”) and finding joyful moments during the day are crucial to health
and happiness.
Editorial Notes
Stephen Gutay’s biography encapsulates the essence of American resilience and ambition. His journey from facing unemployment to rediscovering his inner strengths and leadership skills exemplifies the transformative power of self-improvement and determination. Stephen’s story is a compelling reminder that personal growth and success are within reach for those willing to embrace change and continuous learning. Through his experiences, readers are invited to reflect on their own paths and the possibilities that lie ahead. In essence, Stephen’s narrative is a beacon of inspiration, illustrating the profound impact of perseverance and a positive mindset in the face of challenges.
