Clocking Out Forever: Paxton Grey’s Take on Success Without Schedules

Welcome to The Remote Revolution: Crafting Cultures of Flexibility, Freedom, and Productivity, a podcast brought to you by Influence Mobile. I am your host, Daniel Todd. Join us every month as we delve into the secrets of building a thriving remote culture, debunking myths, and providing practical insights that can transform your team's productivity. Our guest today is Paxton Gray, CEO of 97th Floor, an enterprise marketing agency that grows brands through advertising, SEO, content marketing, and design. Join Daniel and Paxton as they discuss the importance of creating a great workplace culture, implementing initiatives for employee well-being and growth, and building a strong team. They also touch on the challenges of workplace trauma and building trust. Listen in to gain insights on creating a positive work environment and thriving in your career.

Our guest today is Paxton Gray, CEO of 97th Floor, an enterprise marketing agency that grows brands through advertising, SEO, content marketing, and design. Join Daniel and Paxton as they discuss the importance of creating a great workplace culture, implementing initiatives for employee well-being and growth, and building a strong team. They also touch on the challenges of workplace trauma and building trust.

Paxton Gray is CEO of 97th Floor, an award-winning digital marketing agency. He’s responsible for ensuring the agency “carries out its mission to elevate people and brands we believe in, building marketing campaigns for some of the world's biggest companies like Google, Zoom, and AT&T”. He also serves as Vice President of Utah Digital Marketing Collective, Utah's largest non-profit group dedicated to the education of digital marketers in the state.

He also serves on the Marketing and Business Education board as an advisor to the Alpine School District and on the board for MTech’s digital marketing program. Paxton has been a featured speaker at industry conferences all over the world, sharing insights learned through years of client work.

Episode Highlights

02:48 - Growth of the 97th Floor agency and cultural changes
05:51 - Implementing Results-Only Work Environment (ROWE)
09:13 - Maintaining the title of one of the best places to work
12:57 - Importance of cultural fit in hiring
16:16 - The role of the CEO in the hiring process
18:34 - Advice for employees on thriving in their careers
22:02 - Importance of creating a positive work environment
24:35 - Challenges of workplace trauma and building trust

Quotes

"We implemented a Results-Only Work Environment (ROWE) in 2016. So, it's ROWE, and what that means is you focus on delivering results. It's not about punching a clock or being in the office for a specific time. As long as you're getting the results, hitting your KPIs, and doing your job, then you can be wherever you want, do whatever you want.”
"I'm not involved in The CEO's role in the interview process right now except for positions that report directly to me. But it's one of those things that I want to be more involved in over the future because I want to set the tone and expectations for new hires. I want to make sure that we're bringing in the right people and that they understand what our culture is like."
"Find a trustworthy employer. Focus on adding value and learning rather than solely focusing on what you can get out of the relationship. It's always about what you can bring to the table and what you can do to help the company. Then, find an employer who values you and who creates a positive work environment. Those are the kind of things that I would look for if I were someone starting their career."

Episode Resources

Paxton Gray
97th Floor Website
Daniel Todd
Influence Mobile Website