An Interview With Chad Silverstein
Artificial Intelligence. There is no doubt AI is revolutionizing the world we live in and will continue to as the future unfolds. I firmly believe it will allow everyone the potential of coaching regardless of their circumstances.
The world of coaching is undergoing a seismic shift, with emerging trends set to redefine its boundaries and possibilities. From digital transformation and the integration of artificial intelligence to the growing emphasis on mental health and the global rise of coaching cultures within organizations, these developments are reshaping the landscape of personal and professional growth. As we navigate through these changes, understanding the forces that drive the future of coaching becomes paramount. I had the pleasure of interviewing Gordon Fraser.
Gordon Fraser is a dynamic speaker and certified coach, inspiring entrepreneurs and executives worldwide with actionable strategies for success in business and life. He has shared the stage with renowned speakers like Rachel Hollis, Mel Robbins, Connie Podesta, and Paul McKenna, delivering powerful insights to audiences of tens of thousands at Global Training Conferences. Gordon’s philosophy of helping others “be more, have more, and give more” resonates deeply with entrepreneurs, executives, and individuals seeking growth in their personal and professional lives. With over 15 years of entrepreneurial expertise, he has helped propel the clean beauty and wellness company Arbonne to unprecedented success, contributing $500 million in accumulated sales and playing a vital role in the company’s nearly $800 million in annual sales. Representing the top 0.4% of success within the organization, Gordon’s efforts have outpaced even celebrated brands like Gwyneth Paltrow’s GOOP, solidifying Arbonne’s place as a leader in the clean beauty space. Originally known as “the man in a woman’s world,” Gordon has redefined success in the female-dominated wellness industry. As the “face” of Arbonne’s Men’s Grooming line, Groomwell, he has paved the way for a new era of inclusivity and innovation in clean beauty. Beyond business, Gordon is a dedicated philanthropist, establishing a scholarship at L.A.M.D.A. to support aspiring actors. His holistic approach to success, combining health, mindset, and personal development, has made him a sought-after coach and mentor, empowering thousands to achieve their potential.
Thank you for joining us. To start, could you share your “origin story” with our readers? How did you begin your coaching journey, and what challenges did you face in the early days?
I’ve been in professional sales all my adult life. Telecoms, Advertising, and AV Software with a lot of cold calling, account retention, and then latterly Government account management — all of it was relationship and rapport-orientated.
I was considering an MBA when I worked for McAfee and many times, I was encouraged to go into management, but two things held me back: the money (it was much less) and the fact that I really didn’t want the responsibility of a team and all that entailed.
So, when I started my business, it became clear that in order for me to succeed, I needed to be the best coach I could possibly be, and that was the first and biggest challenge: the transition to team player.
I decided to make my business work, so I started taking advice from successful leaders in my world, reading appropriate books and applying what I learned from them.
You are a successful business leader. Which three-character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
Naivety, stubbornness, and a good sense of humor.
When I say naivety, I’m not being disingenuous. Any project I’ve ever attempted has been approached from the point of view of, “If someone else can do it — I can do it.” Then, I jump in and move with urgency to meet my challenge.
The naivety is in realizing that the success I desired required more of me than I could have ever imagined because being average requires little effort, but becoming the top 1% takes all of you. It wasn’t easy. I may not have started if I had appreciated all the deaths I had to die. So yes, my naivety.
My stubbornness. I think this is rooted in “What will people think?” When you proclaim to the world you’re going to go off and do something extraordinary…you should probably do it, or they might never trust you or your goals and dreams in the future. For me, failing wasn’t an option. My stubbornness kept me in the game until I generated the momentum to consider my next move.
Sense of humor. I’ve always laughed at my own folly, my dumbass mistakes, my setbacks, the absurdity of life, and the sometimes luck that comes out of know where to which you can’t brag about!! I laugh a lot. I have laughed a lot and will continue to, I’m sure. I think having the ability to laugh at yourself and show others how to do the same is a gift. It might be a British thing; I don’t know, but if you don’t take yourself too seriously, it allows you to focus and take the goals and actions that need attention. Setbacks are distractions.
To quote Ricky Gervais, “Laugh in the face of adversity…and you’re bulletproof.”
Can you share your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Why does that resonate with you so much?
When I was around 12, my school friend Kirsty Thompson gave me a plaque that read, “Be reasonable, do it my way…” I think she had the sum of me even then! I still have it.
I share this because achieving success in the industry where I’ve discovered my purpose and regained recognition demands a strong work ethic, unwavering consistency, an understanding of delayed gratification, and, above all, a steadfast commitment to a proven system that delivers results — much like the reliable model of a Starbucks.
I’ve worked with many people who come into my business with exceptional backgrounds who are highly educated, successful, and intelligent. Overall, the biggest hurdle they’ve had to overcome is getting over themselves to follow “a blueprint to achieve.” Unique people don’t duplicate; that’s what makes them unique. But in my business, it’s the systems that do. It’s the only way to win, so I am reminded, “Be reasonable, do it my way…”
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?
Thank you for asking. I recently met with a well-known publisher to write a book on the values, ethics, and tools required to succeed in Creative Marketing. I was excited about the meeting, but as the conversation progressed, they did a 360 and asked me instead to do a more autobiographical “story,” focussing more on my background and the challenges I’ve overcome in my early life and on the way to the top. That was a surprise and rather more daunting, personally. They felt that talking about success against the odds would be more helpful to people achieve their goals with whatever obstacle they are dealing with than a book about x + y = z. I agreed so that’s what I’m doing.
Without saying any names could you share a particularly memorable success story from your coaching career?
Many years ago, right at the start of my business. I worked with a woman who, honestly, I didn’t think was cut out for creative marketing, but nevertheless, she was insistent and determined to work with me.
She was of a nervous disposition, had thinning hair, was quite thin, and was not into beauty and wellness at all. She was also rather wealthy, so I couldn’t quite figure out her motivation for the business.
Anyway, she attended every single training session, read every book recommended to her, applied everything she learned, set goals, attended events, and, of course, started using the products she was selling.
Over the course of several months, she transformed herself. She was the most consistent and dedicated of people but the biggest change I saw was in her appearance and confidence.
After six months of being a “product of the product” (and remember, she’d never seen a moisturizer before in her life), she started to look younger. At that time, we had hair thickening and scalp stimulation products, and her hair started to change, too. It was quite something and gave her a real esteem boost, and combining that with the sales coaching, her confidence began to shine.
Her business never took off in the end but that wasn’t the success she wanted. She told me she joined me to be part of a positive community. She confided that her marriage was on the rocks; her kids had gone off to university, and she wasn’t after money — she was after personal growth and purpose. I coached her to build a business by working harder on herself than the business, and she did. In doing so, she found herself, and that was the ultimate success for her.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview about coaching. How has your approach to coaching evolved over the years, and what personal learnings have you applied to your own development?
My approach hasn’t changed too much, but I think the world has changed considerably and progressed, and that definitely has had an impact. Language and sensibilities have evolved somewhat, and of course, as new discoveries are made in neuroscience and wellness, that impacts, too. But at its core, my coaching is built on honesty and trust, and that hasn’t changed.
I would say AI and new advancements in understanding how the brain develops and continues to develop are the main personal learnings I have applied to my own development, especially the relationship between sleep and anxiety, and performance.
How do you incorporate feedback into your coaching practice to continuously improve?
I use a system of checks and balances. In addition to duplicable coaching documents, I have regular 1–2–1 meetings with leaders, and outside coaches work with us to ensure uniformity, cultural improvement, and continued success.
Can you discuss an innovation in coaching that you believe is currently underappreciated but has the potential to significantly impact the field?
I’m a big fan of college coaching. It’s a mashup of art therapy, goal setting, and visualization. It’s deeply personal and inspiring. On its own or in a group, it’s a great tool. It really comes alive for teams. It’s exceptionally powerful, especially for cohesiveness and relationship building.
In what ways can coaching address the evolving mental health needs of diverse populations in a digitally connected world?
Coaches aren’t Therapists. We need to remind ourselves of that but also appreciate that Mental Health challenges are probably the number one issue people wrestle with today. Self-esteem, money, and financial security seem to factor significantly from my own experience.
There are so many tools and systems available today to support people’s specific needs, and coaches can be great starting points for suggesting methods or tools to help.
For me, it’s movement — agreeing to processes and measurable actions that can keep you moving forward despite the chatter.
How do you foresee artificial intelligence and machine learning transforming the coaching industry in the next decade?
Ten years is a LONG time. A long-term goal is now considered 6–12 months. If AI is already progressing at an exponential rate and continues to, then it’s quite possible it could take the place of a coach. Who knows? However, if you have a warm body and a full heart, you’ll always have the advantage.
What role do you believe ethical considerations and privacy concerns will play in the future of coaching, especially with the increased use of digital platforms?
Ethical considerations and privacy concerns are already featured on online platforms. However, what is hopeful is the number of students graduating with degrees in Philosophy and Ethics being snapped up by corporations using online applications. People should be rightly concerned, but it would seem that there’s thought, and planning involved behind the scenes to ensure safety concerns.
If you want to be part of the conversation, you could find out what software the companies are using to protect data storage and also prevent cyberattacks.
You could re-examine the policy and procedures and then check out the values and ethics of the CEO. Those findings could satisfy your concerns or help you make decisions to protect yourself.
Those concerns could be minimal if you choose a recommended or well-researched coach who works in a more traditional format and is not involved in those digital platforms.
Could you list and briefly explain “Top 5 Trends Shaping the Future of Coaching” based on your experiences and insights? If you can, please share a story or example for each.
1. Artificial Intelligence.
There is no doubt AI is revolutionizing the world we live in and will continue to as the future unfolds. I firmly believe it will allow everyone the potential of coaching regardless of their circumstances.
My experience tells me that there will always be people who need the human touch and the empathy that comes with it. I often have clients cry, especially when experiencing a breakthrough with something major that’s been holding them back. I’m not sure how AI would deal with that right now, but if you have a warm body and a heart, you’ll always have the advantage.
2. Biohacking.
I guess this is a kind of extension of AI. Lead by the major universities and research centers around the world, each year, we learn more and more about our bodies and how to support them with technologies, systems, performance nutrition, and creating new habits based on scientific discovery.
There are many concepts and ideas on the table but one I’m hearing a lot more of these days is brainwave therapy and the use of frequency tools to move the brain into different states of being. It seems to be particularly useful for those in high-stress environments. Technology has become more advanced, and the personalization aspect makes it flexible, portable, and more user-friendly. I think we’ll be hearing more about this.
3. Anxiety & Stress Management.
I think 2025 is going to be the year of mental health, especially those Stateside. We’ve just come out of a divisive election, and for the 50% of those who didn’t experience a winning candidate, it could be a tough four years for them.
The cost of living and the need to make more money in an increasingly competitive environment have been taking their toll for a while now, and I think as we approach the near future, career success coaching coupled with anxiety and stress management will continue to be in demand.
4. Executive Transitions.
Everyone seems to be talking about change right now or the desire to want something different. Career dissatisfaction and/or a lack of security have never been greater, especially among those feeling overwhelmed or stuck. The complexity and challenge of the C-level are real.
I think we will see a lot more movement among C-level executives and VPs in 2025. Some will be getting out, cashing in their share options, and taking new career paths, while others will be navigating the highly competitive space with a hunger for elevation and an increased paycheck.
Coaches will be in demand to support the uncertainty of career transitions and provide career strategies for more successful professional development.
5. Life Coaching.
Not everyone wants to swing from a chandelier, jump through hoops of fire, and walk across hot coals. The feeling of being overwhelmed, not living life to your full potential, and being stuck are applicable to a CEO or a bus driver, and you don’t need to be an executive coach to help someone change and move forward with their life.
There is a sense of dissatisfaction and the desire for change around, and I think all coaches will see an increase in people wanting something different or better for themselves. Life Coaches will be in more demand than ever — it’s the 80/20 rule.
How do you envision the integration of coaching within organizational cultures changing the landscape of leadership and employee development?
I don’t know if this has ever changed. Since the 90s, the best companies have had training and marketing departments whose primary job was to influence and match the corporate mission and vision with employee’s personal goals, targets, and aspirations. Mostly sales departments, to be fair, while management accessed coaches.
Coaches are invaluable, especially those with Philosophy and Ethics backgrounds, as more companies downsize. Coaches today are often contracted on a retainer basis and are essential to the success of many organizations. This trend and integration will continue and is relevant to all businesses in all industries.
What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the coaching industry today, and how might we overcome it?
The biggest challenge facing the coaching business today, taking aside AI and the mass-market digital “one size fits all” corporation offering, is the paradox of choice. Many people offer a similarly accredited or ubiquitous service, which means many people could procrastinate on making a choice because a confused mind does nothing — or goes with the crowd.
To overcome this, I firmly believe it’s about the human touch, understanding the power of your lived experiences, identifying and then marketing your niche service to ensure people can find what they are looking for.
Word of mouth will also still be the most powerful form of advertising. Also, school is never out for the professional; education and relevance are a must to stay competitive and abreast of the pace of change.
What is one long-term goal you have for your coaching practice, and how are you working towards it?
My long-term goal was and still is achieving and maintaining residual earnings from my efforts. That can only be achieved by working to identify new business partners and then helping them achieve and duplicate their own success many times over, as a franchise might.
How can our readers continue to follow your work?
I’m on Instagram at mrgordonfraser, where there are links to my website gordonfraser.co. However, I do take regular and long social media detoxes to protect my sanity. But I do check-in.
Thank you for offering such valuable insights into the future of coaching. We look forward to seeing your work continue to reach new heights, and we wish you continued success.
About the Interviewer: Chad Silverstein, a seasoned entrepreneur with over two decades of experience as the Founder and CEO of multiple companies. He launched Choice Recovery, Inc., a healthcare collection agency, while going to The Ohio State University, His team earned national recognition, twice being ranked as the #1 business to work for in Central Ohio. In 2018, Chad launched [re]start, a career development platform connecting thousands of individuals in collections with meaningful employment opportunities, He sold Choice Recovery on his 25th anniversary and in 2023, sold the majority interest in [re]start so he can focus his transition to Built to Lead as an Executive Leadership Coach. Learn more at www.chadsilverstein.com
Gordon Fraser Of Gordon Fraser & Associates On The Top 5 Trends Shaping the Future of Coaching was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.