Chris LoCurto's Blog

May 2, 2012

Stepping Into A New Leadership Role

Here’s a question that I often get asked by people who really care about being a great leader:

@ChrisLoCurto I need advice as a new employee stepping into a leadership role for the 1st time. I want to be a rockstar but... gently :)

April 27, 2012 9:29 am via webReply RetweetFavorite

@mondster

Monda  Italiana

The ones who already think they deserve leadership, and would be awesome at it, never ask this question.

The answer is simple. Leadership is not a title. So many people believe once they become a leader, they get to bark orders at people. That’s actually not leading. If you want to know if you’re leading, turn around. If no one is following you, then, by definition, you’re not a leader.

So how do you become the man or woman others will follow, especially if you are like @Mondster, who’s taking a leadership role for the first time?

Do I have influence? - This is one of the questions I answered in 4 Questions You Should Ask About Your Leadership. The first rule of leadership is that you must have influence. Without it, team members won’t follow you. Heck, family members won’t follow you. They will do the tasks you’ve dictated, but you’ll get half of their productivity and none of their loyalty.

What about the last person? - When taking a role that was previously filled, I think it’s wise to sit down with the former leader—unless the last person was a colossal dork—and allow them to download everything about the team and their leadership style. Chances are some of the team loved that leader and remain loyal to them. Find out why. It could help you influence them your way.

Get team advice - The person who thinks they have all the answers and doesn’t utilize their team’s brain power is doomed to fail. You NEED your team to pull off all that you have in mind. Even if you have the answers, allow your team the opportunity to give input. And then, take their advice. This gives the team dignity, which gives them buy-in and then results in the most important thing—ownership. When I take ownership of something, I see it through. Otherwise, I just do your dictated tasks.

Pass out the trophies - People repeat what they are rewarded for. And how you treat your team shows them your values. Make sure you are CONSTANTLY telling people how they are winning and how proud you are of them. None of us have a difficult time finding people doing things wrong, but many of us struggle to find them doing things right.

What’s next? - Don’t allow yourself to get in a rut of coming to work, doing your tasks, patting some folks on the back and going home. You MUST be pouring into yourself. Read, read, and read some more. Continually study leadership books, blogs (this is the best), podcasts or whatever you can get your hands on. Not all of it will be great, but you’ll be able to weed out the bad ones fast enough.

Starting out on the right foot will change the amount of time you spend fixing the problems that come up. Again, realize that people matter. They are the most important part of your leadership. Without them, your leadership doesn’t exist.

Question: What are some things you wished you knew as a new leader?

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55 comments | tags: business, Decision Making, EntreLeadership, leadership, Learning, Management, Small Business, Team | posted in EntreLeadership, Leadership, Small Business

April 30, 2012

Social Security – Why You Should Be Worried!

By Chris LoCurto

UGH!! I just finished reading an article about Social Security running out a few years earlier than expected. In 2033, Social Security benefits will pay out only 75% of the scheduled amounts.

The article was quick to let those who have already retired know that they don’t need to worry. Their benefits will remain at 100%. But he went on to say, “If you’re under age 40, start worrying.” Really?! The only reason you should be worried about Social InSecurity is if it is your hope and only plan for retirement!

By the way, that’s a horrible plan. Even President Roosevelt felt so. From the SSA website: Social Security was never meant to be the only source of income for people when they retire.

For the love, please have a plan! Don’t put your trust in the government to take care of you when you get older. I can tell you. The government’s way of handling someone I loved wasn’t pretty.

Instead, take some easy steps to “secure” your future:

Get out of debt - Over and over, I tell people that debt robs them of their options. When you have all of your income and no debt, you can build wealth and build it faster. How do you do this? Get on a budget that works and live on less than you make. That’s pretty simple. The hard part is the accountability.

Invest already! - Investing isn’t as scary as it sounds. Once you are debt-free but your mortgage, start putting 15% away in a 401K and/or Roth IRA. Don’t invest in single stocks or gold. For right now, only focus on Mutual Funds.

Insure yourself - What you don’t want to happen is getting to retirement and something catastrophic wipes out all of your investments. Instead, make sure you have Term Life Insurance if someone depends on your income. Also get Long-Term Disability Insurance in case something happens to you and you can’t work, or you have outrageous medical bills. It’s also a good idea to get LTDI on parents over 60. It doesn’t cost that much.

These are just a few of the things you can do to keep from worrying about Social Security, as some would have you do. Now, without making this look like a total promotion instead of me wanting to help, I didn’t advertise all the ways to do it. Instead, you can click on the bullet points to see how. Or just ask a question in the comments.

Question: What are you doing to ensure your future?

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32 comments | tags: business, EntreLeadership, leadership, Mutual fund, Retirement, Roth IRA, Small Business, Social Security, Social Security Administration, Term Life Insurance | posted in EntreLeadership, Financial, Leadership, Small Business

April 27, 2012

Financial Wellness And Corporate Culture

By Chris LoCurto

Financial wellness in business? Here’s a great post on the need for corporate financial programs by Robert Lawrence. Follow Robert on Twitter. You can guest post as well! Read how to here.

Question: If you are dealing with money problems, do you turn to your workplace for help?

For most people, the answer would be “not on your life!” Few of us want anyone to know when we’re dealing with debt-related issues. So most of us manage quietly (or so we think) with the stress. But what if there was a better way? What if you knew your employer really cared about every aspect of your health, including your money?

I think financial wellness is a disposition or an outlook that people have when they are either experiencing financial success/security or are on a path towards that goal. It involves attitude and behavior. It’s why so much of financial wellness is geared toward helping people get out of debt and live within their means.

Teaching people how to become debt-free and live that way has to be at the core of any financial wellness program. Recently, Fox Business News posted a piece about how consumer debt is affecting many workers’ ability to save for retirement. It cites a Financial Wellness Survey that shows how 33% of workers are not saving any money for their retirement. Of these, 59% say they have too many expenses to set aside money for future needs.

When team members face personal money problems, their workplace productivity plummets. They often lose their jobs as a result. If they stay, the level of their participation in company retirement programs is almost nonexistent.

In an effort to protect their ROI (return on invest), employers should look to financial wellness programs to remedy these problems. Certainly every business is concerned about its ROI. But an authentic concern for the personal development and overall well-being of each team member is what defines a truly caring company. This is what creating corporate culture is all about. And when a company culture reflects a genuine concern for its team members, the ROI soars.

Financial problems cause stress, and there are plenty of studies that point to a correlation between stress and declining physical health. These problems also lead to a poor family life and even divorce. By personally promoting financial wellness, businesses are sending their team members a message: We care about your health. We care about your home life. We care about you in every possible way!

Question: How would a financial wellness program in your company benefit team members?

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75 comments | posted in EntreLeadership, Financial, Leadership, Small Business

April 26, 2012

The Power Of Walking Away

By Chris LoCurto

One summer when I was still young, my family took a weekend and cleaned out a bunch of stuff in our garage and house. We were going to take our cra … uhh … gently used personal belongings to our local flea market. We wanted to bless someone else with them, and we would rather have the money.

One of the things I took with me was my cross-country skis. I used them for quite a few years and had really outgrown them. They had some sentimental value because they were the first skis I had ever used.

In fact, I remember the Christmas morning that I woke up, ran into the living room and saw them and a pair of downhill skis leaning against the wall. Everything inside of me went ballistic when I realized what it meant. Soon, I would be a skier! I couldn’t wait!

After we opened our presents and ate breakfast, we took our cross-country skis over to one of the areas where they were having a race. We had planned to just ski around and get used to them, but there was a race course set up. Apparently, my puppy dog eyes worked. On my first day of skiing, I was allowed to enter the race.

Believe it or not, I took first place, beating out a kid who had skied for eight years. This started a racing addiction that just hasn’t left. Once again, those skis meant something to me.

So here we were in beautiful downtown Truckee. We set up a little table to hock our wares. One of my mom’s friends was there helping us out when a couple came up. They asked me about the skis. I answered all of their questions and then they asked the price. With sadness in my heart, I told them $30. It was an incredible price for trusty skis that helped me win my first battle.

The couple looked them over and seemed really interested. I knew I had sold my skis and was about to watch them walk away with what could only be described as my friends. (Hey, if Toby Keith can have a red cup as a friend, I can have my skis.)

All of a sudden, they looked at me and said, “Eh” and turned to walk away—but not with my skis. And for some crazy reason, desperation welled up inside of me. I yelled out, “Wait …. $20!” They then stopped, looked at me, and turned to walk away again. “OK wait ………. $10!!!” I said.

The came back to the table, quickly gave me $10 and swiftly walked away before I could cry. They knew there is a well-known kid’s law that says you must give the skis back … and let the child keep the $10 if one teardrop falls.

I stood there, shocked at what happened. With my mouth hanging open, I looked up at my mom’s friend and said, “Why did you let me do that? You didn’t say a thing.” To which he replied, “You had to learn.” Those four words seemed like a samurai sword penetrating my stomach. I looked back at him and said, “But I’m a kid!” Apparently that didn’t matter.

I can still remember the sting of that day, especially the part where the couple was able to look at my precious skis, decide that they didn’t want to pay that much, turn and walk away. And then, do it again when I first dropped the price.

I still think taking advantage of a helpless (maybe susceptible is a better word) kid should be against the law or something. But it taught me that being emotionally attached can get you in trouble—whether you’re the buyer or the seller.

Question: What ways have you seen the power of walking away?

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76 comments | tags: business, EntreLeadership, leadership, Management, sales, Small Business | posted in EntreLeadership, Leadership, Small Business

April 25, 2012

Creating Culture From Your Kitchen

By Chris LoCurto

Culture in a business is its lifeblood. Every business has one, and some of them were created intentionally. Others were created naturally—and not necessarily in the best way.

A few years back I was designing the kitchen I wanted in my new house. For some folks, that’s not that important. For me, it’s where I live. You see, I LOVE food! And, I love to cook. In fact, when other people come home late and think to themselves, I can just do cereal, I’m thinking, I can make real food!

Growing up, we always had something that we were creating in the kitchen. As I teenager, I worked in a few restaurants, including a stint as a line cook. The older I got, the more my desire to cook—especially for people who appreciated it—grew. It was so much so, I wanted to create my ultimate kitchen in the new house.

I designed it in a way that was practical for someone doing a lot of cooking. But I also designed it so people could participate or watch from a raised bar that was in a curved shape around the grill. It allows me to “teach” as I cook.

While this all made sense in my head, I received a lot of push back from my builders. They couldn’t see how the flow would work. I also wanted a large open wall that opened the kitchen up into the living room, which they thought was crazy. “You need to have a door separating your kitchen from your living room,” they said. “You’ll hate it otherwise.”

I knew what I wanted. And when it was finished, the builder told me I was in the wrong business. He loved how it turned out.

Since then, there has been a LOT of people who have come through the house for parties or celebrations. And there’s one thing that happens every single time. Everyone congregates around the kitchen. It doesn’t matter where. They fill every spot possible. My favorite thing is that they experience life together.

We’ve even tried to move people out to another room from time to time, only to find it unsuccessful. People want to hang in that kitchen area and talk, and eat, and talk more.

I was discussing my kitchen with Jon Acuff and he said, “You’ve really created a culture with that kitchen.” The truth is, he’s right. I knew that I wanted it to be the place where people had a blast spending time talking and enjoying each other, but I hadn’t thought about it as culture.

It’s not a question of whether your company will have a culture. You will. The question is: Will you intentionally create it or accidentally suffer in it? You have every opportunity to shape it the way you want it to be. If you don’t like your sink over there, move it. If you don’t like the curtains on the windows, change them. But be intentional about it.

Don’t sit back and wonder why things aren’t going the way you want. You’re the designer. Get your pencil and paper out and draw what you want it to be.

Question: What does great culture look like to you?

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48 comments | posted in EntreLeadership, Leadership, Small Business

April 24, 2012

Hiring Done Right!

By Chris LoCurto

Two hiring posts back to back? Well…yes. Yesterday, I talked about things not to do in the hiring process. (Which were all signs to those actually hiring.) Today on the EntreLeadership Podcast, I have an incredible guest discussing hiring the right way.

If you can’t see the image, click here.

Clint Smith is the co-founder and CEO of Emma, the web-based email marketing and communications service. Emma has done an incredible job with its hiring process and getting the right people onboard. On top of that, Clint’s a really good air hockey player. (Just so you know.)

If you missed 4 Things You Should Never Do In A Job Interview, go back and read it. Not just the post, but the amazing comments, which are full of even more great information.

Here are just a few things from today’s podcast:

Revamp Quickly - In Interviewing, Why Do You Still Do It The Same Way? Clint explained that they learned early on that their hiring process was broken. Most companies continue making the same mistakes—short interviews that turn into short term hires. They never change the process. You have to see the mistake and make adjustments before you waste any more time.

Don’t Shop Hungry - When I asked Clint what differences they’ve noticed since making the change, he said the quality of candidates went up dramatically. The reason? The longer the process, the more you learn about the interviewee. Before, it was like shopping hungry. They overbought and were unhappy with what they ended up throwing out. (OK, he didn’t say it quite like that. It’s my take.)

30-day Trial - So many leaders feel that they have to make a full-time hire. You don’t. In fact, there’s nothing wrong with allowing someone to work as a temp for 30-90 days to see if they work out. If they don’t, then you don’t hire the person. This is a little more difficult for high-paying jobs. But if you have a question about your prospect, give it a try and see.

These were just a few tidbits from this solid podcast. We also spent a few minutes after the podcast discussing things that you will only get here:

Podcast: Download | Embed

Question: What lessons have you learned that have made your hiring process better?

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30 comments | tags: business, Clint Smith, Emma, EntreLeadership, EntreLeadership Podcast, hiring, Job interview, leadership, Management, Small Business | posted in EntreLeadership, Leadership, Small Business

April 23, 2012

4 Things You Should Never Do In A Job Interview

By Chris LoCurto

Interviews are never really fun. I don’t know anyone who says, “I love going on interviews.” If they did, I would be seriously worried about them. They are probably a career interviewer.

Most people dread the interview because they aren’t sure exactly what they should or shouldn’t say. I completely understand this. I’ve been on a few myself. But I have a lot of experience doing the actual interviews. And since I’ve been behind the desk more than in front of it, I’ve had plenty of time to discover the things I don’t want to hear from a candidate.

Here are just a few interview downfalls: (Leaders, pay attention. You should be looking out for these.)

Do you sail? - Growing up in Lake Tahoe, I spent many of my summers sailing. In my old office, I had two pictures of old wooden sailboats and a model of a wooden sailboat. It wasn’t uncommon for and interviewee (or a salesperson) to ask if I sail. That alone, no problem. But when you try to talk like an expert on sailing and you have no clue about sailing, I’m done with the discussion. Taking that tack (sorry) is great when you know about a subject. It’s a bad choice when you don’t.

Do you have dental? - I have absolutely no problem with you wanting to know what our company benefits are. But when you ask me early on in the interview about them, you show me one very important thing: You’re all about getting a j.o.b. instead of being on fire for the opportunity I’m offering. I’m still doing the interview, but I’ve also gone on to doing other work in my head.

No, I’m good. - No matter how much you feel like you know about the position you’re interviewing for, remember to ask some questions. Have at least three ready. If not, then once again, it tells me that you’re not really going after something you’re passionate about. It’s just a j.o.b.

I can do that - Never tell me that you can do the job that I have available. Show me how excited you are about the position and that you would be so lucky to have it. It’s crazy how many people I’ve interviewed say, “Yeah, I can do that.” No you can’t–at least not for me. I want someone who wants the job.

These are just four of the many things you shouldn’t do on a job interview. But if there’s one thing I know about my commenters, you’re about to get more incredible advice.

Question: What other things should someone not do in a job interview?

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111 comments | tags: business, EntreLeadership, hiring, Interview, Job interview, leadership, Management, Small Business | posted in EntreLeadership, Leadership, Small Business

April 20, 2012

5 Key Possessions For Starting A Business

By Chris LoCurto

Here’s a guest post on starting a business by Mike Koehler of Smirk New Media. Mike specializes in helping companies promote and protect their online success. Follow Mike on Twitter. You can guest post as well! Read how to here.

Don’t Start With Nothing

It might make for a more interesting rags-to-riches story, but there’s no real reason to start your business from scratch, especially in an interconnected world where so many people have so much to offer. Here are the five key possessions that have enabled me to launch and establish a great business.

A Group of Wise Advisers - As it says in Proverbs 19:20, get all the advice and instruction that you can, so you can be wise for the rest of your life. That’s especially true when you start a business from the ground up. These should be the people in your life who will be brutally honest with you. Let them play the role of potential client, investor or prospect. Draw from the wisdom they have in making decisions.

Connections with Leaders in Your Industry - There is a good chance, whether you are a social media consultant like me or an accountant or a handyman, that there will be people in your city who do what you do but work for a large corporation. Connect with them and find out what they think about your industry and what you can do to succeed. They have secure jobs and internal customers, so they won’t see you as a competitor. They are also a great source for leads!

The Latest Information About Your Business - No one wants to hear about what was hot in your business in 1993. Show potential customers you know the latest statistics about what kind of customers use your service and what they see in return. Memorize eight or 10 facts you can repeat at a moment’s notice.

As Little Capital as Possible to Run Your Company Before You Grow - All I needed to start my business was a laptop, a website and some business cards. Total expense? Less than $500. There was a lot of temptation to get loans or credit cards, so I could get an office, buy ads and spend money before I was making it. Fortunately, there are many low-cost (or free) options for marketing (social media!), staffing (interns!) and materials. Once you grow, you can upgrade all of these. Your customers will notice because they speak to your success.

Supportive and Prayerful Friends and Family - Even if you are looking at a blank prospect list, there are goals, vision and favor you can be praying for. Ask your friends and family to do the same. During the hard times, knowing that someone is lifting you up can get you through the day.

Starting a business is stressful enough. These are just a few things that will remove a lot of stress, and give you a stronger foundation.

Question: What are some possessions you think people should have when starting a business?If you are enjoying these posts, be sure to click the follow button.

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73 comments | tags: business, EntreLeadership, leadership, Management, Small Business | posted in EntreLeadership, Small Business

April 19, 2012

The Power Of Pain

By Chris LoCurto

The other day I was having lunch with an amazing guy I know when the topic of eating came up. Now, if you know me, you know I have an incredibly public love affair with food.

It is actually a little ridiculous. If the food I’m eating is really good, I won’t stop eating it until you stab my hand with a fork. It’s terrible, I know. I probably need counseling for it.

As we discussed our love for food, I shared with my friend that I’m an emotional eater. When things go bad I either eat like a horse, or I don’t eat at all. My friend shared with me that he is an emotional eater as well. While mine started in my thirties, his started as a young child.

When I asked him what triggered his emotional eating when he was a kid, he shared something that kinda shocked me. He said he ate when people were mean to him or were disappointed in him. When he felt shame, he ate.

That shocked me because I hadn’t thought about it that way. When people treated him like crap, his way of dealing with it was food. While I eat when situations are bad, he ate when people were bad.

The combination of the way he was treated and his guilt over his eating created a deep, emotional “hole.” Every time he would climb out of the “hole,” something would happen to push him right back in. Very quickly, I started thinking of people in my life who do the same thing, sometimes with a different substance. Like alcohol.

We went on to discuss the kind of effect people can have on others by being mean, disapproving and overly critical. If you give these people the power, they’ll keep pushing you back into that hole. Stay in the hole, and your dependence on your substance of choice will keep you there.

I think there is revelation for those who allow this to happen to themselves. Your “issue” (food, drugs, alcohol, overspending) is a reaction to something much deeper in your life. If you drink because people treat you badly, then you allow their behavior to destroy you emotionally while you destroy yourself through your addiction.

You’re giving yourself a double whammy when you should focus on the cause of your problem. How do you do that? Push back! Don’t allow people to treat you like that. Tell negative people that you will not allow them to be so negative to you. Surround yourself with positive and supportive people.

If you’re the person who’s being a negative influence in someone else’s life…STOP!! Understand that your words have power to hurt on more levels than you can see. “Well they should just be strong enough to get over it!” Really? Is that how you would want to be treated if the roles were reversed? What if it was your child? Is that how you would want them to be treated?

As you go about your day today, pay attention to how you talk to people. Notice how they respond to you afterwards. And if you’re the emotional eater like me and my friend, stop giving your power to other people. Trust me when I say you can reverse this process. It will just take a lot of effort and desire on your part.

Question: What advice do you have for folks down in the holes?

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107 comments | tags: business, Eating, Eating disorder, EntreLeadership, Health, leadership, Management, Small Business | posted in EntreLeadership, Leadership, Small Business

Chris LoCurto's Blog

Top 10 Posts And Commenters Of April

Stepping Into A New Leadership Role

Financial Wellness And Corporate Culture

The Power Of Walking Away

Creating Culture From Your Kitchen

Hiring Done Right!

4 Things You Should Never Do In A Job Interview

5 Key Possessions For Starting A Business

The Power Of Pain

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