Hey leaders, what comes to mind when you think about growing your business?

If you’re like most owners or leaders, then you might think in terms of strategies for increasing revenue, increasing your reach through innovative marketing, or restructuring for increased scalability. Those are great things to think about, but you may be overlooking your most valuable asset: your people.

For me, it all started by looking at my leaders and saying, “If I don’t do something to grow you, then you’ll stay exactly where you are.” And that wasn’t acceptable. So then, I started growing people strategically, and by growing people I was able to step out of my day to day and into a higher level of leadership. That’s when real growth started to occur!

Here’s the deal: growing your team = growing your business. If you don’t stretch the potential, capacity, and output of those who work directly for you, then you may not be ready for the more traditional “revenue related” growth that most leaders are searching for. Let me share a trade secret that I’ve learned after decades of leading people. Are you ready?

It’s easy to think that strategy is all about the business, but “business” doesn’t happen unless people happen first.

I want to see business owners and leaders go to the next level. But, here’s the deal, you’ll never get to a higher level without strategically focusing on the growth of others. Let’s walk through his process together and discover how to Reverse Engineer Your Business Growth!

Enjoy today’s episode!
Chris

Well folks, we just wrapped up our 2021 Next-Level Leadership Live Event in Nashville, TN and I have to tell you that it was fantastic!

It was so good to be back onsite, live and in person with you, our friends (who are also clients that we get to serve). This year we added a few fun surprises, making it a truly “Nashville” experience! On Thursday of the event week, during the lunch hour, we got our coaches up on stage to answer questions from the audience. It was powerful and we’re excited to share it with you on today’s episode.

You’re going to hear from business leaders and owners just like you, asking questions about their teams, about hiring, KRA’s, and a few other topics. I think it’ll be thought-provoking to say the least!


Enjoy this episode!
Chris

416 | Managing The Numbers (So They Don’t Manage You)

Hey leaders, if you’re not living in your numbers, then what are you basing your decisions on?

A lot of leaders tend to shy away from their accounting processes, giving only an occasional glance to the bottom line. It’s tough to make well-informed decisions that affect the overall business without knowing the details of what’s happening in every area.

I hear from clients all the time, “Sometimes I don’t want to see the accounting, because I’m scared of where we’re at.” But that’s precisely why you need to be in the financials on a routine basis, making well-informed decisions that are going to set you up for success.

Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to managing your numbers and avoiding the pitfalls that so many leaders make. On today’s show, you’ll be empowered to win as I walk you through what you need to do in order to stay at the top of the numbers.

Resources & Links:
Related media: https://chrislocurto.com/budget-correctly-or-fail/

415 | Three Things Every Leader Must Do Before 2022, Part 2

This topic is so important to you and your business that we’re spending two episodes to cover it all and cover it thoroughly. 

On today’s episode, I reveal the 3rd thing that I think every leader must do before this year is over. But, if you didn’t catch the first two points we covered, then I’d recommend pausing here and going back to listen to part one first.

Ok, so to bring some focus here, I want to share a verse from the book of Proverbs with you. I’ll put it a few different ways so that we can really dig into the value of preparation:

A sensible person sees danger and takes cover; the inexperienced keep going and are punished.
The clever see trouble coming and hide; the thoughtless go on and pay the penalty.
Be cautious and hide when you see danger— don’t be stupid and walk right into trouble.
Wise people see trouble coming and get out of its way, but fools go straight to the trouble and suffer for it.

Notice the words used to describe a person who refuses to take appropriate action and prepare in advance: inexperienced, thoughtless, stupid and a fool. Ouch! 

Now take a look at the words used for the person who takes action before trouble comes: sensible, clever, cautious and wise. That’s what we’re aiming for!

Here’s the deal, I want you to have laser-focus this year, and I want you to lead your team and business to success, so that no matter what comes next you’re ready to weather the storm!

It takes hard work and preparation, but the result is so worth it.

Enjoy this episode!

Chris

Resources & Links

Podcasts referenced:

https://chrislocurto.com/409-three-things-every-leader-must-do-before-2022-part-1/

https://chrislocurto.com/404-replacing-the-negative-influences-in-your-life-with-the-right-ones/

414 | Fostering Unity: Both at Home and at Work

If unity is about coming together, then peace is about staying together.

Einstein said, Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding. So, what does it take to come together in agreement and stay in a place of harmony?

On today’s episode, we talk about the necessary ingredients to forging real peace in our homes and the workplace. Humility, vulnerability and understanding are all needed to foster a lasting unity. It’s going to be painful, it’s going to take time, but it’s going to be worth it!

Someone might say, Well, Chris, you don't need to be vulnerable to be on a leadership team. Oh but you do - to be on a successful one.

What’s the goal as a leadership team anyway? To lead the rest of the business to success. If I'm going to lead people well, I must be vulnerable. The same goes for parents: being able to admit when you’re wrong is strong leadership!

You’ve got to be able to get down in the muck in the mire and help others out of it. Right?

You’ve got to be able to be vulnerable with others; you’ve got to show them the flaws and faults and mistakes that you’ve made. So if you don't have trust in your family or leadership team, then I can tell you, you’re probably not being vulnerable and you won’t be truly unified.

So, how do we foster real unity on a team? What does it take and what’s at stake?

Enjoy today’s episode!
Chris

413 | Guest MaryBeth Fortner: Her Journey As a Wife and Mother

Continuing our focus on Taking the Lead in Parenting this month, I’m joined in this episode by long-time friend and former colleague MaryBeth Fortner. As you might’ve guessed, not only is she a good friend, but she’s also the wife of our Leadership Development VP, Joel Fortner!

Around here MaryBeth’s claim to fame is being the ONLY person to ever make ME cry while I was leading them through our Next-Level Life process! :-)

Today, we’ll dig into some of the tough topics that we brought up in the last episode, dealing with the baggage that we all bring into our leadership and parenting styles (e.g. things like self-worth, fear of failure, and taking personal responsibility for our families).

We’ll build on the concept that we’re not just raising kids, we’re raising adults by:

Becoming a more confident parent and spouse
Pushing through inner struggles and insecurities
Learning to be vulnerable with our kids ourselves

You’ll take away more than just a few tips and tricks on leading your kids well; you’ll also get great insight on how to stay on the same page with your spouse as you lead together in a unified direction. Don’t miss this vulnerable, encouraging, and lighthearted episode!

Enjoy the conversation!
Chris

Resources & Links

Referenced podcasts:
https://chrislocurto.com/412-what-parenting-leadership-have-in-common/
https://chrislocurto.com/parenting-in-the-social-media-age/

Hey folks! There’s no one size fits all approach to being a parent at home or a leader in the workplace. But, these two roles actually have a lot in common. Both are focused on leading others to grow, stretch and become something more than they currently are.

In today’s diverse, multi-functional work and life culture, we need all the help we can get to stay balanced and focused. The truth is that many parents have never been taught how to lead their family well. They struggle with root system issues, and end up making the same mistakes their parents did.

How many times have you heard, or you may have been the person that says,
"Oh, I'm not going to be like my parents. I'm going to be completely different than my parents." And then you know, 10, 20 years later, you say, "Oh, my gosh, I’ve become my parent."

Likewise, leaders get promoted to a position over others, and follow in the same pattern they’ve been exposed to. In both cases, there are things we can change that’ll help us grow in our role. I’m going to share three PRO TIPS for parents and leaders to succeed at home and the office.

Check it out!
Chris

Resources & Links:
Ep 402 “The Leadership Success Path”
https://soundcloud.com/chrislocurto/the-leadership-success-path

Q1 - Pause and Reflect (Vulnerable Learnings From Our Failures)
“Vulnerable Learnings From Our Failures”
Hey folks!
We’re ending this first quarter of 2021 on a positive note. How’s that? We’re talking about failure. I can hear you now… “Chris, what’s so positive about failure?!” Here’s the deal, failure is a positive thing for those who learn from their mistakes and choose to improve.
Where failure is concerned, “if we’re not learning, we’re losing the opportunity”. All of us fail; all of us make mistakes. But remember, you’re only a failure if you choose to be; that is, if you choose not to learn.
Learning from other people’s failures is a best-case scenario: a real win-win-win!
On this week’s episode, the coaches of the Poimen Group come together for a once-a-quarter discussion. This time around, they reflect on their own failures, mistakes and misfires of the first three months of this year.
Today, you’ll discover the process of how Chris, Heather and Joel use failure to grow themselves, their teams, and their families!
Resources & Links
iThese podcasts were referenced:
https://chrislocurto.com/battling-fear-of-failure/
https://chrislocurto.com/405-you-dont-have-as-much-willpower-as-you-might-think/ 
https://chrislocurto.com/408-you-dont-have-as-much-willpower-as-you-might-think-ii/
https://chrislocurto.com/406-what-good-is-a-kra/
https://chrislocurto.com/407-michael-hyatt-win-at-work-and-succeed-at-life/

410: John Lee Dumas: The Common Path To Uncommon Success
Have you ever wished that the path to freedom and fulfillment was just a little more clear?
My friend John Lee Dumas, host of the Entrepreneurs on Fire podcast, has interviewed over 3,000 highly successful people to find out exactly how they made their success happen.
His new book releases this month explaining the common path that they took to their uncommon success, and today he joins us on the show!
The book is called, The Common Path to Uncommon Success. [Click here to check it out.]
John Lee says, I remember reading this quote from Einstein, “Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value.” And I realized, Well, of course I’m not finding success; it’s because I’m not being valuable to others! That’s when things first began to change for me!
You’ll gain insight as we discuss how to be a person of value to others, what all the struggle is good for as you head toward your dreams, and the benefits of persevering where others don’t.
Here’s a link to John Lee Dumas’ website where you can find lots of great bonuses when you pick up his book. I know you’ll be excited and encouraged as he guides you along the path!
Resources & Links
https://uncommonsuccessbook.com/

The Three Things Every Leader Must Do Before 2022!
On today’s episode, you - the business owner and the business leader - are going to gain laser focus on what you need to have in place before the end of this year.
Why? Well, how many of you remember 2020? It wasn’t that long ago, and it wasn’t much fun!
Now, a lot of our clients, the overwhelming majority, did not get hit that hard in 2020. In fact, a few of them have said they had their best year ever! How is that? Because they were focused on the right things, and they weathered the Covid storm well, making only a few small pivots.
I can’t tell you how the rest of this year is going to go. But, I can tell you what you need to have in place so that you don't get hit sideways, again, should COVID or something worse happen!
This topic is so important to your business that we’re going to spend two episodes on this subject, and I want to hint at the first point right here:
Leaders have to plan strategically. But, in order to do so, they first need to take an accurate survey of where they stand. This is a crucial part of good strategy planning, but it’s also something that most leaders are loath to do.
Why? Fear and the lack of healthy accounting processes (a subject all its own - and one that we’re going to tackle later this year). So, let me help you today to get over that fear and start pressing into setting a successful strategy for your future!

Resources & Links
https://chrislocurto.com/406-what-good-is-a-kra/

Good to Great: Why Some Leaders Make the Leap...and Others Don't, by James Collins:
https://amzn.to/2OBT9jG

Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson:
https://amzn.to/3lpwvqS