Let’s Talk About Values

Let’s Talk About Values

by | Jul 7, 2025 | Really? The Personal ScLoHo, The Not-So-Secret Writings of ScLoHo

Welcome to the last half of 2025.

The first 6 months of the year have been pretty topsy-turvy in almost every aspect of our lives.

Political and Financial to name a couple of areas.

Not just national and international news, but also locally and personally.

Is Artificial Intelligence going to make my life better, or is it going to ruin us is one question I hear every once in a while.

What’s the next “Big Thing” I need to be aware of so I don’t get left behind?  That’s not a new question, but a persistent one I’ve heard for years.

How do I make my content go viral?  I’ve heard versions of that for the past couple of decades.

People are looking for short-cuts, hacks or tricks to beat the system and be successful.  I recall 18 years ago a friend of mine at the radio station i was at wanted my secrets to getting on the first page of Google.  His purpose was to sell stuff and he thought if he could get found by the Google Gods (or algorithms) then people would send him money and ….

He never did get rich but it wasn’t because I wouldn’t tell him how, it was because he didn’t want to do the work to build something properly.

Look, technology will continue to improve and grow.  Not every online platform will be successful, just like any offline business is more likely to fail than succeed if you try and beat the system.

Instead of focusing on the temporary tech, focus on the permanent values that attract people.

What are those values?  It’s not price discounts, too-good-to-be-true prices and guarantees.

The Gallup organization released a new study that says that for Americans:

Vast majorities regard family, respect, trustworthiness, freedom and kindness as important values.

You can dig into the details here: https://news.gallup.com/poll/691964/family-top-value-americans.aspx

However, the real challenge is how do you incorporate those values into your life both professionally and personally?

As a business owner, as a manager, as an employee, what are real demonstratable ways you live these values?

I’ll share with you one way that I’ve seen companies do this…

Time off:  In retail it’s expected that you’re going to have to work some nights and weekends.  I know a local car dealership that gives their employees holiday weekends off. That sounds crazy especially when the holiday falls at the end of a month and they need to sell a certain number of units that month and the pressure is on, but that’s what they do.  And they hit those numbers without tormenting their sales team.

Where I work we implemented Unlimited Paid Time Off when I was in management and it has helped us recruit and retain staff.  Plus from an employee viewpoint, if you need to take time off for a dentist appointment or to help out with your kids Summer Vacation Bible School, it’s not counted against you.  If you are sick, we don’t want you coming to the office and spreading germs, work from home or take the time off to heal.

 

Back to the Gallup Poll:

Beauty, wealth, adventure, achievement and innovation are among the values least likely to be chosen as important, all by fewer than four in 10 U.S. adults. More than eight in 10 Americans agree that respect, family, trustworthiness and freedom are important values to them, and at least three-quarters say the same about kindness, health, integrity, happiness and knowledge.

To better understand the people around you, take a look at some of the differences that are in the article too.  Then I challenge you to have an open discussion with the specific people and ask them to rank the 23 values in the survey and figure out ways to implement some of them even more than you already are.

No matter what else is going on in our world, these are things that you can do to improve and have a positive impact.

Right-Sizing Your People

Right-Sizing Your People

by | Mar 10, 2025 | Sound ADvice, The Not-So-Secret Writings of ScLoHo

Our federal government is in the midst of attempting to cut staff that isn’t needed.

I’m not going to get all political on you, however the way they are doing it appears to be confusing, chaotic and in conflict with itself.

As a business owner or manager, you probably have similar goals of increasing efficiency but you need to be smart about it and minimize the pain.

As a former manager myself, I found myself sometimes debating how to support my team by either doing some tasks for them myself, or to delegate.

Turns out even in my non-management position, I have support people that I can use to handle certain tasks more efficiently than doing it myself, while other times, it’s better for me to do it.

Last month one of my Sound ADvice newsletters touched on this subject:

What would you rather have – more time or more money?

Wouldn’t more time EQUAL more money?

You’ve heard the phrase, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead”. Well, if you constantly feel that there are not enough hours in a day and keep going like you’re going… stress is a killer. If you’re doing the job that 2, 3, or 10 people should be doing, then you probably have tension, high irritability, and marble-size knots spread throughout your back.

The problem: Too many tasks, too little time.  Or if you DO get them done, you’re massively sleep-deprived and your employees and family start to dislike you real fast.

What’s the quick answer? DELEGATE. It will give you more time. More time can equal more money – and more peace. Doesn’t “peace” sound nice?

I know a business manager who has a mountain of tasks to complete every day, week, and month. She also likes to have a lot of control. I get it. But I think she’s going to have a breakdown soon if she doesn’t learn to delegate some of her workload.

The benefits to her would be her health and potentially more moments to be happy. The benefits for YOU can be improved health, more happiness, and BUSINESS GROWTH. You’ll find that when you delegate certain tasks, you can increase the profit potential of your business.

What is your time worth? $50 an hour? $125? $1000? If you take a close peek at your regular tasks, you’re probably doing a lot of things that someone else could do for far less.

If you learn to outsource a few of those things, you’ll be able to have more time doing the truly valuable things you’re really good at. You’ll also have more time to vacation, laugh, love, and get the rest your body deserves.

If you’d like to know a crucial step in DELEGATING and taking a few things off your plate, click here.  Let’s get started…

Your family and your employees will thank you.

If you would like to be included as a free subscriber to my Sound ADvice weekly newsletter, email me: Scott@ScLoHo.net

In our own company we discovered that some of our people were both highly accurate and highly efficient which meant they not only could take on more tasks, but they wanted to do more because they enjoyed the work but were getting it done quicker than their predecessor, so they’ve been given more to do and they’re grateful.

 

Cleaning Out The Junk

Cleaning Out The Junk

by | Feb 17, 2025 | Really? The Personal ScLoHo, The Not-So-Secret Writings of ScLoHo

When was the last time you cleaned up your business?

Got rid of the junk you don’t need anymore?

Back in January I saw a lot of memes and social media posts from people resolving to clean up their lives in various ways.

Like getting rid of all those miscellaneous power cords and adapters that have outlived whatever they were originally used for.

Or  doing a purge of email?  My wife had a couple thousand unread emails and decided to go all in and wipe them all out with my help.

She didn’t just want to get rid of the unopened emails, she wanted her entire email account emptied.  Even the trash folder where old emails hang out for 30 days.

So I did it.  She started 2025 with an empty Gmail account.  So far there’s only been one email that she misses.  Sort of.

For me this year, I cleaned up this website a bit.  Simplified the design, removed some of the extra form-fills and scaled it down.

I’ve also been slowly but surely cleaning up my home office of the stuff I brought home in 2023 from my “office” office.

As the weather gets warmer, we’ll be doing more in the garage and outdoor areas to declutter and remove stuff.

Business wise, what junk do you need to get rid of?

My primary radio station WOWO is celebrating its 100th birthday this year and you might think that we probably have 100 years of memorabilia, but we don’t.

10 years ago, on WOWO’s 90th birthday, our program director did an excellent job of creating a History of WOWO podcast series that also includes video clips, photos, old audio and a lot of stories from the people who were part of WOWO’s history… and that’s good because many of the people who were a part of the first 50 years of WOWO are no longer around to tell those stories anymore.

As you move forward with your business this year, or your life in general, take time to get rid of the junk, saving what you really need, and updating what should be updated. Not only will it make your life and business less stressful as you declutter, its a gift to those that follow you to not have to do it when you’re gone.

You have permission to Clean Out The Junk, and keep the very best.

 

Can Your Business Take A Punch Like Rocky?

Can Your Business Take A Punch Like Rocky?

by | Jan 27, 2025 | Marketing and Advertising Insights, Sound ADvice

At the beginning of January, subscribers to my weekly Sound ADvice newsletter received the information I’m about to share with you today.  If you’d like to receive this in your email inbox, email me and ask for a free subscription.  Scott@ScLoHo.net.

It was 39 years ago that Rocky Balboa fought Ivan Drago in Rocky IV. It was a knock-down drag-out fight with Rocky taking punch after punch and hit after hit, only to get back up time after time and ultimately win the fight!

Rocky was always getting the snot kicked out of him. Intentional or not… it was his style. His opponents would eventually wear down because Rocky could take a hit. And take a hit. And take a hit. 

Sound familiar?  Your business taking hits?… 

…Sales slumps due to the economy, employee troubles, hiring struggles, increased costs, a terrible review, or any other lightning-fast jab, monster hook, or sucker punch.

That’s part of the game though, isn’t it? Getting hit, and always getting back up? Like the Japanese proverb that says, “Fall down seven times, stand up eight.”

But Rocky added a couple of things to that…

“Let me tell you something you already know.  The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it.  You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward.  That’s how winning is done! Now, if you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not point fingers saying you ain’t where you are because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that, and that ain’t you. You’re better than that!”   – Rocky Balboa

Did you catch them? 

1) It’s about how hard you can get hit, and 2) keep moving forward.

We’ve all been hit. We’ve all been hit HARD. And if you’re reading this… you picked yourself back up.  But did you move forward?  

Step #1 to recovering from a major punch is, Acknowledge and Accept It.  

Acknowledge the issue that caused you to get “hit”, analyze what went wrong, identify the cause, make a plan to ensure it doesn’t happen again (or as severely), and LEARN from it.

Every negative has the potential to produce a positive.  It might not be immediately obvious, but it’s there. If you always have a “move forward” attitude, pretty soon the hits won’t seem so bad, and you’ll find ways to learn from them and capitalize on them sooner.

Oh sure… easier said than done, right?  Absolutely.  Sometimes, it’s not easy to say to yourself that “everything’s gonna be ok”.  But it’s a mindset.  It’s practice, determination, and an attitude. You might not get the big wins every month or every year… but depending on your industry and what’s happening around us, maybe just staying afloat and weathering a storm is also a big win.

If and when your business takes a punch, click here to see seven steps that can help you get back up and keep moving forward.

 And let me be one of the last to wish you a Happy New Year!  2025 will be ripe with opportunities to grow and learn. For me, for you, for everyone.

How’s Your Culture?

How’s Your Culture?

by | Nov 11, 2024 | Sound ADvice, The Not-So-Secret Writings of ScLoHo, WOWO Fort Wayne Radio Advertising with Scott Howard

First, I’m sharing information that readers of my Sound ADvice newsletter received October 30th and if you’d like a free email subscription, just let me know.  Then I’ll add some additional insights…

Today’s #1 concern of most business owners is not what their competition is doing, when the next recession will arrive, or how much business Amazon may be taking from them.   Most business owners and managers will tell you their #1 concern is… finding good employees!

Ask yourself, “If the perfect person walked through my door today and was looking for a job, what would I do?”  Would you ADD this new-found superstar to your team, or is there someone on your team that you would “offer an opportunity to find a new career”, i.e. replace them?

The cost of emotionally disengaged employees is staggering, and the number of disengaged employees is huge.  In America, a Gallup Research Poll found that 70% of employees would consider a better opportunity if one was presented to them.  They also found that 51% of employed people already have a resume put together and are actively looking for their next job or career.

One consistent sign of any great company is the longevity of its employees.  Smart business owners understand it’s a far better investment to pamper, reward, recognize, support, train, pay your current employees well, and keep them than to continue hiring, training, and rehiring unengaged employees.

The things employees want most vary from survey to survey, but they include flexibility, opportunity, defined responsibility, attention and recognition, autonomy, and purpose, to name a few.

As a business owner, gauging or rating your employees’ happiness isn’t easy.  A quick way to do this is to have each employee take a simple survey.  This simple, non-threatening exercise will answer nearly everything you need to know about their level of engagement, and whether or not you need to put the HELP WANTED sign out front of your business.

Consider asking your employees these two powerful questions to find out if they are happy, or if they are part of the 70% that would consider a better opportunity:

1) Do you feel like your supervisor cares about you as a person?

2) Do you feel like there is an opportunity for you to grow here?

Caution:  DO NOT have your employees put their names on the survey.  I can almost assure you that you will know who they are by their answers.

If you would like the complete list of 11 Survey Questions to Measure your Employees’ Happiness Level, click here or contact me

Since 2013 I’ve worked for WOWO radio, which is owned by Federated Media.  Started out as one of 5 on the advertising sales team for WOWO, was asked to lead our team in 2020, added three more stations sales teams to manage in 2022 and then at the end of 2023, recruited myself back to ad sales for WOWO and our sports talk station, The Fan.

This is not my first job in radio advertising, but it’s one that I plan on doing until I retire.

Why?

It’s a culture thing.

That includes happiness, but it also includes freedom and support.

We are currently short staffed on our sales teams at Federated Media in Fort Wayne which is one of the reasons I’m back in sales instead of management.

We have 4 sales teams, one for each radio station.  That includes WMEE, K105, 989 The Bear and WOWO plus the WOWO team also sells our other talk station The Fan.

One of my most challenging duties as a General Sales Manager was recruitment.

We have high standards and that starts with taking an online talent assessment to see if we are a good fit for the candidates that apply.

My last summer in management, I hired two for the Bear and only one is still there.  I reviewed over 400 applicants to get those two.

Right now, we have 10 total for all stations, we should have 16 to be fully staffed.

One of the things sales people hate is unnecessary meetings and so most weeks we are fortunate to only have a couple of hours each week that we need to be at the office for a meeting.  The rest of the time, we’re out taking care of clients and finding new clients.

Well last month we were “pulled off the streets” as the saying goes for a half-day session with our sales consultant.  As I was looking around the conference room, I saw a bunch of individuals that while small in number (10 instead of 16), they are all the right people for right now.  Everyone there is doing their job and doing it well.  Not perfect, none of us are.

But myself and the other 9 sales people along with the 3 managers in the room are the core for producing revenue.  Some have more than two decades with Federated Media.  Some just over a year.  Some have left and then came back.  That’s a good sign when someone leaves and then decides the grass isn’t greener out there and they return.

By the way, in the 11 years I’ve been here, I’m guessing there are around 30 people who used to work for our sales teams but don’t anymore.  That online talent assessment isn’t a predictor of an individuals success, it’s just the qualifier to be considered for employment.   Before I was in management, there were some managers who hired people that according to the talent assessment, were not a good match and none of those people lasted even a year.

One last reflection on all this… I was talking to a co-worker who rejoined Federated Media last year and is now with my station, WOWO.  He’s one of the ones that has been with Federated Media for more than a couple of decades, and previously he was on the WMEE sales team.  I asked him how many different managers he’s worked for in his years here and 8 was the answer.  Some of those changes were due to management realignment changes and the last couple were due to management changes we went thru with WOWO.

As he and I were comparing notes, while an individual manager can set the tone for the culture, the best staff are also adaptable and self-motivated to succeed no matter who they are reporting to.  Those people you will want to keep and build your culture around them.