Kevin Curran did not start out believing in systems. Like many founders, he believed in effort. If something broke, he fixed it. If something needed doing, he handled it. For a long time, that approach felt like leadership.
“I used to think leadership meant doing everything myself,” he said. “If I wasn’t involved, I felt like it wouldn’t get done right.”
As the CEO and founder of NewReputation, an online reputation management company, Kevin now sees leadership very differently. Experience changed that view. So did one book that stopped him in his tracks.
From Doing Everything to Building Something
Kevin thought “value” was equal to “visibility.” Therefore, the more hours he worked, the more indispensable he would feel. That view served him well when he was first developing NewReputation; however, that viewpoint had its price.
Then he read The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber.
“That book hit me hard,” Kevin said. “Gerber makes it clear. If your business can’t function without you, you don’t own a business. You own a job.”
The realization of this truth caused a change in Kevin’s way of thinking. Instead of asking how he can be more productive, he began to ask how the company can have as little reliance on him as possible. He learned from this experience that leadership is not about having power or controlling people; it is about creating an environment where things run smoothly with your least amount of involvement.
He also realized what his goals should be. He wanted to create something that would function well whether he was involved in the decision making process or not. He wanted to build something that would continue to operate properly long after he had left the company.
Learning Without a Single Mentor
Kevin does not point to one person as the biggest influence on his career. Instead, he credits observation of every employer. Every business owner he worked with.
He stated, “I gained knowledge from individuals who excelled, and I gained even more insight from those who struggled.”
From experienced business owners, he learned structure and patience. From chaotic entrepreneurs, he learned what happens when systems are missing. Over time, the pattern became more clear. Businesses don’t collapse from lack of effort. They collapse from lack of clarity. The employees don’t share the same mission as the leader.
That lesson still shapes how he leads today.
The Risk That Changed Everything
Kevin’s greatest risk was committing fully to a strategy that would build NewReputation through intention rather than an urgency mindset; Kevin moved from being driven by hustle to creating processes, documenting, and delegating, etc.
That choice felt risky. Letting go always does.
“It’s like you are losing control,” he stated. “But you are just allowing your business to be able to expand.”
He saw the slow build-up to growth as well as the one big moment of growth. NewReputation was now much less volatile, decisions were made better, stress decreased, most importantly NewReputation did not have to depend on Kevin’s availability.
Where the Industry Is Headed
Kevin sees major changes ahead in online reputation management. Search engines are evolving fast. AI generated content is exploding. Privacy expectations are rising across the board.
“The real challenge is protecting truth,” he said. “False or outdated information spreads faster than accurate information.”
To prepare, Kevin focuses on leveraging automation, transparency, and education. He believes the future of the industry belongs to companies that help people understand what appears about them online and why.
That belief also fuels his excitement around Reputation Privacy, a project he is building with a highly talented partner. The platform centers around helping people easily manage their digital footprint.
“It’s one of the most meaningful things I’m working on right now,” he said. “People want clarity. They want ownership.”
A Failure That Forced Growth
When Kevin talks about failure, he does not single out one catastrophic mistake. Instead, he describes a string of hard lessons that piled up over time. His Twitter bio captures it best: a digital marketer brought to life by a series of unfortunate events.
“That line isn’t a joke,” he said. “It’s a reminder.”
Each misstep taught him something. None of them ended the business, but together they shaped it. They showed him that instinct only takes you so far. Structure has to follow.
Those experiences pushed him to change how he worked. He started documenting processes instead of keeping them in his head. He set clearer boundaries around his role. He built systems that could absorb mistakes without collapsing.
“I’ve had more failures than wins. By a wide margin. But failure builds character, and character builds resilience. If you’re going to be an entrepreneur, that resilience matters more than almost anything else.”
The business improved not because he avoided failure, but because he learned to design around it.
Habits That Keep Him Steady
Kevin’s routines are simple by design. He plans before reacting. He protects focused time. He prioritizes clarity over speed.
“I try to remove friction wherever I can,” he said. “In systems and in life.”
He values consistency more than intensity. Outside of work, he makes space for health and relationships, knowing stability does not come from work alone.
Looking Ahead
Kevin’s long-term goal is straightforward. Build companies that outlast him.
“I want NewReputation to operate smoothly without me,” he said. “Not just someday. Eventually always.”
As Kevin continues to grow NewReputation and develop new features for Reputation Privacy, he will remain focused on creating sustainable processes, rather than simply scaling the business for growth’s sake.
Playing the Long Game
Kevin Curran’s leadership story is not about doing more. It is about doing what lasts. He learned that leadership evolves when ego steps aside and systems take shape.
Show up. Build thoughtfully. Step back when needed.
For Kevin, that is what real leadership looks like.
