We're drowning in content glut. Empty posts churned out to keep up with everyone else. There's no joy, no depth, no controversy. You can FEEL the difference between obligated content versus real engagement. What are we losing? The skill of conversation. The skill of listening. Those spontaneous "hey, come look at this" moments. Pulling each other into offices to analyze something together. These aren't scheduled Q&A sessions. These are the messy, real exchanges where magic happens. Here's wh...
Jan 08, 2026•16 min•Ep. 179
Stop drowning in business chaos - your SOPs are the life raft you need. In this game-changing episode, Susan Finch and Lany Sullivan expose why your team's knowledge hoarding is sabotaging growth and share their proven system for creating procedures that actually get used. They reveal why writing at a 5th-grade level isn't dumbing down - it's smartening up your business operations. From horror stories of employees creating secret binders to success stories of businesses transformed through prope...
Nov 05, 2025•40 min•Ep. 178
You earned that certification. Now what? If you're like most professionals, you invested time and money into leveling up your expertise... only to let that shiny new credential sit quietly in your inbox, in your bank statement, rather than on your LinkedIn profile. Sound familiar? In this episode of Rooted in Revenue, I'm sharing the exact 14-day launch plan I use with clients to transform professional certifications into credibility, conversations, and clients. What you'll learn: Why the first ...
Oct 29, 2025•10 min•Ep. 177
Join Susan Finch in this solo episode of Rooted in Revenue as she shares actionable strategies for maximizing your conference investment through smart pre-event marketing. Instead of relying on generic conference-provided graphics, Susan explains how to create your own branded announcements that showcase your attendance and build anticipation. Learn how to develop a comprehensive branding package, prepare custom graphics, update your digital presence, and create specialized landing pages that co...
Oct 22, 2025•15 min•Ep. 176
Are you losing your best people and don't know why? In this final episode of our four-part series with Frederic Lucas-Conwell, founder of GRI.co, we tackle the most expensive problem in business: top talent walking out the door. Most companies think they understand why high performers leave. They're wrong. From boardroom battles to manager missteps, Frederic reveals the behavioral mismatches that drive your best people away—and the surprisingly simple changes that can keep them engaged. We discu...
Oct 07, 2025•26 min•Ep. 175
Moving your business email from one system to another sounds straightforward until it isn't. Susan learned this the hard way during a weekend-long migration that revealed every hidden complexity you never think to ask about upfront. In this episode, she breaks down the five critical questions every business owner must answer before switching email systems - questions that could save you from your own technical nightmare and budget explosion. The 5 Questions That Prevent Email Migration Disasters...
Sep 10, 2025•22 min•Ep. 174
Today's episode could save you 20% or more on overhead costs while boosting employee retention by up to 45%. My guest is Alane Boyd, Co-CEO of BiggestGoal.ai and workflow automation expert with nearly two decades in tech. But here's what sets her apart: instead of forcing you into complicated project management tools you'll hate, she works with what you already use and love. Alane's built her philosophy around "retention not replacement" - using automation to free your team for strategic work, n...
Aug 27, 2025•41 min•Ep. 173
Google First, AI Second: The Smart Agent Strategy Your prospects aren't abandoning Google - they're using it PLUS asking ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude for deeper research. Here's the reality: Google still processes 373 times more searches than ChatGPT. But the 1% of prospects using AI answer engines? They're your highest-intent leads spending 23+ minutes researching before they ever call an agent. Most real estate professionals are asking the wrong question. Instead of "Should I optimize for A...
Aug 06, 2025•33 min•Ep. 172
You've hired great people individually, but your team still isn't performing at its potential. Sound familiar? Most companies focus on individual talent while completely missing the multiplier effect of understanding how team members naturally function together. In Part 3 of our series with Frederic Lucas-Conwell, President of GRI (Growth Resources Institute), we dive into "The Team Performance Multiplier"—how behavioral dynamics can accelerate revenue growth through better collaboration and dec...
Jul 30, 2025•27 min•Ep. 171
The Crisis Killing Service Organizations - And How to Save Them Rotary clubs, Lions International, Chambers of Commerce, and countless other service organizations are dying. Membership is aging out, younger generations aren't joining, and traditional models that worked for decades are failing spectacularly. In this eye-opening episode of Rooted in Revenue, host Susan Finch and guest Miguel de Jesus tackle this crisis head-on. Miguel, a seasoned executive who went from East Harlem public housing ...
Jul 23, 2025•25 min•Ep. 170
Your son just graduated college with excellent grades, but can't get past the "AI robot" screening resumes. Meanwhile, companies like Nike are using AI filters as their first hiring step, eliminating potentially brilliant candidates before any human ever sees them. What's going wrong with this approach? In Part 2 of our series with Frederic Lucas-Conwell, President of GRI (Growth Resources Institute), we dive beyond traditional resume screening into the world of AI-enhanced behavioral profiling....
Jul 16, 2025•26 min•Ep. 169
Most hiring managers are drowning in resumes, conducting endless interviews, and still ending up with costly mis-hires that drain productivity and morale. What if the problem isn't finding good candidates—it's understanding what you actually need before you start looking? In this episode of Rooted in Revenue, host Susan Finch sits down with Frederic Lucas-Conwell, President of GRI (Growth Resources Institute), to explore how behavioral intelligence is revolutionizing the hiring process. Unlike t...
Jul 08, 2025•15 min•Ep. 168
When Frank Scavo sent me his latest article about consulting skills, I knew we had to dig deeper. After 20 years of working together—first as his client, then as colleagues—we've lived the collaborative consulting model he champions. In this conversation, we explore why seasoned executives often struggle to transition into consulting, the critical difference between having authority and wielding influence, and why the best consulting relationships blur traditional boundaries. Frank shares hard-w...
Jun 25, 2025•32 min•Ep. 167
Local SEO just got a reality check. Darren Shaw, founder of Whitespark, joins Rooted in Revenue to debunk some widely held myths while sharing what actually drives results for small businesses trying to dominate local search. If you're a real estate agent sharing office space with ten competitors, a service provider working from home, or any brick-and-mortar business wondering why your Google rankings aren't improving despite "doing everything right," this conversation will change how you approa...
Jun 04, 2025•30 min•Ep. 166
I heard Aaron Grando drop the term "pretotypes" on Leader Generation this morning and had to hit pause. Three minutes in, I realized I'd been vibe coding for months without knowing there was a name for it. But pretotypes? That's when I knew I had to get him on the show immediately. We're talking about taking your stream-of-consciousness ideas and building working drafts before you've even figured out what you want. For business owners doing $0.5 to 10 million a year, this isn't just another tech...
May 28, 2025•27 min•Ep. 165
Lany and Susan dive into the sometimes murky waters of consultant-client relationships. Drawing from years of experience sitting on every side of the boardroom table, they tackle the age-old question: "Who is responsible for doing the tasks at hand?" Let's face it—consultants don't come with magic wands, and CEOs don't get to toss the keys and walk away. Whether you've ever wondered "Why isn't this working?" or "I paid a consultant, so why isn't everything fixed?" this episode cuts through the c...
May 15, 2025•31 min•Ep. 164
In this episode, Susan Finch and Lany Sullivan revisit a topic we can’t stress enough: branded email addresses. Using Gmail, Yahoo, or even AOL for business? You’re losing trust before the conversation starts. We dig into real examples, onboarding requirements, offboarding protocols, and the risk of letting your team operate with inconsistent or unprotected emails. Your email isn’t just a communication tool—it’s your brand's handshake. Related Reading: Domain, Email & Website Evaluation for ...
May 07, 2025•17 min•Ep. 163
Struggling to make your real estate data stand out in a sea of generic market reports? In this episode of Rooted in Revenue, I share practical insights from my recent workshop with NRBA professionals Kelley Kesterson and Angelica Suarez, who are looking to elevate their marketing with meaningful data visualization. Discover how to transform complex market statistics into compelling visual stories that build trust and position you as the go-to expert in your local market—all using tools you alrea...
May 01, 2025•13 min•Ep. 162
Susan sits down with former team member Karen Mares, Content Creator at Event Builder, who serves as her company's "marketing anchor" as she navigates the evolving landscape of AI tools. Karen shares her journey from initial concerns about AI replacing her writing role to developing a strategic workflow where she remains firmly in control. You'll discover how she has combined multiple AI platforms—each serving distinct purposes in her content creation process—while ensuring that her human expert...
Apr 22, 2025•33 min•Ep. 161
Terry Hopkins | President & CEO, Grants Pass Chamber of Commerce: Grants Pass native Terry Hopkins has returned to his roots after a diverse hospitality career across five states. With over 25 years of business ownership and management experience in Southern Oregon, Terry recently spent 5 years as a business advocate with the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. Married for 20+ years with two sons, Terry is passionate about community service, having served on numerous Chamber and cit...
Apr 15, 2025•27 min•Ep. 160
Lany Sullivan sits down with Mark Cleve, who shares his remarkable 32-year journey with Tom James, the premium custom clothing company that's grown from $119 million to over $600 million during his tenure. Mark reveals the business philosophy that has guided his success: "You don't build a business, you build people and people build a business." From his early door-to-door book-selling experiences to becoming a trusted name in custom clothing, Mark offers powerful insights on why clothing matter...
Apr 08, 2025•42 min•Ep. 159
We're continuing our exploration of effective marketing strategies with the experts from iHeartRadio. In our first segment, we discovered how radio remains 'America's Trusted Companion' and explored the powerful geofencing capabilities that can target potential customers with remarkable precision. Now, we're shifting focus to the strategic side - how businesses of all sizes can effectively incorporate audio marketing into their overall strategy, even with limited budgets. Julie and Kevin share v...
Mar 27, 2025•20 min•Ep. 158
Real estate brokers searching for an edge are discovering what radio professionals have known all along – radio remains 'America's Trusted Companion' even in our digital age. This special segment of Rooted in Revenue brings you face-to-face with iHeartRadio experts Julie Beaulieu and Kevin Cash, who share surprising insights about radio's continued growth and its unique ability to build community trust. Learn how their advanced geofencing technology lets you precisely target potential clients – ...
Mar 14, 2025•16 min•Ep. 157
What happens after you've found that perfect addition to your team? How do you create an onboarding experience that makes new hires feel confident, valued, and ready to contribute? In the last episode, Susan and Lany walked you through establishing a solid hiring process. The topic is Beyond the Hire: Creating a Welcoming Onboarding Experience That Builds Lasting Teams. In this second half, they explore the critical role of mentorship in successful onboarding, including how to support first-time...
Mar 05, 2025•35 min•Ep. 156
Are you planning to bring a new team member on board? Before you start interviewing candidates, there's critical groundwork that needs to be laid. In this episode of Rooted in Revenue, hosts Susan Finch and Lany Sullivan walk you through the essential steps to prepare your business for a successful hire. From mapping out processes to setting up the right tech stack, they share practical advice drawn from years of experience working with business owners. Learn how proper preparation not only make...
Feb 26, 2025•30 min•Ep. 155
Imagine Dolly Parton’s Jolene. Now, imagine Miley Cyrus singing it. It's the same song and the same lyrics—but they feel completely different, right? That’s exactly how typefaces work. A typeface sets the tone before a single word is read. It tells your audience who you are—before they even realize it. And whether your brand feels classic and trustworthy like Dolly’s Jolene or bold and modern like Miley’s version depends on the choices you make in your typography.” Today, we’re diving into the w...
Feb 18, 2025•16 min•Ep. 154
Which task management and marketing strategy tools should you use? Spoiler alert—it’s not as simple as picking the most popular software. Susan and Lany dive into the importance of discernment when selecting tools, sharing real-world experiences of software frustration, integration challenges, and team buy-in struggles. They emphasize the need to evaluate your team’s workflow, test software with real scenarios, and demand proper support before making a costly commitment. They explore why busines...
Feb 12, 2025•26 min•Ep. 153
Are your social posts starting to feel stale? Are you spending hours creating fresh content when you already have a goldmine of valuable material gathering digital dust? Stop the endless content creation cycle. Strategic content management isn't about constantly generating new material—it's about maximizing the value of your existing expertise and insights. In this episode, we cover building and maintaining an effective content bank that transforms your valuable insights into a reusable asset li...
Feb 05, 2025•23 min•Ep. 152
Great title, right? But you need a plan. We partner with outside contractors, even our own team - are they documenting what they are doing for you, the project, the client in a way that would allow anyone else to pick up the project and continue on? Is the logic in place for the programming or creative decisions? ASK THEM. This quick episode gives you more ideas to protect your company, your clients in case something goes awry, even just for a while.
Jan 22, 2025•7 min•Ep. 151
This episode of Rooted in Revenue takes an enlightening turn in a world that often pushes us to look outside ourselves for validation and success. Join host Susan and her guest, Chris Champion, as they explore how starting each day with intention and finding your inner peace can transform not just your personal life but your business success as well. From morning walks to barefoot moments in nature, discover simple yet powerful practices that successful leaders use to stay grounded. Chris shares...
Jan 16, 2025•33 min•Ep. 150
