Rooted In Revenue

Feeling scattered trying to manage and grow your business? Plagued with impulsive ideas but little follow-through? Do distractions keep you from moving forward effectively? My friend and business coach Debi Davis shares hard-won wisdom for overcoming chaos and dysfunction. If you lead or own a small or mid-size B2B company, listen in as Debi and I discuss bringing order to operations, planning, and execution. Learn a simple yet powerful three-step formula encapsulated as “frame, focus, follow through” that could transform how you structure workflows, combat shiny object syndrome, enable consistent progress tied to objectives, and make space for spontaneity. Whether dealing with hypergrowth, leadership changes, or market disruptions, every entrepreneur needs organizational discipline to drive results without burning out. Tune into my conversation with Debi to gain insider tips on getting unstuck, focused, and moving forward intelligently toward your vision. 

CEOs, are your metrics telling the whole story of your company’s health? Susan Finch poses this vital question to her guest, customer intelligence expert Laura Patterson, in this episode. Laura spotlights critical yet overlooked metrics beyond sales and profit — brand equity and customer value. These interlinked measures provide unparalleled visibility into your company’s ability to attract, retain, and expand customer relationships over time. According to Patterson, savvy executives harness these advanced analytics to steer product innovation, segment customers precisely, model business impacts, and ultimately make decisions that accelerate growth. Connecting the dots between these additional metrics and concrete outcomes gives you the power to future-proof your organization amid disruption. Will you lead with expanded metrics to propel competitive advantage? The insights in this episode equip you to do so.
The intro focuses on the bottom-line benefits of the discussed metrics for CEOs and uses Laura Patterson's expertise to compel leaders to incorporate broader intelligence. 
Links from this episode:
VisionEdge Marketing
Laura Patterson on LinkedIn
Speaking Workshop
Advisory Services
About Laura Patterson:
Laura Patterson has believed in the power of customer-centricity since childhood, when she sold chocolates door-to-door. She founded the growth strategy firm VisionEdge Marketing in 1999 to help companies reap the rewards of a customer focus. Patterson has severed as director of customer marketing and brand strategy, customer relationship manager, customer marketing initiative lead, and customer loyalty architect for companies like Motorola. An award-winning author and speaker, she shares her expertise through books, interactive workshops, research, and advisory services to boards and executives. Patterson is passionate about enabling businesses to accelerate growth through four key game-changers: better growth strategies, organization-wide customer-centricity, performance measurement, and operational excellence. With over 25 years helping companies implement these customer-first approaches, her mission remains unchanged - inspire organizations to fully leverage customer intelligence for sustainable success.
 

Do you have a revolutionary business idea but struggle with bringing it to market? Have you invested significant time and money into a product with no traction? As an entrepreneur and inventor at heart, Sushee Perumal has been in your shoes. After exiting his prior role, he was inspired to launch Flight Level 180 to provide startups and founders the capabilities in technology, marketing, and sales required to accelerate getting products from idea to market fit. In this episode, learn Sushee’s framework around alignment, rapid iterations using customer feedback, finding shortcuts, and execution to take your innovative ideas into winning products customers love. As Sushee says, “Leaders are learners,” so be prepared to have your mind opened to a new way to approach product-market validation. If you have an insatiable curiosity for what’s possible in business, you’ll discover game-changing insights from this inventive leader and certified pilot.
Links from this episode:
Sushee Perumal on LinkedIn
FlightLevel180.com
Susan Finch on LinkedIn
Funnel Media Group LLC

Communication skills are invaluable yet often overlooked. In this episode, Susan sits down with Matt Heinz, President of Heinz Marketing Inc. He's an established podcaster and marketing leader. They discuss practical ways we can become better communicators by creating and sharing our stories. They explore how opening up builds connection and trust—when we lead with vulnerability, we grant others permission to do the same. The resulting environment fosters mutual understanding between all personality types, whether analytic experts or creative collaborators. Matt and Susan examine how to reframe experiences from our past into bite-sized stories that offer wisdom. Gathering these over time not only boosts our own confidence but allows us to celebrate shared experiences with others. The ability to craft compelling stories makes communicating easier and more effective. This speaks volumes to HR facilitating healthier office cultures. Ultimately, honing our storytelling skills allows us to bridge divides and bond teams together. Tune into this insightful episode to gain tangible tools for improving how you communicate through personal stories.
A quote from Matt that speaks volumes about him:
“The definition of good work isn’t more work. It isn’t defined by doing the most work. The definition of work is about impactful work – for the work itself as well as what it enables for you and those you care about, as well as the broader communities in which we live and engage.”
Matt Heinz
President
Heinz Marketing
 

Have you ever volunteered your time to lead a professional organization or community group, only to face a tangled transition handing everything over to your successor? Between forgotten passwords, outdated contact lists, and confusing file permissions, it's enough digital chaos to make you want to resign on the spot!
Well, take a deep breath and lean in. In this episode, we'll untangle the mystery of smooth leadership transitions when it comes to your online assets. With empathy, humor, and hard-won experience, I’ll share practical tips to make passing the digital torch simple and stress-free. You’ll learn how to clean your organization's digital house, tighten permissions, and set up role-based access so you can seamlessly log out and let capable new hands log in. Consider this your guide to gracefully logging off so your organization can thrive far into the future. Now, let’s get you transitioned out of that role without any fuss or digital dust!
Questions? Contact me: [email protected] or on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/susanmfinch

What if we viewed every employee as having untapped potential waiting to be uncovered?  Russell Kern joins Susan in this episode to discuss how shifting to strength-based coaching can profoundly transform organizations and lives. Through focusing regular conversations on nurturing strengths, managers become empowering partners in their employees' career journeys. Employees feel recognized for their unique abilities and supported to grow as individuals. Imagine the ripple effects across teams and companies when people are passionate about using their natural strengths daily. The data is clear - strength-based coaching boosts engagement, productivity, profits, and retention. They would like to hammer home that it is time to stop focusing on profits and focus on people. We hire PEOPLE to work with us for 30% of our lives. The strengths revolution starts with believing in human capabilities and caring deeply about enabling every individual to thrive. Get tips on how small changes by managers can unlock tremendous organizational success. The future is bright when we inspire greatness in one another. This is the first of several conversations to come between Susan and Russell.
 
A bit more on Strength-Based Coaching from Russell Kern:
Strength-based coaching plays a unique and critical role in developing strong teams and improving organizational financial performance. It enables each team member to learn what their greatest strengths are. In doing so, individuals can grow more in their careers by being encouraged to apply their natural abilities to their daily work. This develops a feeling of being respected and recognized for who they are and the importance of their unique contributions to the team. This further helps to increase their sense of belonging and shows support for their personal and career growth, which directly impacts their engagement at work and their team’s performance. In a study spanning 45 countries and 49,495 business units, Gallup found that strength-based workgroups saw increases in both sales and profits. And on average, these workgroups also saw:●     3% to 7% higher customer engagement●     6% to 16% lower turnover (in low-turnover organizations)●     26% to 72% lower turnover (in high-turnover organizations)●     9% to 15% increase in engaged employees●     22% to 59% fewer safety incidents Furthermore, Gallup also found that teams that focused on developing their strengths had 12.5% greater productivity and 8.9% greater profitability than teams that did not.

We have a highly specialized guest who will help us navigate the evolving landscape of consumer behavior as it relates to demand generation. Deanna Shimoto, with over eight years of expertise in marketing and demand generation, joins us to share insights that couldn't be more relevant to our current business climate. As Deanna aptly puts it, "Buyers, consumers in general, are spending significantly more time digging in and doing their own research." This shift in consumer behavior is transforming the way businesses need to approach sales and marketing.
In this episode, we explore the reasons behind this shift and how it's affecting various industries, including the car vending machine trend exemplified by Carvana. Trust, efficiency, and control have become paramount for today's consumers. Whether you're in B2B or B2C, understanding and adapting to these changing dynamics is crucial. We'll delve into the importance of trust, the consequences of broken trust, and the need to align your strategies with evolving consumer preferences.
Join us as we uncover the keys to thriving in this new landscape of consumer behavior with Deanna Shimoto on "Rooted in Revenue." Be ready to look at transforming your business strategy and stay ahead in today's ever-evolving market.
Links from this episode:
Business Name: GrowthMode Marketing
Website: http://www.growthmodemarketing.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannashimota/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/growthmode
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Growth_Mode

In this episode, Susan Finch and Tessa Burg dive deep into the ethical and strategic incorporation of AI tools, such as ChatGPT, into business workflows and educational systems. They discuss the importance of understanding biases, setting up standards across the company, and adopting a cautious approach to the usage of generative AI tools. They emphasize the need for a strong QA process and internal policies to protect clients and businesses. Additionally, they touch on the importance of educating students and teachers on how to properly use AI tools to enhance creativity and communication. Susan and Tessa share real-life examples and insights to highlight the challenges and benefits of using AI tools while maintaining a strong focus on ethics, security, and bias. Tune in to explore the nuances of incorporating AI into your daily workflows and the importance of approaching it with a strategic mindset.
Listen to Tessa's episode from Leader Generation on this topic, as well.
The Unique Edge Marketers Have Over ChatGPT
Links from this episode:
Susan on LinkedIn
Tessa on LinkedIn
Time-Saving vs. Think-Saving blog post

Jo Dale Carothers has just published Royally Deceived. I sat with her yesterday to talk about the process of someone who works full-time AND wants to be a published author. One of her big takeaways - research free resources, talk to other authors in your genre, and put together a team. Here is an excerpt from the interview. If you know you have a book in you, you'll want to listen to this episode. Maye you will be like Jo Dale and realize you don't just have one book in you, but two, then four, then ten. 
About Author - J.D. Carothers:
When not consumed by her job as an attorney, J.D. Carothers loves to cook for her family and friends, read murder mysteries and romance novels, eat chocolate, and sip wine while watching the sunset in Southern California.
Late at night or early on weekend mornings, she tries to find a quiet place to write her next novel and trade the stress of real life for a fantasy world where murder and romance are on the menu, along with the food she loves.
She wishes there were more hours in each day!
You can preview Royally Deceived here.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/43aNQYO 
Audible: https://adbl.co/3rv5IAA 
Here is the link to the series on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C9N72KR2 

Psychological safety is crucial for organizations to thrive, contributing to talent retention and overall success. Companies that create a culture of psychological safety outperform those that do not. Join Susan Finch and Rob Brodo to continue their discussion on leadership simulations.
Creating a psychologically safe environment requires leaders to establish trust and make employees feel comfortable taking risks, challenging the status quo, and expressing their concerns. It involves treating everyone fairly and focusing on building self-esteem and recognition.
To be a better leader and foster psychological safety, Rob Brodo suggests five key actions:
creating a stable and predictable environment,
providing employees with options and choices,
ensuring equity in treatment,
understanding employee desires and needs,
and establishing a foundation of trust.
Repairing trust can be challenging but is possible in certain situations. It requires open communication, difficult conversations, and the leader's judgment on whether the person can be trusted again. Building trust also involves maintaining a respectful environment and avoiding mockery or humiliation.
Advantix offers simulations and programs on psychological safety that cater to both large and small businesses. These simulations provide self-reflection, learning, and action-planning opportunities to enhance leadership skills and create psychologically safe workplaces.
Links from this episode:
Adventexe.com
https://www.advantexe.com/psychological-safety-simulation 
Rob Brodo on LinkedIn and Twitter
Susan Finch on LinkedIn and Twitter
 
About Advantexe:
Advantexe Learning Solution's mission is to provide world-class Business simulation-centric Business Acumen, Business Leadership, and Strategic Business Selling talent development solutions to organizations around the world to help them execute their business strategies and achieve their goals and objectives. 
Their vision is to be the premier talent development resource partnering with their clients to close the talent gaps preventing them from flawlessly executing their strategic initiatives and achieving their short- and long-term business objectives.

Susan Finch and Rob Brodo from Adventexe delve into the crucial role of coaching in driving organizational success. Recent studies have revealed that companies with a strong coaching culture are classified as high-performing organizations, and you won't want to miss out on that kind of achievement. Rob shares invaluable insights on coaching dialogue, coaching effectiveness, and the overall approach. They debunk the misconception that each company's coaching needs are vastly unique, emphasizing the core principles that apply to leadership coaching across the board. However, they also stress the significance of aligning coaching strategies with your company's specific goals and objectives. Join them for this episode, "Skills Needed to Drive Performance Through  Effective Coaching."
Rob also invites you to read his latest post on Five Business Acument Tips to Making Yourself Indispensible.
 
Links from this episode:
Adventexe.com
https://www.advantexe.com/new-manager-business-leadership-simulation
Rob Brodo on LinkedIn and Twitter
Susan Finch on LinkedIn and Twitter
 
About Advantexe:
Advantexe Learning Solution's mission is to provide world-class Business simulation-centric Business Acumen, Business Leadership, and Strategic Business Selling talent development solutions to organizations around the world to help them execute their business strategies and achieve their goals and objectives. 
Their vision is to be the premier talent development resource partnering with their clients to close the talent gaps preventing them from flawlessly executing their strategic initiatives and achieving their short- and long-term business objectives.

Intrigued by Advantexe's business simulations, Susan welcomes back Rob Brodo from Advantexe as they explores their focus on new manager training. They both acknowledge that management failure can lead to business failure but believe it is preventable and correctable. Susan asks Rob about the challenges faced by new managers and the motivation behind creating simulations.
Rob highlights the overwhelming nature of transitioning into a management role without guidance. Advantexe's simulations allow new managers to practice essential skills like goal-setting, coaching, conflict resolution, and leading change. Susan shares insights from conversations with author Helen Fanucci, author of Love Your Team, emphasizing the need for comprehensive training to support new managers and the difficult conversations necessary to grow.
They discuss the complexities of the evolving work environment, where institutional knowledge and documentation quickly become outdated. Rob reveals that many organizations lack manuals and standardized procedures. The simulations benefit not only new managers but the entire organization by building leadership capabilities.
Links from this episode:
Adventexe.com
https://www.advantexe.com/new-manager-business-leadership-simulation
Rob Brodo on LinkedIn and Twitter
Susan Finch on LinkedIn and Twitter
Also mentioned, Love Your Team by Helen Fanucci on Amazon
About Advantexe:
Advantexe Learning Solution's mission is to provide world-class Business simulation-centric Business Acumen, Business Leadership, and Strategic Business Selling talent development solutions to organizations around the world to help them execute their business strategies and achieve their goals and objectives. 
Their vision is to be the premier talent development resource partnering with their clients to close the talent gaps preventing them from flawlessly executing their strategic initiatives and achieving their short- and long-term business objectives.