Special Ops with Emma Rainville

The systems you trust most might be the ones silently draining revenue.In this Special Ops episode, Emma Rainville sits down with Tiago and Richard from Shockwave to expose the hidden risks inside "working" automations. From forgotten CRM tags to catastrophic failures on revenue-critical days like New Year's Eve, this conversation breaks down the high-stakes consequences of automation neglect. You'll learn exactly how often to audit backend systems, how to prioritize checks based on revenue impact, and why every automation needs a timestamp and owner.We cover:- Why the butterfly effect in automation is real—and dangerous- The difference between a functioning system and a profitable one- SOPs vs. revenue-connected automations: how to audit each- The $500K+ mistake from a five-year-old CRM automation- Why your quarterly launch could trigger a total system collapseTimestamps:(0:00) Welcome + intro to automation breakdowns(0:40) Why automations fail silently over time(1:25) The legacy CRM horror story(2:45) How often you should audit automations(3:50) The butterfly effect in backend systems(5:10) Real-world breakdown: New Year’s Eve automation disaster(6:20) SOPs vs. dollar-backed flows: audit timelines(7:10) Free SOP download for your next system auditCTA: Download the free automation audit SOP from Richard inside the Visionary Vault. No opt-in BS. Just plug, edit, deploy.Explore Free Resources inside the Visionary Vault:https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vault Get in Touch with Emma Rainville:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@specialopspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_rainville512/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmarainvilleoperationsguru Get in Touch with Richard:Email: richard@shockwavesolutionsllc.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-parkin-55621ba9/Get in Touch with Tiago:Email: tiago@shockwavesolutionsllc.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiago-sanguinetti/

Retention isn't just about keeping customers—it's about removing every reason they'd ever want to leave.In this episode of Special Ops, Emma Rainville is joined by Shockwave’s retention tactician Tiago Richard to deliver a hard-hitting, operations-first breakdown on subscription retention. Whether you're scaling supplements, masterminds, SaaS tools or monthly memberships, this episode offers direct strategies that tackle both active and passive retention—and explains why refund prevention starts before your customer asks for one.Tiago walks through critical churn points (month 1, 3, 6, 12), refund psychology, how to align CS with retention KPIs, and what elite operators do to pre-convince their subscribers to stay. You'll also hear granular plays around pricing posture, incentive timing, and the community effect of visible cancellations.We cover:The difference between active vs. passive retention—and where each one fails Shockwave’s best practices for refund prevention that don’t involve discounting Tactical incentives at key churn markers (month 1, 3, 6, 12) Mastermind vs. supplement retention frameworks Why “usage” is the biggest predictor of churn—and how to design around it What makes annual subscription ops fundamentally different from monthlyTimestamps:(0:00) Introduction: retention starts after the sale(2:03) Active vs. passive retention—defined(5:30) Retaining masterminds vs. supplements(7:55) Milestone drop-offs: designing incentive triggers(9:15) Passive retention via community psychology(12:20) What to do when someone says “I want a refund”(14:40) Retention by habit-forming: 21-day logic(15:20) Why annual retention takes proactive ops(16:17) Outro & retention playbook dropSign up for the Visionary Vault to get Richard’s Retention Best Practices PDF and our operational retention checklist: https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vaultExplore Free Resources inside the Visionary Vault: https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vaultGet in Touch with Emma Rainville:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@specialopspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_rainville512/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmarainvilleoperationsguruGet in Touch with Richard:Email: richard@shockwavesolutionsllc.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-parkin-55621ba9/Get in Touch with Tiago:Email: tiago@shockwavesolutionsllc.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiago-sanguinetti/

Viral isn’t the goal. Revenue is. Keenya Kelly joins Emma to show how introverts and experts alike are turning 30-second videos into 6-figure funnels.This week on Special Ops, Emma Rainville sits down with TikTok strategist Keenya Kelly to unpack how short-form video can drive real revenue — even if you’re introverted, niche, or selling something “boring.” Keenya walks through the algorithm rules most brands break, the psychology behind what actually makes people buy, and the path from zero visibility to a $3M business.Whether you're a coach, consultant, or ecommerce seller, this episode drills into what it takes to monetize video content without losing your brand voice (or your sanity). No fluff, no dancing required — just tactical insights from someone who's turned views into bank.We cover:How Keenya’s first viral video reignited a 2-year-old book The surprising TikTok features most service businesses ignoreWhy introverts actually outperform on video The one mistake tanking your reel engagement What makes a reel viral — and what makes it convertTimestamps:(0:00) Welcome + Keenya Kelly intro(1:30) Teaching TikTok for business in 2020(3:15) Going viral with a book video(4:50) From shame to strategy: posting TikToks to Facebook(6:20) Why video marketing outpaced her design agency(8:00) From dance trends to profit stacks(10:05) Building a course on monetizing video(12:00) Teaching introverts to go viral(13:30) Platform rules you're breaking(15:10) Algorithm psychology & engagement tactics(17:30) Final tips for getting startedExplore Free Resources inside the Visionary Vault: https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vaultGet in Touch with Emma Rainville:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@specialopspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_rainville512/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmarainvilleoperationsguruGet in Touch with Keenya Kelly:Website: https://www.keenyakelly.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/keenyakelly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keenyakelly/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@keenyakelly LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keenyakelly/ 

In this tactical, no-fluff episode of Special Ops, Emma Rainville is joined in San Diego by Tiago and Richard from the Shockwave team to unpack the underestimated art of managing up. If your operator isn't pushing back, they're not doing the job. This episode exposes the accountability vacuum at the top—and what COOs, integrators, and operators must do to fix it.Together, the team walks through real-world scenarios of managing high-profile visionary founders, the emotional cost of operational leadership, and why structure must exist even above the CEO. If your founder won’t face reality, this is your playbook for holding the line.We cover:The difference between managing up and managing downWhy operator silence signals a dangerous founder dynamicHow to frame accountability as pro-founder, not adversarialReal systems for upward management and strategic delegationThe emotional toll of leadership when no one's managing the topTimestamps:(0:00) Why your operator should say no to you(1:24) Managing up: what it really means(3:47) Real stories from the Shockwave trenches(6:02) The silent weight founders carry (and don’t admit)(9:11) Holding your CEO accountable without ego(12:42) The operator's final role: structure above all🔥 Want the playbook?Download Tiago’s PDF: How to Manage Anyone (Even a Emma Rainville) — it’s free inside the Visionary Vault.Explore Free Resources inside the Visionary Vault:https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vaultGet in Touch with Emma Rainville:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@specialopspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_rainville512/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmarainvilleoperationsguruGet in Touch with Richard:Email: richard@shockwavesolutionsllc.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-parkin-55621ba9/Get in Touch with Tiago:Email: tiago@shockwavesolutionsllc.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiago-sanguinetti/ 

What does it really take to run high-performance global ops? This episode takes you inside the war room of Shockwave Solutions’ daily execution machine.In this tactical edition of Inside the Ops Room, Richard and Tiago break down the real rhythms and routines that keep the Shockwave engine moving. With a team stretched from Mauritius to Argentina to the Philippines, coordination isn’t optional, it’s mission-critical.From time zone alignment to scorecard culture, and the weekly cadence that holds it all together, they share the actual frameworks behind seamless team operations. Whether you're scaling a startup or running a mature ecom brand, this episode will upgrade your remote team management playbook.. fast!We cover:How to align distributed teams across 6+ time zonesDaily ops face-to-face and why the agenda never moves The Monday “Ops” meeting vs Thursday “Breaker”Building and maintaining a high-leverage KPI scorecard Why templating tasks (in ClickUp) is the difference between chaos and clarityReading “everything” as an operations leader Signs your systems are sending signals and how to catch them Timestamps:(0:00) Managing ops across Mauritius, Argentina, Philippines(1:40) Global team routines that actually work(3:15) The morning F2F: alignment in 10 minutes or less(5:40) Why the Monday Ops call kicks off the week(7:15) The Thursday “Breaker” — working on the business(9:05) Scorecard cadence: KPIs that mean something(11:20) Templating tasks & SOPs: ClickUp playbook(12:40) Read everything: why ops needs total context(14:00) Interpreting “signals” inside your ops machineDownload Richard & Tiago’s full checklist — including their top 25 tools for ops excellence — free inside the Visionary Vault.Explore Free Resources inside the Visionary Vault:https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vaultGet in Touch with Emma Rainville:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@specialopspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_rainville512/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmarainvilleoperationsguruGet in Touch with Richard:Email: richard@shockwavesolutionsllc.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-parkin-55621ba9/Get in Touch with Tiago:Email: tiago@shockwavesolutionsllc.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiago-sanguinetti/ 

In today’s special takeover episode, Richard and Tiago from the Shockwave team dissect one of the most misunderstood frameworks in operations: what to automate, what to delegate, and what to kill. This is more than productivity talk — it’s a precision lens on reclaiming founder time and removing bottlenecks.From live examples of client workflows to a decision checklist every ops leader should keep handy, they reveal how automation can silently rob insight, how delegation can scale teams, and when “just stop doing it” is the smartest move. You’ll walk away with a tactical playbook to audit your systems and free up your brainpower for what actually moves the business.We cover:The exact criteria to decide what tasks to automateWhy some automation kills visibility and hurts decision-makingWhen to delegate (and how to avoid founder bottlenecks)Why “kill” might be the most overlooked ops strategyA step-by-step method to audit your task listTimestamps:(0:00) Welcome from Emma + Meet Richard and Tiago(1:40) When automation removes important visibility(4:05) The 3-question test for automation decisions(6:12) Tasks that should never be automated(7:40) Delegation: how to think about production-level relief(9:15) Founder context-switching and what to kill first(11:00) Final criteria for killing vs delegatingDownload the free Automation vs Delegation Decision Framework inside the Visionary Vault — only at: https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vaultExplore Free Resources inside the Visionary Vault:https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vaultGet in Touch with Emma Rainville:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@specialopspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_rainville512/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmarainvilleoperationsguruGet in Touch with Richard:Email: richard@shockwavesolutionsllc.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-parkin-55621ba9/Get in Touch with Tiago:Email: tiago@shockwavesolutionsllc.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiago-sanguinetti/ 

Facebook’s ad engine just changed forever. If your campaigns are underperforming and your marketing strategy is still relying on lookalikes or interest targeting, you’re already behind.In this episode, Emma Rainville sits down with Facebook & Google Ads strategist Richard Parkin to break down Meta’s rollout of the Andromeda AI model, a tectonic shift in how Facebook algorithm delivers and optimizes ads. Richard unpacks what Advantage+, open targeting, and AI-first delivery really mean for your bottom line and how to pivot your online advertising strategy before your ROAS crashes.We cover:- Why lookalikes and interest targeting are officially dead - How Meta’s “open targeting” model is outperforming manual setups- Real results from a niche client shifting to AI-led delivery - What Meta ads really gain from sunsetting old tools- How to test your own campaigns safely without risking profitability Timestamps:(0:00) Intro: Facebook chaos and AI rumors(1:05) What is Andromeda? Why marketers are panicking(2:12) Why interest and lookalike targeting no longer work(3:20) The pivot to open targeting and Advantage+(4:30) Are conversions really better with AI delivery?(5:45) Niche case study: open targeting beats lookalikes(7:00) Is Meta intentionally sabotaging old tools?(8:10) What NOT to trust in Meta’s creative suggestions(9:22) How to safely test AI campaigns without losing money(10:15) Final take: what operators must shift nowSign up to the Visionary Vault for access to Richard’s full ebook on Andromeda, Facebook ad targeting playbooks, and tactical traffic SOPs:https://www.specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vaultExplore Free Resources inside the Visionary Vault:https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vaultGet in Touch with Emma Rainville:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@specialopspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_rainville512/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmarainvilleoperationsguruGet in Touch with Richard:Email: richard@shockwavesolutionsllc.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-parkin-55621ba9/

Even the most polished events are logistical warfare. In this Special Ops deep dive, Emma Rainville and Richard Parkin break down the unseen mechanics of event execution—from budgeting to showflow to sponsor integrity.This episode was recorded live during Perry Belcher’s Growth Hacking Live in San Diego, where Emma and Richard pulled back the curtain on real-world event operations. They share a battle-tested budget template, reveal what vendors won’t tell you, and explain exactly how to price sponsorship tiers so both you and your exhibitors win.Emma also drops a free downloadable: *“How to Work With Event Coordinators”—*a must-have if you’re tired of last-minute chaos or unclear roles. Whether you’re planning your first event or looking to scale a live experience profitably, this episode is your blueprint.We cover:The budgeting framework that prevents financial bleed (8 months out)What to include in your event planning checklist—and what to skipWhy event sponsorship tiers fail when mispricedThe run of show template that keeps your day one from derailingHow to vet sponsors without compromising your audienceThe true cost of poor event planning decisions (in lost trust, not just dollars)Timestamps:(0:00) Intro + why events always look easier than they are(1:22) Richard’s 20-hour flight to San Diego(2:45) The #1 budgeting mistake event hosts make(4:01) What belongs in your budget before booking speakers(6:13) How to think about monetizing the event itself(7:22) Event purpose: fulfillment vs. pitching vs. brand(9:03) What to know before selling sponsorships or exhibitor booths(11:01) What your run-of-show doc needs—and how to test it(13:44) How Richard triages marketing chaos 24 hours before doors open👉 Sign up for the Visionary Vault to access:Richard’s 9,000‑point Event Planning Checklist PDFEmma’s Event Coordinator Role GuideThe complete budgeting template Excel sheet for live eventsExplore Free Resources inside the Visionary Vault: https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vaultGet in Touch with Emma Rainville: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@specialopspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_rainville512/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmarainvilleoperationsguruGet in Touch with Richard:Email: richard@shockwavesolutionsllc.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-parkin-55621ba9/

What if the very thing you’re proud of—your speed—was destroying your team, your creativity, and your profits?In this episode, Emma Rainville sits down with Tiago from her Shockwave team to unpack how “fast thinking” creates operational fires, burns out talent, and blocks deep, creative work. They don’t just diagnose the problem — they break down a system for slowing down and reducing noise across your business. From caffeine-fueled chaos to founder triggers, this one’s a masterclass in creating mental space and operational clarity without losing momentum.You’ll walk away with frameworks to manage team bandwidth, protect creativity, and pause before launching the next firestorm initiative.We cover:- Why visionary entrepreneurs unconsciously create operational chaos- The three biggest triggers that derail founders into urgency loops- Tiago’s framework for reducing team noise and regaining clarity- How deep work actually protects revenue and morale- What “slowing down” really looks like in a high-speed companyEpisode Timestamps:(0:00) Intro and what today’s about(2:05) Speed culture and the hidden cost of fast thinking(4:20) How operations gets hijacked by reactionary leadership(7:55) Tiago’s 7 Nespresso story and body-mind speed connection(10:00) The coffee trap and ADHD clarity myths(11:30) Why letting creativity breathe is essential(13:00) The Shockwave framework for slowing down(15:10) Identifying visionary triggers that sabotage thinking(17:00) Emma’s #1 operational red flag that makes everything stopSign up to the Visionary Vault for Tiago’s eBook “How to Slow Down & Reduce Noise” and get instant access to the tactical resources mentioned in this episode: https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vaultExplore Free Resources inside the Visionary Vault:https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vaultGet in Touch with Emma Rainville:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@specialopspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_rainville512/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmarainvilleoperationsguruGet in Touch with Tiago:Email: tiago@shockwavesolutionsllc.com

When your operations fall apart, it isn't because your team failed, it's because you failed to onboard them right.In this episode, Emma Rainville sits down in person with Shockwave COO Tiago Sanguinetti to expose the high-leverage onboarding tactics that multiply team performance. Recorded live at Growth Hacking Live in San Diego, this conversation breaks down exactly how remote companies can accelerate output, prevent turnover, and eliminate first-week confusion with a system that’s operationally elite — not just HR-safe.Tiago shares the onboarding protocol he built inside Shockwave to transform new hires into high-performing operators within days. From creating SOP-led playbooks to assigning day-one tasks for culture fit, this is your tactical framework for onboarding remote contractors, full-time hires, and even creatives like designers — no excuses.We cover:The onboarding multiplier effect — why it’s the most neglected ROI leverHow to structure a remote onboarding call that actually builds contextThe #1 blindspot that sabotages new hires (and how to fix it)Why SOPs are the “star of the show” — and what to include in themMeeting cadences that build trust, loyalty, and accountability from week oneTimestamp Breakdown:(0:00) Live from Growth Hacking Live — intro to Tiago(2:00) What actually multiplies a hire’s value(3:12) The role of context, history, and culture in onboarding(5:45) Digital halls: how to show people around remotely(8:10) The critical SOPs and resource access checklist(10:20) Assigning responsibility for access and expectations(12:00) How to sequence onboarding across departments(13:25) Why early rapport prevents long-term churn(15:30) The “Multiplier” mindset shift for every manager👉 Grab Tiago’s exact Onboarding Checklist inside the Visionary Vault — free access at: https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vaultExplore Free Resources inside the Visionary Vault: https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vaultGet in Touch with Emma Rainville: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@specialopspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_rainville512/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmarainvilleoperationsguruGet in touch with Tiago:Email: tiago@shockwavesolutionsllc.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiago-sanguinetti/

When is a green claim a marketing win — and when is it a lawsuit waiting to happen?In this episode of Marketing on Trial, Emma and Ryan unpack what every brand needs to know about the FTC’s proposed 2025 Green Guides update. From bamboo socks to biodegradable soap labels, the crackdown on misleading eco-claims is real — and compliance is no longer optional. Whether your product touts “recyclable packaging” or “made with renewable materials,” this episode is your legal ops playbook for staying out of class action crosshairs.We cover:The FTC’s definition of greenwashing (1:10)California’s SB 343 vs. the federal Green Guides (4:28)Why “recyclable where accepted” matters (7:05)The new thresholds that may invalidate your current label (8:40)Civil penalties, consumer backlash, and class action exposure (11:15)A compliance checklist you can implement today (13:30)Timestamps:(0:00) Why green marketing is legally risky now(1:10) What counts as greenwashing under FTC rules(4:28) California’s stricter standard: SB 343 unpacked(7:05) “Recyclable” vs. “recyclable where accepted” — why it matters(8:40) Substantiating claims: access thresholds, certifications, and facility data(11:15) Image damage and class action risks for green claims(13:30) 5-step compliance checklist for marketers✅ Get the free Eco Claims Audit Checklist inside the Visionary Vault.Explore Free Resources inside the Visionary Vault: https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vaultGet in Touch with Emma Rainville:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@specialopspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_rainville512/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmarainvilleoperationsguru

Scaling to seven figures isn’t the finish line — it’s the breaking point.In Part 2 of this rapid-fire leadership series, Emma Rainville zeroes in on why so many high six- and low seven-figure businesses stall out — and what it really takes to break through. From duct-taped systems to chaotic “busy work,” Emma reveals the hidden traps that keep founders stuck at $1–2M and unable to scale further. She explains why speed to market without a solid operational framework will sabotage your growth, how to distinguish productivity from wasted motion, and why chaos disguised as systems is the silent killer of profitability.If you’re aiming to scale sustainably, protect margins, and stop running your business like a “job with a fancy title,” this 7-minute tactical episode will hit you where it counts.We cover:Why most businesses stall between $1M–2M in revenueThe difference between “busy” vs. “productive” employeesHow to stop chaos from masquerading as systemsThe biggest time-wasters founders should automate or delegateWhy clarity beats confusion when leading as a visionaryHow to build operational excellence that scales with salesTimestamps(0:00) Why speed without systems sabotages growth(0:55) The $1M–2M stall point explained(1:45) Broken ops structures and scaling past duct tape(2:40) Busy vs. productive — the leadership lens that matters(3:25) How founders waste 8+ hours a week on tasks they shouldn’t touch(4:15) Chaos disguised as systems: why it plagues entrepreneurs(5:10) Leading with clarity vs. confusion as a visionary(6:20) The real test of operational excellence when sales double overnight(7:20) Profitability over vanity metrics — the founder’s choiceReady to break through your revenue ceiling?Sign up free for the Visionary Vault at www.specialopspodcast.com — your tactical toolkit with playbooks, SOP frameworks, and scaling strategies designed to keep your growth sustainable and profitable.Explore Free Resources inside the Visionary Vault:https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vault Get in Touch with Emma Rainville: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@specialopspodcast   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_rainville512/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmarainvilleoperationsguru  

False urgency isn’t just bad marketing — it could now cost you $500 per email in Washington. In this episode of Marketing on Trial, Emma Rainville and compliance attorney Ryan Poteet dissect the landmark Brown v. Old Navy ruling and what it means for subject lines that use misleading language like “Today Only” or “Act Now.” This isn’t just theory — the Washington Supreme Court confirmed that even if the body of your email clarifies the offer, the subject line must stand on its own as factually accurate under CEMA.We cover:The legal definition of “false or misleading” under Washington’s CEMAWhat marketers misunderstand about puffery vs. factual claimsHow statutory damages stack up: $500 per email per recipientThe audit checklist you should run immediately on your ESPHow traceability works: what sender data must be included Timestamps:(0:00) Intro & What Happened in Brown v. Old Navy(1:42) What counts as a misleading subject line?(4:10) Washington’s CEMA vs federal CAN-SPAM(6:33) What “false urgency” really costs you(9:05) Puffery vs factual claims in subject lines(11:20) Opt-ins, ESP headers, and legal sender identity(14:08) The compliance checklist every email marketer needsDownload the Email Subject Line Compliance Checklist inside the Visionary Vault: https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vaultExplore Free Resources at the Visionary Vault:https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vault Get in Touch with Ryan Poteet:Website: https://www.grsm.com/   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-poteet-43098ba  Get in Touch with Emma Rainville: Website: https://specialopspodcast.com/    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@specialopspodcast   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_rainville512/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmarainvilleoperationsguru 

If your team can’t operate without you... you don’t have a team, you have a bottleneck. And that bottleneck is you.In this 6-minute Special Ops rapid-fire, Emma Rainville goes straight for the jugular on one of the most toxic habits in business: micromanagement. From real-world examples to unfiltered truths, she walks through how founder control issues cripple culture, delay growth, and erode decision-making trust. You’ll learn why empowering your team isn’t just nice — it’s non-negotiable if you want operational excellence. Plus: what Emma’s absence for 22 days taught her about culture, SOPs, and who should really be making decisions inside your company.We cover:The psychological effects of micromanagement (and why it backfires)How to shift from micromanager to culture builderWhen it’s a you problem vs. a team problemThe real difference between managers, mentors, and leadersWhy your team should write the SOPs (not just follow them)Timestamps(0:00) Why Emma’s the biggest slowdown in her business(1:02) The chaos of too many founder ideas(2:00) What happened when she left for 22 days(2:45) Who she trusts to make which decisions — and why(3:30) Micromanagement = toxic leadership(4:20) Your culture is built by what you tolerate(5:25) How to know it’s time to get a new team(6:10) Managers vs. mentors vs. leaders — and what your team actually needsReady to build a team you can actually trust?Sign up free for the Visionary Vault at www.SpecialOpsPodcast.com — your tactical toolkit for founder freedom, including playbooks, SOP templates, and growth frameworks built by operators who’ve scaled.Explore Free Resources inside the Visionary Vault:https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vault Get in Touch with Emma Rainville: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@specialopspodcast   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_rainville512/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmarainvilleoperationsguru   

Why I Chose Advertising Law: Ryan Poteet’s Journey From Asset Freezes to Law Firm CultureWhat drives a lawyer to choose advertising law over the more traditional—and lucrative—paths? In this episode, Ryan Poteet reveals why the unpredictable, high-stakes world of FTC litigation is where he thrives.Emma sits down with Ryan to explore the journey that took him from First Amendment litigation to becoming a partner in advertising law. They unpack the unique challenges of ad law, from sudden FTC asset freezes to the nuances of legal compliance in marketing campaigns. Ryan shares candid reflections on career decisions, law firm culture, and what it’s like to face the government in court. Along the way, you’ll hear the inside story of how he and Emma first crossed paths, the importance of building trust with your legal team, and how copywriters and marketers can avoid dangerous missteps with advertising claims.This is a behind-the-scenes episode designed to help you understand not just the law, but the people behind it.We cover:Why Ryan chose advertising law over safer, more predictable fieldsHis transition from First Amendment litigation to ad lawWhat an FTC litigation case looks like in practiceThe realities of law firm team culture and partnership promotionHow lawyers help copywriters reframe claims for complianceTimestamps:(0:00) Why Ryan chose advertising law(4:15) First Amendment litigation to ad law career shift(7:20) Facing FTC litigation and asset freeze cases(10:45) Law firm culture, promotions, and partnerships(13:30) Helping copywriters find compliant advertising claims(15:50) Building trust with your legal teamSign up for the Visionary Vault at www.specialopspodcast.com to access free legal and compliance resources. Don’t wait until the FTC is knocking—arm yourself with the frameworks that protect your business.Explore Free Resources at the Visionary Vault:https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vault Get in Touch with Ryan Poteet:Website: https://www.grsm.com/   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-poteet-43098ba  Get in Touch with Emma Rainville: Website: https://specialopspodcast.com/    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@specialopspodcast   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_rainville512/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmarainvilleoperationsguru

Most founders obsess over scaling revenue—but forget the most scalable asset of all: their internal team. In this tactical solo episode, Emma Rainville breaks down how to mentor employees into future roles that drive real business growth. From her private mentoring guide templates to using masterminds like Genesis and Ignite to build leadership capacity, she shares how to document goals, develop tribal knowledge, and lead your team without becoming a bottleneck.This episode isn't about management—it’s about mentorship that compounds. Emma unpacks the difference between leading people into who you want them to be… vs. mentoring them into who they actually want to become. You'll walk away with tools to track progress, align personal and professional goals, and scale your staff’s skill set alongside your business.We cover:Why tribal knowledge is the most underutilized growth assetHow to create a mentorship cadence that actually worksWays to align employee goals with business objectivesThe exact rating system Emma uses to identify skill gapsCreative ways to outsource mentorship (without dropping quality)Episode Timestamps:(0:00) Why tribal knowledge beats new hires for scale(1:25) Mentoring vs. managing: what most founders miss(3:10) Emma’s personal mentorship rating system(5:00) Aligning employee goals with business growth(7:00) Using masterminds & courses to offload training(9:15) How to document progress without micromanaging(11:00) Quarterly check-ins that actually drive growth(13:10) Download the Mentorship Template (Visionary Vault)🔐 Access Emma’s Mentoring with Purpose Template — available now inside the Visionary Vault.Explore Free Resources inside the Visionary Vault:https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vault Get in Touch with Emma Rainville: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@specialopspodcast   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_rainville512/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmarainvilleoperationsguru   

If your pricing strategy still hides fees at checkout, you’re already in violation. A new FTC rule just dropped the hammer on deceptive drip pricing—and the penalties hit $53,000 per incident.In this Marketing on Trial episode, Emma Rainville along with compliance attorney Ryan Poteet break down the FTC’s new Junk Fee Rule—and why this May 12, 2025 regulation changes everything for marketers. Whether you're running events, selling supplements, or managing e‑commerce stores, this rule forces all fees to be clear, conspicuous, and upfront. No more burying charges in the cart.We explain exactly what counts as a mandatory fee, what platforms like Ticketmaster and Airbnb now must show, and how this law applies far beyond hotels and concerts. Ryan walks us through compliant vs. noncompliant language, Apple Pay pricing loopholes, and how to audit your checkout flows before regulators (or customers) do it for you.We cover:What “drip pricing” means under FTC lawThe full scope of 16 CFR Part 464Where businesses must disclose fees: ad copy, checkout, and moreHow to handle shipping insurance, resort fees, and “quality checks”The right and wrong way to phrase “plus shipping”Why transparency is now a competitive advantageTimestamps:(0:00) Why your $93 booking turns into $300 at checkout(1:45) What the FTC’s new Junk Fee Rule actually bans(3:20) Mandatory fees: what must be disclosed up front(5:10) How this impacts e‑commerce, not just hotels and tickets(7:30) Real examples: shipping protection, Apple Pay loopholes, QA fees(10:00) How to revise your copy and checkout flows(12:30) Final checklist: audit steps, team training, enforcement alertsGrab the Fee Transparency Compliance Toolkit—free inside the Visionary Vault at www.specialopspodcast.com. Includes ad copy swipe, pricing audit sheet, and examples of compliant display language. Don’t guess—get it right.Explore Free Resources at the Visionary Vault:https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vault Get in Touch with Ryan Poteet:Website: https://www.grsm.com/   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-poteet-43098ba  Get in Touch with Emma Rainville: Website: https://specialopspodcast.com/    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@specialopspodcast   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_rainville512/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmarainvilleoperationsguru 

Hiring to fix chaos? That’s how chaos hires you back. In this tactical solo episode, Emma Rainville breaks down exactly why hiring to patch broken systems will never work — and what to build first instead. If you’ve ever rushed a hire and paid for it later, this one’s a must-listen.Emma walks through her proven SOP-first hiring framework, the Preview HR test she swears by, and how to design a values-aligned hiring avatar that attracts long-term players — not job-hoppers. You’ll also hear her top interview question that filters out the unaware in seconds.We cover:Why you should build SOPs before you hire — and what they should includeHow to define KPIs before posting a job adThe role of a working interview in hiring decisionsWhat a real onboarding playbook should look likeWhy “these are not your kids” is the mindset that saves your teamTimestamps:(0:00) Welcome + why hiring problems are usually systems problems(2:45) What to document before you even post the job(5:25) How to build the hiring process checklist(7:40) Preview HR test: what it is, why it works(9:30) The secret to vetting culture fit before the first day(11:05) The structure of Emma’s interviews (and her #1 question)(14:45) How she runs paid “working interviews”(17:10) SOP rewriting + how onboarding is built(19:15) Why you must do a 30- and 90-day reviewAccess the full Hiring SOP Framework and Emma’s exact interview questions inside the Visionary Vault — free to download.Explore Free Resources inside the Visionary Vault:https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vault Get in Touch with Emma Rainville: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@specialopspodcast   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_rainville512/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmarainvilleoperationsguru  

Slapping a “Made in the USA” label on your product? You might be setting your brand up for an FTC beatdown. In this episode of Marketing on Trial, Emma Rainville teams up with FTC compliance attorney Ryan Poteet to dissect the new crackdown on origin claims. With the FTC zeroing in on brands like Amazon and Walmart, enforcement around "Made in USA" labeling is no longer theoretical — it's here, it's real, and it's ruthless. Whether you're in supplements, consumer goods, or apparel, if you're using patriotic branding or making origin claims without rock-solid documentation, you’re a target.From dissecting what “all or virtually all” really means, to how manufacturers and marketers get blindsided by overseas components, Emma and Ryan break it down in real-world terms with no fluff and all fire. This is not just about compliance. It’s about protecting millions in revenue.We cover:Why “Made in USA” is now an FTC bullseyeThe exact threshold for legal origin claims Real case studies of compliance failuresHow to audit your product and marketing copy What marketers must document — and what’s not enough Timestamps:(0:00) Intro: Why “patriotic branding” can destroy your business(2:11) The FTC’s Made in USA Month and enforcement pivot(4:32) What “all or virtually all” means — the unqualified claim trap(7:05) Real-world compliance failures: docks, steel, and supplements(8:48) Your compliance checklist: marketing claims vs. ingredient truth(10:00) What documentation marketers must request from manufacturers(11:30) Trust, contracts, and how to protect your company(13:02) Visionary Vault: Access our compliance checklist free(14:19) Outro and final compliance warningDownload the Free Made in USA Compliance Checklist. Sign up for the Visionary Vault at www.specialopspodcast.com to get the downloadable compliance checklistExplore Free Resources at the Visionary Vault:https://specialopspodcast.com/visiona... Get in Touch with Ryan Poteet:Website: https://www.grsm.com/   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-poteet-43098ba  Get in Touch with Emma Rainville: Website:

You didn’t build a business — you built a job.If stepping away from your company causes chaos, you haven’t built a business — you’ve built yourself a glorified job. In this episode, Emma Rainville breaks down the systems, mindset, and ruthless leadership decisions required to create a business that actually runs without you. She shares how she turned a vacation disaster into a team transformation — and how that shift now allows her to unplug for a month without worrying the place will burn.This is the tactical blueprint for founder freedom, from someone who’s done the hard reset and rebuilt smarter.We cover:The 6–8 week “no CEO” stress test for your businessHow Emma rebuilt her team to be self-reliant after vacation burnoutThe exact delegation system that lets her disappear without fearWhy letting your team make mistakes is your highest leverage playHer formula for unplugging 65+ days a year without slowing growthTimestamps(0:00) You didn’t build a business. You built a job.(1:30) Dream vacation gone wrong: when your team can’t function(3:45) The hard truth: fire fast, delegate faster(6:10) The psychology behind letting your team fail(8:00) The system that lets her take a month off(10:15) The anti–9 to 5 mindset: why Emma works 300+ days a year(11:55) Visionary Vault: free guide to turning your business from trap to freedomReady to stop being your business’s bottleneck? Grab the 5-step guide to building systems that set you free — now inside the Visionary Vault. It’s free. No fluff. No pitch. Just tactical execution tools.Explore Free Resources inside the Visionary Vault:https://specialopspodcast.com/visionary-vault Get in Touch with Emma Rainville: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@specialopspodcast   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_rainville512/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmarainvilleoperationsguru