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 what's fascinating: I was editing Deborah Fell's episode when she mentioned a CEO who told her he NEVER takes meetings, that his schedule is impossible, and that she shouldn't even try. But when she said, "Would you like to be on my podcast?" His response? "Oh, I'm glad to do that."

Professionals at all levels don't want more meetings, sales pitches, or brain-picking sessions. They want real conversations with pushback. They want to share their stories. The best ones are willing to go eyeball to eyeball on important topics.

Stop trying to feed the algorithm with volume. Stop the sycophant responses and empty praise. Stop formatting everything with bullets just because you think you're supposed to.

Start having conversations worth recording. Start capturing spontaneity. Start admitting when we don't have the answer and need to think together. Start going back to people and saying, "Remember when we talked about this? What happened?" Consider getting the "monument" update - the current state of a conversation or event of the past.

That's what this conversation with Deborah is about. Getting back to real conversations.

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 proper documentation, this episode delivers the blueprint for organizing years of scattered procedures into one powerful system. Learn the exact folder structure, naming conventions, and review processes that turn procedural chaos into operational clarity. Whether you're a solopreneur ready to scale or managing a team that's reinventing the wheel daily, this episode provides the roadmap to document, delegate, and finally find joy in your work again.

As always, we try to give you an action list you can do on your own:

1. Create Your Hub • Set up a main folder called "SOPs," "Procedures," or your preferred name • Ensure it's in a shared drive accessible to your team • Remove individual access permissions temporarily if needed
2. Assess Current State • List all the procedures you currently have documented • Identify which team members have created their own "personal" procedures • Note any critical processes that exist only in someone's head
3. Choose Your Categories • Divide your business into main operational areas (e.g., Admin, Sales, Production) • Create main folders for each category • Keep it simple - aim for 4-7 main categories maximum

1. The Great Document Dump • Move ALL documents from subfolders into main category folders • Review for duplicates and conflicting versions • Don't panic - this temporary chaos leads to clarity
2. Establish Naming Conventions • Agree on a team-wide naming system • Include dates, version numbers, or status (TBD, Complete, Archive) • Rename all documents consistently
3. Create Missing SOPs List • For each category, list procedures that need documentation • Create placeholder documents titled "[Process Name] - TO BE COMPLETED" • Assign ownership and deadlines

1. Develop Your SOP Template • Include: Purpose, Tools Needed, Step-by-Step Instructions, Screenshots • Add revision dates at the top • Create a video component for complex procedures
2. Write Priority SOPs • Start with your "hit by a bus" procedures - the critical ones only you know • Use simple language (5th grade level) • Include where to find things, which buttons to click, what fields to complete
3. Implement Approval Process • Create a procedure for creating procedures • Establish who approves new SOPs • Set review cycles for existing procedures

1. Build the Habit • Schedule weekly SOP time • Update procedures as processes change • Archive outdated versions rather than deleting
2. Create Onboarding Materials • Develop a "Start Here" folder for new team members • Include how to navigate the SOP system • Add role-specific procedure lists
3. Regular Maintenance • Quarterly reviews of high-use procedures • Annual audit of all SOPs • Celebrate when team members create or update procedures

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 48 hours after certification are critical (and what to update first)
• The "badge reality check" that could be killing your credibility
• How one announcement postcard generated 10 quality conversations
• The LinkedIn "position hack" that notifies your entire network
• A complete checklist to implement in just 2 hours

Whether you just completed training, earned a designation, or achieved any professional milestone, this episode gives you the roadmap to maximize your ROI.

Episode highlights:

• [2:00] The trust signal you're not using effectively
• [5:00] Why print marketing still works in 2025
• [8:00] Your 14-day certification launch plan
• [10:00] The part-time position trick for LinkedIn visibility

Stop letting your credentials collect dust. It's time to make them work as hard as you did to earn them.