STP 134 | Not Talking About Risk Is Risky: Why Big Ideas Fail to Launch with Susan Schramm

Guest: Susan Schramm | Author of Fast Track Your Big Idea

Host: James Marland | Scaling Therapy Practice Podcast
Episode Overview

Why do great ideas fail before they ever get off the ground? In this episode of Scaling Therapy Practice, James Marland talks with author and strategist Susan Schramm about the surprising root cause of stalled projects: fear of risk. But it’s not just financial or legal risks—it’s the people side of risk that’s often overlooked.

If you’re a therapist, coach, or solopreneur with a course, program, or big idea sitting in a notebook or buried under client work, this conversation is for you. Susan shares how to reframe risk as a leadership tool, not a barrier—and how to use her 6-step De-Risk System to build momentum and finally launch your idea with confidence.

3 Reasons to Listen

• Discover what’s really stopping your launch — It’s not your idea. It’s unspoken risk.
• Learn the “De-Risk” system — Six clear, practical steps to help you move forward, even if you’re afraid.
• Hear how clarity beats confidence — When you know the “why” and “who,” your strategy becomes easier to execute.

Timestamped Highlights

• [00:00] Not talking about risk
• [01:45] Launching ideas since childhood
• [03:30] Why good ideas stall
• [04:50] People side of risk
• [05:45] Fear vs. clarity
• [07:15] Group hesitation explained
• [08:40] Risk = uncertainty
• [10:15] Fight, flight, or freeze
• [11:50] Therapist solopreneurs & teams
• [13:20] Silence isn’t safety
• [14:15] Culture of risk conversation
• [16:00] 6-step De-Risk system
• [19:00] Why now? Why you?
• [21:45] Who needs to act?
• [23:15] How strategies adapt
• [24:30] Pre-mortems & planning ahead
• [26:30] Overplanning kills momentum
• [28:10] MVP mindset matters
• [30:00] Book & launch team info
• [32:00] Final thoughts on risk

Mentioned Resources

• Susan’s website: FastTrackYourBigIdea.com
• Email for the De-Risk Checklist: [e-mail]
• Book (Coming Oct 2025): Fast Track Your Big Idea: Navigate Risk, Move People to Action, and Avoid Your Strategy Going Off Course
• Course Creation Support: https://www.coursecreationstudio.com/