Special Ops with Emma Rainville

You didn’t build a business. You built yourself a job—with a title that sounds cooler than it feels. This episode is your wake-up call and your blueprint out.Emma Rainville is joined by Richard and Tiago from Shockwave Solutions to break down the exact six-step framework used to turn overwhelmed businesses into high-profit machines. If you're tired of being the catch-all in your company, and ready to stop being the bottleneck, this episode delivers tactical clarity. From business audit checklists to triage-based prioritization, we walk through how to diagnose, discover, plan, and fix—without skipping steps and creating future fires. Whether you're scaling or just stuck, this is required listening.We cover:- Why most visionary entrepreneurs accidentally trap themselves in a role, not a business- How to audit business operations by department, role, and KPI- Diagnosing performance problems without ego (and without skipping discovery)- Creating a business planning path that prioritizes real ROI- Reducing operational “noise” that’s draining time, clarity, and focus- Fixing bottlenecks using triage decision-making—not reactive chaosTimestamps:(0:00) The visionary trap: jobs disguised as businesses(1:12) Six-part framework overview(2:00) Step 1: Audit — buckets, roles, KPIs(3:05) Step 2: Diagnose — find the root cause, not the surface-level excuse(4:30) Step 3: Discovery — see the business in motion(5:40) Step 4: Plan — triage to prioritize what's most impactful(7:00) Step 5: Reduce noise — eliminate distractions, streamline inputs(8:10) Step 6: Fix — the only time you’re allowed to fix is at the end(9:30) The loneliness of visionary leaders — and the way out✅ Sign up to access Six Steps to Your Profit Machine and more tools inside the Visionary Vault. We’ll never sell to you—just operational excellence.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: [email protected]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-parkin-55621ba9/Get in Touch with Tiago:Email: [email protected]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiago-sanguinetti/

If you want a team that moves fast and solves problems, you need trust. And that doesn’t happen by accident.In this high-impact episode, Emma Rainville sits down with Tiago and Richard to unpack what real team building looks like inside fast-scaling companies. Forget ropes courses—this is about building vulnerability, trust, and operational courage in your people. Whether your team is remote, hybrid, or scattered across time zones, this episode lays out the tactical ways to drive deeper connections—so your team can move fast without breaking trust.From Slack threads to in-person intensives, we break down exactly how Emma has turned cultural friction into performance fuel. You’ll learn what works, what fails, and why the first step in building team trust might be inviting your team into your home.We cover:- How to create operational courage between team members- Why team building isn’t about location—it’s about vulnerability- Tactical formats that build trust (Slack, meetings, 16 Personalities)- The surprising power of personal updates in weekly calls- How to turn conflict into collaboration—even remotelyTimestamps(0:00) Welcome & why Emma’s obsessed with team building(1:10) Vulnerability and truth-telling in ops culture(3:25) Emma’s open-house philosophy for team trust(5:45) Remote connection = intentional design(7:00) Why weekly gratitude check-ins drive empathy(8:15) Building psychological safety inside your ops team(9:40) Real story: how a 3-day team retreat transformed conflict(11:00) The 16 Personalities framework (and why it works fast)Want 101 proven team building ideas that work for remote teams? Grab the free guide inside the Visionary Vault 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: [email protected]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-parkin-55621ba9/Get in Touch with Tiago:Email: [email protected]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiago-sanguinetti/

Stop building your business on sticky notes. Instead build a plan that actually sticks past Q1.This episode walks you through Emma’s WAVE framework, a one‑page annual planning system that aligns your long‑term vision, 2026 plan, and actual execution calendar. You’ll learn how to craft a written 10‑year business vision, translate it into 5‑ and 3‑year flash‑forwards, then lock in non‑negotiable yearly commitments instead of wish‑list goals. From there we define “absolute focus” so you stop chasing every shiny object, build a values‑driven company culture, and break 2026 into a quarterly execution roadmap your team can deliver. If you're a direct‑response marketer or ecommerce operator scaling up without burning out, this is your war‑room field manual.We cover:Crafting a 10‑year business and life‑by‑design visionTurning vague revenue targets into concrete yearly commitments with clear KPIsUsing flash‑forwards to bridge a 10‑year vision into 5‑year and 3‑year milestonesDefining your absolute focus so opportunities don’t derail executionBuilding values‑driven company culture and hiring aligned with those valuesBreaking 2026 into a realistic Q1 execution planTimestamps:(0:00) Why you can’t 10X for 10 years and still be at every soccer game(1:10) Welcome to Special Ops and the WAVE planning system(3:00) Written vision — designing your 10‑year business and life by design(5:10) Five‑ and three‑year flash‑forwards and milestone math(7:05) Yearly commitments vs goals and setting measurable KPIs(9:00) Absolute focus: how to evaluate new opportunities and avoid distraction(10:45) Values‑driven future and hiring people who match your core values(12:00) Q1 execution plan, WAVE one‑page PDF, and Visionary Vault resourcesMake 2026 the year you stop chasing new ideas and start executing your vision. Grab the WAVE one‑page plan, plug in your values, and use it to run your meetings, KPIs, and hiring.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

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: [email protected]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-parkin-55621ba9/Get in Touch with Tiago:Email: [email protected]: 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: [email protected]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-parkin-55621ba9/Get in Touch with Tiago:Email: [email protected]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiago-sanguinetti/