Special Ops with Emma Rainville

• WAVE 2026: One‑Page Business Plan That Actually Works

  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

  --------  

  12:46

  --------

  12:46
• Automation Butterfly Effect: How One CRM Error Crashed a Million-Dollar Launch

  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/

  --------  

  7:41

  --------

  7:41
• How to Reduce Churn, Prevent Refunds, and Keep Subscribers for Life

  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/

  --------  

  16:17

  --------

  16:17
• From Zero to $3M: How to Monetize TikTok Without Going Viral

  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/

  --------  

  18:10

  --------

  18:10
• What happens when there’s no one left to manage the founder?

  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: [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/

  --------  

  13:22

  --------

  13:22

More Business podcasts

Trending Business podcasts

About Special Ops with Emma Rainville

Special Ops with Emma Rainville: Podcasts in Family